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Popular Tourist Traps | Other Tourist Traps Tips | All Tips (323) The Estates Theatre was built in 1783 and is one of the most beautiful theaters in Europe. This is where Mozart personally conducted the premiere of Don Giovanni in 1787.
The theater itself is very beautiful (it is difficult to see from the photo) and in a very good shape. That alone is worth a visit, if you are willing to pay a quite expensive ticket (not only for Czech standards) . We paid 1390CZK (almost 50 Eur each) and these were not the cheapest tickets
My first concern was the fact that the WHOLE attendance were foreigners. This is usually not a good sign. I guess I should have expected this, but still...
The problem was the actual opera. The acting was terrible, to the point where the actors were booed several times! The rythm was extremely slow and the whole experience was boring. Please note that I really like music and I was looking forward to seeing this opera.
Well, I would expect the acting to be good, after all this was were the opera premiered. I do not think they were having a bad night, they were just bad.
Note: If you are Italian or Italian-speaking you will find it insulting that they cannot get one whole sentence right...
Go for the cheaper tickets... Leave a Comment
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Always CHECK YOUR RESTAURANT BILL. Tourists sometimes get cheated. It is customary to charge for that basket of bread and butter they casually place on your table. We paid 60 CZK or $3.00 CDN or $2.50 US extra most of the time. If you know about it, it's not such a big deal, but if you're not aware, it's a little annoying.
Sometimes, not always, they automatically include service - usually 10%, which is acceptable, but again check your bill.
And don't forget, 19% VAT is also included in your bill. No wonder we didn't find Prague restaurants that much of a bargain.
The accompanying picture shows a Restaurant with a clearly written Menu Board, which we really appreciated and often were attracted to, especially for lunch. The different menus of the day specified what you received and what you had to pay. There were usually three or four options. Again these small but cozy little restaurants, were usually in side streets away from the touristy areas. Leave a Comment
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Although a VITAVA RIVER BOAT CRUISE may sound like a great idea, be aware that it's not such a big deal. One would think you would be going all along the Vitava River and travel under the 18 bridges, making it a very lovely boat trip. In fact they just go a short distance and go under just three or four bridges. Since there is a little waterfall in the river, it restricts how far they can go. Hans and I watched in amazement as the boats just went around in circles and said "Is that it?" and were glad we decided not to bother. The boat trips are often part of the Prague City Tours. Leave a Comment
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The open-air restaurants on the Old Town Square were very overcrowded and by looking at their menus, also very overpriced. If you like to people watch while you eat or drink, this is the place for you but prepare to pay. Better yet, you can just head for the little streets that lead away from the Old Town Square and find little restaurants that I think are much cozier and better value.
We found the average price for a coffee/soda/beer to be 50CZK or $2.50 CDN or $2.00 US. Leave a Comment
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This part of Prague is essentially only for tourists, local Czechs do not frequent any of the businesses in these areas. The areas I am talking about in particular are Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske Namesti), Old Town Square (Staromestske namesti), Charles Bridge (Karluv Most) and the streets that wind in between connecting the three areas. The restaurants here are extremely overpriced, as is the crystal and almost all of the other tourist items. You will be accosted to go to black light shows (a rip off - essentially a puppet show or soft-core pron show under a black light) and various cultural concerts in churches around the city (this are nice if you like the music and you can book all of these things through the tourist agency one block south of the bottom of Wenceslas Square but often if you just show up at the show it is much cheaper or even free). Also watch your pockets in these areas because even though Prague is not known for crime, pickpockets have started to show up in these areas.
If you go to Prague you have to see these areas, but try to go during an off season, during the summer they are absolutely packed and really unpleasent. If you have to be there in the summer, try to go early in the morning or later in the evening, avoid the afternoon and early evening rush. If you want to eat while you are there, just walk 2 or 3 blocks off either side of Wenceslas square and watch the prices drop. If you want to buy crystal I highly recommend buying it at Karlstjen castle about 35 minutes outside the city by train, but if you cannot get there, try to avoid the shops on the direct route from Wenceslas to Old Town Square.
When you are there, walk up and down Wenceslas Square, and take the winding streets between it and Old Town Square and then farther to Charles Bridge. Try to be in Old Town square at the hour to see the clock, check out the church of Tyn and the Old Town Hall (where the is) and when you cross the Charles Bridge rub the Statue of Jan Nepomuk for luck and you will be sure to have a great trip. Leave a Comment
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There was really only one place that I did not care for in Prague--the Golden Lane (supposedly named for alchemists who resided in this lane in the 1500s). As far as I can tell the modern Golden Lane is merely a cluster of small tourist shops in tiny ancient buildings. And you have to pay admission for the priviledge of shopping at these cluttered and annoying shops.
At 50 crowns, the price of admission is not going to lighten your wallet significantly, but I don't like the idea of paying to shop.
Supposedly, Franz Kafka spent time in the Golden Lane and indeed there is a Franz Kafka Cafe. But there is very little to hold one's interest along this lane except for the knick-knack shopping. Leave a Comment
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Ok this is a well known tourist photo stop in Hadcrany - tucked away in the northeast corner. Come late morning this place will be heaving with tourists as they explore the former homes of alchemists, castle archers, paupers, pedlars and poets which are now souvenir and craft shops.
Some of the cottages were actually built as late as the 18th century - some 200 years later than others. Most famous of course is the blue cottage (No.22) where Franz Kafka came at night to work in his sister's cottage - he wrote 6 of his best short stories here.
Go early in the morning or late afternoon to miss the crowds and coach parties. Even better, before 1st April its free!
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The restaurants with open-air seating on the Old Town Square tend to be overcrowded and overpriced. Just walk a few metres away from the square and you'll get much better value and have a more relaxing meal and drink.
Better still, cross the Charles Bridge, as the restaurants on the other side of the river are generally even better value. Leave a Comment
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A 3 day card for Prague's main attraction can be bought but you really will be a tourist if you manage to see all these, mainly museums and galleries in 3 days. You really don't need to pay the extra fee to have transport pass for this time either. Prague is so compact and single journeys are ridiculously cheap anyway. Note too it doesn't include all the things that tourists would want to do anyway - for example the astronomical clock tower and town hall vist or Jewish quarter attractions.
Cost in 2004 was 490CZK plus an extra 200 CZK with transport - remmber single journeys are only 12CZK!
Check the website to see what the card DOES cover first.
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I know that many people will not agree with me listing the Astronomical Clock as a tourist trap. The clock itself is beautiful and an amazing timepiece. But when the hour strikes the crowds get terribly large to watch the display. As you can see from this picture the crowds start gathering about twently mintes before the hour. As the crowd grows the excitement grows before the hour strikes. Then it happens. The little doors at the top open. The skeleton starts pulling his rope. And Jesus and the Apostle start appearing in the opened doors. Well in reality you have to look real close to see the skeleton moving. And its impossible to tell one apostles head from the other as they rotate throught the windows. In my opinion it was not very impressive.
I do want to say that I encourge any tourist to go and see the clock. Like I said earlier, its beautiful and a real marvel to see. But if you have other things you want to see and your time is limited I would not bother waiting for the hourly show. If you really want to see it I suggest taking a table at one of the restaurants in the square and have a drink while you are waiting. At least you will not have wasted your time waiting. Leave a Comment
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