Read in
Czech Republic
A designated City of Literature, Prague, the Czech Republic’s capital city, is designed for reading and exploration. With medieval cobblestone streets, palace gardens, a book and cafe culture, it is perfect for a solo reading retreat.
Walking in Prague Old Town
Prague Tram
Fun facts
– The country speaks the Czech language, but most were taught English at an early age in primary school, so you will come across many who are bilingual.
– Czechia (pronounced Czec-kia) is how locals refer to the Czech Republic.
– Pork is what they love to prepare, and their pork skewers are simply delicious.
Old Town Prague
Old Town Prague is a medieval strip of cobblestone streets and grand architecture that has the feel of entering a classic novel.
Stay at the Boho Prague, a quiet boutique hotel with a library, which is just near the edge of Prague’s Old Town, on a quiet street within walking distance of many attractions.
Recommended readings
Too Loud A Solitude, by Bohumil Hrabal
Love and Garbage, by Ivan Klima
Letters to Milena, by Franz Kafka
The Unbearable Lightness of Being, by Milan Kundera
At a glance
My reading experience in the Czech Republic
In August, I started the Reading Prague Challenge. This Challenge took me to Prague, where I retraced the steps of some of my favorite characters, and where I created new footprints in my literary journey.
Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic, is a designated UNESCO City of Literature, celebrated for its iconic writers and book culture.
Why read to travel, you may ask? Reading places me at the core and culture of a place, gives me in-depth knowledge directly from writers and natives of a country.
Places I visited from the Reading Prague Challenge
Old Town and New Town: In my reading and travel guide of Too Loud A Solitude, I write about the character Haňťa walking the cobblestone streets of Old Town Prague, the historic hub of Prague that is surrounded by medieval streets.
Malá Strana. In my reading and travel guide of Love and Garbage, I list specific streets and areas the narrator mentions cleaning. One of them is Prague’s Little City District or Malá Strana. Malá Strana was probably one of my favorite places to visit, where there are Baroque palaces and hidden gardens. I visited Kampa Island and even found the most beautiful hidden palace garden to sit and read.
Franz Kafka Literary Spotlights. Franz Kafka is the writer seen more visibly in Prague. I visited his museum, saw the Kafka Rotating Head and other exhibitions, and I also walked by Kafka’s birthplace.
Kinský Gardens. A public park that is great for walking and observing, this park hosts many small chapels and the Kinský Summer Palace.
Spotlights for Solo Readers Visiting Prague
Explore Prague’s Beautiful Gardens. Some of Prague’s hidden gems are its gardens. I found that the Wallenstein Garden, a Baroque palace garden in Prague’s Lesser Town, is perfect for exploring and spending time to read.
Discover Various Towers. Prague has more than ten well-known towers that you can spend an entire trip visiting. In fact, in Too Loud, I write about how Haňťa crosses the streets to view the New Town Tower.
I visited the Old Town Hall Clock Tower, a medieval tower which hosts an astronomical clock. At the top of the hour, you can see the 12 apostles extend from tiny doors. There are many outdoor restaurants in this plaza where you can grab a coffee with your book, or simply sit around the plaza.
Browse bookstores. Prague is said to have one of the highest concentrations of bookshops in Europe. Most of them, however, have only a few English translations.
I enjoyed my time at Globe Bookstore and Café, a bookshop that spotlights Czech writers and also has many English titles. The plus is that they also have a cozy café which serves brunch. There is also a quiet terrace where you will spot solo readers hiding away with cups of coffee or glasses of wine.
Plan a day at the Prague Castle. You will hear of this site often when visiting Prague. Visiting it solo can feel overwhelming. However, there are many hidden beauties of the castle if you choose to explore it as a solo traveler. Look for small pockets of peace where you can observe history. Find the small bridges and water entryways next to the castle. Stop in for a cup of coffee at one of the castle cafés.
Walk Charles Bridge. Although a very crowded tourist area, this was one of the special highlights of my stay. With over 30 statues and so much history engraved, the bridge sits over the Vltava River, the longest river in the Czech Republic.
Where to Stay
Stay in Old Town Prague, a picturesque city which places you within walkable distance to many attractions.
Spotlight Hotel: The Boho Prague, an elegant, quiet, boutique hotel with a library and complimentary wine tasting.
What to Read
Peruse the Reading Prague Challenge to find books and storytelling about Prague. And if you are interested in book travel, please leave me an email on the Reading Europe literary trail.
To support reading and literary conversation on this site, please browse and purchase books by going to the Books by Continent page and following the links, or by going directly to a book linked, or by visiting the Reading Around the World bookshop.
