Prague survived the Second World War largely intact, leaving it with arguably the best-preserved medieval and Baroque city centre in Central Europe. This post is a companion to the YouTube walking tour “PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC — OLD TOWN, CHARLES BRIDGE & CASTLE WALKING TOUR 4K HDR,” which covers the classic route from the Old Town Square across the Gothic Charles Bridge and up to Prague Castle. Use it alongside the video for your complete prague walking tour guide.
About This Walking Tour
This 4K HDR tour begins in the heart of Prague’s Old Town and navigates to the city’s most celebrated landmarks. The video covers Old Town Square, dominated by the twin black spires of Týn Church and the 15th-century Baroque Church of St Nicholas, and pauses at the famous Astronomical Clock (Orloj) — installed in 1410 and still performing its hourly show of apostles and allegorical figures, it is the oldest still-functioning astronomical clock in the world. From the square the walk proceeds through the Jewish Quarter of Josefov, passing the six synagogues and the Old Jewish Cemetery, before reaching the banks of the Vltava River and crossing Charles Bridge.
Charles Bridge is one of the defining experiences of any visit to Prague — its 516-metre span is lined with 30 Baroque statues and offers views up to the castle complex on Hradčany hill. The video continues into Malá Strana (the Lesser Town), a district of Baroque palaces and gardens below the castle, before climbing to the Prague Castle complex and St Vitus Cathedral.
Highlights of Prague’s Historic Centre
The Prague Astronomical Clock was installed in 1410 and is the third-oldest working astronomical clock in the world. Its three dials show the time, the position of astronomical bodies, and the calendar. Every hour on the hour, its mechanical parade of the twelve apostles attracts crowds to the square below. Charles Bridge was commissioned by Emperor Charles IV, who laid the foundation stone in 1357 at precisely 5:31 AM — a moment chosen by court astrologers for its auspicious alignment of numbers. The bridge’s 30 Baroque statues were added from 1683 onward. Prague Castle, certified by Guinness World Records as the largest ancient castle complex in the world at approximately 70,000 square metres, has been the seat of Bohemian kings, Holy Roman Emperors, and Czech presidents. Within its walls, St Vitus Cathedral was begun in 1344 under Charles IV and contains the royal tombs of Bohemian kings and the Wenceslas Chapel with its 14th-century wall paintings. Franz Kafka was born 200 metres from Old Town Square in 1883; he wrote in German his entire life while living in this Czech-speaking city.
A Brief History of Prague
Prague has been a significant settlement since at least the 9th century AD, when the Přemyslid dynasty founded a fortress on Hradčany. The city became one of the most important in medieval Europe under Charles IV (1316–1378), who made it the capital of the Holy Roman Empire, founded Charles University (1348) — the oldest university in Central Europe — and commissioned Charles Bridge. The Old Town’s Jewish Quarter, Josefov, was one of the most significant Jewish communities in medieval Europe; Franz Kafka and his literary circle worked in its shadow in the early 20th century. Prague escaped the worst of World War II’s destruction, and when the communist government fell in the Velvet Revolution of 1989, the city emerged with its historic fabric intact.
Practical Tips
Prague is in the Central European Time zone (UTC+1, summer UTC+2). The currency is the Czech koruna (CZK), not the euro. Czech is the language; English is widely spoken in tourist areas. Metro Line A (green) stops at Náměstí Republiky and Staroměstská for the Old Town. Charles Bridge is pedestrian-only; it is busiest in the morning but the view from the bridge at dawn — before the crowds arrive — is exceptional. Prague Castle is open to visitors year-round; tram 22 from Malostranské náměstí serves the castle gate. Summers are warm and busy; December brings one of Europe’s finest Christmas markets to Old Town Square.
Watch & Explore More
The 4K HDR video above covers the full route from the Old Town to the Castle — watch it to orientate yourself before the trip. More walking content at @walkingtoursvideoscom. Also see our guides to Vienna: Ringstrasse to the Innere Stadt and Budapest: Buda Castle to Pest.