In terms of sheer beauty and architectural excellence, Prague is undoubtedly one of Europe's most attractive capital cities. The history of the city is echoed within the walls of the numerous baroque and Renaissance buildings which characterise this splendid city.

Prague is the Czech Republic's capital and its international show piece. From magnificent Prague Castle to Wenceslas Square in the heart of the city, Prague rewards visitors with a diverse range of attractions, most situated within walking distance of each other. The Charles Bridge, flanked on either side by statues of monarchs and saints, serves as a timeless symbol of Prague's medieval history, while the Jewish quarter, adjacent to the old town square, is a constant reminder of the Nazi occupation during World War Two.

Having survived the centuries with its medieval architecture intact, Prague is one of the best-preserved capitals in Europe as well as being one of the most easily accessible of the great cities of Eastern Europe. Its historical legacy is only matched by its status as a European cultural centre.

Although "discovered" by modern tourism a couple of decades ago, and already one of Europe's favourite city breaks (particularly among the stag-do and hen-night brigades) Prague has the charm to still seem untired by the thousands of visitors who come here each day. And certainly the visitors show no sign of ever tiring of this historical but thoroughly modern thinking city.

The most significant of Prague's baroque buildings, St Nicholas's church is situated in the Mala Strana between the castle area and the Vltava river. The castle's massive dome dominates the surrounding area, making St Nicholas's easily visible from all over the city.

Inside, the church's proudest possession is the massive fresco, stretching across the nave and depicting the life of St Nicholas. The interior amply demonstrates all the colourful trappings that defined the baroque period, with bold marbled features in rich abundance. Interestingly three generations of the same family of architects worked on the cathedral in the hundred years it took to build. The dome and over-the-top interior were designed by Kilián Ignaz Dietzenhofer, following his father's work on the front façade. Kilián himself designed the sumptuous white façade of Prague's other St Nicholas's Church near the Old Town Square.

Mozart famously gave piano recitals in the church and his works are still regularly played here for audiences eager to hear his music in these magnificent surroundings. Malostranske Namesti, Mala Strana. Open: daily 09h00-16h00 (Nov-Mar); 09h00-17h00 (Apr-Oct). Tel: +420 257-534-215 +420 257-534-215.

The Mala Strana or "Little Quarter" is quintessential baroque Prague. Within its confines lie some of the capital's true architectural gems. As well as St Nicholas's Church (see above) the Valdstejnsky Palace, with its grandiose gardens, and the Panna Maria church are well worth exploring.

The Mala Strana is also home to the funicular railway, which travels to and from Petrin Hill. With the towering Prague Castle in the background and the city stretched out to the east, the views from here are always spectacular.

St Vitus Cathedral, situated within the walls of Prague Castle, boasts the most visually striking elements of all the city's architecture.

Construction originally started on the cathedral in 1344 and since then the building has been successively renovated and restored to recapture its magnificence. The wooden doors - displaying intricate carvings - provide a taste of the opulent decoration that lies within. The ornate royal crests in combination with religious imagery are a grand reminder of Prague's proud history. The sheer height of the nave is awe-inspiring.

Prazsky Hrad. Open: 09h00-17h00 (Apr-Oct); 09h00-16h00 (Nov-Mar). Admission: CZK220, adults; CZK110, children (includes admission to Old Royal Palace and Dalibor Tower); free for children under 6. Tel: +420 257-531-622 +420 257-531-622 .

Wenceslas Square lies at the heart of Prague and is considered the centre of the city, straddling the gap between old and modern Prague.

The "square" is more like a broad avenue, which stretches from north-west to south-east and culminates in the towering statue of St Wenceslas standing proudly before the almost equally impressive National Museum.

In the late 20th century the square bore witness to many anti-Communist demonstrations including the "Velvet Revolution" of 1989 which heralded the Czech Republic's (as part of Czechoslovakia) independence from the USSR.

Although the Charles Bridge had very humble 14th-century beginnings, the addition of a number of baroque statues increased its prestige and artistic pedigree so that today it stands as the most recognisable attraction in the city.

The first statue, added in 1683, was that of St John Nepomuk. In 1393 the saint was tortured and cast into the river in Prague - his remains lie in St Vitus Cathedral. A façade underneath his statue on the bridge depicts the martyr's grisly end, and custom has it that if you rub the figure of the saint you will gain good fortune.

