The most important tourist places in Prague

 

Here are the tourist attractions in Prague, Czech Republic:

Nicknamed "The Golden City," "Mother of Cities," "The City of a Hundred Spires," "The Heart of Europe," the capital that wars have not destroyed.

Prague Castle:

The largest ancient castle complex in the world according to Guinness World Records, and the seat of rulers in the Czech Republic. Its facilities include the Republican Presidential Palace, the Old Royal Palace, St. George's Basilica, and St. Vitus Cathedral, a stunning Gothic architectural masterpiece. The cathedral contains the tombs of emperors of the Roman Empire and Bohemian kings. The entire castle offers great views, and there is a Starbucks within the facilities for those who want to have coffee.

Prague Astronomical Clock:

The third oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest astronomical clock still working. It is a fascinating clock in every detail. Every hour, figures representing the 12 apostles of Israel appear, as it is said. It also features shapes and sculptures symbolizing astronomy and the seasons. It is located in the Old Town Square, a vibrant area. Entry to the clock tower costs approximately 400 Czech crowns, which is about 15 euros per person. There is also a jewelry museum for those who want to visit for an additional fee.

Old Town Square:

Dating back to the 12th century, it is beautiful for walking, filled with restaurants, cafes, and wonderful architecture and art.

Wenceslas Square:

Beautiful for walking and vibrant, it is considered the main square in Prague, where the most important celebrations, demonstrations, and social events are held.

Charles Bridge:

One of the oldest bridges in Europe, built during the reign of King Charles IV, crosses the Vltava River. Artists, painters, and musicians are spread along its sides. All points of beauty come together here: drawing, playing music, blue skies, the river, birds soaring in every direction, and sculptures on its sides. A captivating place, especially in good weather.

The Dancing House:

This building is located in a place of historical significance. The site was home to a building destroyed by American bombing in World War II. The Czechs decided to build a building on the site that would be a landmark or cultural center. A Czech designer invited international designers to collaborate with him on the idea of the building. A French architect declined the invitation, finding the space too small. At the same time, there were sloping columns on one side, which posed a major engineering challenge for the architects. The Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry, whose most prominent designs include the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain, the Vitra Museum in Germany, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, among others, agreed to participate.

He was inspired by the American dancers Fred and Ginger from the movies. The stationary corner represents the man, and the inclined corner represents the woman, symbolizing stability and movement and the transition of the Czech Republic from the miserable communist era to parliamentary rule.

Of course, some criticized it for not representing the classic Prague identity full of Gothic and Baroque architecture.

Others saw the opposite, that the modern design added life and soul to the place.

Inside the building are now offices, a restaurant, a cafe overlooking the Vltava River, and a hotel that many praise.

Museum of Communism:

For those interested in learning about the history of some countries, it illustrates how the Czech Republic lived during the Soviet occupation, the communist era, and the repression, oppression, executions, and crimes it was subjected to. Entrance costs 16 euros.

A piece of information that some may not know: the Czech Republic and Slovakia, which we now visit as two separate countries, were once a single country called Czechoslovakia.

Sculpture of the writer, philosopher, and novelist of Czech nationality and German roots, Franz Kafka, who has won several awards in German literature.

Kafka Museum:

Suitable for lovers of world literature and those interested in Kafka's novels. Not suitable for others.

Troja Palace:

The palace was inhabited by Maria Theresa, a Roman Empress belonging to the Habsburg family of German origin, who ruled many cities in Europe. It has glimpses of French-Italian style. Next to the zoo, the palace has a garden, a square, and classic Italian cars. I didn't go inside because it was closed that day, but fans of art, paintings, sculptures, and ceiling paintings will like it from the inside.

Petřín Hill Park:

A large and beautiful park full of hills, trees, and nature, high up and overlooking Prague from above. At its top is Petřín Lookout Tower, a miniature model of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the highest viewpoint in Prague, offering a panoramic view of the city. The ascent costs 220 Czech crowns for adults, which is approximately 40 riyals.

There is a tram in the park that takes you to the top of the garden and back.

National Museum:

I find it very beautiful and worth visiting. It is enjoyable from the inside and diverse. The entrance fee is 299 Czech crowns, which is approximately 48 riyals per person.

