Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, is one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval cities, its skyline of spires, red roofs and Gothic towers earning it the nickname the City of a Hundred Spires. It is compact, walkable and noticeably cheaper than Western European capitals.
The classic route runs from the Old Town Square and its famous Astronomical Clock across the statue-lined Charles Bridge to the hilltop Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral, with the historic Jewish Quarter and the Vltava riverbanks close by.
The best time to visit is May to June or September, when the weather is mild and crowds thinner than the August peak; December adds atmospheric Christmas markets. The country uses the Czech koruna, not the euro, and three days comfortably covers the highlights plus a day trip.