The history of Prague Old Town goes back to 1091 but it was named in the 14th century when the New Town was born. The Church of Our Lady of Tyn and the Town Hall with its astronomical clock are considered as the center of the Old Town.

Lesser Town (also called Mala Strana in Czech) is another architectural treasure founded in 1257 below Prague castle and it is the most conserved part of medieval Prague. Staying in an apartment in Mala Strana, you will be surrounded by history, museums, great pubs and restaurants. You can find many good hotels and apartments in the Mala Strana allowing you to easily access all sights by walk.

So as you may understand the the historical center of Prague is divided by the Vltava River into the Lesser Town and the Old Town. Hotels in the Old Town of Prague are different from the Lesser Town, The Old Town is more animated and crowded with tourists shopping and clubbing the whole night, when guests in the romantic Lesser Town are enjoying more peaceful and romantic time in the restaurants near their apartment, or just walking through the antique cobblestone streets. We have to say that the atmosphere at the Lesser Town is different from the Old Town, but the choice depends always on the taste and dereferences of each person.

Here are some interesting monument in both Old Town and Lesser Town that are worth visiting:

Powder Gate in the Old Town  (Prasna brana)

This 65m-tall Powder Tower was built in in 1475 during the reign of King Vladislav II Jagiello. In 1483 it was left unfinished because the king moved to Prague Castle. Between 1875 and 1886 the tower was rebuilt, decorated and restyled by Josef Mocker. The gate acquired its present name in the 17th century when it was used to store gunpowder. Today, there is a small exhibition in the tower and it is open for visits to have a great view of Prague from it.

Charles Bridge in the Lesser Town (Karluv most)

Named after the Emperor Charles IV in 19th century the Charles Bridge is Prague’s most familiar monument. Designed by Petr Parler, it was completed in 1400 and it connects the Lesser Town with the Old Town. Although it is now pedestrianised, it withstood wheeled traffic for 600 years. There are thirty statues on the bridge; many of them have been replaced with copies. Originals are kept in the Lapidarium of the National Museum and at Vysehrad. The magnificent Gothic Old Town Bridge Tower was designed by Petr Parler and built at the end of the 14th century. It is considered the finest Gothic tower in central Europe, mainly for its decoration. There are marvellous views of the Vltava River Valley.

Municipal House in Prague Old Town (Obecni dum)

The Municipal House was built on the site of the royal court between 1906 and 1912. It is Prague’s most prominent Art Nouveau building. Above the main entrance there is a huge mosaic “Homage to Prague“by Karel Spillar. Inside, there is the Smetana Hall – the biggest concert hall in Prague, number of smaller halls, conference rooms and offices, cafés and restaurants to relax and enjoy the inner decoration.

St Nicholas Church in the Mala Strana (Kostel sv. Mikulase)

St Nicholas Church is the dominant of the Lesser Town Square and one of central Europe’s finest baroque buildings. It was begun by Kristof Dientzenhofer, continued by his son Kilian and finished by Anselmo Lurago. The statues, frescoes and paintings inside the church are by leading artists of the day, such as Karel Skreta and Johann Kracker.

Celetna Street in the Old Town (Celetna ulice)

This street was named after the plaited bread rolls that were first baked here in the Middle Ages. The Celetná Street is a pedestrianised lane from the Old Town square to the Powder Tower. There are lots of architecturally and historically important houses, such as At the Three Kings, At the White Lion, At the Black Sun and At the Vulture. The most interesting one is the Cubist facade on the House of the Black Madonna, which dates only from 1912 and houses a branch of the Czech Museum of Fine Arts with a permanent exhibition on Czech Cubism.

Kampa Island in the Lesser Town (Kampa)

Known as the Venice of Prague, Kampa Island has been formed by a branch of the Vltava called the Devil’s Stream (Certovka). Originally there were only gardens on the island but it was also used for washing clothes and bleaching linen. In the 17th century the island became well known for its pottery markets. Today it is an elegant part of Prague with a village-like character. A lot of myths are narrated in Prague about this place. You can find many great apartments in Prague Mala Strana near Kampa Island.

Estates Theatre in the Old Town (Stavovske divadlo)

This theatre was built in 1783. It is Prague’s oldest theatre and one of the finest examples of Neo-classicism. Renamed the Tyl Theatre after World War II in honour of the 19th century Czech play writer Josef Kajetán Tyl, its name reverted to Stavovské divadlo in 1990s. Mozart’s opera “Don Giovanni” had its premiere there on 29th October 1834.

Carolinum in the Old Town (Karolinum)

Founded by Emperor Charles IV on 7th April 1348, it is the oldest university north of the Alps. Thousands of German students left the university in 1420 when the reform preacher Jan Hus became rector. Today the Charles University has faculties all over Prague and the Carolinum houses only some medical faculty offices, the University Club and occasional academic ceremonies.

Prague Old Town Square (Staromestske namesti)

Being Prague’s heart since the 10th century and its main market place until the beginning of the 20th century, the spacious 1.7 hectare Old Town Square has been the scene of great events, both glorious and tragic. There are beautiful pastel-coloured buildings of Romanesque or Gothic origin with fascinating house signs. Some of the most prominent examples include the Kinsky Palace, the House of the Stone Bell and the Storch House. Today, the Old Town Square offers visitors a tourist information office, number of restaurants, cafés, shops, galleries and unique Luxury apartments in Prague Old Town. 

Petrin Hill in Mala Strana (Petrin)

With a height of 318 m the Petrin Hill is a network of eight parks offering magnificent panoramas of Prague. Most of the vineyards from the 12th century were transformed into gardens and orchards by the 18th century and today it is a great place for quiet walks easily accessible from Hradcany and Strahov or by funicular railway from Ujezd. Up the hill there is an observatory, the 60m high Observation Tower – an imitation of the Eifel Tower, the Hunger Wall that was built by the poor of the city in return for food in the 14th century, the Mirror Maze, the Church of St Lawrence and the wooden Church of St Michael.