After having such an amazing time in Budapest, Vienna, and my impromptu detour to Bratislava, I was ready for Prague – the last stop on my Central Europe trip. And after hearing raging reviews from friends about the Czech capital, the city had big shoes to fill.

Prague wowed me with its stunning architecture and natural beauty. From the Atomic Clock to the Prague castle, the Lennon Wall to the Jewish synagogues, the city offers a variety of different districts and sceneries, all against the backdrop of the beautiful Vltava River. Between drinking cheap Czech beer and enjoying the panorama view from the top of the Charles Bridge Tower, my stay in Prague felt far too short.

Prague is distinctly different from Western European countries; in fact, it is probably where most of Western Europe was 20 years ago. Although the Communist Era ended around the same time in both the Czech Republic and Hungary, it surprised me how different the two have become. In contrast with Budapest, Prague is a capital thriving on its new-found freedom. Even in the middle of winter, Prague is full of energy and life.

Untapped Cities - Tracy Zhang - Prague

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This article originally appeared on  Just-In-Time Travels. Get in touch with the author@tracyzhangphoto.