Prague

The hilltop Prague Castle watches over the entire city, surrounded by majestic castle walls that enclose treasures. A tour of the castle leads on to the royal palace with its exceptional reception room, the Gothic Saint Guy cathedral and the 10th-century Saint George basilica with its famous Powder Tower.

Josefov eis Prague's Jewish district, where luxury boutiques, restaurants and synagogues huddle together. Saunter up Pařížská Street to marvel at the beautiful buildings and houses. Make the most of your time in this neighbourhood to pay a visit to the incredible Jewish museum and cemetery, where graves and nature co-exist in harmony.

This impressive Jesuit complex includes the Saint Salvator Church, the astronomical tower and the unmissable library. The latter is an elaborate Baroque masterpiece decked out in frescoes, wood-panelling, columns and wooden floorboards, staggering from head to toe. The library is home to thousands of scientific manuscripts and dozens of globes. Truly magical!

Head to Staroměstské náměstí, the old town, for a slice of authentic Prague living. The square is riveting with its formidable monuments and Baroque façades, and is lined with cafés, bars and restaurants that set out their terraces in this historic setting. Street artists flock here to show off their talents.

A secret, shadow world exists deep under Prague's pavements. You'll need to keep your eyes peeled if you don't want to miss out. When night falls, the locals gather in bars and clubs buried underground. These former bomb shelters were transformed into party hotspots, and are often tucked away behind unassuming doors.

An iconic Czech and Hungarian dish, goulash is a rich, comforting stew. Goulash is made by simmering beef, beer and paprika, a spice that holds pride of place in Eastern European cuisine. Different variations on the theme mean yours may be served with peppers, tomatoes and potatoes.

In Prague, locals and visitors alike are firm fans of trdelník. Originally Slovakian, this cake took Prague by storm. Cake batter is rolled up in a tube and dusted with sugar, cinnamon, coconut or hazelnut before being cooked over a wood fire. Its smoky flavour makes trdelník a highly original dessert.