Charles Bridge

Prague’s famous Charles Bridge is normally the first stop for many visitors taking my Prague airport transfers. The bridge is lined with the stone statues of saints, giving visitors the feeling that they are being watched as they make their way to the other side. However, legend has it that one of these saints wasn’t exactly dead at the time he was transformed into a statue.

The tale goes that in the 14^th Century, St. John of Nepomuk had just taken confession from Queen Johanna, King Wenceslas’s IV’s wife. When the saint refused to tell the king precisely what was confessed, the king had the priest tortured before he was thrown of the bridge and left to die. His ghost walked the bridge for 300 years, until the 17^th century when it was frozen and placed into a statue. Touching the statue is supposed to keep any secret safe and ensure that it is discovered by no-one.

Although St. John no longer haunts the bridge, it isn’t advisable to cross the area at midnight. This is when the ghosts of ten lords, executed in the Middle Ages, appear singing mournful songs, with the intention of scaring anyone crossing the bridge during the witching hour.

Josefov

Josefov was the former Jewish Ghetto area of Prague and it is here that the famous ghosts of Rabbi Loew and the Golem of Prague still walk. Although the area is not that popular with visitors on my Prague airport transfers, I often recommend it to travellers after a taste of the supernatural. In the early 16^th Century, when the Jews were accused of murdering Christian children, Rabbi Loew created the Golem, a figure moulded from the clay of the Vltava River to help save the Jewish population. Rabbi Loew bought the figure to life by reciting Hebrew incantations and then released the figure into the community. The Golem grew larger and larger until the Emperor begged the Rabbi to destroy him. However, the Rabbi was reluctant to destroy the figure as it had saved the Jews from many attacks, so he placed the figurine in the attic of the New World Synagogue where it stands to this day. Loew ordered that no-one should ever enter the attic and even the Nazis were unable to penetrate this area of the Synagogue.

Strahov Monastery

The beautiful Strahov Monastery has two stunning gothic towers that dominate the city skyline. This is somewhere that many passengers on my Prague airport transfer choose to check out, and, when they do, I am eager to share with them a well-known ghost story surrounding the area. The tale tells of a poor woman who lived during the time of the plague. As her children were struck down one-by-one by the pestilence, she used what little coins she had to ring the chapel bells. When she died, the bells continued to ring and on moonless nights a hymn to Mary is heard long after everyone has left the chapel.

Štěpán Stich is a Prague airport transfers driver for Shuttle Direct. They provide pre-booked shuttles to major destinations all over Europe. Wherever you travel, Shuttle Direct can make sure that you don’t miss your car on your holiday abroad.

Throughout continental Europe, the 6^th December is celebrated as St. Nicholas Day. This is the day when children receive their gifts from Old Saint Nick, which serves as a reminder that Christmas will soon be on its way. On the eve of Saint Nicholas, Angels lower Santa down from heaven with a gold cord. They then further bribe him down with gifts of apples, nuts and candles.

Santa is accompanied by two friends an Angel and a Devil. The Devil traditionally comes to take the bad children away, whilst the Angel pleads on their behalf.  This trio forms a procession along the main street and en-route young children are quizzed about their behavior during the past year. Those deemed naughty are handed pieces of coal, while the good girls and boys receive sweets and small toys.

The streets of Prague are filled with a mixture of devils in rattling chains, angels and St. Nicholases, with an annual prize given out for the best mask. It is also customary for the parents of the city to give St. Nicholas a little gift of their own, which may be hidden so the children must hunt to find it. After the procession ends, Santa joins the parents in a toast, which for many marks the start of the Christmas season.

How do I get there?

The main celebrations take place in the Old Town Square, which is located in the centre of Prague. The closest airport is Ruzyne, which is located 15 minutes away from the city centre. Once there, you can book a Prague airport shuttle direct from the airport to your hotel.  Shuttle Direct offers airport taxis and shuttle buses from most airports in Europe from as little as £7!

When is it on?

St Nicholas Eve is an annual festival and takes place every year on December 5.

Brilliant, tell me more?

