Things to do in Prague for free

West of Lesser Quarter Square is Nerudova, named after writer Jan Neruda, who once lived here. There are a number of fine buildings on this street, each distinguished by an emblem as they were built before the introduction of street numbers. Look out for ‘The Three Fiddles’ at No. 12 or ‘The Green Lobster’ at No. 43. Thun-Hohenstein Palace at No. 20, its ornate entranceway framed by huge eagles, is now the Italian Embassy. The Morzin Palace at No. 5 now serves as a diplomatic base for Romania.

Petřin Hill is a vast, open area stretching all across the hillside. Footpaths wind up to the summit. Once at the top you can stroll along to explore the park’s attractions. These include the Observation Tower - a mini Eiffel Tower built for the Prague Industrial Exhibition in 1891, a mirror maze, two chapels and a church, and the remnants of the Hunger Wall (Hladová zed’) - a city wall built by Charles IV and said to have been a community project to provide work, and therefore food, for the poor. Not far from the Hunger Wall, on Ujezd, is the stark Monument to the Victims of Communism, unveiled in 2002.

At the east of Lesser Quarter Square is Mostecká (Bridge Street). This short, shop-lined road leads to the river and one of the most impressive free things to do in Prague: Charles Bridge (Karlův most). This 520-metre (1,700ft) -long bridge, one of the most famous in the world, was built across the Vltava in the mid-14th century following the destruction of the previous Judith Bridge in a flood. Charles IV and his architect, Peter Parler, were determined to build a bridge that would endure. But even they could not have imagined that it would last 600 years and counting. The original bridge was a very functional structure with little embellishment. At the Mala Strana end there were two towers: the Judith Tower (dated c.1190), the smaller of the two, survives as the only reminder of the Judith Bridge. The Lesser Quarter Bridge Tower was built as a gateway to the town. At the Old Town end of the bridge is the Old Town Bridge Tower, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture.