Prague

Intimate in size and subject matter, explore the work of one of Prague and 20th century literature’s most influential writers at the Franz Kafka Museum. Rare photographs, copies of manuscripts, letters, diaries and interactive installations make for an immersive experience that is fittingly Kafkaesque.

Bold Bohemian architecture impresses at the Rudolfinum, a Neo-Renaissance beauty on the banks of the Vltava River. Home to the Czech Philharmonic, this culture center hosts world-class musicians in the elegant concert halls where frescoes, detailed reliefs and soaring Roman colonnades also take center stage. Discover forward thinking exhibitions in the Galerie Rudolfinum and refresh with an afternoon coffee and pastry at the charming cafe.

A host of spires atop Prague’s central cathedral pierce the sky like Gothic stalagmites. Centuries in the making, the foundation stone was laid in the 14th century but the great cathedral was not completed until 1929. Marvel at the stained glass windows in a rainbow of rich colors created by contemporary Czech artists including Alfons Mucha. A tour of art history through the ages is on display with the intricate 14th-century mosaic of The Last Judgement above the Golden Gate, a Romanesque rotunda that mixes with French Gothic style and interiors dripping with baroque carvings and details.

A stroll over Prague’s most well-known landmark is a step back in time to the 14th century. Wander beneath the stoic gaze of the dramatic statues of saints lining this stone footbridge thick with buskers and vendors. Continue south of the bridge and beyond the bustling crowds, to picturesque Kampa Island. This leafy atoll on the Vltava River is a patchwork of tranquil parks, romantic lanes and the Kampa Museum, a treasure trove of modern European artwork.

Meticulously trimmed topiaries and bold box hedges encircle babbling fountains and mythical figures frozen in bronze relief in the wow-worthy Wallenstein Garden. The verdant Italian-style garden is the icing on the regal baroque cake that is the 17th-century Wallenstein Palace, now the current home of the Czech Senate. Drift through the hedge mazes and the fragrant flowering paths April through October, and join the locals at the Sala Terrena for dreamy summer concerts.