Honeymoon in Prague

Communism kept this Sleeping Beauty of central European cities sequestered in a tower for decades, but 21st-century Prague is wide awake and ready for action. The oldest parts of the city date from the 12th century, and the cobblestone lanes, medieval courtyards and countless churches beg for exploration.

Take a horse-drawn carriage through Old Town Square; at the 15th-century astronomical clock at the Old Town Hall, a cast of mechanical characters, including the Twelve Apostles, a cockerel and a skeleton, tell time by the season, zodiac sign and positions of the sun and moon.

Farther west, the Charles Bridge, dating from 1357, spans the Vltava River and is home to scores of Baroque statues of Catholic saints. As you cross, the ancient Prague Castle looms above. Hugging the castle walls is Golden Lane, where shops selling music, books and Czech crafts are carved out of colorful, 16th-century homes.

Come evening, slip into a table for two at Café Savoy on the Left Bank. The decor says Parisian bistro, but the food is pure nouvelle-Czech, with entrees such as beef tenderloin with homemade dumplings and roasted duck with from-scratch sauerkraut.

Honeymoon-worthy hotels:
Maximilian Hotel You'll forget you're in the heart of Staré Mesto (Old Town) when you step through the doors of this sleek, modernist vision. The art-deco interior was completely redone in 2005. From NZ$275.

Alchymist Grand Hotel & Spa Go for Baroque at this UNESCO-protected retreat. The buildings date from the 15th century, and rooms are opulently furnished with heavy damask linens and carved wooden headboards. From NZ$408.