There’s no better reason for a weekend away than the pursuit of a little romance. And there’s nowhere better to chase that lovely feeling and catch a firm hold of it than in the beautiful city of Prague.
Prague’s exquisite city skyline holds the secrets of centuries close to her lovely heart, but she’s more than happy to share with those who ask nicely.
What to See and Do
Prague is a city just made for romance, with a richly storied past and an ambience of old world charm. It’s also very accessible, with many of the iconic attractions (and some lesser known ones) able to be reached by foot. While there’s plenty of romance to be found simply by immersing yourselves in the art, culture and history of this wonderful city, there are some places that really shouldn’t be missed if you’ve got romance in mind…
Petřín Park
Take a stroll through this elegant green space and follow in the footsteps of local tradition. Renowned as the meeting place for lovers, May 1st is “the day of love”, when locals flock here to kiss their true love under the blooms of the flowering trees that decorate the park. The tradition states that if a woman is kissed under the blossoms of a cherry tree she will remain beautiful all year. Surely it works?
If you can tear yourselves away from one another’s beauty, take in the most spectacular views over the city you’ll find. As you wander around Petřín Hill gardens, through gently wooded paths, seek out the iconic statue of the tragic poet Karel Hynek Mácha, for a poignant selfie. If you’ve got a head for heights, you can climb the 299 steps up the Observation Tower for even more jaw dropping views. (If it looks strangely familiar it’s because this 60-metre structure was built in 1891 as a mini version of the Eiffel Tower.)
Getting there: Take the number 12, 20 or 22 tram to Ujezd stop. You can then walk up to the top, which will take around 30 minutes, or take the funicular.
Opening hours: 10am-8pm daily. (Closing hours vary from 6pm-10pm at different times of the year.)
“All You Need is Love”…and a Padlock
If you want to lock in your love for eternity, follow the trend to immortalise (well, maybe not quite) your union by securing a padlock to a small bridge nestled among the cobbled streets just around the corner from that other great symbol of love, the John Lennon Wall. As is the wont in many European cities, it’s almost a touristic rite of passage to purchase a lock from one of the street vendors (or come prepared with your own) and find a space to seal the deal on your own personal love story. Some of the locks are adorned with handwritten or even engraved pledges, and it’s actually quite sweet to take the time to read some of them. Many tourists also use the more famous Charles Bridge as their love lock receptacle, but be warned – if you place your padlock there your love may not last long as the authorities regularly remove them.
Find it: Lock your love on the small pedestrian bridge in the Malá Strana district just below Prague Castle. You can’t miss it: it’s the one with all the locks…
Viniční Altán
What’s more romantic than sharing fine wine and food with your favourite person? Well, doing it in an open-air timber gazebo with gently rolling vineyards spread out before you might just top it! A visit to Viniční Altán will make you think you’ve been transported to somewhere in the Mediterranean, but in fact you’re right in the centre of Prague. This tranquil vineyard was established by Emperor Charles IV, and today serves up very reasonably priced local and international wines – including their own of course. It’s a wonderfully relaxing place to spend a few hours and you can walk off your lunch with a stroll around the vineyards. The views are outstanding and the ambience is bucolic and romantic.
Getting there: Havlíčkovy sady 1369, Vršovice. Take the Metro to Náměstí Miru, or trams 4, 7, 22, 24.
Opening Hours: 11am-10pm daily (9pm from Nov-March)
Restaurant Petřínské Terasy
If you can’t get enough of the views from Petřín Park, consider lunch or dinner in the beautiful Restaurant Petřínské Terasy, located on Petřín Hill. The huge picture windows open up to a magnificent vista of the city, with the Vltava River in the foreground. With an open fire in winter and sun-drenched terrace dining in summer, this place simply oozes romance – and the food is amazing. Think roasted goose, smoked pork ribs and deep fried cheese and you’ll get the gist of the ultimate comfort food they serve up.
Find it: Petřínské sady 393. Ph: +420 257 320 688. Open: 10am-11pm daily
There’s so much romance to be found in this magical city and so much more to see and do. If you’re spending a little longer, you may want to read this blog post for even more inspiration. Long live love and long live Prague!
How to get to Prague from Prague Airport
Escaping a romantic weekend break in Prague couldn’t be easier. As a major European destination, all the budget carriers including Ryanair, Monarch and easyJet fly regular scheduled services to and from the city, with tickets starting for as little as £29 – leaving you all the more cash for the shopping, eating, dancing, drinking…
The last place you want to spend the precious hours of your weekend break is in the air, and with a flight time of just two hours from the UK, Prague is perfect for a short break. Once you land, the easiest and fastest way to get straight to your accommodation is with one of the airport transfers to Prague. Within 25 minutes of being picked up at the airport, you’ll be checking in and ready to start your holiday.
Where to Stay in Prague
Motel One Prague – Ease yourselves into the lap of luxury in the chic and stylish Motel One Prague. The perfect blend of old-world glamour and contemporary elegance, you’ll be in the heart of the city with everything within easy, romantic strolling distance. Offering a service, location and décor just perfect to impress your special someone on a weekend break, this lovely hotel puts you right in the middle of a fairy tale.
Belvedere – Enjoy the ambience of times gone by in the sophisticated surrounds of the Belvedere. You can take the tram from right outside the door to all the top attractions and wander the short distance to the lush seclusion of Letna Gardens. The rooms enjoy huge picture windows with a front row seat overlooking the beauty of Prague, and the luxurious facilities of this lovely hotel are a fitting complement to the storybook locale.
Embassy Prague Hotel – The opulent neo-Renaissance splendour of the EA Embassy Prague Hotel provides the perfect canvas on which to paint the perfect romantic weekend break. On a very quiet street, the hotel is ideally located for exploring on foot, and the luxurious wellness centre is a wonderful treat to come home to. With a classic décor and a genteel and glamorous ambience, this delightful hotel is just made for lovers.
About Shuttle Direct:
Here at Shuttle Direct we’re proud to be known as one of the most trusted airport transfer operators in Europe and North Africa. With a huge range of transfers on either a shared or private basis, we offer a service to suit any budget. Book online via our user-friendly system and you’ll have confirmation of all your travel arrangements before you leave home. Our friendly local drivers will get you and your luggage to and from your final destination in the fastest, most convenient way.