 

Dinant

Don't miss this city in Belgium 🇧🇪 at all.

It is famous for the beautiful Meuse River 😍 🌊

I see it as one of the beautiful destinations in Europe worth visiting strongly 🌳⛰️👌🏻

Close to the French border 🇫🇷

One hour from Brussels

3 hours from Amsterdam and Paris

A Belgian city 🇧🇪 with a Swiss 🇨🇭 character.

It's nice to give it a day or two in your itinerary.

Located on a rocky plateau ⛰

Among its most important tourist attractions are

The Caves of Han and Freyr Castle

Beautiful nature reserves 🏞️

You feel like you are in #Switzerland 🇨🇭 or #Austria 🇦🇹

You live the atmosphere of the Alps 🏔

It is the town of Dinant on the banks of the Meuse River in #Belgium 🇧🇪

It is 110 km away from #Brussels

(Belgium has a lot to offer touristically)

My trip to northern Italy 2024

Report on My Trip to Northern Italy:

**Duration:** From October 1 to October 16

I applied for the Italian visa myself, and it took 5 working days. They granted me a 4-year visa duration.

The tickets were booked through Etihad Airways from Dammam to Milan, costing 1,600 SAR per person.

I rented a car from Europcar for 730 USD, which included delivery fees at a different location. The deposit was 500 Euros and was refunded the day after returning the car.

I used the AutoEurope website, which I find to be the best intermediary for car rentals. What distinguishes them is that the insurance is direct from the company and not from a third party. The rental period was from October 1, picking up the car at Milan Airport and returning it on October 12 at the Europcar office near the first train station.

When I arrived, the car I had reserved, a Peugeot 3008, was unavailable, and they provided me with a similar alternative. They informed me that the insurance was included, and the border fees were paid (which I didn't know was included in the amount).

I picked up the car at 8 AM and headed to Como for a two-night stay.

I stayed at Lakeview Cabin, which cost me 494 Euros. The apartment had two rooms; the second room was small but had a direct view of Lake Como and was fully equipped. It is about a 10-minute drive from Como's center, and there is a ferry station a minute's walk away that takes you to the center for 3 Euros round trip.

**Day One:**

I dedicated the entire day to the center. Lunch was at Cervo Restaurant overlooking the lake, and the food was delicious, costing us about 40 Euros for two.

**Day Two:**

I went to Bellagio and Varenna, the villages overlooking the lake. I drove to Bellagio, which took about an hour and fifteen minutes. I do not recommend driving there at all; the road is mountainous and very narrow, requiring a lot of focus. Many times, the road only accommodates one car. We planned to visit Lugano, but we ran out of time.

I relied heavily on cooking in the apartment, shopping at a halal supermarket. Here is its location, and there are several halal supermarkets on the street to choose from:

[Halal Supermarkets Location](https://maps.app.goo.gl/vnhaFoy9czsxMFv1A?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy)

**Day Three:** Departure and heading to Ortisei

We woke up early and headed to Lugano, which was about a 45-minute drive. We visited Mini Switzerland, which is worth the visit if you are in Como, and then we headed to Ortisei. The estimated time to reach Ortisei was less than 5 hours, but we faced a closure on the A4 highway that caused a significant delay of over 7 hours. We entered villages and rough roads, passing through farms and heavy rain. The road was very exhausting, and thankfully we arrived safely.

The northern Italian countryside, Ortisei, and its surroundings. I stayed at Cesa Marmolada for four nights, costing me 640 Euros.

The apartment had one bedroom and was equipped with a kitchen and sauna. It is located in a high area, providing a wonderful view of Ortisei. They gave me 4 free tickets for public transportation (and a ticket for the open swimming pool, which I didn't know where it was and didn't use).

The drawbacks of the apartment were that it was on a corridor for other apartments, meaning you couldn't open the curtains if you had family with you. The balcony was external and shared, but each apartment has its own designated space on the balcony, which is far from the other apartments.

**Day One:**

- Ortisei center

- We visited the Rivaiano waterfall; the parking was far from it, and we tried several ways to reach it but couldn't.

- The Pyramid Land in Renon had no parking, and we couldn't find a place to stop.

- Lake Wolfsgruben is relatively small, and most places are reserved for nearby hotels. There were no activities there.

