- Hradcany (the Castle): an amazing site overlooking the city

- Vysehrad and the Slavin Cemetery: an off-the-beaten-path site and the most amazing cemetery I have ever seen

- Staromestské námestí (the main square in the Old Town): a good starting point and fun place to hang out

- Petrin Hill: for the best view of the city

- the amazing architecture throughout the city

- the bridges and statues all over the city

Quick Tips:

Don't be afraid to hop on the subway and head out of the main tourist center. The subway was easy to navigate and it was nice to enjoy a more local experience.

Bring some good walking shoes and lots of film.

Crystal is a good souvenir and there are several shops where you can find some very nice crystal vases and such. If you don't want to carry your purchases, the shops will ship them for you. You can negotiate the price.

Best Way To Get Around:

For outlying areas, the subway system was very easy to navigate.

When you get a taxi, ask the hotels to call one. If you hail one on the street, it tends to be much more expensive. Make sure the taxi has a meter. In terms of comfort and cost, I found the taxis to be quite reasonable.

If you really want Asian food while you are in Prague, Barock is probably about as good as it gets. In hindsight, I probably would have saved my cravings for my return to New York. But I did enjoy my dining experience and recommend the restaurant unless you are a real stickler about your Asian food.

Keep in mind that everything in the Old Town is only a few blocks away from the square including some of my favorite sites like the Charles Bridge, the Old Jewish quarter, and some great shops and restaurants.

St. Vitus Cathedral: You will see the cathedral from outside the castle walls and be drawn to it as you enter the castle gates. The detail of the architecture was amazing and the gargoyles on the outside were one of my favorite architectural features in all of Prague (which is saying a lot). Once inside the Cathedral, you will be blown away by its size, by the beautiful stained glass windows, and by the design details throughout (i.e. frescoes, inlaid jewels, paintings, etc.). One of the guides compared it to the inside of a jewel casket. You will also find the Imperial Mausoleum and the Bohemian crown jewels in a separate chamber.

Basilica of St George: It isn’t that impressive from the outside, but it is a beautiful Romanesque monument. It has been meticulously restored to replace the original 10th century church.

Convent of svJirí and Golden Lane: Stop by the convent to see an excellent collection of Gothic art. The Convent houses the National Gallery’s Old Bohemian art collection. Then you can walk down Golden Lane and enjoy an the multicolored 16th century cottages.

Old Royal Palace: This is where kings were elected and Czech presidents are sworn into office. You can wander through several rooms including Vladislav Hall.

Of course there are many other things to see in the castle so set aside a few hours and just wander. When you get tired, you will find many cafes, restaurants and pubs to sit back and enjoy a beer and bite to eat.

As a side note, the subway trip to the park was a fun, easy experience. It was easy to walk to the park from the subway as well.