denis

I have just returned from a business trip to Prague February 18. I flew from Chicago to Amsterdam on KLM and Czech Airlines from Amsterdam to Prague. The same airlines coming back. The food on both airlines was terrible. The temperature in Prague was in the 40s during the day. It was not bad. There were not many tourists when I was there.

I purchased a transporation pass at the airport. The pass is more expensive than what I paid the last time that I was there. It cost me 500cz for a 5 day pass. I paid 280cz for a 7 day pass the last time that I was in Prague. They said that they did not have a 7 day pass.


The big happening in Prague was the new Palladium Mall in the city center. It is really a nice shopping center. This is probably going to hurt the business on Na Prikope and Wenceslas Square. This is at the Nam. Republiky metro stop. If you look from front of the Municipal Building to the left you will see it. It is also in front of the Kotva Department store and also near the Marriott.

They have a nice food court at this shopping center on the top level. I ate at the World Taste and really liked it.

Starbucks has come to Prague. They opened a store at the Malastranska Tram stop. This is when you cross the Charles Bridge into Mala Strana and go to top of hill and it is the tram stop to the right. They were very busy. They were opening 2 stores in the Palladium Mall. A carry out on the lower level and a sit down on the 2nd level.

They have moved construction to the mid level at the main train station. They have opened a womens clothing store on the lower level. It looks worse inside than I have ever seen it.

walkabout

Thank you for your trip report. I am going to Prague in 3 weeks, so have been surfing this forum for experiences by recent travelers to Prague. I was planning to buy a 7-day pass, so I am sorry to see it is no longer available. And at 500 cz for a 5-day pass, I will probably skip that too.

Hope you enjoyed your trip.

deedeezee

I am going to Prague for nine days on March 4. Any restaurant recommendations near Hradcany area?
Looking for well priced, authentic food. Also, any rec'on cyrstal tours or beads?

Thanks in advance

denis

I am not familiar with restaurants in the Hradcany area but I believe that I have read other reviews on this site about that area. If you get a chance try the World Taste restaurant at the Palladium shopping center. They have a wide choice of food including Czech.

I like to shop at the Kotva department store that I mentioned. They have jewelry on the 1st floor and I believe the crystal shop is on the 2nd or 3rd floor. There are also some big crystal stores in Old Town.

seafox

I'm going in November and now I am afraid. A mall! Starbucks! I may be too late ... America has come to Prague!!!!

dfr4848

seafox - we were there in '06 and that's exactly what I was thinking. Whew, glad we made it just in time!!!

Ingo

A word on the Palladium Mall. My Czech friends hate it. It looks beautiful from outside (neo-gothic building) but it is a mall as you could find it anywhere in Europe. It is more expensive than elsewhere. The products are nothing special, just the international brands - and quite expensive.

My friends showed me the inside of Palladium, but strongly suggested I don't buy there. Instead we went a few steps across the square to the ugly Kotva (?) department store where I found excellent porcelain from Karlovy Vary and Bohemian glass at decent prices. And the salespersons (ladies in their 40s/50s) went out of their way to be helpful.

Ingo

Christina

I dreaded that Palladium construction, and it tore up the area around Nameski Republicky metro and Revolucni for years. I've always liked Kotva, I'm glad it re-opened as it was closed last time I was there. Kotva may be ugly on the outside (and the ground floor is rather), but on upper floors, I thought it was quite nice. Better than a lot of dept stores, it had more space, I thought.

Ingo

Agreed, Christina!