In addition to the impressive views from the bridge itself, visitors can climb one of the towers situated at either end to obtain a more elevated panorama over the throngs that permanently crowd the thoroughfare.

The old town square, at the centre of the Stare Mesto (Old Quarter), is an evocative and fascinating place.

Its most interesting feature is the Astronomical Clock that covers the façade of the town hall on the north side of the square. The clock shows not only the time but also the positions of the sun, moon and stars. It is a masterpiece of mechanical engineering even today, which makes it all the more incredible that it was originally built in 1410. Every hour tourists gather to view the quaint mechanical figures that appear from the clockface, and which include characters of the twelve apostles and Death, who fittingly tolls the bell.

The Jewish Quarter witnessed the most sinister and barbaric period in Prague's history. The thriving Jewish community was almost completely destroyed by a series of pogroms and deportations following the Nazi invasion of 1938. However, the remnants of Jewish life still live on through the synagogues and the famous Jewish cemetery, which typifies the overcrowded nature of the ghetto throughout its 900-year history.

Jewish Museum incorporating four synagogues, Old Jewish Cemetery and Ceremonial Hall open: Sun-Fri 09h00-16h30 (Nov-Mar); 09h00-18h00 (Apr-Oct). Admission: CZK300, adults; CZK200, children. Tel: +420 222-317-191 +420 222-317-191 .

The Sternbersky Palace is just one part of the most impressive of Prague's art collections, which come under the umbrella of the National Gallery.

The palace houses an outstanding collection of European paintings from the 14th to the 18th centuries, including Durer's masterpiece The Feast of the Rosary.

Hradcanské námestí 15. Open: Tue-Sun 10h00-18h00. Admission: CZK60, adults; CZK30, children. Tel: +420 233-090-570 +420 233-090-570 .

The Sternbersky Palace is just one part of the most impressive of Prague's art collections, which come under the umbrella of the National Gallery.

The palace houses an outstanding collection of European paintings from the 14th to the 18th centuries, including Durer's masterpiece The Feast of the Rosary.

Hradcanské námestí 15. Open: Tue-Sun 10h00-18h00. Admission: CZK60, adults; CZK30, children. Tel: +420 233-090-570 +420 233-090-570 .

Classical music is huge in Prague and compares very well against other centres such as Vienna. Although funding for the arts has been badly hit in recent decades the city is home to at least two world class orchestras and several smaller companies of extremely high standard. Concerts and recital programmes are both varied and frequent throughout the city.

The Czech Philharmonic plays in the Rudolfinum. After a few well-publicised wobbles in management in the late 90s the national orchestra is now back on an even-keel and offers international class performances of the best works of Europe's composers. Contact the box office for more information.

Alsovo n?brez? 12 Tel: +420 227-059-352 +420 227-059-352

The Prague Symphony Orchestra rivals the Philharmonic for quality and there is little to choose between the two in terms of level of performance or range of programme. The orchestra is housed in the sumptuous Municipal House, performing in the building's huge Smetana Hall. In spring the venue is the focus of the Prague Spring Festival, which the Symphony Orchestra traditionally launches each year.

Municipal House (Obecni dum), Namesti Republiky 5 Tel: +420 222-002-336 +420 222-002-336

The National Theatre is the grandest of Prague's auditoriums. It was built by public funds and for many is representative of Czech culture and national pride. The theatre was officially inaugurated in 1883 (although royal command performances had been made in 1881) with a performance of Libuse written by Czech composer Bedrich Smetana especially for the occasion. It is a sumptuously decorated building, the multi-tiered audience galleries are fantastic examples of 19th-century theatre style and throughout there are fantastic statues, frescoes and paintings from the finest artisans that the city could commission. The theatre is shared by the city opera, ballet company and top dramatic ensembles, and performances of music, dance and theatre are alternated throughout the year. The drama repertoire concentrates mainly on the classics of European and Czech theatre, but there are the occasional performances of contemporary drama as well.

N?rodn? tr?da Tel: +420 224-227-981 +420 224-227-981

The Estates Theatre (Stavovské divadlo) was famously where Don Giovanni was first performed. Nowadays the sumptuously decorated auditorium hosts as much theatre as opera with a full programme from the city theatre company.

