Prague

Known affectionately as “The City of a Thousand Spires,” the Czech Republic capital boasts some of the grandest churches in Europe – along with the world’s largest atheist population. This is just one example of the city’s many contradictories. Prague is a place where medieval stone bridges jostle for space with glittering glass offices; where beer is the national tipple but the bars close at 10 p.m.; and where the pinnacle of music is shared by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and contemporary artist Karel Gott. This contradictory core is the result of a devastating history of upheaval (the country changed hands between Austro-Hungary, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union during the 20^th century, before finally returning to the Czechs in 1989), but it is also the key to the city’s ceaseless allure. Prague is a capital full of surprises.