Prague is one of the most breathtaking cities in Europe, with the bonus of being budget-friendly and having Christmas markets at the ready even after New Year’s Eve. Perhaps its best distinction as a travel hub is its magical winters: there’s nothing more romantic than exploring cobblestone streets and enjoying the Christmas sceneries in the soft fall of snow. I always wanted to visit Prague ever since I came to Germany in 2017. Surprisingly, every time I made a plan, one thing or the other came up. If it was not my examinations it was a pandemic. This time, I made sure I didn’t let anything get in the way of my aim to visit Prague before returning to Pakistan. So I took a solo trip to Prague which was an exhilarating experience, no matter how intimidating it was in the first place to plan the visit and navigate my way through this magical, breath taking place.

The good news is: I found that Prague is a very safe and vibrant city with tonnes of options available to solo travellers willing to hunt down touristy spots. I wandered all alone in the streets, taking in the architectural details and artistry of the many buildings the city boasts of. The highlight of my journey was the nine hour train ride from Cologne to Prague that was supposed to be tiring but didn’t tire me one bit, as I was finally going to nail another one of my dream destinations. First I took a train from Cologne to Berlin where I stayed for a day, exploring the many Christmas markets that spring up in the city around that time. The next day I hopped on another train from Berlin to Prague, the views from which were plain spectacular. There was a snow fall, a frozen lake winding by and mountains carpeted white.

I had never experienced anything so beautiful. That train journey is now very close to my heart. It was not just a ride. It was a reward for my connection with nature and realising how beautiful and calm the world around us is although we always appear to be focusing instead on the chaos of our lives. So often, we are so lost in our lives that we forget to admire the things around us. I recorded the scenery, my thoughts and my feelings in ink on a piece of paper. I think paper alone can do justice to describing a place’s true essence and ambience. It’s a personal souvenir. In Europe, the trains are very convenient and cheap; so much so that one can easily hop from one place to another. It takes time, but one doesn’t miss out on the marvellous views from the train.

I spent three days in Prague — perfect for anyone to cover most of the city. The best way to explore the city is always on foot, instead of taking buses and trams, whereby you miss the real beauty and essence of this place.

When I reached Prague, the whole city was covered in snow and decorated with Christmas lights. Imagine the feeling when I took the first step on the cobblestone streets of Prague after a long train journey… my heart was suddenly filled with excitement and intrigue. I spent three days in Prague – perfect duration for anyone to cover most of this city. The best way to explore the city is always on foot, instead of taking buses and trams, whereby you miss the real beauty and essence of this place. If you’re travelling through Europe during the winter as I did, you’ll find it very easy to go from place to place.

Prague is a relatively small city, so that getting around on foot is possible and preferable. If there are two words that best describe Prague for me, they have to be “architectural landmark”. As clichéd as it may sound, visiting the city is like stepping into the pages of a fairy tale. The impressive castles and medieval buildings give a magical feel to this once powerful Bohemian trading hub – you simply must add it to your Czech itinerary. I truly admired the beauty of Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, the old town square, an astronomical clock and the yummiest of cakes. Don’t forget to try honey and carrot cake; you won’t find such scrumptious cakes in the whole world.

In the end, Prague is Prague. You must visit it if you’re visiting Europe. Travelling solo has allowed me to make my own decisions and focus on the brighter side. If you are scared of travelling alone, try it at least once, and maybe begin with Prague.

The writer is a travel blogger and data scientist based    in Germany.