You love classical music and you want to go on a holiday where you can indulge in your passion but not sure where to go? I’m going to let you into a little secret. Prague is where it's at. Not only has the Czech capital got some world class attractions and great things to do but it’s also a music lover's paradise.
2024 is a particularly good time to go as this year the country celebrates the Year of Czech Music. There is a top programme of concerts and events lined up which is sure to be in tune with your travel plans. The Year of Czech music celebrations commemorate the finest Czech composers and some of the best classical pieces ever written. The biggest tributes of the programme will be paid to the great Czech composer Bedřich Smetana. His anniversary is the centrepiece for the year-long tribute to Czech music and I’ve just been to czech it out for myself.
With a huge amount of events and performances to choose from, I had to cram as much as I could into a short city break. I didn’t have much time to do the usual stuff like linger over long lunches, go shopping or explore new nooks and crannies of a city I have come to love. But that wasn’t the point. Music was the raison d’etre.
I kicked off my Czech music mission with a night at the opera. A brand new production of Smetana’s The Secret was playing at Prague’s National Theatre and as I missed a snoop around this majestic venue on my last trip to the city, I ticked off two wishlist items with my Saturday night ticket. The National Theatre was built largely from contributions from the Czech people - even the poorest citizens who could ill afford it and the city has every right to be proud of this cultural landmark at the heart of Prague’s culture.
I also managed to drop into the Smetana Museum - a small but perfectly formed space that tells you everything you need to know about the great composer. The museum contains valuable relics from his life and work including his piano. You can find this charming attraction by the famous Charles Bridge on the banks of the Vltava River. It’s worth stopping by and besides there’s an amazing restaurant nearby that is definitely worth a look. I dined in Mlýnec, an atmospheric eatery where I had a truly memorable dinner overlooking the Vltava as it flowed by the window. Diners are treated to a delicious revival of traditional Czech dishes with a modern twist and the results are nothing short of a taste sensation. Theatre on a plate.
My next musical interlude was to the Bedrich Smetana Memorial set in an old gamekeeper’s lodge in the village of Jabkenice about an hour's drive from Prague. The lodge was originally the seat of the forestry office of the Counts Thurn-Taxis and it was in this house that Smetana spent the final years of his life having moved here when he lost his sense of hearing. A poignant tribute to Smetana and the volunteers who run the place are clearly dedicated to preserving his memory.
Back to the big city and my first foray into something that has been on my wishlist for some time - Prague Spring International Music Festival. For anyone planning a city break in May or June it’s a lovely time to visit - the glorious Prague Spring International Music Festival takes place and this year the full programme included around 50 concerts. This musical extravaganza happens every year and draws classical music fans from all over the world. Try and plan your trip to coincide with it.
Taking my seat for the first of two festival performances, I was lucky enough to experience the innovative and bold concept that is 11,000 Strings. Performed at Prague’s Karlin Forum, this was something I will never forget. In a nutshell, 50 pianos are arranged in a circle and played simultaneously while the audience sits in the middle of it all, witnessing something very unique indeed.
My final night in Prague was to be even more memorable and I had saved the best till last. My ears were in for a treat at the festival’s closing concert at Municipal House. After an elegant dining experience in the venue’s stunning Art Nouveau restaurant, I happily lost the next two hours in the glorious setting of Smetana Hall. I was transfixed by the show-stopping performance by the Czech Philharmonic playing classics by Antonín Dvořák, Josef Suk and Leoš Janáček.
It would be remiss of me not to point out my accommodation choice for this trip. It will come as no surprise that I took up residence in a music themed hotel! Yes, I went all in on my Czech musical odyssey! If like me, you want your trip to stay in character the whole time then try and book Aria Hotel Prague. Situated in my favourite part of the city - Lesser Town, Aria Hotel, as the name suggests, is a nod to the music world.
It might be Taylor Swift making the headlines right now with her current tour boosting the tourism economy but have I got news for you…
There’s a different kind of magic happening in Prague and this beautiful hotel has cast a spell over me. Aria Hotel Prague hits all the right notes for many reasons but if music is on the agenda, it will definitely strike a chord. The hotel’s subtle entrance from the street almost shrouds the place in mystery and at first glance - blink and you’ll miss it - you would never guess the splendour that awaits you once you walk through the doors. This is class with a capital C …or should I say top C?! Super stylish decor and a light airy ambience to shield its guests from the hustle and bustle, it’s a real oasis of calm in the heart of the city.
Once you’re inside, the hotel slowly reveals its magic and although there's a classical music overtone, it does pay tribute to all genres of music and there’s also artefacts, pictures and references to pop music too. You’ll see the likes of Michael Jackson, Sting, and rock gods, Queen, around the place. See, I told you there was a ‘kind of magic’. Queen also asked ‘who wants to live forever’ in one of their hit songs and I can safely say that I do - but can I spend my remaining days here, please?
As you know I was in Prague to immerse myself in the city’s music and cultural programmes but if I had never left this hotel I would have had the best time ever. What more can a music obsessed, luxury loving travel writer wish for? There’s even a cute little music library stocked with hundreds of music you can borrow and take to play in your room. And don’t forget to visit the stunning Vrtba Garden. The hotel has its own private entrance and guests can experience the beauty and tranquillity of Prague’s oldest Baroque garden. The taxi driver from the airport didn't drop me at a hotel. He dropped me in a dream.
With the current trend for experiential travel, Prague and the wider Czech Republic is the ideal destination to scratch that itch. Cultural tourism is one of the fastest-growing segments of tourism which, according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), accounts for 40% of all tourism. Moreover, for many tourists, the biggest attractions are classical music festivals.