- I went to Bolzano to shop for chicken and meat. 

For me, the three places were not worth the visit.

**Day Two:**

- Tervila waterfall is beautiful, but the parking is about a 20-minute walk uphill.

- The Sella Road is very beautiful, with a view of the Dolomites.

- We ended the day in Ortisei center and had dinner at a restaurant called Fidel, costing us 50 Euros. The food was delicious (but we noticed that the prices were different from the menu, and when I asked them, they said that the menu prices were old; I don't know if they raised the prices or if their statement was true).

**Day Three:**

- Lake Braies is one of the most beautiful lakes in Europe. We found the closest parking to the lake at number 4 and 3. We parked at number 4, which is the closest, costing 16 Euros for three hours. We took a private boat for 50 Euros for 45 minutes, along with two souvenirs.

- We visited the Loacker factory, which is good for gifts and has many varieties.

- We visited the San Candido slide.

**Day Four:**

- The Ortisei cable car is beautiful and worth visiting. There is parking next to it, but I didn't use it as it was close to the accommodation, and I walked there. There is an escalator that goes directly to the center.

- Shopping in the center.

**Day Five:** Departure and heading to Zillertal

We passed by the village of Foppiano, which has free parking nearby and is worth a visit. If you finish there, you will go up to a higher area, and the descent will be tiring, about a 40-minute walk. There is a bus that descends every half hour. We used the card we got from the hotel, but they also have payment available by card for 2 Euros. From there, we headed to Zillertal; the border was a bit crowded, and before reaching the accommodation, we visited the Amst slide. We didn't notice it closed on October 6 until we arrived. We spent time at the Tok supermarket, which had halal meat and chicken.

**Day Six:**

Zillertal Valley is, for me, the best area in Austria. I stayed in Hart im Zillertal for three nights at Perfect Lodgings apartments. The apartments are luxurious, and the view of Zillertal Valley is amazing. The accommodation is located in a high area, and there is nothing around you. The stay cost me 465 Euros.

- We visited the Talbach waterfall and the Harter waterfall.

- We visited Lake Achensee, which we had been to before, but the weather was wonderful, and we didn't miss the opportunity to take a boat tour for two for 54 Euros. The electric boat was closed.

**Day Seven:**

We visited Krimml waterfall and Lake Hintersee, and we passed through the center of Zell am See.

**Day Eight:**

Departure from Zillertal to Riva del Garda. On our way, we passed by Lake Molveno, which is very beautiful and worth visiting. I stayed at Residence Marina. The accommodation was average and clean, but it is distinguished by its view of Lake Garda, which was beautiful. It is located on a small hill, and walking to the center takes about 20 minutes, costing us 220 Euros.

- We explored the center on the first day.

- On the second day, we spent it in Limone sul Garda. The village is very beautiful and has many gift shops. We bought most of our gifts from there, and then we returned to Riva del Garda center to complete the rest of the day.

**Day Nine:** Departure to Milan. We visited the city of Verona, walked around, and didn't stay long, about an hour and a half. We returned the car and checked that the insurance was included. They asked me if the car was full, and I said yes. They checked it, and I received the report later that there was a scratch, but the insurance covered it, and I got the full deposit back the next day.

The remaining days were spent in Milan. 

In Milan, I stayed at a B&B opposite the train station. The hotel was clean, and their service was excellent, close to the train and metro station. 

We visited Venice, which, in my opinion, is not worth a repeat visit due to the crowd and old buildings. For transportation within Milan, we relied on the metro and bought an unlimited travel ticket for three days for 15 Euros per person. If your stay in Milan is for two days or less and your travels are limited, I recommend getting a single journey ticket for 2.2 Euros for the outbound and the same for the return.

All my hotel bookings were made through the official hotel website or by contacting them via email, which is the best way to get lower prices.

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My trip to Norway 2025

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The trip was for two single individuals:

- **Route**: Riyadh to London on Saudi Airlines. I booked the ticket for 12,000 miles and paid a tax of 450 SAR (approximately $120) for airport fees. I stayed for 3 days in London, after which I booked a flight from London to Bergen, costing approximately 300 SAR (about $80) with a 23 kg checked bag and a 10 kg carry-on. The flight duration was two hours.

