Charles Square

When Prague became the capital of the Holy Roman Empire, its illustrious king Charles IV started putting even more effort into the city’s expansion and development. The banks of the Vltava were overpopulated in those days, so the new spacious district (twice the size of the nearby Old Town) emerged as a welcome solution for the housing shortage, also becoming an important trade & business hub.

The New Town, or Nové Město in Czech, was mainly Gothic at the time of its construction in the 1340s, but in the late 19th century a lot of the original buildings were demolished. The area acquired a more eclectic façade, while the three main marketplaces were turned into squares – becoming the present-day Wenceslas Square, Charles Square and Senovážné square ("the Hay Market").

A mix of old and new today, Nové Město has excellent transport connections and is a perfect neighbourhood in many ways. Wenceslas Square, its bustling heart, is within a short walk from the Old Town. The square itself is one of the most popular tourist spots in Prague and home to the beautiful Neo-Renaissance building of the National Museum.

Strolling through the New Town’s wide boulevards – like Na Příkopě or Vodičkova street, you will come across numerous shopping malls, restaurants and hotels, as well as cultural spots – theatres, cinemas and museums.

Make the list of must-see sights before you start exploring Nové Město: those include the curvaceous and modern Dancing House, the ornate Jerusalem Synagogue and the museum dedicated to Alfons Mucha, one of the most renowned Czech painters.