Under $100: Plzeň, Czech Republic

Lovers of history, architecture and beer come together and fall in love with the medieval city of Plzeň, situated in western Bohemia in Czech Republic. Located 56 miles west of Prague, it is the fourth-most populous city in the country and one if its oldest, dating back to 1295.

Plzeň is a popular destination for beer enthusiasts. In 1375, King Charles IV endowed the Dobrow Monastery near Plzeň with the right to make beer, and it became the oldest brewery to survive until modern times. The city officials founded a city-owned brewery in 1839, where Pilsner was first produced.

From the end of the 17^th century, the architecture in Plzeň has been influenced by the Baroque style, and the city center has been under cultural heritage preservation since 1989. The most prominent landmarks include the Gothic St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral, founded in the late 13^th century, whose tower, at 335 feet, is the highest in the Czech Republic. The Town Hall, a Renaissance masterpiece, and the Moorish Revival Great Synagogue, the second-largest synagogue in Europe, are open to the public at no cost.

Moorish Revival Great Synagogue © Matthias Ziegler | Dreamstime

Take a tour of the Pilsner Urquell Brewery for only $6, visit the Brewery Museum and take a tour including a tasting for around $3 or visit the Pilsen Municipal Armoury, which ranks among the best preserved armories of European medieval towns. Its origins date back to 1363, and you can visit for only $5.

There are also several impressive art galleries throughout the city, which are free to enter, such as West Bohemian Art Gallery and Pilsen City Art Gallery.

For no cost, walk through the several parks that surround the city and enjoy a view of the city and its surrounding areas from the church tower of St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral.

There is also a historic, underground, 12-mile tunnel network, among the longest in Central Europe, and part of the network is open for tours for $4.

There are several places throughout the city to enjoy authentic Eastern European comfort food classics, like dumplings in gravy and a heaping of tender roast beef or pork.

Urquell Brewery © Fotokon | Dreamstime

If its beer that brings you to Plzeň, visit the Pilsner Urquell and Gambrinus breweries as well as Plzeňský Prazdroj, all of which serve great beer for only a couple dollars.

Try Purkmistr or Mansfelda for Eastern European food and Delish for one of the best burgers in the city. U Salzmannu is the oldest beer restaurant in Plzeň, serving Czech cuisine for only a few dollars per person. For affordable and delicious vegetarian, try Vegetka.

Plzeň boasts a large and efficient network of trams, trolleybuses and buses. Tickets can be purchased for less than a dollar from vending machines or small shops, valid for any transport run by the city. The best way to get around Plzeň though, to take everything in, is by foot.