Ovocny trh 1 Tel: +420 224-227-981 +420 224-227-981

For a taste of surreal and unconventional the Laterna Magika and the Image Theatre are venues which offer a unique brand of performance art. The Laterna Magika presents a variety of multi-media performances whereas the Image Theatre combines the arts of black theatre, pantomime and modern dance.

Laterna Magika Narodni Trida 4 Tel: +420 224-931-482 +420 224-931-482

Image Theatre Parizska 4 Tel: +420 222-329-191 +420 222-329-191

Tickets for all these venues can be booked via:

Ticketpro Salv?torsk? 10 Tel: +420 296-333-333 +420 296-333-333

Prague is an opera lover's paradise. There are three top class venues that offer annual seasons of international standard performance from the world's foremost opera companies.

The National Theatre was officially inaugurated in 1883 (although royal command performances had been made in 1881) with a performance of Libuse composed by Smetana especially for the occasion. The theatre is shared by the city opera, ballet company and top dramatic ensembles, and performances of music, dance and theatre are alternated throughout the year. The opera season is derived from the classics and Czech traditional opera.

N?rodn? tr?da Tel: +420 224-227-981 +420 224-227-981

The Estates Theatre (Stavovské divadlo) is where Don Giovanni was first performed. Although nowadays the sumptuously decorated auditorium hosts as much theatre as opera it is still possible to catch the occasional operatic performance, including, inevitably Don Giovanni.

Ovocny trh 1 Tel: +420 224-227-981 +420 224-227-981

Although the Estates Opera might have the proudest pedigree of Prague's opera houses, the St?tn? Opera (State Opera) is the best place to catch a bit of opera nowadays. Inaugurated in 1887 the opera was known as The German Theatre until World War Two, when it was renamed. Now called the State Opera the programme of performances draws on the complete canon of European Opera.

Wilsonova tr?da 4 Tel: +420 224-229-898 +420 224-229-898 for information.

While Prague excels at bars and the more earthy type of "Gentlemen's clubs" the city doesn't boast that many dance clubs. Music tends to be dated and venues are often cramped cellars or rooms tacked onto bars.

The city makes up for a lack of venues and sounds with a massive amount of enthusiasm however, and youngsters as well as tourists make a good fist of dancing the night away in such venues as are available. Club turnover is extremely high and nightspots often close with little warning, although inevitably somewhere in the city a new venue will be opening to take its place and you'll never struggle for some sort of night out.

A lot of visitors looking for some club life will fall into Jo's Garage - the rear cellar of Jo's Bar (Na Porici 30). Slightly off colour and dirty as it might be, Jo's has an infectious feel-good factor and the clientele - mostly young travellers - dance the night away enthusiastically to rock beats. The ever-popular Roxy (Dlouh? 33) might seem a little bit dated by Western standards but in fact is the most enduring of Prague's clubs. The club even manages to attract the odd middleweight DJ from the UK and live music from local outfits is sometimes on the cards.

For a more Latin American vibe, La Casa Blu (Kozi 15) provides a fine combination of pulsating rhythms and Mexican tapas. The inimitable Banana (Stupartska 9) is a funky club-cum-bar that defies a neat description; its mixed clientele jive to pop and Latino music. The Wednesday night cabaret shows are often the best night to visit.

For a genuine euroclub experience wander down to the Lavka Bar (next to the Charles Bridge) on Novotneho Lavka, by day a restaurant/café and by night a hugely popular disco/bar. Prague's party people also head to the Lucerna Music Bar (Vodickova 36) which spins a mixture of rock, pop and disco until the sun comes up.

Considering that Prague is billed the "city of music" it is of little surprise to find that the majority of festivals that take place in the city are a celebration of music in one form or another.

January

Be sure not to miss the Christmas and New Year Concerts at the Villa Bertramka for a truly memorable experience. Concerts take place at 17h00 and there is an additional performance at 15h00 on New Years Day. The beautiful Villa Museum provides the perfect back-drop. Contact: +420 257-317-465 +420 257-317-465 .