For further information, visit www.pragueexperience.com

Štěpán Stich is a Prague airport shuttle driver for Shuttle Direct. They provide pre-booked shuttles to major destinations all over Europe. Wherever you travel, Shuttle Direct can make sure that you don’t miss your car on your holiday abroad.

On the last night of April, many Czechs gather around hillside bonfires to celebrate Paleni Carodejnic, the annual burning of witches. In order to keep the hags at bay, the locals burn their broomsticks and huge effigies of witches and hags, which are similar in appearance to the Guy Fawkes burnt in England on Bonfire Night.

Paleni Carodejnic has more than its fair share of rituals and traditions, one of which sees young lovers jump over the dying embers of bonfires. Single men are also encouraged, on this date, to leave tokens of freshly cut branches on the doorstop of the women of the affections.

It was once believed that the evil powers on this evening, which falls in between the ancient feast days of St. Jacob and St. Phillip, were far stronger than normal and that for this evening only they ruled over the good. Flocks of witches riding broomsticks were said to soar the skies and the Czechs believed that the bonfires would bring them down in flames. Nowadays the celebration is far more lighthearted and the biggest bonfire in the country takes place in the centre of Prague.

How do I get there?

The main celebrations take place on Petrin Hill, which is located in the centre of Prague. The closest airport is Ruzyne, which is located 15 minutes away from the city centre. Once there, you can book Prague airport transfers direct from the airport to your hotel.  Shuttle Direct offers airport taxis and shuttle buses from most airports in Europe from as little as £7!

When is it on?

Witches Night is an annual festival and takes place every year on April 30.

Brilliant, tell me more?

For further information, visit www.pragueexperience.com

Štěpán Stich is a Prague airport transfers driver for Shuttle Direct. They provide pre-booked shuttles to major destinations all over Europe. Wherever you travel, Shuttle Direct can make sure that you don’t miss your car on your holiday abroad.

“Late evening, on the first of May, the twilit May—the time of love” begins the famous poem, May, by Karel Hynek Macha, a 19^th century Czech poet. This poem goes on to describe a tragic love between two young people and is very much a Czech classic, with the first few lines known by most members of the Czech Republic.

After the release of his poem, Karel Hynek Macha was dubbed ‘the poet of love’ and it is believed that kissing in front of his statue on May 1^st will make your love as strong as the stone that his statue is carved from. It is also polite to bring him flowers and place these either on his statue or grave.  After delivering the flowers tradition dictates that couples make their way up to Petrin Hill in the centre of Prague and spend the afternoon making out.

Ancient tradition in Prague says that on May 1^st a girl should be kissed under a cherry tree to keep her beautiful for the rest of the year. However, with cherry trees rare in the city and the publication of ‘May’ the unofficial lover’s day was born.

If you’re currently single or hate poetry and public displays of affection then you may want to give this event a miss.  On your arrival, ask your Prague airport shuttle driver to take you across town to the Labor Day celebrations which celebrate communism and the Soviet Union. But understandably it seems that the Czechs now prefer kissing to communism.

How do I get there?

The main celebrations take place on Petrin Hill, which is located in the centre of Prague. The closest airport is Ruzyne, which is located 15 minutes away from the city centre. Once there, you can book a Prague airport shuttle direct from the airport to your hotel.  Shuttle Direct offers airport taxis and shuttle buses from most airports in Europe from as little as £7!

When is it on?

Lover’s Day is an annual festival and takes place every year on May 1st.

Brilliant, tell me more?

For further information, visit www.pragueexperience.com

Štěpán Stich is a Prague airport shuttle driver for Shuttle Direct. They provide pre-booked shuttles to major destinations all over Europe. Wherever you travel, Shuttle Direct can make sure that you don’t miss your car on your holiday abroad.

Top Tips For A Holiday In Prague

As a private driver specialising in Prague airport transfers, I shuttle all kinds of visitors around this spectacular city, from couples on romantic weekends to solitary history buffs looking to study the architecture. Any guide book can tell what the major sights of Prague are, but only a local can give you the inside tips that can turn a good holiday into a great one. This is just a selection of some of my personal tips to help you get the most out of your holiday in Prague…

Beat The Crowds

Prague attracts millions of people every year during the high season, and it isn’t a big place! If you don’t fancy queuing to see the major sights or elbowing your way through the crowds in the Old Town, get up early – you’ll beat the queues simply by setting your alarm clock nice and early, so see the big sights first thing in the morning and relax in the afternoon.

