3-MINUTE TRAVEL GUIDE:
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
DON’T FORGET TO PACK I recommend two outlet converters; leave one in your backpack and one in your room. That way, you always have access to one. I also recommend bringing a few reusable tote bags, as grocery stores charge for bags.
BEST LEFT AT HOME Towels and notebooks. You can easily find towels there and then donate them when you leave. I recommend getting notebooks in Europe because their paper is a different size, so it’s nice to adjust.
WHERE TO LIVE I loved my apartment in the Vinohrady area. Very hipster location, with a farmer’s market on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.
BEST EATS NEAR CAMPUS Chile and Lime is a great Asian fusion place. I highly recommend BON ramen, The Tavern, Marty’s Breakfast, and the cafe in the Faculty of Social Sciences building. I also recommend WOK and Burrito Loco if you want cheap eats. Go to the Strahov Monastery and Brewery for amazing goulash.
FAVORITE PRAGUEAN ACTIVITY Christmas markets and visiting historical sites. Historical sites are everywhere in Prague, and I recommend visiting as many as possible.
WHERE TO STUDY I personally love studying in cafes. I highly recommend the Globe, the Miners, and Cafe Misenska. Also, I highly recommend getting a library pass to the national library as a student. It costs something like 15 crowns and you get unlimited access to their reading rooms, for as long as you want, during opening hours.
MUST-TRY LOCAL DISH Pork knuckle and potato dumplings.
BEST PHOTO OP Prague Castle, but go up the hill from the Malonstranska metro station. I know it is a hike, but the views going up are so worth it. Also, some other favorites are the Strahov Library, the National Museum, the National Theater, Charles Bridge, and Old Town Square.
BEST LOCAL EVENT In addition to the Christmas markets, which you cannot miss, the farmers’ markets in Prague are wonderful! Also if you enjoy nightclubs, you will be covered in Prague, just please remember to stay safe.
BIGGEST FAIL I took the wrong train. In the Prague train station, everything is Czech, so it is best to go by train numbers, but you must look very closely! I took train 1033 instead of train 1003 and ended up in a tiny town in the rural Czech Republic instead of Vienna. Getting to Vienna ended up taking roughly ten hours instead of four. So, be careful. Also, I recommend booking trains and buses directly through the bus or train companies to avoid scams. I know a few people that got stuck in random cities because they accidentally bought scam tickets.
BUY THIS Buy local whenever you can! Visit the more indie shops in lesser-touristy areas to get you better souvenirs than in the tourist zones. I recommend glass and ceramic works as well, especially if you can make them yourselves.
NOT THAT Avoid tredliks (the chimney cakes). They are often overly sweet and quite expensive. They are also traditionally Hungarian so if you have a chance, I recommend getting a more traditional one in Hungary.
MOST INTERESTING CLASS Cold War class and Habsburg History. Both have absolutely incredible professors and if you are interested in history, these will be the top history classes you have ever taken. I guarantee it.
BEST PART OF THE PROGRAM The included excursions! Take as many of these as you possibly can. They’re included in your tuition and an incredible amount of fun.
FAVORITE UCEAP TRIP OR ACTIVITY Visiting Strahov Library and Prague Castle. They are both so beautiful I went back too many times to count.
UNFORGETTABLE WEEKEND TRIPS Tallinn, Estonia. It was incredibly cheap to get a flight there compared to other European destinations. The Estonian people were so nice, the old town city was beautiful, and it was effortless to walk or get a bolt scooter to get around quickly.
BONUS PRO TIP If you have the opportunity to study abroad, do it. Obviously, rule number one is to stay safe. But I found that the instances in which things didn’t go to plan were the stories I looked back on with the most laughs.
