Dan Brown’s The Secret of Secrets, released September 9, 2025, is set in Prague and is among the most anticipated novels of the year, bringing back his signature hero, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon. In Prague, excitement for the launch was electric, and fans gathered by the Old Town Hall information centre, some reportedly waiting as long as 12 hours to grab one of the first 100 copies signed by Brown.

The story begins with Langdon arriving in Prague for a lecture by noetic scientist Katherine Solomon. Prague provides some of the novel’s most vivid settings, many of which readers can visit today.

What follows is a guide to those real-life landmarks. The descriptions focus only on the places themselves, with no plot details revealed, so fans can explore Prague without encountering any spoilers.

This ornate chamber holds the tomb of Good King Wenceslas and a reinforced metal door with seven locks, guarding the Czech Crown Jewels. Both sites are included with a ticket to the castle’s main visitor circuit.

At the base, the Victims of Communism Memorial depicts bronze figures descending a staircase, each in a further state of decay, symbolizing the suffering and resilience of those persecuted under the regime.

The library occasionally hosts rare exhibits, such as the “Devil’s Bible” — the massive Codex Gigas, normally kept in Stockholm. It is described as Langdon’s favorite room in the city, a place of hidden details and architectural puzzles that reward a closer look.

Just steps away lies the Old Jewish Cemetery, one of the most haunting sites in Prague. More than 12,000 headstones crowd a small plot of land. Visitors often pause at the grave of Rabbi Loew, marked with the symbol of a lion and covered with notes and pebbles left in prayer.

Below the ridge lies Folimanka Park, a green space laced with Cold War history. Buried beneath are extensive Soviet-era bunkers, parts of which are still accessible on guided tours. The park also features quirky street art: a ventilation shaft painted as Star Wars’ R2-D2, recently joined by another vent transformed into a Minion.

CODA Restaurant is highlighted for refined Czech cuisine in an intimate atmosphere. And beneath Hotel U Prince, Black Angel’s Bar provides a Gothic cellar known for craft cocktails and candlelit intrigue.