April

Easter in the Czech Republic is celebrated on Easter Monday. Don't be alarmed to see grown men chasing women down the city streets with willow sticks. This is the traditional Poml?zka custom, when men go from door to door, fontking women on the backsides with willow sticks. Those who resist are chased down the street. In return, the women hand out painted eggs and sweets to the younger boys and shots of vodka to the older men. There is a long tradition in of hand painting real eggs for Easter, and you won't find Easter eggs of the chocolate variety. Another pagan festival, Witches Night, is held on April 30, to mark the end of winter and the coming of spring. Prague hosts a number of outdoor parties, where people dance around bonfires and burn the effigy of a witch on hilltops across the country.

April/ May

Europe's largest amateur dancing event takes place in Prague at the end of April, when competitors from dance and theatre schools take to the stages across the city to compete in the annual, Festival Dance and Theatre Prize. All forms of dance are represented during the week, from classical and folk to modern, contemporary, hip-hop, jazz and funk.

May/ June

Orchestras and spectators from around the world gather in Prague for the spectacular, Prague Spring International Music Festival. The festival commences on the anniversary of Smetana's death, the founder of Czech music. Following a ceremony at his grave, there is a procession to Smetana Hall, where the musical celebrations begin. Tel: +420 257-312-547 +420 257-312-547 , for information.

June/July

Dance Prague, the relatively new, two-week dance festival, comes to Prague in June. It is staged at the Archa Theatre and attracts performers in modern dance and movement, from all over the globe. Enthusiastic spectators are also invited to join in with workshops. Tel: +420 224-817-886 +420 224-817-886 .

September

A celebration of 18th, 19th and 20th-century classical music fills the air of Prague each autumn during the Prague Autumn International Music Festival. Orchestras and smaller groups of musicians will gather in three halls across the city for two weeks of classical celebration.

December

Known as St Sylvester's Day in the Czech Republic, New Year's Eve is a good time to be in Prague. The celebrations usually concentrate around Wenceslas Square. There are champagne stalls in the old town square and fireworks across the city.

Prague is in a big hurry to become Westernised and, as a result, many of the main stores and shops will seem very familiar to visitors from Europe or North America. The most interesting shopping is to be had at the markets and other informal settings. If you have come here to shop, note that public holidays may affect the opening and closing times of shops and markets.

As in all capital cities Prague has a wide selection of food, clothes and souvenirs available on its shopping streets but it also has the congestion to go with it. It seems that the whole city has the same idea whenever you take to the stores and the area around Wenceslas Square is always absolutely packed with eager shoppers, both local and tourist. The best areas for exploring are around Mustek, Na Prikope and in the Old Quarter of the city.

Markets

The open-air Havel's market between Wencelas Square and the Old Town Square is open from 08h00 to 18h30 daily. Visitors to the market can purchase a number of goods including ceramics, textiles, leather goods and a wide variety of ornaments. Souvenir hunters could also try the shops situated on the eastern end of the Charles Bridge on Karlova Street.

Department Stores

The major department stores are situated in the centre of town: DS Kotva, Namesti Republicky 15 (close to Namesti Republicky metro station on line B) Tesco, Narodni Trrida 29 (close to Narodni Trida metro station on line B) Bila Labut, Na Porici 15.

Shops are a mixture of Western style stores and small craft, antique or gift stores. The latter are firmly geared towards the tourist trade so be wary of poor quality souvenirs.

Disappointingly, a lot of the stores in Prague are now Western chains and the labels on clothes are no different to those in London, Paris or Milan. Gone are the days when passers-by offered tourists fistfuls of cash for Levi's, nowadays you can buy your own in any of the stores of Prague's city centre.

One exception is the glassware that is sold at various small shops around the capital. The craft of glassblowing is a well-established tradition in the Czech Republic. Handmade blown glass makes an ideal souvenir and is uniformly of good quality. Many outlets throughout Prague display the intricate and decorative glassware that has become the hallmark of the city's artisans.

One can view examples of this craftsmanship as well as a glassblowing demonstration at Regena at Karlova 44.

Shopping hours vary but shops are generally open from 09h00-18h00/20h00 Mon-Sat. Some stores close for lunch between 12h00-14h00 and close early on Saturdays although the practise is becoming less frequent.

A sales tax of 15.9% is levied on most goods and services in Czech Republic. When leaving the Czech Republic, tourists can apply for a tax refund on goods bought up to 30 days prior to departure. The minimum purchase to qualify for a refund is CZK2000.