### Day One

- We arrived in Bergen at 1 PM. I went to pick up the car I booked through Booking with Avis, a fully equipped Peugeot SUV, either electric or gasoline. It cost me 1,650 SAR (around $440) for the entire trip, and they took a deposit of 1,000 NOK (approximately $100). For insurance, I paid with my Visa Infinite, so the insurance is covered through the card.

- We headed from the airport to our accommodation, which took about 3 hours. The accommodation is located between Konsarvik and Oda. The place is excellent, spacious, and has a fruit farm. Honestly, the accommodation is unique; you literally feel like you are living in an orchard. The owner was very nice, offering us fruits and a cake as hospitality. The accommodation has a direct view of the fjord. There are no downsides to the accommodation, and it has some advantages, being close to Konsarvik and Oda, with several attractions nearby. Voss is about an hour away from us. 

In my opinion, the only downside is its distance from Bergen Airport, which is about 3 hours. Next time, I would stay in Voss due to its proximity to Bergen, and Voss is beautiful, reminiscent of Austria with similar nature. 

**Note**: When I booked the accommodation, I thought it was about an hour from the airport, but I might have made a mistake. However, we really enjoyed the stay. The cost of accommodation was 650 SAR (approximately $173) per night.

[Accommodation Link](https://www.airbnb.com/slink/zrhFnwKp)

### Day Two

- We headed to the Twin Waterfall. Mashallah, it is a beautiful waterfall; you get tired from the view. In my opinion, it is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Norway.

- We strolled in the village of Oda.

- On our way back to the accommodation, we found a park overlooking the fjord where we had a picnic and cooked our lunch before returning to the accommodation.

### Day Three

- We went to Voss, and on the way, we visited the waterfall in Konsarvik. Honestly, the waterfall is beautiful, consisting of three stages, and requires hiking in the second and third stages. I recommend it for singles, but it can be tiring for families.

- We visited the restrooms overlooking the river and the waterfall nearby.

- We visited the center and the lake in Voss. Mashallah, Voss is beautiful, and the weather was rainy and cloudy. We had a picnic by the lake and cooked our lunch. Honestly, I loved Voss; it felt like I was in Austria or Switzerland.

### Day Four

- We headed to Stryn, which took about 5-6 hours. On the way before Stryn, we stopped at the glacier river, which was beautiful and had many tourists from all over. There were several viewpoints along the road where we stopped for photos. An hour before Stryn, we passed by the valley where rivers and streams flow everywhere. Subhanallah, we stopped, cooked our lunch, and I found it very suitable for picnics. After that, we headed to our accommodation in Loen.

The accommodation is located between Stryn and Loen, about 8 minutes by car to Stryn. It is a cabin with a direct view of the lake. The accommodation itself is a story and made us want to stay in because of its amazing location. The owner was very cooperative and polite. The cost of accommodation was approximately 350 SAR (about $93), booked directly from the owner. After we arrived and rested, we went to Stryn to shop for groceries and returned to the accommodation.

### Day Five

- We headed to Lovatnet Lake, which is enchanting and has a different color.

- We visited the glacier river.

- We had a picnic by Olden Lake.

### Day Six

- We went to the enchanting Geiranger in rainy weather and took the mountain road. Subhanallah, there were waterfalls, mountain lakes, and snow. You might see various shapes and colors of nature along this road. 

Of course, along the way, we stopped frequently to take photos. We wanted to have a picnic, but the weather was rainy and very cold. We stopped at several viewpoints overlooking Geiranger Fjord.

- We strolled in Geiranger and took a self-driven boat for about 400 SAR (approximately $107), but with the rainy weather and the beauty of the fjord, it was worth every riyal spent. It was one of the best days for us in Norway. We visited the Seven Sisters Waterfall by boat, and then we headed to the Eagle's Eye viewpoint, which I consider the most beautiful viewpoint of the fjord. After that, we returned to Stryn, taking the mountain road and stopping frequently to take photos.

### Days Seven and Eight

The weather was rainy and fantastic, so we decided to stay close and enjoy the weather:

- We strolled in the Stryn center.

- We walked by the river in Stryn.

- We visited the Loen viewpoint, which was very close to our accommodation.

- We visited Yri Neset Coffee, which I find very organized with beautiful views and is great for photography enthusiasts.

