Prague: Worth It, But Not Entirely

Prague has long been a city of my dreams. As one of the most prosperous European metropolises in the late Middle Ages and early modern era, and the third-largest city in the Habsburg Empire after its twin capitals, its history, rich culture, and elegant skyline haunted my imagination. Yet upon visiting, my expectations were only partially met.🏰🏰🏰 The old town consists of typical Austro-Hungarian Baroque, Historicist, and Art Nouveau architecture. Beautiful as it is, it doesn’t notably surpass Vienna or Trieste in style or texture. Only a few Gothic towers from Charles IV’s era remain as landmarks. While museums and galleries maintain "decent" standards in exhibitions and restoration of old buildings, both their curatorial quality and aesthetic expression lag behind Western European capitals. Overtourism plagues the old town even more than Amsterdam, filled with kitsch souvenir shops, cannabis stores, fast-food joints, and fake "museums"—but unlike Amsterdam, there’s no local life to balance it, leaving streets either overly commercial or lifeless.❤️❤️❤️ Though Czechoslovakia was one of Europe’s most industrialized nations by the early 20th century, the shadows of Nazi occupation, decades of Soviet-style socialism, and post-authoritarian era are still visible: aging infrastructure, dilapidated buildings, oligarchy, corruption, political apathy, unreflective nationalism, suspicion of left-wing progressivism, and a lack of social diversity. These surface even in museum narratives, bookstore selections, and online debates. Despite relatively successful post-1989 transition, Prague still has far to go to align with Western Europe (not to mention the latter’s recent regressions). Still, Prague remains among my top 10 European cities. Its historical heritage is not only well-preserved but vividly displayed: I witnessed relics of the Hussite Wars, Thirty Years’ War, and Czechoslovak Legion in the National Museum and Military Museum; I marveled at masterpieces by European and Czech artists in the National Gallery. Gothic towers and Baroque libraries rival Western counterparts, while churches across the city boast some of Europe’s most ornate and unique interiors.😁😁😁 Most surprisingly, Czechs proved warm and inclusive. Despite overall right-leaning politics and lower internationalization, I felt no xenophobia—none of the Germanic . Locals were generally friendly, hospitable, and humble, with occasional bursts of cheerfulness. Though as a tourist I couldn’t engage deeply, my impression was resoundingly positive. Prague may not be a Paris, Berlin, or London. It trails Barcelona, Vienna, or Amsterdam in overall polish. But it remains a city of undeniable charm, worth exploring for those willing to look beyond the tourist veneer. #PragueReview #CentralEuropeTravel #HistoricalCities #CzechRepublic