I am staying at a hotel in Old Town Square for a trip to Prague in December. I have tickets for The Magic Flute at the Prague State Opera. I looked at my map but can't quite figure out..is this walkable? How about walking back at 9pm(solo, female)? I don't mind taking a cab, but have heard some bad things about taxis in Prague. Do buses/trams run at this hour? I assume they do being that Prague is a city, but I have never been there before. Advice please. Thanks!!

Walk it, it's an almost straight shot, four fifths of a mile, 15 minutes at most.

As you stand in the square, pull out your little compass you brought from home (!).

Look for SE, and find Zelezna going past Univerzita Karlova v Praze, Then a quick left-and-right dog leg to Panska which changes name to Politickych, then cross Washington and Wilson avenues (no kidding) and the opera is on your right across the street on Legerova.

Walk briskly and purposefully, exude being in control in a no-nonsense manner and you will be left alone.

The Metro still runs when you come out, but walking to the nearest station called Muzeum (100 yards west of the opera, around the corner along Vinohradska) and walking from the arrival Staromestska back to the square almost makes no sense.

Look it up and see what I mean.

Thank You very much!! I get a little nervous when visiting a new place alone, it's always nice to get good advice.

I would try walking this during the day so that you are completely clear with how to do it. Then you can look like you know where you're going -- since you will!

Definitely walkable. There are many different ways to go, and the State Opera is in a central location. The directions that DalaiLlama posted will work, but I find those streets to be dark at night. I'd probably walk through Wenceslas Square, where there is plenty of light, and where there are always police around.

Even though the metro going to Old Town puts you a little far out, it is also a viable option, since it is literally right next to the opera house. A taxi would be OK, if you make sure the rate is reasonable, and try to use AAA Taxis. See what the weather is like, and don't hesitate with metro or cab if it is nasty out. Walking there will be under 30 minutes.

While staying in the Old-Town Square, look for the St. Nicholas Church where classical ensembles often perform. I saved a flier for a 9PM performance of the Prague String Orchestra that played a very creditable program of Händel, Vivaldi, Bach, and Mozart -all crowd pleasers, and well done.

Pictures and description of the church are at www.prague.net/st-nicholas-church

Iwould use the route suggested by DalaiLlama.Avoid Wenseslas Square late at night it is not the best place for a single girl to be.
If you want a cab contact AAA cabs
http://www.prague-life.com/services/...ls/29-AAA_Taxi
they have Englisg spewaking dispatchers and a regarded as safe and honest.

sorry about my spelling in that last post.I think I have a Polish key board.

I had one of those in Croatia.....

I dusted my keyboard today; tomorrow I might polish it.

Primarily for DalaiLlama.

It looks like good information for Elcon.

We will be attending the State Opera on New Years' Eve in Prague. Should we encounter a problem with arranged transportation after midnight, can you suggest a strategy for reaching the Praha Palace Hotel using public transportation at that hour. Many thanks. Gradyghost

http://www.dpp.cz/en/transport-around-prague/
this is the local transport website (english version) and there is a route planner on it.
Not sure what transport will be running New years eve,
Most of the trams go off about midnight on normal days and there are several tram route running through the night usually every 30 minutes.
The night tram numbers are usually in the 50's and are white on a black square on the tram stops.

Gradyghost - you can walk that, no problem. Avoid Wenceslav Square (Vaclavske Nam.), the revellers might be a bit much for well-clad opera goers...

Take the eastern parallel, by going east a few steps along either Wilson or Washington ave. when exiting the opera, then hang a left into Politickych which leads you right to the hotel after a few hundred yards.

Check it out in daylight with a neighborhood stroll, then you'll have no problem at night.

Exactly what I was looking for. Many thanks to Dalai and Gus. Gradyghost