Charles Bridge - magical, bustling, busy - amazing.

Definitely a highlight of my trip to Prague, Charles Bridge's charms vary with the time of day you arrive. Before I'd been I'd heard (thanks to IgoUgo.com!) that the bridge was best in early morning with nobody else around. Well I didn't make it up that early(!) but midmorning, afternoon and evening it was a very special place.

The bridge is lined by statues of saints, each with its own individual story, and we spent a good while when the bridge wasn't too busy deciding on our favourites!

The soundtrack to our visit was created by clusters of buskers - from saxophonists to folk bands there was something to suit everyone's ears.

The bridge is also a good setting for shoppers - with craft stalls sheltering under the saints. Wood ornaments, portrait paintings and jewelery all vied for our attention as we moved slowly across through the crowds of tourists.

Bisecting the city in two, Charles Bridge is easy to find - in the centre of Prague and in the middle of every map. The nice thing about it was that it's a tourist attraction that's totally free. And there's something on the bridge that will suit every tourist's tastes.

The one downside is that the bridge is always packed. My group more than once lost members as we walked across to the surrounding stalls.

If you don't mind the bustle, it's a beautiful way to reach your destination.

The Charles Bridge was truly fantastic this time of year. It was right before Christmas, so the bridge was full of carolers in addition to the regular vendors I'd think you'd see there on a daily basis. This bridge is the perfect place for a stroll.

Charles Bridge is one of my three top attractions in Prague. It joins Old Town Square and Prague Castle as three things that you simply cannot miss. The bridge can be walked across in 5 minutes (during early morning), but we went back and back while we were in Prague and probably spent several hours enjoying the view, the bridge itself and the people scene. The first stone bridge over the Vltava River, replacing a wooden construction, was built in the 12th century during the reign of King Vladislav I. This bridge, named Judith Bridge, collapsed in 1342.

Charles Bridge is a stone Gothic bridge that connects the Old Town and Malá Strana. It was actually called the Stone Bridge during the first several centuries. It is said that egg yolks were mixed into the mortar to strengthen the construction of the bridge. Unlike its predecessor, Charles Bridge has survived many floods, most recently in August 2002, when the country experienced the worst flood in the past 500 years - so the egg yolks must not have been such a bad idea. Considering the weight of tourists it has to bear, it's surprising this one hasn't collapsed too!

The Charles Bridge is 502 meters long. Resting on 16 arches, it was wide enough for four carriages to cross at the same time and was for a long time the only permanent link between both riversides. On the Lesser Town end of the Charles Bridge there are two bridge towers. The smaller one is a 12th-century remainder of the Judith Bridge. The taller late-Gothic tower was erected in 1464 on the orders of King George of Podebrady, who wanted a counterweight to the Old Town Bridge Tower.

Thirty Baroque statues began to be placed on either side of Charles Bridge in the 17th century. Now many of them are copies. The most popular statue is probably the one of St. John of Nepomuk, a Czech martyr saint who was executed during the reign of Wenceslas IV by being thrown into the Vltava from the bridge. The plaque on the statue has been polished to a shine from countless people touching it over the centuries. Touching the statue is supposed to bring good luck and ensure your return to Prague. Of course, I touched it.

Charles Bridge is also popular with Czech artists, musicians and souvenir vendors whose stands line both sides of the bridge year-round. You will find artists selling their wares, tourists by the thousands and wily thieves and pickpockets. A great time of day to come to the bridge is after sunset, when one can enjoy a breathtaking view of the fully lit Prague Castle against the evening sky. Don’t forget the camera.

I visited in October, when visitor numbers are down, but I was told that the bridge becomes unbearably crowded during peak season. That’s when you have to be particularly wary of pickpockets.

This is the must do thing if you are a tourist visiting Prague. It is a great place to people watch and to catch great views of the city.

The Charles bridge is the literal and figurative link between the old and new city. The day that I was there, the bridge was abuzz with a lot of activity, even on such a dreadfully cold day (below 32C). No visit to Prague is complete without crossing the bridge!