Walks: Prague, Czech Republic

Walking is the way to see Prague as motor traffic is banned in the city's historic areas: the old and new town, Jewish Quarter and, across the river Vltava, the castle and little quarter. Start at the Old Town Square, one of Europe's finest public spaces. Windows on the medieval clock open and Biblical figures move around as the clock chimes hourly.

Renaissance, Romanesque and Gothic buildings span centuries of Prague's past. St Giles and many other churches have ornate Baroque interiors. Wenceslas Square, now the meeting place for guided walks, was the focal point of the Velvet Revolution led by Vaclav Havel. Stroll across Charles Bridge (Karluv Most) and pause at the statues including that of St John Nepomuk polished bright from visitors touching it for luck.

Relax in a riverside café and visit the Franz Kafka museum before taking a tram to the medieval castle. The Royal Palace, courtyards, halls and towers illustrate aspects of Prague as capital of Bohemia and the Holy Roman Empire. The renowned Strahov library contains ancient tomes on theology and philosophy. After climbing up near the city walls, we glimpsed Bohemia's holy mountain on the horizon.

Thanks to our guide Lukas and the Friends of the Library, Trinity College, Dublin.

More: Eyewitness & Everyman Guides;www.aerlingus.com; www.czechairlines.ie