Prague is fit to rival some of the concert city big guns of Vienna, New York, London and Berlin and is taking its place among Europe’s music super powers. Throw in some fascinating history, art, great food, beer, and beautiful architecture and you have the perfect city break … and I suspect you’ll be back for an encore!
With a huge amount of events and performances to choose from, I had to cram as much as I could into a short city break. I didn’t have much time to do the usual stuff like linger over long lunches, go shopping or explore new nooks and crannies of a city I have come to love. But that wasn’t the point. Music was the raison d’etre.
I kicked off my Czech music mission with a night at the opera. A brand new production of Smetana’s The Secret was playing at Prague’s National Theatre and as I missed a snoop around this majestic venue on my last trip to the city, I ticked off two wishlist items with my Saturday night ticket. The National Theatre was built largely from contributions from the Czech people - even the poorest citizens who could ill afford it and the city has every right to be proud of this cultural landmark at the heart of Prague’s culture.
I also managed to drop into the Smetana Museum - a small but perfectly formed space that tells you everything you need to know about the great composer. The museum contains valuable relics from his life and work including his piano. You can find this charming attraction by the famous Charles Bridge on the banks of the Vltava River. It’s worth stopping by and besides there’s an amazing restaurant nearby that is definitely worth a look. I dined in Mlýnec, an atmospheric eatery where I had a truly memorable dinner overlooking the Vltava as it flowed by the window. Diners are treated to a delicious revival of traditional Czech dishes with a modern twist and the results are nothing short of a taste sensation. Theatre on a plate.
My next musical interlude was to the Bedrich Smetana Memorial set in an old gamekeeper’s lodge in the village of Jabkenice about an hour's drive from Prague. The lodge was originally the seat of the forestry office of the Counts Thurn-Taxis and it was in this house that Smetana spent the final years of his life having moved here when he lost his sense of hearing. A poignant tribute to Smetana and the volunteers who run the place are clearly dedicated to preserving his memory.
Back to the big city and my first foray into something that has been on my wishlist for some time - Prague Spring International Music Festival. For anyone planning a city break in May or June it’s a lovely time to visit - the glorious Prague Spring International Music Festival takes place and this year the full programme included around 50 concerts. This musical extravaganza happens every year and draws classical music fans from all over the world. Try and plan your trip to coincide with it.
Taking my seat for the first of two festival performances, I was lucky enough to experience the innovative and bold concept that is 11,000 Strings. Performed at Prague’s Karlin Forum, this was something I will never forget. In a nutshell, 50 pianos are arranged in a circle and played simultaneously while the audience sits in the middle of it all, witnessing something very unique indeed.
My final night in Prague was to be even more memorable and I had saved the best till last. My ears were in for a treat at the festival’s closing concert at Municipal House. After an elegant dining experience in the venue’s stunning Art Nouveau restaurant, I happily lost the next two hours in the glorious setting of Smetana Hall. I was transfixed by the show-stopping performance by the Czech Philharmonic playing classics by Antonín Dvořák, Josef Suk and Leoš Janáček.
It would be remiss of me not to point out my accommodation choice for this trip. It will come as no surprise that I took up residence in a music themed hotel! Yes, I went all in on my Czech musical odyssey! If like me, you want your trip to stay in character the whole time then try and book Aria Hotel Prague. Situated in my favourite part of the city - Lesser Town, Aria Hotel, as the name suggests, is a nod to the music world.
It might be Taylor Swift making the headlines right now with her current tour boosting the tourism economy but have I got news for you…
There’s a different kind of magic happening in Prague and this beautiful hotel has cast a spell over me. Aria Hotel Prague hits all the right notes for many reasons but if music is on the agenda, it will definitely strike a chord. The hotel’s subtle entrance from the street almost shrouds the place in mystery and at first glance - blink and you’ll miss it - you would never guess the splendour that awaits you once you walk through the doors. This is class with a capital C …or should I say top C?! Super stylish decor and a light airy ambience to shield its guests from the hustle and bustle, it’s a real oasis of calm in the heart of the city.
Once you’re inside, the hotel slowly reveals its magic and although there's a classical music overtone, it does pay tribute to all genres of music and there’s also artefacts, pictures and references to pop music too. You’ll see the likes of Michael Jackson, Sting, and rock gods, Queen, around the place. See, I told you there was a ‘kind of magic’. Queen also asked ‘who wants to live forever’ in one of their hit songs and I can safely say that I do - but can I spend my remaining days here, please?
As you know I was in Prague to immerse myself in the city’s music and cultural programmes but if I had never left this hotel I would have had the best time ever. What more can a music obsessed, luxury loving travel writer wish for? There’s even a cute little music library stocked with hundreds of music you can borrow and take to play in your room. And don’t forget to visit the stunning Vrtba Garden. The hotel has its own private entrance and guests can experience the beauty and tranquillity of Prague’s oldest Baroque garden. The taxi driver from the airport didn't drop me at a hotel. He dropped me in a dream.
With the current trend for experiential travel, Prague and the wider Czech Republic is the ideal destination to scratch that itch. Cultural tourism is one of the fastest-growing segments of tourism which, according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), accounts for 40% of all tourism. Moreover, for many tourists, the biggest attractions are classical music festivals.
Prague is fit to rival some of the concert city big guns of Vienna, New York, London and Berlin and is taking its place among Europe’s music super powers. Throw in some fascinating history, art, great food, beer, and beautiful architecture and you have the perfect city break … and I suspect you’ll be back for an encore!