Love, made in Prague

Where rooftops meet romance—The terrace at the Four Seasons Prague comes with sweeping views of the Vltava and the city’s spires, as if the whole of Prague leaned in to toast to love. —PHOTOS BY MARBEE SHING-GO

There are cities you visit. And there are cities you feel. Prague belongs firmly to the latter—an open-air fairy tale of spires and cobblestones, softened by golden light and steeped in stories. For honeymooners seeking a destination that stirs the soul, the Czech capital offers the perfect mix of magic and meaning.

You land in Prague and suddenly everything feels cinematic. Maybe it’s the spires rising like paper cutouts against the sky, or the quiet hush of history that welcomes you as you check in to the Augustine—a former monastery-turned-luxury hideaway nestled beneath Prague Castle. It’s easy to believe you’re the first lovers to ever step into its rose garden for dinner, even as the city outside hums with centuries of stories.

A Luxury Collection Hotel tucked into the heart of the city’s Lesser Town, the Augustine was built within a 13th-century Augustinian monastery. The property is a serene retreat of vaulted ceilings, original frescoes, and stone cloisters reimagined into luxurious interiors. Many of the suites have views of Prague Castle or open onto the hotel’s private garden—an ideal setting for a welcome dinner or quiet morning coffee, just steps from the city’s most iconic sights.

Exploring Prague’s cobbled streets in vintage style, Jaz Reyes and Miguel Sotto take in the romance of Old Town from the backseat of a classic convertible.

Wake early for a moment of solitude on Charles Bridge, Prague’s oldest and most photographed structure. Commissioned in 1357 by Emperor Charles IV, the bridge was built on a date and time chosen for its numerological symmetry: 9 July 1357 at 5:31 a.m., forming the palindrome 1-3-5-7-9-7-5-3-1. Lined with 30 Baroque statues and flanked by Gothic towers, it connects the Old Town and Lesser Town over the Vltava River. At dawn, the crowds haven’t yet arrived, and the bridge belongs to the mist, the city skyline, and the two of you.

Just a few steps away, the Lennon Wall waits with its kaleidoscope of color and contradiction. Once a cry for freedom, now a canvas for love notes and dreams. Newlyweds like our travelmates Miguel Sotto and Jaz Reyes scribble their names between Beatles lyrics and brushstrokes of rebellion. What message will you leave for Prague? Or for each other?

Newlyweds Jaz Reyes and Miguel Sotto raise a toast on the Vltava River during a private boat tour curated by the Four Seasons Prague.

Hidden garden

No Prague itinerary for honeymooners is complete without a stroll through its hidden gardens. Among the most breathtaking is the Vrtba Garden, a Unesco-listed terraced space on Petřín Hill. Designed in the early 18th century in the Italian Baroque style, the garden’s ornate staircases, frescoed walls, and perfectly manicured hedges make it one of the city’s most photogenic spots—particularly popular for prewedding shoots and small ceremonies.

If you’re planning to indulge in a splurge-worthy honeymoon, consider a stay at the Four Seasons Prague, the city’s only Forbes five-star hotel. Set on the banks of the Vltava, its interiors bridge three architectural styles—Baroque, neoclassical, and modern—and its location is unbeatable for exploring Old Town or taking in views of Prague Castle from your window. Couples can book curated experiences like spa rituals for two, personalized walking tours, or a private boat tour—something we highly recommend.

For honeymooners seeking a destination that stirs the soul, the Czech capital offers the kind of quiet magic that lingers.

We explored Prague, a Unesco World Heritage site, from the river—aboard a private wooden boat curated by the Four Seasons. As we cruised along the Vltava, past bridges, and pastel buildings, our captain shared tales of the city’s history while we sipped delicious bubbly and watched the skyline unfold in soft ripples. To our group of seven—global event designer Teddy Manuel, videographer Sherard Yu, couple Miguel and Jaz, Czech Tourism Board’s Michal Prochazka, and Czech Embassy in Manila’s Maros Gouth—it was a different kind of seeing this beautiful city.

Czech Embassy Manila’s Maroš Guoth photographed by Sherard Yu against typical Czech yellow buildings in an alleyway.

Perspective

Prague’s towers offer more than views—they offer perspective. Each one has a story, a symbol, a secret. Another hidden gem is the Klementinum, a former Jesuit college that now houses the National Library. Its 18th-century Baroque library hall, with rows of antique globes and ceiling frescoes, is considered one of the most beautiful libraries in the world.

One of the most beautiful libraries in the world, the Baroque library at Klementinum.

One golden-hour evening, Teddy, Sherard, and I found ourselves atop the Astronomical Clock Tower in Old Town Square—not watching the famous clock from below like everyone else, but filming the city from above. It was exhilarating and very cold. With the sky blushing over the church spires and the streets glowing beneath us, it was a moment we knew we’d return to in memory again and again.

View from the Old Town Hall tower beside the Astronomical Clock.

We spent one breezy afternoon in a classic convertible, cruising through cobbled streets with a vintage car rental. It’s a bit touristy but completely charming! The open-top ride lets you feel the rhythm of the city, turning every corner into a postcard. ‘It’s the Dancing House!’ Teddy excitedly pointed to the deconstructivist building, one of Prague’s most famous sites which we passed. Prague glows differently when you’re looking up from the backseat, hand in hand and hearts full.

A table for two beneath the Prague sky—set high above the city at the Aria Hotel’s rooftop terrace, with the majestic Prague Castle as witness. A setting made for lingering glances, shared stories, and unforgettable evenings.

Food options

There is no shortage of good food in Prague—and for Filipino honeymooners, the comfort level is surprisingly high. Local staples and favorites like roast pork, sausages, and steak are deeply satisfying. Two must-visits? Porks, a casual spot serving slow-cooked pork knuckle, sausages, and beer in classic Czech style, and Kantýna, a butcher shop-meets-restaurant concept where you choose your cut of beef and watch it cooked to perfection before your eyes. The steak tartare is one of the best I’ve had anywhere. Kantýna is a little chaotic, a lot delicious, and a completely local experience.

And beyond the Czech staples, there’s another unexpected delight: Vietnamese food. After Ukrainians and Slovaks, the Vietnamese form the third-largest minority group in the Czech Republic. While their early years were shaped by a very different political climate, today, Vietnamese communities have flourished and become a vibrant thread in Prague’s multicultural tapestry. Just across the Four Seasons, you’ll find a humble pho spot serving rich, aromatic bowls that feel both comforting and deeply rooted.

Food in Prague doesn’t just taste good—it feels familiar. Savory, soulful, and generous. Prague may not be the first city that comes to mind when you think of gastronomy, but for couples who love to eat well (and unpretentiously), it might just be one of the best culinary surprises in Europe.

Prague isn’t loud about its romance—it doesn’t need to be. It reveals itself slowly, inviting couples to get lost, look up, and lean in. Here, history is not just something you learn, but something you feel between the cracks of the cobblestones and in the spaces between glances. And in between sips of wine, slices of roast pork, or rooftop moments with sweeping views, you’ll realize: This is a city that understands love.

For honeymooners, Prague offers more than a destination—it offers rhythm, reflection, and the kind of quiet magic that marks the beginning of a very good story. Writers Milan Kundera and Franz Kafka, artist Alfons Mucha, and composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart all found inspiration here.

So come to Prague. Not because it’s the next big thing. But because it’s the place for beginnings that mean something.