Prague, Czechia

A weekend in Prague unfolds like a storybook—elegant, moody, and timeless. Arriving on a Friday evening, I checked into a small boutique hotel tucked within the cobbled streets of Malá Strana. The windows framed a glowing view of Prague Castle, shimmering under the soft golden lights that draped the city at night. Saturday began with a slow breakfast—fresh pastries, fruit, and dark Czech coffee—before heading to Old Town Square. The Astronomical Clock drew crowds at the hour, but a few steps away, quieter streets offered glimpses of gothic spires and hidden courtyards. Lunch at a riverside café near Charles Bridge brought goulash and Pilsner, the perfect fuel for wandering. In the afternoon, I crossed the bridge, its statues weathered by centuries, and meandered uphill to Prague Castle. From the terraces near St. Vitus Cathedral, the city stretched outward like a painted map—red roofs, winding alleys, the Vltava slicing through the middle. But the real highlight came at sunset: a walk along the riverbank. Starting near Kampa Island, I followed the water’s edge south. Street musicians played soft jazz, swans floated by lazily, and locals sat with wine or ice cream, watching the world pass. The city seemed to slow with the fading light. Prague’s bridges—arched and graceful—reflected perfectly in the glassy water, and above, the castle lit up once more like a lantern in the dusk. Sunday brought a visit to the Jewish Quarter and a last stroll through Letná Park for sweeping views of the city. I left Prague with the impression of a place that knows how to hold its history close while still letting the present breathe. That riverbank walk, quiet and glowing, was the moment that stayed with me.