For many people, Europe is a dream woven from history and romance. To me, the Czech Republic holds perhaps the most enchanting chapter of that dream.
I first visited the country a decade ago. During my second visit recently, the moment my plane touched down at the airport in the capital city of Prague, I knew I would have another unforgettable journey.
Prague has its own unique personality. Sure, it lacks Paris’ flamboyance and London’s grandeur, yet possesses an irresistible charm: gentle, elegant, and quietly captivating.
No wonder this city with a population of just 1.3 million has remained one of Europe’s most beloved destinations for centuries. The reason is simple: Prague has stories to tell, and it tells them romantically.
May and June are undoubtedly the best months to visit Prague. Daytime temperatures range from 15°C to 22°C. The sky is brilliantly blue, sunlight gently washes over red-tiled rooftops and ancient churches, and the weather is perfect for walking.
Prague is never meant to be seen through a bus window, mind you, as its true beauty reveals itself one step at a time on the streets.
And when you travel with me, 20,000 steps a day is simply part of the package!
Interestingly, almost every tour ends the same way – someone smiles and says, “It was exhausting ... but absolutely worth it!”
They’re always right.
Our walking route begins at Prague Castle Square, overlooking the Old Town from the hilltop. Below us, the Vltava River flows quietly through the city while dozens of church spires glitter beneath the morning sun.
At that moment, I fully understood why Prague is known as “The City of a Hundred Spires”.
From there, we slowly descended into the heart of the city.
My walking shoes felt wonderfully light as they carried me across cobblestone streets laid centuries ago. Every step seemed to walk alongside history itself.
Some of our travellers even played Jolin Tsai’s song, Prague Square, on their phones, adding an unexpected soundtrack to the atmosphere.
Then someone asked: “Leesan, didn’t actress Shu Qi get married here?”
I laughed. “I can’t say for certain ... but if she did, I’d completely understand why.” (Because Prague itself feels like a wedding.)
Many visitors first notice Prague’s stillness. Church bells echo across the skyline, bringing an unexpected sense of peace. But what fascinates me even more is the city’s history.
Unlike many European cities that suffered devastating wartime destruction, Prague was fortunate enough to preserve much of its medieval architecture.
During World War II, the historic core remained largely intact, allowing today’s visitors to experience a city that looks remarkably similar centuries ago.
In other words, Prague isn’t simply a city. It’s a living, breathing open-air museum.
Wherever you look, Gothic spires, Baroque domes, Art Nouveau buildings, and elegant stone bridges stretch across the Vltava River.
Prague never competes for attention. It simply stands quietly, telling its story to anyone willing to listen.
No visit to Prague is complete without crossing the Charles Bridge. Built in the 14th century, this magnificent stone bridge remains one of the city’s greatest landmarks.
The moment you step onto its weathered stones, you can’t help feeling that history still lingers beneath your feet. Kings once crossed here. Merchants passed this way.
Poets, painters, priests, and travellers all left their footprints on this bridge.
Today, visitors from around the world continue that journey. After all, history never stops, it simply welcomes new characters.
Street musicians perform beside artists and painters, creating an atmosphere filled with romance and creativity.
In the distance, Prague Castle rises above the city while sightseeing boats glide peacefully along the Vltava. It all feels like a perfectly composed movie scene.
Continuing onward, we arrived at Old Town Square. But long before reaching it, we noticed crowds gathering around an ancient building.
Everyone was waiting for a good view of the same star attraction – The Prague Astronomical Clock.
Built in 1410, this extraordinary clock has been operating for over six centuries. At every hour, its mechanical figures emerge to perform their timeless procession, greeted each time by applause from visitors.
To be honest, compared with today’s technology, the performance itself isn’t spectacular.
But when you remember that it has continued without fail for to chime and work for more than 600 years, respect naturally follows.
After all, there probably aren’t many employees in the world who have reported to work punctually for over six centuries!
During the day, Prague belongs to the world. But at night, it belongs to you, and I loved that.
As the final tourists leave the square, silence slowly returns. Church bells ring softly. The cobblestones glow beneath warm streetlights.
There is no noise. No crowds.
Only history and time quietly flowing together. At that moment, Prague becomes poetry.
Visiting Cesky Krumlov
If Prague is a romantic poem, then Cesky Krumlov, affectionately known as “CK” or “CK Town” by locals and visitors alike, is a fairy tale.
And not just any fairy tale, mind you. It’s more like the kind you never want to stop reading once you’ve turned the first page.
This was my very first visit to Cesky Krumlov and honestly, I was completely mesmerised.
I’ve always believed that people in ancient times were far better than we are at choosing where to build cities.
They had no satellite imagery. No Google Earth. Yet somehow they always found the most beautiful locations. Cesky Krumlov is the perfect example of this.
The entire town is set within a dramatic bend of the Vltava River, which wraps around it like a ribbon.
Layer upon layer of red rooftops climb the hillside before meeting the magnificent castle complex that dominates the skyline.
Walking from the parking area toward the Old Town, we first crossed a wooden bridge. Below flowed the same Vltava River that winds through Prague. The river never stops moving.
Neither do the people on it.
Young paddlers drifted downstream in inflatable rafts, laughing, shouting, and splashing through the gentle current.
It completely shattered the stereotype that ancient towns must be quiet. Here, history and youthful energy exist together. And somehow, they complement each other perfectly.
Once inside the Old Town, I finally understood why photographers adore this place. There are simply no ordinary street corners. Every 10 steps reveal a great spot.
From riverside cafes, narrow cobblestone lanes and craft shops to colourful historic houses, ancient churches and medieval squares. Every corner is picture-perfect.
By the end, the busiest member of our group wasn’t the tour guide – it was everyone’s camera. The clicking of shutters never seemed to stop.
The one place you simply cannot miss in Cesky Krumlov is the castle tower. Yes, you’ll need to climb quite a few stairs, but every step is worth the effort. Standing at the top, I found myself speechless.
I could see an endless sea of red rooftops. There’s a magnificent medieval castle somewhere, and the rolling green hills stretch into the distance.
The entire panorama felt almost unreal.
In that moment, I finally realised why Cesky Krumlov is one of Europe’s most beautiful small towns.
It truly looks as though it has stepped straight out of a Medieval painting.
Many tour groups visit Cesky Krumlov on a day trip. But I would recommend that you at least stay the night, because the real magic begins after sunset.
When the last buses depart, the town quietly returns to its natural rhythm. Cafes glow with warm yellow lights. The river flows gently beneath the castle walls.
The air is filled with nothing but peace and tranquillity.
That’s when you notice something wonderful: Fairy tales don’t always exist only in fiction because sometimes, they’re hidden beside the quiet bend of a river in Europe.
And Cesky Krumlov is one of these places.
As I left, I turned back for one last look at those endless red rooftops. It suddenly occurred to me that the greatest joy of travel isn’t how many famous places you’ve visited.
It’s that one unforgettable moment when you truly step into the soul of a destination.
This time around, Prague gave me romance.
And Cesky Krumlov gave me a fairy tale.
Together, they became the Czech Republic I had always imagined.
The views expressed here are entirely the writer’s own.
Leesan, the globe-trotting traveller who has visited seven continents, including 164 countries and territories, enjoys sharing his travel stories and insights. He has also authored seven books.