To reclaim tax you will need to fill out a VAT refund request form when you make a purchase, which states the amount of refund due. Forms can be obtained from most retailers and Customs Offices. These documents are then stamped by customs officials as you leave the country and mailed back to the store. Refunds can be claimed in person at major airports and at major border crossings.

Ruzyne Airport

Ruzyne airport is approximately 20km from Prague centre and is connected to the city via bus and taxi services. Tel: +420 220-113-229 +420 220-113-229 .

Buses

The best way into the centre is via the shuttle mini-bus service. The Cedaz service leaves the airport every half an hour. The 40-minute journey costs CZK90 to the city centre, terminating at Namesti Republiky.

Returning to the airport, mini-buses depart from the Namesti Republiky (from the north-east corner of the square, near Municipal Hall) every 30 minutes. They then stop at the Dejvicka metro station (last stop on the underground line "A") before proceeding to the airport. Tickets are sold on the bus for CZK90.

Alternatively, the 119 public bus service runs every 10 minutes during weekdays and every 20 minutes at weekends between the airport and Dejvicka metro stop in the city. Tickets should be bought from the machines next to the stop before boarding and must be stamped when you commence your journey. A ticket will cost CZK15. If you are carrying a lot of baggage you may be asked to buy an additional ticket particularly if the bus is crowded but possibly even if it isn't.

Taxis

A dedicated airport taxi service takes arrivals into the city from outside the terminal building. These taxis should be marked "Airport" and will cost in the region of CZK600 to the city centre. Note that Prague's taxis are well known for overcharging. You should check with the information desk inside the terminal building if you want some idea of a reasonable price for your destination before catching a cab.

Ruzyne Airport

Ruzyne airport is approximately 20km from Prague centre and is connected to the city via bus and taxi services. Tel: +420 220-113-229 +420 220-113-229 .

Buses

The best way into the centre is via the shuttle mini-bus service. The Cedaz service leaves the airport every half an hour. The 40-minute journey costs CZK90 to the city centre, terminating at Namesti Republiky.

Returning to the airport, mini-buses depart from the Namesti Republiky (from the north-east corner of the square, near Municipal Hall) every 30 minutes. They then stop at the Dejvicka metro station (last stop on the underground line "A") before proceeding to the airport. Tickets are sold on the bus for CZK90.

Alternatively, the 119 public bus service runs every 10 minutes during weekdays and every 20 minutes at weekends between the airport and Dejvicka metro stop in the city. Tickets should be bought from the machines next to the stop before boarding and must be stamped when you commence your journey. A ticket will cost CZK15. If you are carrying a lot of baggage you may be asked to buy an additional ticket particularly if the bus is crowded but possibly even if it isn't.

Taxis

A dedicated airport taxi service takes arrivals into the city from outside the terminal building. These taxis should be marked "Airport" and will cost in the region of CZK600 to the city centre. Note that Prague's taxis are well known for overcharging. You should check with the information desk inside the terminal building if you want some idea of a reasonable price for your destination before catching a cab.

Prague's taxis are notorious for trying to overcharge tourists. Cab drivers are regulated but it has done little to curtail the practise of slapping on extra charges for any foreign passenger. Untrusting as it might sound, it is best to assume that the driver will attempt to cheat you somewhere on the journey and you should take some simple steps to prevent this.

A basic rule is never get into a taxi that isn't clearly marked as a cab. All regulated cabs have a taxi light and will have a list of fares clearly visible within. Be wary of taxi touts around tourist attractions, they very rarely have proper metered cabs. Once in the cab insist that the driver turn on the meter, they are unlikely to do it unprompted and may refuse even when asked or tell you that the meter is broken. If this happens you can attempt to predetermine a price for the trip. If the driver balks at agreeing a price then leave the cab or face being charged an astronomical sum for your ride.

An alternative is to get your concierge to call a cab for you. Everyone in Prague is aware of the problems tourists face with cabs and it is likely that your hotel will know trusted company that shouldn't overcharge you too much. You have the added advantage that staff should be able to give you an estimated cost of the journey before you set off. Any taxi problems can be reported to the Taxi Guild. Tel: +420 272-741-871 .