### Day Nine

- We headed to Bergen, and on the way back, we stopped by Voss Lake for a picnic until sunset, then headed to Bergen for accommodation close to the airport, about 8 minutes away. It had 3 rooms and 2 bathrooms; the accommodation was excellent, honestly.

### Day Ten

- We headed from the accommodation to Bergen Airport, returned the car, and took a domestic flight to Oslo. As soon as we arrived at Oslo Airport, we had 3 hours until our flight back to the beloved Kingdom via Qatar Airways.

**Note**: The return flight was booked two days before returning. We initially planned for an open trip to extend our stay in Norway or visit another European country for a few days before returning home. The return was supposed to be from Bergen to a European country or London and then back home. We chose to pick up and drop off the car in Bergen, but circumstances forced me to return to Saudi Arabia quickly. There were no suitable return flights from Bergen to Saudi Arabia; I had to go to Oslo. I contacted the car rental company to return the car in Oslo, and they said I would have to pay an additional 3,000 SAR (approximately $800). So, I decided to return it in Bergen and take a domestic flight from Bergen to Oslo. The two tickets cost us 600 SAR (about $160) with luggage instead of paying 3,000 SAR to return the car in Oslo.

### Advantages of Norway According to My Opinion:

- The nature is breathtaking, with various colors and shapes of lakes, rivers, and waterfalls. You don’t need to travel far for tourist attractions; everywhere is more beautiful than the last.

- The country is tailored for picnic and photography enthusiasts. No one will say anything if you are in a permitted area for cooking.

- The people are friendly, and most speak English.

- Accommodation options are varied, beautiful, clean, and reasonably priced.

- Car rental prices are reasonable if booked early.

### Disadvantages:

- Flights from Gulf countries, especially Saudi Arabia, are tiring; you have to transit and land in Oslo, and the capital is far from western Norway, so you need to rest in any city in between for both going and returning, which wastes about two days.

- Activities are limited, but for me, as a young person, it didn’t matter, and I enjoyed the picnics. However, families and children might need more activities.

- There are few halal restaurants. Personally, I managed with cooking and picnics, but many people don’t cook, so this can be a drawback.

### Other Notes:

- The visa used was French and new. When I arrived at Bergen Airport, the immigration officer asked why my visa was French. I was able to show him reservations proving that I had spent more time in France, and I had fake tickets from Bergen to Paris and a return ticket from Paris to Riyadh.

- **Tip**: Don’t tire yourself visiting every place and activity; most of them are similar. Travel is about relaxation and stability.

- Regarding prices in Norway, if you cook, they are similar to any European country; you won’t feel they are expensive.

- My opinion is that for those going to Europe for the first time, especially families, Switzerland and Austria are more suitable due to the abundance of flight options and less travel hassle. They won’t get tired, and there are more restaurants.

- I took a picnic bag with me from Saudi Arabia containing almost everything: rice, a pressure cooker, a stove, chairs, and Arabic seating, along with some canned goods for breakfast. As for halal meat and chicken, I brought them with me from London in the Arab Street, where there are many fresh and chilled options. I froze them a day before at the hotel, and I have a bag from Bin Dawood that keeps meat frozen without ice for 20 hours, which I put with the luggage.

- Regarding nature, I find Norway to be extraordinary; it is more beautiful than Austria, but it is close to Switzerland, with only slight differences due to the diversity in Norway. However, it remains neck and neck with Switzerland, each having its advantages and disadvantages.

### Total Cost:

- Accommodation for the entire trip in Norway: 4,450 SAR (approximately $1,187)

- Tickets for two people total: 4,300 SAR (about $1,147)

- From London to Bergen: approximately 600 SAR (about $160) including luggage.

- From Bergen to Oslo: 500 SAR (about $133).

- From Oslo to Dammam: 3,200 SAR (approximately $853).

- Fuel: 900 SAR (about $240).

- Activities, groceries, cafes, internet, tolls, and bridges: did not exceed 3,000 SAR (about $800).

**Total cost**: Approximately 13,000 SAR (around $3,466), which may vary by about 1,000 SAR.

I apologize for the lengthy message.

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This translation includes the conversion of prices from Saudi Riyals to US Dollars based on approximate exchange rates.