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Whats The Context?
Prague is getting harder and harder for me to enjoy. When I first visited, around 2004, I thought it was one of the most incredible places I had seen in Europe. The perfect combination of modern and Romanesque architecture which has drawn so many to the city. But fast forward 15 years and what I fell in love with has also given rise to a mass tourism “problem”.
Prague has become one of Europe’s most popular destinations. With a firm spot on backpackers and retirees travel bucket lists alike. Inexpensive drinks (once upon a time), beautiful architecture, and a strong tourism infrastructure have made Prague an easy sell. BUT, with that comes the crowds, scammers, and seasonal price hikes. Not to mention the negative shift in locals attitudes towards tourist.
So Erick, why do you keep going back? Well simply put, Prague is stunning. Which is why people keep going. If you know the city you know where to stay and when to visit, which ill cover below. Prague has quite a few cool secrets that mass tourism hasn’t yet destroyed. Plus if you make local friends your visit will be infinitely better. Prague is the perfect example of tourist ruining tourism.
What Was I Trying to Capture?
Like many cities, Prague during the early morning hours is almost entirely deserted. Making it perfect for architecture photographs. This was during the spring so the lighting was perfectly diffused by early morning fogs. It was my mission to capture sunrise on Charles Bridge hoping there wouldn’t be many tourists around.
I prefer shooting in this direction, away from the old town. I find the background buildings to be far more impressive. This is Lesser Town Bridge Tower (Malostranské mostecké věže) which leads to Lesser Town. Essentially the bottom of Prague Castle Hill.
Instead of taking a longer exposure or editing to remove tourists I decided to leave them in. People provide scale. And it shows the reality of the atmosphere. I’ve seen far too many people posting images with all the tourists edited out.
My Settings
Hand Held or Stabilized: On a tripod.
Exposure: 1/60th/F16
Focal Length: 60mm
ISO: 1000
Lighting: Sunrise
Body: A7S
Lens: Kit 28-70
Prague Czech Republic Travel Tips and Guide
Prague is a relatively small capital city. Especially if you look at it in terms of where all of the attractions are located. Which
One thing I think you should definitely do is take a cruise on the river Vltava. The perfect way to end a long day. Highly recommend the JazzBoat Cruise. Only costs around $35. One of the least expensive cruises.
Prague doesn’t have a shortage of hostels. So backpackers are in luck. I’ll break this down into three areas. Party, Convenience, and Best overall
Party Hostel: The Madhouse Prague. This place is INSANE. It’s
Convenience: Hostel Ananas. This place is one of the best values in Prague when it comes to hostels. A 12-bed dorm is about $7 while a 6 bed is about $9. And it’s located directly in the city
Best Overall: Czech Inn. One of the best hostels I’ve stayed in. It’s perfect for anyone that doesn’t mind staying in a locals area and enjoys a bit of quiet with their turn up. Also, it’s down the street from a delicious pizza joint.
Midrange travelers I recommend MOOo By the Castle or Dancing House Hotel. One of the cities most iconic buildings.
Luxury
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