New Town

New Town is not just a newer part of the historic center – it is a place where the Gothic foundations laid by Emperor Charles IV pulsate among cafés, museums, and boulevards. Founded in 1348 as an ambitious project for a “new metropolis,” it quickly became a space for markets, crafts, and cultural life. Today, you’ll find famous squares such as Wenceslas Square and Charles Square, exceptional architecture from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, and fascinating contrasts—modern glass next to historic facades.

A walk through New Town is like watching Prague in motion – from the past to the present. From theaters to churches to unexpected corners, each place has its own rhythm, story, and unique tone.

1.Dancing House – architecture in motion

When you say modern Prague, most people think of the iconic silhouette of the Dancing House. Designed by Frank Gehry and Vlad Milunić, it stands on the corner of Rašínovo nábřeží as a dialogue between the past and the present. The glass tower “Ginger” gracefully turns towards the solid concrete “Fred” – symbolizing dance and the balance of opposites.

Inside, you will find exhibition spaces, a stylish café, a viewpoint with a panoramic view of Hradčany, and an elegant restaurant. The Dancing House is proof that Prague is not only a city of history, but also of courage to embrace new visions.

Address: Jiráskovo náměstí 6, 120 00 Prague 2

Phone: +420 605 083 611
Website: www.tancicidum.cz

2.Charles Square – the largest medieval square in Europe

Karlovo náměstí, originally Dobytčí trh, is one of the largest squares in Europe and embodies the genius loci of Charles IV’s imperial project. Surrounded by historic buildings, monasteries, and hospitals, it has been transformed into the green heart of New Town, where students, seniors, and officials gather under the trees.

In its center, you will find a fountain, statues, and a monument to Master Jan Hus, and on the edges, Faust’s House and St. Ignatius Church. This is a place where history is not just in textbooks – it lives with every step you take.

Address: Karlovo náměstí, 120 00 Prague 2
Website: www.praha.eu

3.New Town Hall – a silent witness to the ambitions of Emperor Charles IV.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of Charles Square stands an inconspicuous but imposing building – the New Town Hall. It was here in 1419 that the Hussite Wars began with the first Defenestration of Prague. The Gothic-Renaissance building with a tower overlooking the roofs of New Town still serves culture today, hosting exhibitions, weddings, concerts, and debates.

It is a place where Prague is not afraid to be serious, solemn, and poetic at the same time. Climb the stairs to the top and be rewarded with a unique view of a city that was once a vision and is now a reality.

Address: Karlovo náměstí 1/23, 120 00 Prague 2

Phone: +420 224 947 021
Website: www.nrpraha.cz

4.Lucerna Palace – First Republic elegance hidden under a passageway

Just a few steps from the bustling Wenceslas Square, a world that seems frozen in time opens up under an ornate passageway. Built between 1907 and 1921 to a design by Václav Havel (grandfather of the president), Lucerna Palace is an icon of Prague Art Nouveau and functionalism. Today, it serves not only as a passageway but also as a lively cultural center, with its legendary Great Hall, where Ella Fitzgerald and the Rolling Stones have performed.

Inside, you will find a well-known café, the elegant Lucerna Music Bar, an art cinema, and David Černý’s famous sculpture of St. Wenceslas sitting on the belly of a suspended horse. Lucerna is a place where history meets pop culture, grandeur meets exaggeration, and every step echoes with the sounds of times gone by.

Address: Štěpánská 61, 110 00 Prague 1

Phone: +420 724 753 354
Website: www.lucpra.com