I'm taking my daughter to Paris for 5 nights and then 4 nights in Prague--she's 18 as of yesterday!
I may not take my camera equipment on this trip because I have had a bad back, and while I've made some progress over the months, I don't want to return from the trip with a setback. I am considering taking my Canon Rebel T2i with a very light lens as that is so much lighter than my 7D MII--I can't see hauling that one. But for now, I'm thinking of going ALL PHONE CAMERA on the trip.
I'm soliciting advice for sights to discover in Prague--never have been. I did search this subject and found some info from 2012, so it's time for a bit of an update if people have info. I have been to Paris, so I know the major places, but if anyone has a secret find or something new that may not have been around in 2016, let me know!
I'm also seeking advice from the cell phone photographers in the group! I use a Samsung S6, and while I feel adept at using it as my main resource, I figure some folks out there will have some tips that could be very useful.
Very excited about this last minute trip! Just wish my chronic back problem was not such a big issue.
Hello Daryl, I can try to be helpful. I'm Czech and though I don't live in Prague, I'm regular visitor there. Today I just got back home after 4 days there. So, If you are interested... You can check (czech...ha ha) current situation. Here: http://pepeeno.rajce.idnes.cz/106_06_18_Praha/ is my album from this weekend...
Anyway, Prague nowadays is madness. Crowded with people... But worth seeing. You can't miss the "standard sights" as Castle (definitely don't forget to visit "Zlata ulicka there (Golden lane) and the park surrounding the castle..., Old town, jewish synagogues and cemetery. And anything else mentioned on each random web page about Prague.
Not that secret tip: "Kampa" small river bank/ river island. Beautiful and very calm place just few meters from the "main tourist route" from Castle to Charles bridge... Most people miss it. Don't! Avoid any restaurant/pub/bar on St, Wenceslas square (Vaclavske namesti) these are traps, but definitely must see passages around this square. "Lucerna, Světozor (with famous cafe/gelateria), Adria..." And try walk from "Svetozor" to Jungman's square (Jungmanovo namesti) through monastery garden (Frantiskanska zahrada). And once you are on Jungman's square, try the one and only best pilsner beer in Prague - "U Pinkasu"... Speaking of devil... Close to "Anděl" metro station is Prague's brewery (Staropramen) with it's own restaurant "Potrfena husa" try their "Velvet" there... And in Old town - close to "Betlemska kaple" is smal brewery/pub/restaurant "U tří růží" (at three roses) their beer is also very good and unique...
Also bit far from the Old town but easily reachable by metro is Vyšehrad.
And if you are "into nature" - like some "hiking" or walking in natural reservation - There's one at the edge of city, but again easily reachable by tram (no22 I guess) It's called "Divoka Sarka".
@pepinosobotka Thank you very, very much. What a wonderful album! I'm actually staying in the area called Smichov (near Staropramen). I really appreciate all of your advice and will start making some notes on my google maps for the area. I understand the park on the west side is quite beautiful also! I will NOT miss the river island--I've noticed not much is said about it, but the map would indicate it must be a nice place to go. I'm hoping having zero language capabilities will not be too hard (I do speak French)--Prague looks so nice! And we will probably opt for a hike somewhere since we do love nature too. THANKS AGAIN! :) Daryl
:-) No problem. Funny...This time I stayed in Smichov as well. Close to Anděl. Anyway, the brewery pub is quite good. And once you are there try the Funicular from Ujezd to Petrin. From Petrin (lookout tower, park and mirror maze) is lovely walk to Strahov monastery, Loreta and Prague castle. At least in one direction you can avoid the main streem of tourists from downtown to Castle...
And English is more than OK. In the city centre everyone speaks english... It's funny but in every pub and shop etc. we have to start speak czech first. Otherwise the staff will automaticly speak english :-)
Have fun! I'm so jealous....my great-grandfather came from there. Can you consider updating your phone to the S9? They have greatly improved the camera.
What a fabulous trip. I can't wait to see your pictures to see how it's all changed since I was there back in the early 90s. The only issue I see with your phone is storage space, if you take a lot of pictures. Or, get a small point and shoot.
@darylo
You are going to love Prague - I've been there twice. The first time I did the standard sights, the second time we let ourselves discover more.
My top 3:
** The Dancing House, the view from the top is amazing, but you do need to buy a drink - a small price to pay to look out over the river
** The Petrin Tower, go up to the gardens on the funicular, it's a great view
** The Lennon Wall
Prague is beautiful,so much lovely architecture and so much to see.You can take a sightseeing trip on a bus,not too expensive.The astonomical clock is a great sight,very popular.Unfortunately I believe It's covered in scaffolding just now.
@danette I wish! The bad thing about the S6 is that it was the ONE year where you had to buy a finite storage amount (32GB), so I will download all existing photos onto computer before leaving so it will free up space. I also have an S5 that can be used just for photos. I do have a point and shoot too, so I'll probably toss that in. :) I'm just not willing to hurt myself on this trip.
