You mention Prague to people and it conjures up memories of cobblestone streets, the beautiful Charles bridge, a city coming into its own after years behind the iron curtain. Many who visit fall under its spell, leaving the city with beautiful memories and hearts full of love for the city. So many of my friends rave about the city, each yearning to go back. But me? Not so much.
Note: Some posts on this site contain affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!). I would not recommend something if I did not enjoy it. You can read my full disclosure policy here.
Wenceslas Square
First impressions are everything. When Prague and I first made acquaintances, it was a rocky start. It was 2008. I was a young and inexperienced traveler. I was on my own.
Please enjoy this GIF of Woody from Toy Story in lieu of a photo of the train station. Panic attacks are not conducive to good photos for blog posts.
I arrived in Prague central station lost and confused. I needed money to get myself to my hostel, but I couldn’t figure out where to get it. I was assaulted in all directions by an unfamiliar language and an unfamiliar currency. I felt so overwhelmed, and on the verge of a panic attack. It was an immediate and in your face kind of culture shock.
My memory of this time is of confusion and panic. I remember it as being one big massive blur, and yet at the same time, as if time had slowed down. Like those montages in movies where the main character is stuck in one place and the camera is spinning around them. Coming from clean and organized Vienna, Prague’s train station could not have been more different. I don’t speak German either, but at least it made more sense to me than Czech.
I must have wandered around that train station a dozen times. Around and around I went. Indecisive as to my next steps. Not sure where to go or what to do. Evaluating my options. Eventually I snapped out of it and found a money exchange where I got enough money to get me to where I needed to go. Figuring out the confusing transit ticketing machine was another battle.
A quieter side street. The city itself was
I was meeting friends in Prague that first trip, but they didn’t arrive until a day after I did, and left a day before me as well. For half the trip I was alone. That sense of panic and of uncomfortableness never did completely go away the whole time I was in Prague. It certainly got easier as I got more acquainted with the city, but it never sat well with me.
I was apprehensive about returning to Prague years later. Was it going to be as uncomfortable as in my memories? Was I going to like the city more the second time around? When I arrived, I found a country that had opened up to tourism in the years since I was there last. The streets were filled with tourists everywhere I went. Something that both irritated and comforted me. The streets seemed friendlier. There was more English, and things seemed a little more familiar. Or maybe it was me that had changed?
So many people!
I eventually return to that same train station to take another journey. This time back to Budapest, my home away from home, after a short visit in Prague. The station seemed friendlier too. Not as scary as my memories make it. I sat on the train, reflecting on my time in the city. There are certainly many things I like about the city: the bright coloured and beautifully decorated buildings, tasty beers, the delicious sausage stands in Wenceslas Square. However I don’t have the same pull towards the city like I do for Berlin or London or even New York City.
Such lovely colours and detailing in the buildings.
After my initial meeting, I have given Prague a second and third chance, to no avail. Maybe its 4th time’s the charm? I wanted desperately to fall in love with the city like so many of my friends have who have visited after me. I want to understand what everyone else sees in the city, but I just don’t. What am I missing? Where is my Prague love story?
Have you ever traveled to a city, wanting to like it, but have it fall flat? Have you been to Prague? Do you like the city?
Adelina, It’s ok if you don’t love every place you go. It’s ok. If you do go back to Czech, why don’t you take a trip outside of Prague. I think Prague is beautiful and love the things you mention, but I love Bohemia, and the small towns, the colorful architecture, the fire ponds in the villages…enjoy!
Thanks Corinne. I think you’re right. I’ve heard so many great things about the other parts of the Czech Republic. I’ll have to go check them out for myself some day.
I have been to Prague and loved it, although it’s not my favorite city. I agree with Corinne that maybe you should visit another Czech city – maybe Brno? I can definitely relate with not falling in love with a place like you expected to. It’s ok – there are plenty of other “love stories” out there waiting to happen at another city!
So true. There are plenty cities and places I can sing praises about all day long. I keep meaning to go to other cities in the Czech Republic but have yet to make it happen. Soon!
I’ve been to Prague…… very briefly. I’m returning this summer, and I *want* to like it, but after a bad experience in Olomouc, I’m kind of teetering on the edge of whether or not I will. As a writer I feel I should like Prague too, I feel it should be engrained into my soul. Ugh. I don’t know. Let’s see….
