Prague, Czech Republic

Prague is one of Europe's most beautiful and best-preserved cities — the 'City of a Hundred Spires', whose Gothic, Renaissance, baroque and Art Nouveau layers survived the 20th century largely intact, earning the historic centre a place on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The Vltava River curves through it, crossed by the famous Charles Bridge — a 14th-century stone span lined with baroque statues, magical at dawn before the crowds — linking the Old Town to the castle district. Above the city sprawls Prague Castle, the largest ancient castle complex in the world, dominated by the soaring Gothic St Vitus Cathedral and including the royal palace, the tiny coloured houses of Golden Lane and sweeping views over the red rooftops. At the heart of the Old Town (Staré Město), the Old Town Square gathers the twin Gothic towers of the Týn Church, the baroque palaces and, every hour, a crowd before the medieval Astronomical Clock as its apostles parade. The atmospheric Jewish Quarter (Josefov) holds a cluster of historic synagogues and the haunting Old Jewish Cemetery, while the Lesser Town (Malá Strana) below the castle is a baroque dream of palaces, gardens and the Lennon Wall, and the broad Wenceslas Square anchors the New Town. Prague is also a city of pleasures: the Czech Republic is the spiritual home of pilsner beer, and Prague's beer halls and pubs serve some of the best — and cheapest — beer in the world, alongside hearty cuisine of roast pork, dumplings and goulash. Add the Art Nouveau splendour of the Municipal House and Mucha's work, classical-music concerts in historic churches, river cruises, the quirky Dancing House and a thriving café and craft scene, and Prague offers extraordinary beauty at a fraction of Western European prices. It's busy year-round — book ahead and rise early to beat the crowds at the headline sights — and especially magical under Christmas-market lights or spring blossom.