The landlocked country of the Czech Republic holds a true gem at its centre. Prague is of course its capital city, but this is not the only reason why you should consider a visit to it, especially if you are thinking about escaping for a long weekend.

Firstly it offers a fairly short flight time, no matter where you are flying from in the UK. This means you will have the maximum amount of time to actually enjoy your destination, instead of spending half of the weekend travelling from place to place.

But with that in mind you can also benefit from knowing you are right in the heart of Europe, in a country you may well never have visited before. It will certainly give you a taste of something different.

Prague packs in lots of charming sights as well, making this a superb destination to head for if you love sightseeing. One of its key attractions is the architecture, which is simply stunning for the most part. Prague managed to duck a lot of the damage Europe had inflicted on it during World War II. This means you can see much of the architecture from a time when other countries were left looking at ruins.

Key sights to watch out for include the Dancing House, a building that seems to defy all modern planning laws – and indeed the law of gravity as well. The Charles Bridge will allow you to wander across the river and see both sides of Prague, connecting the Old Town with some newer parts in the process. As a bridge which only allows pedestrians to cross, this provides you with a classic way to enjoy seeing more of this stunning city.

There is no doubt that there are many attractions in Prague. They are varied and have different reasons for bringing you to see them, but they all blend to create a city that is truly memorable. Can you imagine not taking the opportunity to see what makes Prague tick? You will regret it if you don’t find out the answer.

Prague is a city so you would naturally think of all the different types and styles of buildings within its confines. As the capital city of the Czech Republic it has plenty more than just buildings to offer though. It can be all too easy to forget the fact that it has green spaces, just as many other cities do. Just as New York has Central Park among others and London has numerous Royal parks to explore, so Prague has Letna Gardens. And just as you would make time to see those parks in New York and London among other cities, you should also make the time to see Letna Gardens in Prague.

It doesn’t much matter what time of the year you choose to visit Prague for a city break either. Of course the weather will be more pleasant during the summer months, allowing you longer to sit and relax in the park’s surroundings. But you can also wander through the park during the colder months, perhaps as a respite from some of the sightseeing activities you can do in the city itself. Whatever time of year you go, you should ensure you see Letna Gardens for their beauty and for the views you can get as well.

Known locally as Letenske Sady, Letna Gardens are on a hill, looking down over Prague itself. As such they provide a nice way to get a totally different view of Prague and also to escape from the hustle and bustle of sightseeing for a while. There are plenty of places to sit down and relax while you are there, perhaps taking the opportunity to enjoy a beer or two as well. Indeed there is a beer garden here (enough of a draw for some people to make the trip) and it gives you a wonderful view down over Prague.

If you’ve heard of the Prague Metronome you will find this in the park as well; it replaces the old statue of Joseph Stalin that once bore witness to very different times. In any event you will enjoy your time in Letna Gardens, however long you choose to spend there.

It’s a question you will probably ask yourself at some point during any holiday. But Prague isn’t really somewhere that immediately makes you think of lots of options in this sense. If you are visiting the city with your kids in tow, it pays to know about places such as Detsky Ostrov.

This is better known among some visitors as Children’s Island. It is in Ujezd and it is quite easy to find if you know where to look. It is a good solid playground with lots of activities and things for the children to do. If you want to give them some time to run around and expend some energy you just have to go there for a couple of hours and relax while they do just that.

It is called Children’s Island because it really is set on an island – the smallest one that exists in Prague. You will find the island not far from the National Theatre, which is on the opposite bank of the river. You will no doubt be glad to hear that the play area has a sandy base, so there are no hard surfaces to fall on. There are countless different pieces of play equipment and you will find that it has definitely been built with children (and adults) in mind.

For instance there are plenty of benches where you can sit and relax while your children play. You will have an uninterrupted view of the play area and you can also benefit from the fact that there is just one entrance and exit to the park. This means you won’t have to worry about your kids running off. Make use of the restaurant that is also to be found on the island – it provides good refreshments of all kinds to replenish everyone’s energies.

The location of Children’s Island is such that you will be able to stop and start your sightseeing around a trip to the island itself. It means you can have a nice break in the middle of the day, grab lunch at the restaurant perhaps and allow your kids to blow off some steam as well. It’s the perfect antidote.

If you are going to Prague you’ve probably made a mental list of all the places and sights you want to see while you are there. But there is one famous (or perhaps that should be infamous) sight you definitely shouldn’t miss.

It’s called the Lennon Wall, and as you might suppose from the name it has to do with John Lennon. The wall seems to have been taken over as something of a shrine to the memory of Lennon after he was murdered back in 1980. Beatles fans and fans of John himself have added many different items and statements to the wall, and these are what make it worth seeing.

The good news is that you can visit the wall on your way to or from other sights in Prague. You will find it in Grand Priory Square and despite attempts by some to paint over the artwork and graffiti on the wall, the latter has always come back with a vengeance.

