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Hundreds of beautiful domed churches, tall old towers, and a 1,100 year-old-skyline—Prague is known as the “city of a thousand spires” for a good reason. This city is an architectural gem of the modern world, with pieces of history littered throughout its fine examples of Baroque, Gothic, Art Nouveau, and Renaissance styles dotting the city and contrasting the old Prague Castle.

Use an online trip planner to discover some of the best places to visit in this historic city center:

Prague Castle

Prague Castle is located in the Hradcany neighborhood. It used to be the home of the Bohemian kings but now serves as the official residence of the president of the Czech Republic and a popular tourist attraction.

This gorgeous fortress was originally built around 870 AD, but the castle evolved with time and contains many examples of the leading architectural styles of the last millennium. The castle walls hold some of the most popular tourist sites in the city—St. George’s Basilica, Old Royal Palace, Powder Tower, Golden Lane, and St. Vitus Cathedral.

The behemoth of a castle requires a considerable amount of time to explore, but it’s definitely worth it when you have beautiful views of the Vltava River and the old town. Some highlights include the main hall of the Old Royal Palace—the large Vladislav Hall could host jousting tournaments! Make sure to visit the Royal Garden as well, home to the Ball Game Pavillion, Royal Sumer House and its Singing Fountain, and the Lion’s Court.

Charles Bridge

The wondrous Charles Bridge (Karluv Most) spans across 621 meters and boasts 32 different points of interest. The bridge was built in 1357 and has been regarded with superstition—the initial stone of the bridge was laid on 9th July, at 5:31 am exactly, giving an exact set of numbers (135797531) that is believed to give the humongous structure some additional strength. The construction was also completely aligned with the sunset on the equinox, as well as St. Vitus’s tomb.

The bridge contains many fine statues, such as those of the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles IV, and the country’s most revered saint, John of Nepomuk. Additionally, you can enjoy spectacular views of the River Vltava as well as the gorgeous Gothic gates.

Astronomical Clock in the Old Town Square

The Old Town is the historic center of the city, where you’ll find the Old Town Square—one of the best places to begin your exploration of Prague. You can find Tyn Church and the Clementinum, with multiple old churches and architecture dating back to the 11th century.

One of the main highlights of the area is the Old Town Hall which hosts the wonderful Astronomical Clock from the 15th century. The 12 Apostles and many other figures spring to life across the clock face every hour.

Some other highlights include a chapel dating back to 1381, an old prison, and the Gothic Doorway that leads to splendid art exhibits. You can enjoy panoramic views of the city by ascending the Old Town Hall Tower by stairs or elevator!

Wenceslas Square

Wenceslas Square is the highlight of the city’s New Town—an area that grew as the city prospered and expanded. Named after Bohemia’s patron saint, the Square contains the National Museum and many other architectural wonders. Wenceslas Square was created during Charles IV’s reign in the 14th century as a horse market but has now become one of the most important public spaces in the city, often used for celebrations and demonstrations.

It’s one of the best free places to visit in Prague, with visitors getting the chance to experience some excellent dining facilities and shop around for gifts. The site turns into Prague’s largest Christmas Market in December, so be sure to indulge in the holiday cheer!

The Dancing House

This modern architectural creation was designed by Frank Gehry and built around 1992-1996. Two adjoined towers come together to create a wondrous structure that resembles two dancing figures, further heightened by the fact that one of the towers seems to be a woman wearing a skirt.

The building mainly consists of a hotel and offices, but tourists can enjoy wonderful views from a restaurant on the top floor.

Begin your adventure with a travel planner and itinerary maker platform

There’s so much more to see in Prague! Tripety is one of the best free travel itinerary planner platforms that can help you plan your trip day by day or follow other people’s publicly shared itineraries. You can also use this group travel itinerary planner platform to plan a trip with a whole bunch of your friends and family while keeping in touch over the it.