If you really want the city to yourself, consider a trip during the off season (November to March). It gets very cold in the winter, but the prices are lower, the crowds are non-existent, and Prague can be magical when the snow falls!

Watch Out For Dodgy Taxis!

It isn’t good form for a Prague airport transfer driver to bad mouth his competitors, but in the case of Prague, it really is justified. The official taxi cab companies are fine to use, but beware the unlicensed independents! They are notorious for targeting and massively overcharging foreign tourists on holiday in Prague, and there are even rumours they have links to local organised crime. So stay with the licensed taxis!

Stop Off At The Prague Flea Market

Most visitors travel to Prague for its architecture or for its night life, but for an authentic experience of how the locals live, jump off at the Kolbenova metro station on a Saturday morning and head to the Flea Market. With everything you could imagine on offer from jewellery, clothes, antiques and communist kitch, it’s a great place to explore, a world away from both the grandeur of the old town and the bustling bars of the city centre.

English is unlikely to be spoken (always a good sign that you are off the beaten track), so grab a phrasebook (or just a pad and paper to write down prices!) and haggle away for some of the finest, and cheapest, souvenirs that you are likely to find in Prague.

Stay Away From Wenceslas Square At Night

Prague is a beautiful city, but the cheap beer attracts plenty of stag nights and boozy crowds. Luckily, all the main bars are concentrated into a relatively small area, making them easy to avoid if its not your scene. Above all, stay away from Wenceslas Square at night. Pimps and touts for sex shows congregate here, and they can be aggressive, persistent and unpleasant to deal with. So unless you are in town to explore the seamier side of its night life, it’s best to stay well away!

Grab A Coffee At The Cafe Louvre

It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but the Cafe Louvre is a great place to stop off and recharge your batteries during a hard day of sight seeing. Stay away from the bizarre ‘English Breakfast’, and instead enjoy fine coffee and a great atmosphere. People rave about the friendly service (your average Czech waiter tends to be fairly gruff, having dealt with one too many stag parties in their time), and with Franz Kafka and Albert Einstein as past regulars, it comes with good references!

So follow these tips (and make sure to ask your Prague airport transfer driver for a few more!) and you’ll be all set to enjoy a great trip to Prague.

About the Author

Štěpán Stich is a Prague airport transfers driver for Shuttle Direct. They provide pre-booked shuttles to major destinations all over Europe. Wherever you travel, Shuttle Direct can make sure that you don’t miss your car on your holiday abroad.

St Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle

St Vitus Cathedral is probably the most dramatic and beautiful cathedral in the whole of Prague. Situated within Prague castle, this gothic cathedral is one of the most visited sites in the city. Even though it is so well known, I simply cannot help but recommend it to all my Prague airport shuttle passengers, because it is truly inspirational. It was commissioned by Charles IV, and its construction commenced in 1344. But it took nearly 6 centuries to complete, with its intricate designs and architecture turning into a lengthy affair. Its history is fascinating too, as it was this cathedral that was used for the coronation of the Czech kings and queens, adding yet another dimension to this already fascinating cathedral.

St. Nicholas Church at Malostranske Namesti

I assume that many people who visit Prague have a love of art, so when I’m giving my passengers information on the way from Prague airport to the city, I always recommend visiting the church of St Nicholas at Malostranske Namesti (there are three churches by this name) for its fantastic architecture and the paintings, statues and frescoes housed within the church walls. The church was designed by Christoph and Kilian Ignaz, who were an exceptionally gifted father-and-son architectural team, designing beautiful Baroque masterpieces. Beneath the church’s dome is a Baroque organ, which was played by Mozart himself in 1787. It is definitely one of my favourite churches in the city.