One of the notable things about it is that it is never the same for very long. Other images and notes are constantly added so even if you have popped by while in Prague on a previous break, the chances are it will have changed since you were last there. It is nice to spend just a few moments looking at all the images and messages that are there. Furthermore, since we are fast approaching the 30th anniversary of John Lennon’s death, it seems appropriate that more artwork will probably be added.

Some say the wall is not worth a visit and it could certainly be the case that a special trip to this part of Prague is probably not worth the time. But of course fans of John and the Beatles may say otherwise. Only you will know whether you truly want to pay a visit or not, but it is certainly a focus for many things – above all peace and harmony. As such it is a nice focal point and yet another way to remember a man whose legacy still lingers on, some thirty years after he passed.

When you have booked a weekend in Prague (or perhaps even treated yourself to a longer break there) the first thing on your mind will probably be making a shortlist of venues to see during the day. Prague is packed full of delightful places to see and things to do, but of course you don’t stop thinking about enjoying yourself when the sun goes down, do you?

Of course not, which is why it pays to consider how you will be spending your evenings as well. Luckily Prague has a very lively nightlife, which means you should consider where you will be staying quite carefully before you book anything. If you love nothing better than a nice relaxing and laid back meal, followed by a drink, a stroll and then an early night, make sure you’re not staying in the middle of one of the liveliest streets.

The good news is that if you like clubs and bars you won’t go thirsty or short of entertainment either. In fact many of the locations you could visit stay open well into the small hours and through until morning in some cases too.

Be sure to explore both the Old Town and the New Town while you are in Prague. Not only do they both offer much to see and do during the daytime, you will also be able to benefit from the wide range of clubs that come alive after dark.

A classic example in the Old Town is Karlovy Lazne. Since it boasts a full five floors you might think you are entering a department store rather than a club. But it’s a popular venue with many people and you will certainly be tempted to spend a good few hours there.

Back in the New Town you could try out the Duplex Club and café in Wenceslas Square. This is a key area worth visiting at any time, so make sure you make your way back to the top floor of the Duplex Club building to see a different side of Prague at night.

Prague is a city of many stunning sights. One of the biggest of them all has to be the castle of Vysehrad. Located on a hill looking down over the Vltava River, it looks even more imposing than it would do otherwise. It is also a much bigger site than you might expect, because the name does not just apply to the castle. It also applies to the whole area, so you can visit this without seeing inside the castle if you wish.

But what can you expect to see? Is it worth a visit to see a castle dating back from the 10th century, as well as the surroundings which crowd up against it?

The short answer is a resounding yes. This is a quieter area than some other parts of Prague, and indeed there was a time when it wasn’t part of the city at all. It was only in the early 1880s that the area joined with the city and became known as part of it.

One thing you will soon notice about Vysehrad is the abundance of greenery in the area. Trees, shrubs and plants are all over the place, giving this a smooth and calm feel and one that is totally different from much of the rest of the city. The castle may be in ruins compared to its glory days but you can still watch over the walls and gaze down on the river below.

You have two choices if you want a bite to eat while you are busy exploring this area of Prague. There are a few nice cafes dotted around that will happily serve you a variety of items. But there is nothing better on a sunny day than to enjoy a relaxed picnic, provided you plan it adequately in advance.

You can visit several locations in Vysehrad as well while you are there. For instance there is the gothic cellar and St Lawrence’s Basilica as well. Be sure to spend some time exploring the area – you never know what chunks of history will be revealed to you.

Every major location has its fair share of museums and in most places some are better than others. Some focus on art while others tell you about the history of the location you are in. But there will always be a handful of museums that are insightful and interesting to boot.

If you happen to be in Prague you should definitely make the effort to see the Mucha Museum. This acts as a tribute to Alfons Mucha, who is known as one of the best Czech painters in existence. If you know anything at all about art nouveau in France, you will probably have heard of his name. But regardless of whether you have or not you will certainly come out of this museum knowing a lot more about him than when you went in.

It is a small museum but no less interesting for that. You’ll guess from the name that it features his work and no one else’s, so you’ll get an insightful look at his work and life. It even has pages from Mucha’s sketchbook on display, allowing you to see his sketches in their original form.

This museum is definitely a real treat for art lovers of all kinds. But even if you don’t know much about art it is still worth taking a look round, and you have from 10am until 6pm to do so each day.

You can find the museum in the New Town area of Prague, at Panska 7. Once there you can even watch a documentary telling you more about the life of this celebrated artist. He may be much better known in Prague and other European countries than he is in the UK, but you’ll be glad you explored more about his life by visiting the museum while you are there.

If you love his style and artwork you’ll also be pleased to know there is a museum shop inside the museum itself. This gives you the opportunity to see some of Alfons Mucha’s designs on items you can take home with you. What better way to have some more permanent memories of your time in this museum in Prague?