Ah, Prague. yes. The land of Gothic castles, mysterious side streets, and oh my days, one extremely dodgy gun range. A few years back, a couple of my good friends and I headed there to soak up some “culture,” though, in reality, it was more of a whirlwind of vague memories, and a lot of goulash. What can I say? We’re all about that classic European experience.
Let’s break down the highlights, the lowlights, and that one time I realized that Czech bread dumplings are a betrayal wrapped in carbs
Step 1: Guns in the middle of nowhere
So Prague offers this “charming” option where you can go and fire semi automatic guns at an undisclosed location somewhere in the countryside. Naturally, my friends and I thought this sounded like a great idea. Who doesn’t wanna shoot some guns right? Why wouldn’t you want to go shooting guns on holiday? For context, back home in the UK, I’m mostly responsible with objects as sharp as butter knives. So, this was definitely new territory
They picked us up in this nondescript white van. No logo, no “official tour” vibe, just a van that looked like it could easily belong to someone on a “10 Most Wanted” list. No questions, just blind faith, right? Off we went, bouncing along the Czech countryside completely oblivious to where we were headed. About 45 minutes later, we arrived at a random field that looked suspiciously like it could double as an underground fight club. There were concrete bunkers, some random Czech police officers around (doing “training,” we were told), and not a single person who could speak a word of English. Did I feel safe? Not in the slightest. Did I feel alive? Absolgodamnlutely
The setup was simple: grab the gun, aim, shoot, and try not to miss so badly that you need corrective aim from the instructors. Surprisingly, I didn’t completely embarrass myself. Sure, there were a few moments where the recoil nearly knocked my head off, but by the end, I was convinced I’d gone from “average guy” to Jason Bourne (a delusion that faded within minutes of leaving)
Would I recommend this “unique” experience? If you’re the type who thinks mystery vans and semi-automatics scream “short break goals,” go for it. I’d even add it to the itinerary again. But maybe pack some extra bravery and ignore all your survival instincts for the full effect
Step 2: Exploring the City of Prague… and Pragoo
Back in the city, we decided to actually do the tourist thing. Prague, by the way, is split into two worlds: the historic, pretty as a postcard Prague and what we dubbed “Pragoo.” Prague is all majestic castles and cobblestone streets, like something out of a storybook or Harry Potter. Pragoo, on the other hand, is the gritty, graffitied side of the city where street art practically drips off the walls and the bars seem legally obligated to be open until 5 a.m. Both sides have their charm right
We did the usual rounds, hitting up the famous astronomical clock (though, side note, there’s no actual astrology involved. I had my star sign predictions ready and was wildly disappointed). The clock was incredible, of course. A bit creepy with all the little figures that pop out and do their thing, but impressive. Prague’s old buildings have this way of making you feel like you’re on the set of a particularly intense historical drama, even if your actual vibe is more like, “Where’s the next yummy goulash spot?”
Then we made our way to the Charles Bridge, which was absolutely packed with tourists and also apparently very interactive. There’s this statue on the bridge that everyone touches for luck, so naturally, we lined up, convinced that we were “buffing” up, like characters in a video game. As far as I know, I didn’t get any special powers, though Prague did feel a bit brighter after. Whether that was the “buff” or just the good vibes, we’ll never know
Step 3: Goulash goals and dumpling disasters
Food in Prague? Mostly a win, but I’m still working through the trauma of Czech bread dumplings. I love a good English gravy covered dumpling, so when we finally sat down for some proper Czech food, I was over the moon to order goulash with dumplings. Imagine my surprise when my plate arrived with thick, bread slices masquerading as dumplings…
There they were: no fluff, no filling, just bread. Honestly, I’d expected little doughy clouds of joy, but instead, I was served slightly damp bread discs. I’m not saying it ruined my faith in humanity, but it did make me seriously question Czech cuisine
That said, the goulash itself? Top-notch. Beef, paprika, and gravy for days. But the next time I’m craving dumplings, I’ll be sticking to the classics.
Step 4: The superclub I can’t remember at all
Now, Prague nightlife has its own legends, one of them being a superclub whose name still escapes me (either it was unmemorable, or my memory got slightly “selective” that night). This place was absolutely monstrous. It was five floors, each with a different music genre, and more lights than I thought could legally be crammed into one building. The bass was so intense it felt like a free back massage, and each floor was like stumbling into a different parallel universe of music and questionable drink choices
I’d love to give a glowing review, but… I remember flashes: great beats, neon lights, and floors packed with people. But beyond that? It’s all one big blur. A legendary blur, though, and probably the closest I’ll get to reliving The Hangover.
Step 5: Le Pub – The pint-pouring paradise (My eventual life downfall)
Le Pub. Now this is a place I’ll remember. Picture this right now. A pub where you pour your own pints, with each table having its own mini-tap and a digital scoreboard tracking who’s poured the most.
Dangerous? Absolutely.
Fun? Definitely.
Within ten minutes, I’d turned this innocent self pouring system into an Olympic event, vying to become the top pint pourer of the pub. Let’s just say I made a solid effort, though the morning after, I paid dearly for my dedication to the craft.
The self pouring concept was honestly pretty damn brilliant. Until I realized that being in control of your own pint means you can also lose control of your own pint, if you catch my drift. One too many, and suddenly the scoreboard was the last thing on my mind and the first thing to lost sight of. A fun night, though, and probably my new go to pub format if I ever decide to open one myself.
Final thoughts: Prague, you odd gem
Looking back, Prague is one of those cities that has everything: history, mystery, a fair bit of graffiti, and way too much bread pretending to be dumplings urgh. Between the clock, the Charles Bridge, and even our shady gun range experience, it was hands-down one of the best trips I’ve taken. Prague’s charm isn’t just in its postcard perfect buildings or its old world beauty, it’s in the strange experiences, the unexpected places, and the sense that anything could happen, even if “anything” means finding yourself on a rural Czech shooting range with no English speakers in sight.
Would I go back? Absolutely. Would I ever trust a bread dumpling again? No way.. But for anyone thinking of taking the plunge into Prague’s mix of old world beauty and modern day randomness, just go. There’s something here for everyone, whether you’re into gothic architecture, grunge graffiti, or mad clubbing experiences. And who knows? You might just find yourself pouring your own pint and feeling like a legend, too