Tom's Bar, The Augustine
Prague has never looked better. Dramatic spires and graceful domes dominate the skyline as they have for centuries, but major changes have been brewing below. In the last few years, several remarkable hotels have opened, including one that incorporates a working 13th-century monastery. The city’s culinary scene has also markedly improved, with gastronomic restaurants surrounded by hillside vineyards and seven-course gourmet tasting menus of surprisingly delicious traditional Bohemian cuisine. Even the castle-dotted countryside can now be enjoyed in luxury. After some heavy-duty sightseeing in Prague, take in the aristocratic delights of Bohemian country life with a stay in a restored château. A recommended itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive in Prague and check into the Augustine, incorporating a complex of atmospheric historic buildings in the charming Malá Strana quarter. Tour the private library of the adjacent monastery, take a cruise in your own boat along the Vltava River and stroll through Malá Strana. Dine tonight in the Augustine’s Litchfield Restaurant.
Day 2: Walk across the famed Charles Bridge and spend the day exploring the oldest sections of Prague. Visit the haunting Jewish Quarter, the colorful Old Town Square and the art nouveau Municipal House, an ideal spot for lunch or coffee and torte. Have dinner in the vineyards at Villa Richter near Prague’s immense castle.
Day 3: Explore the castle today, visiting the towering St. Vitus Cathedral and the tiny house where Kafka lived for a time. We can also arrange a private tour of the baroque library of the Strahov Monastery, a gorgeous room usually closed to the public. For your last dinner in Prague, it would be hard to top La Dégustation Bohême Bourgeoise.
Day 4: Depart Prague by private car and head into the countryside. Pause in the historic town of Kutna Hora to visit the Sedlec Ossuary, a wildly macabre cemetery-chapel. Crucifixes, monstrances, a coat of arms and even a chandelier are all constructed from human bones. Continue on to more idyllic surroundings and check into the Chateau Mcely, a 19th-century manor house/hunting lodge in the St. George Forest.
Day 5: Chateau Mcely makes an ideal base for all sorts of activities. Hike or bike through the forest, indulge in a treatment in the chateau’s unique spa, or drive less than an hour north to Cesky raj, or “Bohemian Paradise.” This region of dramatic rock spires and half-ruined castles receives little press in the United States, but it makes an unforgettable day trip.
Day 6: Depart Chateau Mcely and make the 90-minute drive to Prague’s airport, where you board your flight home. Andrew Harper members can take advantage of the Travel Office’s contract rates with both the Augustine and the Chateau Mcely. 
Andrew Harper members have access to full travel-planning services through Andrew Harper Travel.
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