Major Attractions You Must Visit in Paris

Paris is a place of love and leisure with an elegant aura that never fades. It’s home to countless tourist attractions such as the Place de la Concorde, Place des Vosges, Place de la Bourse, Place du Louvre, Arc de Triomphe and many more. There are also many scenic walks, including Champs-Elysees Avenue and Tuileries Garden, that pass by many of the most famous landmarks in Paris.

The Louvre

The Louvre is one of the largest museums in the world and is filled with many works of art, including the famous Mona Lisa painting. The entire museum is surrounded by an underground shopping area filled with cafes, restaurants, gift shops, and galleries.

Nightlife in Paris

If you want to take in some of Paris’s local nightlife, then your best bet is to go to Le Marais district, where there are many art galleries, cafes, restaurants, and nightclubs. There are also plenty of shops around Place des Vosges including Monoprix, where you can find everything from clothing to housewares for a reasonable price.

Paris has long been known for being a romantic destination for couples around the world. Of all the places in this city, here are a few iconic locations that you must visit in your next all-girl trip to Paris:

The Arc de Triomphe

The Arc de Triumphe or Are de Triomphe de l’Etoile is a huge triumphal arch at the heart of Paris. It's among the most popular commemorative monuments around the world. The arch is a symbol of French nationalism, and it took 30 years to erect it.

It's located near the Place Charles de Gaulle, just around 2 KM away from the eastern terminus. Napoleon-I commissioned the Arc to honor the French military’s achievements in the victory of the Battle of Austerlitz.

Place de la Concorde

Place de la Concorde is located in Paris, between the Champs-Elysees and the Tuileries Gardens in the 8th arrondissement in the eastern part of Paris. This is one of the most famous squares in Paris. Some fountains are fed by underground springs with four alleys leading to a larger fountain positioned in front of Hotel Crillon. The square is surrounded by many stores and was the site of the main station of Paris for rail travelers.

The Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is a 324 m (1,063 ft) tall monument built in 1889 on the Champ de Mars in Paris, France, as a gift to the city from the World's Fair celebrating the centennial of its popular Revolution.

It is now one of the most recognizable structures in Paris and one of the most visited tourist attractions in France. The tower was constructed by Gustave Eiffel and took over two years to complete, and was worth USD1.5 million when it was completed.

It is composed of 18,000 pieces. It was the tallest structure in the world until 1930, when it was overtaken by the Chrysler Building in New York. The tower also has three platforms that are open to the public from which you can enjoy a panoramic view of Paris from above.

Notre Dame Cathedral

Notre Dame de Paris, or simply Notre Dame to locals, is a historic Catholic cathedral built on the Ile de la Cite of the Seine River. It is a famous landmark and a major tourist attraction.

The building was constructed by Maurice de Sully, and its construction began around 1163. The cathedral has many architectural details from different eras, including Gothic architecture from the 13th century. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is one of the well-known buildings in Paris in 1991.

Paris is undeniably one of the major attractions in Europe. It boasts beautiful architecture, historical monuments, numerous parks, and stunning designs of exquisite buildings. It will take you only a short time to discover all its best destinations with your friends!

Plan Your Trip to Paris Today!

If you have no clue how to start planning your trip to Paris, we can help you. Tripety is an online itinerary management platform where you can keep track of all your travel details. If you're traveling in a group, Tripety offers a group travel management feature where you can synchronize your itinerary with other group members!

However, hotels aren’t the only entities you can book to lay your head down every night. Hostels are another invaluable place to stay, which provide their own benefits. The primary difference between a hotel and a hostel is the style of the rooms.

While hotels provide customers with their private rooms with an attached bathroom, most hostels have shared rooms in the style of bunk beds and a shared bathroom. Depending on the hostel, a single room can be occupied by 4 to 10 people.

Giving a simple answer on which is better would be challenging, as everyone has their preferences and requirements. Let’s look into the factors most important for people to choose their place of stay, and see which of them are the best for you.

Privacy

You may have guessed by reading the differences above, but this goes absolutely to hotels. The style of rooms that hostels are made in makes it impossible for them to compete with the level of privacy that hotels can provide.