Haha, it sounds like me and you are in the same boat 🙂 Maybe your next visit will help you make up your mind one way or the other. I’ll be following along to see how it goes for you!
I just wanted to say thank you for such an honest piece of writing – I am always a big supproter of bloggers discussing the tougher side of travel (homesickness, fear, anxiety, culture shock). It’s just as important as the “OMG top ten things to do!” posts, and though I love Prague myself, this feeling of being unsettled or uprooted is totally one I can relate to.
Thanks so much Julia! I agree, there needs to be a balance between the fabulous and fun adventures and the reality of travel. Not everything is just good on top of good. It can be scary though, sharing these emotions. Every time I hit publish on a really honest piece of writing, I’m so incredibly nervous of what might happen.
A great post! It’s ok not to love a city, even if everyone else loves it. Although I will be spending a week in Prague this summer, and I’m hoping to love it like everyone else, hehe. We shall see 🙂
Thanks Anna! I’d be interested to see how you like it when you’re there. I’ll be following along 🙂
Great post – we can’t love everywhere we go. Sometimes first impressions govern the way we view a place and it’s hard to shake, but then we are human and that’s what happens.
Prague is now a tourist-mecca and is always packed. That train station is crazy too. There are some places that are not for you. I had a bad experience in Dubrovnik – not the same as yours, but a bad experience. So there’s no reason I would go back. But if there’s one city that has gotten me every time I’ve been there it’s Delhi. Whilst I liked Mumbai and Kolkata, for some reason that city always swamps me in busy craziness. Perhaps we all have our nemesis? So many great European cities. I’d just pass on Prague next time.
On my subsequent visits to Prague, I really hated that there were so many people. The first time there were too little and then later there were too many. Can’t win it seems. I agree, next time I go to the Czech Republic, I’m heading to a smaller city to explore. I’ve heard lots of polarizing opinions on Dubrovnik as well – some who loved it, and others who just despised it. What was your experience like?
This post brings back amazing memories from this city. It’s certainly one of the most amazing European cities I had a chance to visit. Although I traveled there as a solo and single traveler, the city made me feel so comfortable and loved!
Good for you! I had a completely different experience, but so many people feel the same way you do. Prague is a magical place for some it seems 🙂
I actually have a similar ‘relationship’ with Toronto. So many people love the city but I remember disliking it once I landed. Yes, there was so much to see and do there but something about it made me just feel… uncomfortable. I just didn’t feel quite right the whole time I was there and I couldn’t wait to leave. I haven’t had the desire to return since. I wonder if I would like it more if I ever visited again!
I feel the same way about Toronto too. It’s just a big concrete city to me, nothing too special. I haven’t been back in years so maybe it has changed. I have a lot of friends who live there now so maybe my experience now would be more of local than of tourist, but who knows.
I’m Canadian – believe me, there’s nothing special about Toronto. Go to Vancouver, Montreal, even Ottawa. But don’t go to specifically see Toronto.
Frank (bbqboy)
Yup agreed. I’m a Vancouverite myself so I could be biased towards the best aka west coast 🙂
There are no rules or obligations to enjoy or even like every place one visits. If you ask the next time, I have stories that are probably counter to other people’s stories about well-known places. That’s the great thing about people: “different strokes for different folks”, but that also makes for some interesting stories! 🙂
I just feel like I’m missing out on one big secret. You’re not the only one I know that really likes Prague. But oh well. I’ll just have to discover some other secret places to love.
Just like I said in my post last week, we can’t all like everywhere we go. Sometimes, for whatever reason, we just don’t click with a place. And that’s okay. I personally had a great experience in Prague. I visited during the spring music festival and classical music was literally coming out of ever window. It was magical! But I’ve certainly been to other places I didn’t enjoy, popular places that receive loads of praise from others. I commend you for at least giving it a second chance!
Thanks Heather! Very true, different personalities and different cities makes for vastly different experiences.
I can really empathise with this post as I was hoping to fall in love with Prague too, and didn’t! I had always wanted to go and heard such great things about it, but when we finally did go (in 2011), it was just too busy, full of people (and I say that as a Londoner) and not as charming, or exciting, or gorgeous as I had hoped. Vienna is far more beautiful.
