DK Travel : Prague

At the geographical heart of Europe, Prague’s beautiful cityscape has been carved and sustained by a variety of emperors, artists and religious communities, from the Gothic exuberance of its castle and cathedral, to the dignity of the medieval Jewish Cemetery, and the 19th-century opulence of the “new” town. Under Communist rule, Prague was off the tourist map, but since 1989 the city has seen a surge of visitors eager to take in this spectacular city.

Marijuana is Legal

Czech law punishes anyone caught with “more than a small amount” of the drug.
Marionette Don Giovanni

Mozart premiered his opera Don Giovanni at Prague’s Estates Theatre in 1787. Of the two marionette homages to the city’s favourite opera, the better production takes place at the National Marionette Theatre. The technique of the puppeteers is so masterful, you’ll leave looking for strings attached to passers-by. A true Prague experience (see Stavovské divadlo).
Marionette Marriage of Figaro

Mozart’s comic opera adapts well to the grotesque puppets and the techniques of marionette theatre. It’s high art and, despite the efforts of the expert puppeteers, the illusion is a bit hard to maintain, but patient opera fans will enjoy the novelty.
Marionette Orpheus et Euridice

Take an eternal tale of humanity’s search for meaning in the cycle of life, death and rebirth, add a century of Czech marionette tradition and a fuzzy soundtrack, and mix well. Watching the bemused audience is almost as much fun as the action on stage.
Masopust

Czech swine start getting nervous in early February as the nation whets its appetite and knives for their version of Carnival. While the beer-and-pork orgies are more common in villages than in the big city, working-class Žižkov (see Greater Prague) throws a large party each year.
May Day

The dawn finds young lovers dragging themselves home after a night of doing what comes naturally on Petřín Hill. While they sleep, their parents spend the national holiday trying to forget the old obligatory Communist rallies.
Mecca

The proprietors of Mecca have turned this former factory in the Holešovice warehouse district into a giant dance-and-dining emporium. The food is nouvelle cuisine, the crowd trendy and the parties wonderful. A little off the beaten track – take a taxi – but the trip is worth it. The restaurant serves food until 2am.
Meduza

The junk-shop setting has been a favourite of neighbour-hood hipsters and students for years. It’s an excellent spot to spend a rainy afternoon sipping tea or Moravian wine.
Memories of Africa

This café, located behind the Kotva department store, offers a wide selection of coffees: more than 30 freshly roasted single-bean varieties, plus blended and flavoured coffees.
Michal Negrin

At this one-stop shop for all that glitters, you’ll find baubles of amber, garnet and diamond from Fabergé and Swarovski jewellers.