The Spanish Synagogue

This magnificent structure is something I recommend to my Prague airport shuttle passengers on a regular basis. The synagogue is set in the heart of the Jewish quarter, and it is a deeply spiritual site, built in 1868 over the Old Jewish Shul. This beautiful building was designed by Vojtěch Ignátz Ullmann, complete with a dome, stained glass windows and intricate designs on the walls. The beauty of this synagogue is recognised by its label as the most beautiful synagogue in the whole of Europe! It also forms part of the Jewish Museum, so visiting the synagogue will be both a spiritual and a historical experience.

There are many more beautiful religious buildings to be seen in Prague, but these three are my favourites. Perhaps it is the very fact that they were built for religious reasons that gave people the passion to put so much effort into their construction, and has left them with a deeply spiritual feel. And in all my years as a Prague airport shuttle driver, I have never had a complaint about my recommendations.

About the Author

Štěpán Stich is a Prague airport shuttle driver for Shuttle Direct. They provide pre-booked shuttles to major destinations all over Europe. Wherever you travel, Shuttle Direct can make sure that you don’t miss your car on your holiday abroad.

Your Prague airport shuttle will take about 45 minutes to cover the 20km to the city. The driver will more often than not give you a running commentary on the city, and it is a great way to get some insider tips. As you weave around the sometimes narrow, cobbled streets to your hotel you will catch your first glimpses of Prague’s most famous sights.

Prague Castle

The most famous attraction of all – Prague Castle – is the largest ancient castle in the world. In fact it is more than a simple castle – it actually looks like a small town. On your ride from Prague airport to the city you will not pass directly by the Castle, but you will be able to see the elegant outline as it overlooks the river below, and be inspired to visit. The castle was built in the 9^th century and added to in later times.  In the 14^th century it was almost completely rebuilt in the Gothic style we see today. Within the gates of the Castle is the magnificent St Vitus Cathedral – spiritual symbol of the Czech State. The interior of this beautiful cathedral leads off to numerous side chapels, one of which houses the Crown Jewels and the tomb of Good King Wenceslas. On the outside of the Castle walls is Golden Lane. You can walk along and admire the houses (now shops) built right into the castle fortification. The lane leads to the dungeons and the original castle walls, and was once home to the famous writer Franz Kafka.

Jewish Quarter

Depending on where your hotel is situated, your Prague Airport shuttle journey may take you through Josefov.  One of the oldest and best preserved in Europe, Prague’s Jewish Quarter was established over 1000 years ago with the first city inhabitants. It is said that the Quarter remained largely unscathed from the ravages of WW2, because Hitler spared it with the purpose of keeping it as a symbol of a vanished culture.  There are many beautiful and interesting synagogues in the area, but perhaps the most valuable historical monuments in the Jewish Quarter are the Museum and the Cemetery.

The Jewish Museum has the world’s largest collection of Judaic art, due to the fact that city leaders were able to negotiate with the Nazis to bring back artefacts and papers from the liquidated communities of Bohemia and Moravia.

The Jewish Cemetery holds over 12,000 tombstones dating back to 1439. Because of the times of massive overcrowding of the quarter, as the cemetery filled up, dirt was brought in and layered on top and more graves dug. Some of the tombstones you will see are for people buried several layers below.

If you do pass through the Jewish Quarter on your way from Prague airport to the city, note the position of the cemetery and the museum so you can return on foot.

Old Town Square (Staromestski Namesti)

With its old cobbled square and eclectic blend of Gothic, Baroque and Romanesque architecture, the Old Town Square emits an aura of old world elegance and grace. As your Prague airport shuttle passes around the perimeter, you will catch a glimpse of the oldest square in Prague and what many people consider to be the centre of the city. When you return later on foot you will have the opportunity to explore the square and the many wonderful delights it holds.

Horse-drawn carriages clip clop over the cobbled stones and past the many lively cafes and restaurants. The wonderful medieval clock – the Orlog – is in the square.  It displays various astronomical details as well as being a beautiful piece of craftsmanship and a much loved city icon. To cap a visit to the square you can climb the tower of the Old Town Hall and look over perhaps the most beautiful panorama in Europe.

About the Author

Štěpán Stich is a Prague airport shuttle driver for Shuttle Direct. They provide pre-booked shuttles to major destinations all over Europe. Wherever you travel, Shuttle Direct can make sure that you don’t miss your car on your holiday abroad.