In this article, we'll show you how to prepare for an independent trip to Prague: where to buy flights, how to choose and book a hotel, what sights you shouldn't miss, ready-made walking routes around Prague, what to try, where to go shopping, and plenty of other useful tips.

An old legend says that the Czech princess Libuse once stood on the banks of the Vltava and declared: "I see a great city whose glory will rise to the stars!" Soon Prague grew on that very spot – a city deservedly considered one of the most beautiful in Europe. There is truly plenty to admire here: ancient castles, atmospheric lanes, majestic churches, and the homes of famous residents...

But Prague draws visitors for more than its gorgeous architecture and rich history: the local beer is often treated as a gold standard, and the portions served with national dishes are generous enough to share between two – or even three – people. It feels as if the Czech capital is always ready to welcome guests, and that's exactly why you want to come back again and again.

Read about how to get to Prague and where to buy flights in our guide. Besides flying, you can also travel to Prague by train or bus, or drive your own car. If you haven't sorted out your documents for a trip to the Czech Republic yet – take a look at our visa article.

Choosing a hotel in Prague is not as easy as it sounds – there are hundreds of options here. We've prepared an article for you: "Which Area of Prague Is Best to Stay In." We recommend deciding which part of the city suits you first, and only then booking your hotel.

Besides traditional hotels, Prague has plenty of hostels and apartments with more budget-friendly prices. On Booking.com you'll find around 2,000 options for every taste and budget!

Flying to Prague for the first time? Read the article "How to Get from the Airport to the City." Public transport, a taxi, or a rental car – choose whatever suits you best.

Prague's streets are wonderfully beautiful – and wonderfully confusing. They seem determined to mislead visitors, wear them out, and eventually lure them into one of Prague's taverns for a couple of beers. Czech beer is undeniably excellent, but leaving with memories of nothing but lager and veprevo koleno isn't quite why people come to Prague.

There is an even easier way to prepare for a trip to Prague – follow one of these ready-made walking routes:

Finding a free Wi-Fi hotspot in Prague is easy: you'll see them in cafes, restaurants, shopping centers, and libraries. If you want to stay connected at all times, it's worth using one of the local mobile operators. For example, for 150 crowns you can buy an O2 SIM card with free text messages and 500 MB of data, while for 200 crowns you can get T-Mobile or Vodafone cards with included call minutes at good rates.

Like any European city, Prague has shops for popular brands (on Na Prikope Street), designer boutiques (on Parizska Street), supermarkets, and large shopping malls. Even more interesting, though, are the local brands selling quality shoes, jewelry and costume jewelry, crystal, glass, and porcelain, and of course national food products and drinks. For souvenirs, look for beer mugs, puppet marionettes, and reproductions of works by Alphonse Mucha.

Typical shop opening hours are from 8:00 to 18:00 on weekdays and from 8:00 to 12:00 on Saturday; Sunday is usually a day off. Large supermarkets are open seven days a week from 8:00 to 20:00. Seasonal sales take place in January, April, July, and October.

Czech cuisine is simple, hearty, and built around skillfully cooked meat of every kind – from beef, pork, and chicken to hare, venison, goose, and duck. The most famous dish is Vepřové koleno – pork knuckle served with potatoes, stewed cabbage, or porridge. Roast goose with red cabbage is considered a delicacy. It's also worth trying pickled sausages known as utopenci, flour or potato dumplings with rich sauces, hearty soups and stews, and of course washing it all down with excellent Czech beer.

In Czech, tips are called spropitne and usually amount to 5-10% of the bill. Look closely at your receipt: if you see lines such as sluzby, prirazka, or prirazka k cene, the tip has already been included.

Photos used in this guide are by Lola Pidluska, Shutterstock, Booking.com, euromag.ru, arts-wallpapers.com, phnaverandach.cz, honzas55.rajce.idnes.cz, Flickr: marcin.mlodzianko.