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Photo: Ludek, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Due to a housing crunch, most young Czechs don't move out of their parents' house until they marry (sometimes long after!) This lack of privacy leads to some very public displays of affection – what you see on the metro or trams won't compare to what you’re likely to encounter on Petřín Hill. This hillside slopes down from the Castle and Strahov Monastery to Malá Strana and Malostranské náměstí metro station. It affords an amazing view of the city on a clear day, and in springtime the trees are all in bloom. This is possibly the nicest place to kick back with a bottle of wine and your significant other to watch the sun set over the city. Just be careful not to trip over the modesty-lacking couples who will probably already be there. In a city filled with apartment buildings and only a handful of single family houses (almost all in the diplomats' favoured housing area, Dejvice, and priced far above the average Czech family's wage) parks take on a greater importance. The most famous "inhabitant" of the park is a statue of poet Karel Hynek Mácha, at whose feet lovers leave wreaths every spring in honour of his romantic poem Máj.
Petřín is a hill in the centre of Prague, Czech Republic. It rises 327 m above sea level and some 130 m above the left bank of the Vltava River. The hill, almost entirely covered with parks, is a favorite recreational area for the inhabitants of Prague. The hill is featured prominently in Franz Kafka's early short story "Description of a Struggle" and briefly in Milan Kundera's novel The Unbearable Lightness of Being.
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Petřínská rozhledna'
A smaller version of the Eiffel Tower on the top of Petrin Hill overlooking Prague. The grounds near the tower contain a formal rose garden which is free to walk around. With a height of just under 60 m, it is about 1/5th scale of the Paris Eiffel tower, and was constructed shortly after its Parisian counterpart at the end of the 19th century. The tower has 2 viewing platforms, one about halfway, and one at the top. A complete ascent takes about 220 steps. Strong winds (which are common in Prague) make the tower wobble, which can be felt on the upper deck and can induce motion sickness in some visitors.
This image of Christ, known also as the Holy Infant of Prague, is among the most widespread religious images in the world. The statue was brought from Spain in the 16th century and given to the Carmelites in 1628. It is 47 cm high and represents Jesus as a Child and King. The statue is carved out of wood and the surface is modeled in coloured wax. The entrance to the church is free of charge.
A monastery on the mountain. Worth a visit for both its picture gallery and its notable Renaissance library.
A museum of modern Central European art.
A beautiful Baroque convent in the Lesser Town.
Pražský Hrad
The former seat of the King and is now the seat of the Czech president. This is Prague's number one tourist attraction so expect huge crowds and possibly long lines, especially during high tourist season. Your best bet is to come early, as soon as the castle opens. Similar to other royal palaces, there is an hourly changing of the guard ceremony. At noon, the ceremony includes fanfare at a flag ceremony in the first courtyard.