By James Stone -

The Czech capital Prague is an ideal destination for those planning a pre-Christmas trip.

Full of cosy places to shop, eat and drink in, Prague's gothic architecture and winter chill provides the perfect backdrop to a festive season break.

We flew direct to the city's airport on one of the growing number of budget flights to Prague and caught a taxi to the delightful and central Baroque Apostolic Residence, with its views of the Old Town Astronomical clock from beautifully furnished rooms.

Wrap up warmly for a winter break in Prague, as the weather is decidedly chilly and the city is often covered in a blanket of snow. It has just snowed when we were there and the city was a white wonderland, with snow perfectly accenting the charming buildings.

Prague has a relatively small population of just over a million people and a compact centre packed full of medieval architecture, with cobbled streets and pretty squares. The intricate bridges across the Vltava River, including the breathtaking Charles Bridge, provide wonderful views of the city.

One of the chief delights during our winter weekend in Prague is walking around Old Town Square with a steaming cup of mulled wine, taking in the attractive craft stalls and buying gifts from the Christmas Market to take home. The square is surrounded by fascinating buildings, including baroque St Nicholas' Church, the gothic Tyn Cathedral and the intricate Astronomical Clock, which puts on regular shows.

The 1100-year-old Prague Castle was well worth the steep trip up for its views and interesting displays about the city's rich and turbulent past. Mala Strana (the Small Quarter) at the foot of the castle is a jumble of narrow streets full of interesting shops and places to eat and drink.

Prague has numerous museums and historic places to visit, but we opted for the National Museum, housed in the 18th-century Sternbersky Palace, which displays an impressive collection of European art, and the ornate Museum of National Literature.

Although a growing number of trendy restaurants and wine bars are springing up across the city, it is still easy to find more cosy places full of Czech character and serving local beer and hearty traditional cuisine.

Traditional fayre such as Czech dumplings, pork and sauerkraut, washed down with delicious Czech beer, provides the ideal winter fuel for a day's shopping or sightseeing in the snow.

In the evenings, the many lively and comfortable bars beckoned and we also managed to pay a visit to the city's fabulous National Theatre, where tickets to lavish world class opera productions are available for a few pounds. Don't miss the opportunity to listen to jazz music in one of the atmospheric live clubs.

Prague offers everything the ideal city break location should: arts, entertainment, bars, clubs, restaurants, museums, a rich history, incredible architecture and great food. The city is enjoying a huge renaissance at the moment, following the end of Communist rule in 1989 and its 2004 entry into the European Union, and is a lively, rapidly changing place.