4 must-do things in Prague now that spring has sprung

Prague, fairy-tale gorgeous at any time of the year, is especially stunning in the spring. Even better, the festivals and celebrations on offer are off-the-charts fantastic.

Here’s a must-do guide of things to do there — consider it the Prague bucket list you never knew you had. And don’t worry, most are off the beaten path and away from the main tourist attractions.

CHARLES IV’S 700TH BIRTHDAY

In May, the Czech people celebrate the birth of Charles IV, who was the first Czech king to become Holy Roman Emperor.

In other words, he’s kind of a big deal.

While Charles IV was born May 14, the celebration of his birth starts May 15. Festivities include an exhibition on his life and legacy, hosted by the National Gallery in Prague, and a reenactment of his coronation atop Vyšehrad hill, followed by a jousting tournament. That’s right, two people on horseback fighting with lances.

And be sure to stop by the Prague Castle to see Charles IV’s scepter and crown, which is the main exhibit of the festival. If that sounds kind of like a bore, these jewels are so amazing they’re typically tucked away in the Prague Castle behind a door and a safe, each of which have seven locks.

The keepers of these seven keys? Nope, it’s not some castle worker. Think the Czech Republic’s president, its prime minister, the chairman of the Senate, the chairman of the House of Deputies, Prague’s archbishop, the mayor of Prague and the dean of the Metropolitan Chapter of St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague. This is quite the event.

THE FATA MORGANA BOTANICAL GARDEN

Prague has a whole bunch of botanical gardens, which should tell you something right there about how beautiful the city is, and you really can’t go wrong by choosing one over the other. But if you’re playing tourist between April 5 and May 8, we recommend you stop by the Fata Morgana botanical garden in the Prague 7 district.

That’s when the greenhouse will host hundreds of butterflies that were — fun fact — bred in Stratford-upon-Avon, also known as the birthplace of William Shakespeare. The birdwing butterfly, in particular, will be highlighted in this year’s exhibit.

The greenhouse’s hours vary depending on the month. In April, you can visit the butterflies between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.; in May, the greenhouse is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

PETRIN PARK

This park is so large it never feels that crowded, letting you imagine that you’re one of the lucky locals. And the reason to go is pretty compelling: The hills of Petrin offer views of the city center that you can’t get anywhere else.

Oh, and there’s a mirror maze.

The park’s funicular recently completed some standard maintenance and repair, so if you don’t feel like strolling through the park, be sure to hop on! It runs every 10 minutes between 9 a.m. and 11:30 p.m.

CZECH BEER FESTIVAL

OK, this one’s a tourist attraction, but for good reason. The Czech Beer Festival in Letna Park, held in May, is the place to be if you want a true taste of what it’s like to live like a Czech.

The event features more than 150 different types of Czech beers from a variety of breweries across the country — not to mention a sampling of traditional Czech meats and pastries to snack on.

You can reserve a table up to 24 hours before your desired date. Try to find at least five of friends to join you, because groups of six or more are prioritized.

The program sponsors are also planning on providing live entertainment during the festival, but have not yet released the details.
（The pictures in this article from Internet.）