Yes, Prague may have wonderful museums, architecture and delicious food aplenty, but if you’re ready to explore beyond the obvious tourist sights, you’re in luck. There’s much more to the Czech Republic‘s capital than meets the eye – and a lot of those places are well-guarded secrets. Until now…
National Marionette Theatre
Theatre
Want to see Mozart’s Don Giovanni as you’ve never seen it before? Then get tickets for this performance by marionettes wearing period costume. The theater uses only handcrafted puppets and performs well-known operas and plays such as The Magic Flute. There are also make-your-own puppet workshops and special behind-the-scenes tours available.
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Prague is full of magnificent street art and monuments, so certain works get overlooked in favor of others that are located in better areas or are simply more popular. This art installation consists of seven bronze male figures, with each statue looking a little more broken (almost to the point of disappearing) than the one in front of it. The images represent the impact of Communism on men – wearing them down and making them slowly disappear.
For a taste of Asia in Prague, it doesn’t get any better than Sapa, the city’s largest Vietnamese market. While locals (and visitors) mostly come here for food, Sapa is also a great place to pick up everything from flower pots to small electronics to cheap clothing and household items. Come ready to bargain.
A natural reserve located within the borders of Prague, Divoká Šárka offers some of the best urban hiking imagineable. The park has a gorge, lots of hiking and biking trails, a public swimming pool and a reservoir that also allows swimming. Easily accessible by public transportation, Divoká Šárka is a favorite among locals (and their dogs) and is home to wildlife, rare birds and even mini waterfalls.
These well-hidden and very picturesque Baroque gardens look as fabulous today as they did in the 17th century. Home to wild peacocks, marble fountains and an artificial grotto, the garden is part of Wallenstein Palace and in summer becomes a regular spot for classical concerts and art events.
Steampunk meets Jules Verne novels in this out-of-this-world music club and restaurant. The best part of the place is actually the outside of the building, where many festivals and live concerts are held in summer. The outside décor is made using trash metal by local artists and is always growing and changing. Inside, there are three floors of stages, dancing floors and rehearsal studios.
Prague’s most popular cat café (though not the only one) follows the trend born in Japan years ago. Stop by to cuddle a kitty or two – there are ten cats in residence – at one of the many indoor corners or the completely fenced outdoor space. The kitty cake, a marzipan delicacy, goes great with coffee.