Yes! I get you 100%. I love Vienna. Prague is just kinda eh which is disappointing. I liked London too 🙂
Cities are such complicated places that I don’t think it’s possible for everyone to have the same experience. I first traveled to Prague in 1996 when it really wasn’t set up for tourism yet. The last time I was there, in 2006, it felt much more touristy than it had ever before. People spoke English everywhere, and signs were in English, and that had not existed in the 1990s. I loved Prague and spent a lot of time there, but it’s OK not to love a place, especially if you’ve given it more than one chance!
Thanks Jenna. You’re right – different people connect differently to every city. There are definitely cities that I adore and this one just isn’t one of my favorites. I know what you mean about tourism. I first went in 2008 (which from your description was already very touristy) and then again in 2011 and those 3 years made such a massive difference. Now I think it’s more or less stabilized, but its still too many people for my liking.
I absolutely agree that there are just some cities and destinations that you expect to love- but then they fall flat. Although I did love Prague when I visited 12 years ago, I have other cities that are like your experience- like Dubrovnik. Although it is a beautiful city, the crowds inside the city walls made me wish we had spent our time traveling the coast instead.
I’ve heard so many conflicting accounts of people’s experiences in Dubrovnik. I’ve yet to visit so I’ll have to find out for myself one day. I’ll make sure to keep my expectations low though. I hate crowds.
So funny that you mention Budapest as your home away from home but that’s my “where’s my love story” city. I had heard so much about it and was so excited but when I got there… well lets just say I wasn’t sad to leave. I was really disappointed with my experience but hope to one day go back and have the kind of experience that makes everyone else fall in love with the city.
Budapest is hard to love, I won’t deny it. I lived there for almost 2 years so I’m a bit biased. I really didn’t like the city for the first couple of months but it sort of grew on me. Come back when I’m there next (I still call it my part time home) and hopefully you’ll have a more enjoyable visit 🙂
Deal!
I know this post was from a while ago, but I am just now stumbling upon it. I am so sorry to hear you had a bad experience from the beginning here! I am an American living in Prague and have been here now for about 3 months. I couldn’t love Prague more; I just think it’s fantastic. But, I completely relate to your experience. I feel this way about Barcelona, and honestly have no desire to go back even though I’m living in Europe now. I don’t know if you are still living in Budapest, but if you ever come back through Prague, I’d be happy to show you around or give you some tips that might make you feel more comfortable here than before. 🙂
Hey Kailey, Thanks so much for your lovely comment and your kind offer! I’m no longer living in Europe unfortunately, but if I’m ever back in Prague, I’ll definitely give you a shout.
Kailey,
Can you share with me some of the tips that you would share with Adelina to make the trip to Prague more enjoyable. What restaurants would you recommend? And what is the best way to see the city?
Thank you!
You cannot blame your inexperience on the city; you seem not have been fully prepared and it was all a culture shock to you. I have lived in Europe for 18 years and I can understand your feelings, but Prague is one of the most beautiful cities I’ve been to.
Hi Adelina, may I ask you where do come from? I am Czech and I know the country and the capital Prague. But I’ve been living in Berlin for almost 4 years.
I totally understand your feeling – if you are lost and no one wants or can help you.. But, have you ever thought about it that not understanding the spoken language at all and be used to another currency is maybe not the fault of the city? 🙂 For example, I was struggling in Italia, because nobody was able to speak English with me, just Italian and I felt lost. But anyway, I just figured the situations out, because I was foreigner there and I knew I had to except it. 🙂 I do not mean it bad, but if your mother tongue is english, it sounds logical to me that german sounds you familiar than czech 😀
PS: Sorry for the mistakes in my english, it’s my third language (after czech and german).
Peace.
Veronika
Hi Veronika. I’m originally from Canada, but I have lived in the Netherlands and in Budapest, Hungary. I was living in both of those places on my separate visits to Prague. I don’t speak Dutch or Hungarian and I have travelled to over 25 countries so I am very familiar with being in places where I can’t read or speak the language. I definitely don’t hold that against Prague, nor do I hold it against other places that I don’t like. I do think that my first (poor) experience I had with Prague was due to my inexperience in travelling and being so young (I was 20 the first time I went). While I warmed up more to the city in subsequent, but I never got the same pull towards it like many of my friends have for the city. But that’s okay. Everyone is different and everyone has different interests and tastes. Specifically for me, Prague isn’t my ideal, but there is so much more of the world to love. One person can’t love everything and everywhere they go.