It also doesn’t help if your roommates are not familiar with hostel etiquette, and if you’re someone who can’t compromise on having your own private space, then it may be best not to opt for a hostel. Although most hostels are equipped with privacy curtains, you would likely be sharing all the facilities that the hostel provides.

Budget

While hostels can’t compete with hotels when it comes to privacy, the prices they charge certainly make them more attractive. Because everything is shared, this largely brings the price down, making a stay at a hostel much more affordable to stay in.

Remember that you’d only really be in the hostel by sleeping time, and staying at a cheaper place leaves you with more money to spend on tourist activities. If budget is not a huge constraint for you, hotels can provide a lot of value addition, but hostels are a much more affordable and attractive option if you need a place to sleep.

Ambiance

The atmosphere provided by hotels compared to hostels is very different, and there is no one-size-fits-all for this. Although hostels are cheaper, this doesn’t necessarily mean that they compromise on cleanliness or hospitality. You can find many high-quality hostels at the price of a below-average hotel that provides an amazing ambiance.

Living in a hostel can also be a much more fun experience than a hotel if you’re a people person. Most hostels provide a very homely experience, and the fact that they’re more small-scale than hotels means that they may provide more customized customer service.

Number Of Choices

While hostels are a cheaper alternative, you would definitely find a wider range of hotels wherever you go. Even a place with modest tourism hosts at least a few hotels, which gives you more choices on where you want to stay.

This is something lacking if you’re looking for the ideal hostel for you, and you may have to settle with the ones available due to a lack of choices.

Final Thoughts And Recommendations

Both hotels and hostels provide their own benefits, depending on your budget, requirements, and how much you value your privacy. If you’re only in need of a place to sleep and shower, hostels can be a very attractive option. But if you can’t compromise on your privacy, then not so much.

Choosing a place to stay is an integral part of planning your next trip, and if you need help with the same, Tripety can help you with everything that goes into making it perfect. This free travel planning website provides travelers with valuable assistance that brings convenience to their trip.

Not only can you make your itinerary on the website, but you can also manage your budget and store your details, including your flights, bookings, and hotel stays. Updating your to-do list can also tell you how much money you have left to pick a hotel or a hostel.

Bali, Indonesia

Let's look at an island that's usually found on everyone's travel bucket list: Bali! The waters around this island are incredible, and there are tons of great snorkeling opportunities if water sports are your forte.

It hasn't been long since the tragic Mt. Agung volcano erupted on the island of Bali. However, if you're still willing to go, it's easy to find cheap flights into the city of Bali.

While it might be more affordable to stay on this side of Indonesia, we would recommend staying in the city of Ubud rather than Kuta for a more authentic experience. While it's possible to find hostels here, sometimes they fill up quickly, so it's best to book your hostel ahead of time.

Bangkok, Thailand

One of the most popular destinations in Southeast Asia is Bangkok, Thailand. It's one of the cities that we highly recommend you visit! It's very safe and has tons of great food and shopping centers.

You're also never more than a 20-minute walk from a temple if you're into exploring any temples along the way, as well as some great beaches just outside of town. If you want to stay here on a budget, we would recommend staying at a hostel as they can be found for as little as $15 or less per night for a dorm bed.

While many travelers just stay in the backpacker area, which is Khaosan Road, we would recommend staying somewhere off the beaten path a little more to see a different side of this city.

Hong Kong

This super chill city is one of the least expensive Asian countries to visit. You can easily find hostels for as little as USD 15 per night! While the food might be a little more expensive than in other Asian countries, there are still tons of amazing restaurants around Hong Kong that are open 24 hours a day.

While it might take you longer to get around this place, we would recommend spending time exploring the different neighborhoods of Hong Kong while you're there since they're all unique in their way. You can also go hiking in some of these neighborhoods if you're looking for something a bit more adventurous.

If you plan on visiting any of the above places, try Tripety. It's a free online trip planning platform that lets you plan your travel itinerary on the app and book cheap flights and hotels on the go!

The free online trip planner platform also helps you manage your travel finances and save money.