Wenceslas Square is one of the most visited attractions in Prague, most famous for the equestrian statue of 'Good King' Wenceslas in front of the National Museum. The square is long and rectangular and looks more like a boulevard — it?s especially seedy at night and best avoided for its pickpockets and drug dealers.

Petrin Hill in the Lesser Town is a great place to relax and is best accessed via funicular, where the Observatory, park and gardens can be found at the top. The main attraction here is the Petrin Tower, a smaller replica of the Eiffel Tower, and the reward for walking up the 299 steps is another breathtaking panoramic city view. At the foot of the hill is the Memorial to Victims of Communism, a striking series of sculptures of people in various stages of dessication.

I?m officially not a fan of traditional Czech food like goulash, dumplings and cabbage soup, so eating out was unfortunately a bit of a non-event. The best thing for me was the champion Czech Pilsener Urquell beer, matched with a delicious über bagel from Bohemia Bagel. A reliable alternative is authentic Italian food, preferably at any of the Ambiente restaurants. Their local wine by the way, is not a patch on ours although some upmarket hotels do serve a selection of South African brands at scary prices.

When it comes to accommodation you can try the reasonably priced Merlin pension around the corner from the Dancing Building, or splurge on the pricey and more central designer Yasmin Hotel. For me the deciding factor for both was the free wi-fi, a must for this communication addict constantly uploading to FaceBook and Skyping the family back home.

Culturally, there are daily music concerts in many of the churches, and opera and ballet seasons take place regularly, although standards vary wildly. Jazz however, comes highly recommended by Capetonian jazz fundis and Czech locals, and there are loads of Jazz & Blues clubs all over town.

For an excursion beyond the city limits try Karlovy Vary, a snooty little spa town perfect for airing that pair of designer sunglasses! This is the home of more than 70 mineral springs, the Sprüdel geyser and the ever-so-posh Grand Hotel Pupp where Casino Royale was filmed. The Grand Café Pupp with its glam interior is worth visiting for its pastry selection and sublime hot chocolate.

Off to Budapest

With Prague being so centrally located, it means that there are several other European cities one can visit. Some, like Vienna, Warsaw and Berlin are two or three hours away by train, although I opted for Budapest, six hours away.

The city felt so similar to Prague in its layout, with the river Danube splitting its three districts, Obuda and hilly Buda on the western bank, and flat Pest on the eastern bank. You can cover Budapest in two or three days with ease.

A two-hour tour on the Hop On Hop Off bus gives tourists the advantage of being able to see 14 key sights and then decide where to revisit at leisure. Highlights for me included Great Synagogue, Europe?s largest that is built in the Byzantine style. The ?weeping willow? tree memorial to the 600 000 Hungarian Jews murdered in Nazi concentration camps, is absolutely incredible.

There are also many spectacular churches in Budapest with St. Stephen?s Basilica being the one that dominates the skyline. The Buda Castle and Royal Palace, situated atop Castle Hill, can also be accessed via a cableway. Stunning buildings in the Castle District include the Royal Palace, Matyas Church, Lord?s Street, the Fishermen?s Bastion and the Hungarian National Gallery.

A boat ride along the Danube gives a whole different perspective of Budapest and takes in the Chain and Elizabeth Bridges, the Academy of Sciences, and the impressive neo-Gothic Hungarian Parliament, one of the city?s most defining sights. There are great outdoor cafes on the famous Vaci Utca, said to be the heart and soul of Budapest, and a prime shopping destination. Public transport is well organized via tram and bus although I walked everywhere as usual.

Back in Prague I covered all the remaining sights before leaving for home, truly inspired by a rich experience and another 'Diva Destination' crossed off my 'cities-to-do' list.