Day 1
The big day has finally arrived - the start of the Best of Prague and Budapest tour!! I was very eager to meet my tour leader and the group, but alas, I would have to wait until 4:00 p.m., the scheduled start time of the orientation meeting. Since the meeting wasn't until later in the day, I decided to squeeze in more solo sightseeing adventures that morning and do some shopping!
Note that for those doing the 2025 tour, your meeting will be at 2:00 p.m., followed by a visit to Prague Castle.
Traveling Back in Time
Old Town Hall
Given my interest in history, I was looking forward to visiting Prague's Old Town Hall, which dates back to the early 1300s. This site was one of my favorites in Prague; it had a very interesting history, beautiful murals and architectural features, and fascinating underground caverns. Old Town Hall also has a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary with stunning stained glass windows.
One thing I really enjoyed was getting a close-up view of the 12 apostle statues that are featured when the Astronomical Clock strikes the hour.
The caverns date from Prague's early years and were also used as shelter during dark chapters in the city's history. In the picture to the left, the window marks the current street level in Old Town.
When visiting Old Town Hall, you can also purchase a ticket to climb the clock tower, where from the top, you'll have amazing views of Prague and Old Town Square.
A 50% discount on clock tower tickets is available the first hour the site is open, Tuesdays through Sundays.
Lunch Break
Climbing a clock tower definitely works up an appetite, so after my visit to Old Town Hall, I headed to Maitrea, a vegetarian/vegan restaurant about one block away from Old Town Square. This restaurant has phenomenal food and a wonderful atmosphere. I enjoyed an iced coffee sweetened with maple syrup and a salad containing avocado, sun-dried tomatoes, marinated tofu, bell peppers, and a few other things. I had that salad twice during my trip, and I miss it!!
Shopping
Near my hotel, I discovered a store called Amadea Melatrichova that sold local, wood-carved items. You name it, they sold it - ornaments, coasters, kitchenware, toys, nativity sets, jewelry, clocks, lamps, etc. This is where I purchased most of my Prague souvenirs and gifts for my friends and family.
Some coasters and an ornament I purchased at Amadea Melatrichova.
Orientation Meeting
It was finally time for the orientation meeting, which was held in the hotel's breakfast area. First impressions were great - a very personable tour leader, friendly tourmates, and a "welcome kit" that included snacks. Andrea, our tour leader, went over the itinerary, explained how to use the headsets, shared that there would be "surprises" throughout the tour, and informed us that there would be sheets for us to fill out our meal preferences for the included dinners.
During the meeting, we also got to pick out our "tour buddy" - just like in school field trips, the tour buddy helped keep track of you and notified the tour leader if you were not present at check-in before the start of the activity. It was a great system, and I had a wonderful tour buddy, Donna!
Meet My Tour Leader
Less than 2 weeks after the tour ended, my group leader, Andrea, was featured on Rick Steves' Monday Night Travel. Through her insight, thoughtfulness, and infectious laughter, Andrea made the tour a memorable experience for all participants. She warmly welcomed us to her 'home' and, throughout the trip, went out of her way to craft surprises that enhanced the tour. She also spoiled participants with chocolate treats!
Orientation Walk
We were off on our first group activity - an orientation walk of Prague. This was a short walk where Andrea shared some key facts about Prague, explained how to navigate the city, and spoke about the landmarks and buildings we were seeing. I had passed by some of those buildings during my solo adventures and had missed certain details, so having a tour guide helps in making sure you do not miss out on "hidden treasures"!
Welcome Dinner
Our walk led us through some beautiful areas of Prague, across Old Town Square, over the Charles Bridge, and finally to Restaurace U Mecenáše, the location of the group's Welcome Dinner. The group was seated in a downstairs area that reminded me of the caverns under the Old Town Hall. I sat at a table with my fellow solo travelers (there were 6 of us total on the tour), and together, we shared a wonderful evening of great food and amazing music.
While I opted for the veggie option, most of my tourmates chose the Svíčková, a traditional dish of braised beef with dumplings and cranberries (their dish reminded me of a Thanksgiving dinner).
As the group started dinner, we were pleasantly surprised to be joined by members of the Prague Castle Orchestra. I love the accordion so I had a big smile on my face while the two gentlemen played some lovely classic Bohemian and Czech tunes.
It was surprises like this that made the Rick Steves' Best of Prague & Budapest such a memorable experience!
The tour was off to a great start and I was very much looking forward to Day 2 and future surprises!