@homeschoolmom see above. Yes, will take a point and shoot or a retired phone for extra space. :)
@dibzgreasley thank you for these tips!! I'll be all for a drink :)
@carolmw I imagine I will run into scaffolding in Paris and Prague this trip. But thank you for the information! The architecture will be a main interest of mine.
ok sorry didn't red your message well.
so you the free sightseeing? terrase of the Galeries Lafayettes and Printemps, Institut du Monde Arabe, beaubourg if you "pretend to go the restautant George"
new places for seightseeing: Tour saint Jacques and Pantheon (check on Internet it's not every day or time)
don't miss Jardin du Palais Royal and galerie Vivienne if you don't know them (very nice place atany time of the day closed to it http://www.depotlegalparis.com/)
what part of Paris will you stay?
We will stay in the 9th arrondissement near the St. Georges Metro station. I am definitely looking for more "free" things to do as my daughter is not as interested in going up or in monuments like the Tour Eiffel or Arc de Triomphe, but she'd like to see them. We will be there the first Sunday in July, so we will see whatever museums we can get into. There is also a free outdoor concert going on at Hotel de Ville -- so we will go one night where there will be an artist she actually loves!
I know it will be a very busy time, but I'm excited to return to Paris after I went two years ago and I studied there in my college years over 30 years ago!
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Anyway, Prague nowadays is madness. Crowded with people... But worth seeing. You can't miss the "standard sights" as Castle (definitely don't forget to visit "Zlata ulicka there (Golden lane) and the park surrounding the castle..., Old town, jewish synagogues and cemetery. And anything else mentioned on each random web page about Prague.
Not that secret tip: "Kampa" small river bank/ river island. Beautiful and very calm place just few meters from the "main tourist route" from Castle to Charles bridge... Most people miss it. Don't! Avoid any restaurant/pub/bar on St, Wenceslas square (Vaclavske namesti) these are traps, but definitely must see passages around this square. "Lucerna, Světozor (with famous cafe/gelateria), Adria..." And try walk from "Svetozor" to Jungman's square (Jungmanovo namesti) through monastery garden (Frantiskanska zahrada). And once you are on Jungman's square, try the one and only best pilsner beer in Prague - "U Pinkasu"... Speaking of devil... Close to "Anděl" metro station is Prague's brewery (Staropramen) with it's own restaurant "Potrfena husa" try their "Velvet" there... And in Old town - close to "Betlemska kaple" is smal brewery/pub/restaurant "U tří růží" (at three roses) their beer is also very good and unique...
Also bit far from the Old town but easily reachable by metro is Vyšehrad.
And if you are "into nature" - like some "hiking" or walking in natural reservation - There's one at the edge of city, but again easily reachable by tram (no22 I guess) It's called "Divoka Sarka".
And two videos which might be useful: https://www.stream.cz/honest-guide/10018038-turismem-neobjevena-skryta-zakouti-historickeho-centra-prahy https://www.stream.cz/honest-guide/10018033-5-dobre-utajenych-mist-v-praze-skryte-skvosty-maji-co-nabidnout
And English is more than OK. In the city centre everyone speaks english... It's funny but in every pub and shop etc. we have to start speak czech first. Otherwise the staff will automaticly speak english :-)
You are going to love Prague - I've been there twice. The first time I did the standard sights, the second time we let ourselves discover more.
My top 3:
** The Dancing House, the view from the top is amazing, but you do need to buy a drink - a small price to pay to look out over the river
** The Petrin Tower, go up to the gardens on the funicular, it's a great view
** The Lennon Wall
Here's a link to my photos from both trips: https://365project.org/dibzgreasley/tags/prague
Have fun!
@homeschoolmom see above. Yes, will take a point and shoot or a retired phone for extra space. :)
@vera365 it looks like the views are spectacular!
@dibzgreasley thank you for these tips!! I'll be all for a drink :)
@carolmw I imagine I will run into scaffolding in Paris and Prague this trip. But thank you for the information! The architecture will be a main interest of mine.
Thanks all!
so you the free sightseeing? terrase of the Galeries Lafayettes and Printemps, Institut du Monde Arabe, beaubourg if you "pretend to go the restautant George"
new places for seightseeing: Tour saint Jacques and Pantheon (check on Internet it's not every day or time)
don't miss Jardin du Palais Royal and galerie Vivienne if you don't know them (very nice place atany time of the day closed to it http://www.depotlegalparis.com/)
what part of Paris will you stay?
We will stay in the 9th arrondissement near the St. Georges Metro station. I am definitely looking for more "free" things to do as my daughter is not as interested in going up or in monuments like the Tour Eiffel or Arc de Triomphe, but she'd like to see them. We will be there the first Sunday in July, so we will see whatever museums we can get into. There is also a free outdoor concert going on at Hotel de Ville -- so we will go one night where there will be an artist she actually loves!
I know it will be a very busy time, but I'm excited to return to Paris after I went two years ago and I studied there in my college years over 30 years ago!
Thank you for all the wonderful advice.
Daryl