Prague's main square since the 10th century, ringed by pastel baroque and Gothic facades. The astronomical clock on the Old Town Hall draws crowds every hour for its mechanical procession. Tourist central, historically significant, impossible to avoid.
Location
Staré Město, Prague
Map
Insider Intel
Walk the square early morning before 8am or late evening. Climb the Old Town Hall tower for rooftop views (the climb is worth it — the perspective over the square and spires is unmatched). The astronomical clock performance happens on the hour — arrive 5 minutes early if you want a good view, though the show itself is underwhelming.
Early morning for photographs without human walls. Evening when the square is lit and the crowds disperse slightly. Avoid midday entirely — the clock draws tour groups like a magnet, and the square becomes impassable.
The square has been Prague's main market and execution site since medieval times. The astronomical clock (1410) is the oldest still-functioning astronomical clock in the world. The mechanical apostle procession added in 1865. The clock was nearly destroyed by Nazi fire in 1945 and painstakingly restored. The Church of Our Lady before Tyn (twin Gothic spires) dominates the square. Jan Hus monument (1915) commemorates the religious reformer burned at the stake in 1415. Yes, it is touristy. It is also genuinely beautiful architecture and the heart of medieval Prague.