Prague neighborhoods - which to stay in
 

I am researching a trip to Prague this summer - my husband and I, late 30s/early 40s. We have 4 or 5 nights in Prague, arriving by train, departing by bus, using public transportation in Prague. I am looking for feedback about which area of the city to stay in. Our plan is to see the castle, check out the old town, eat and drink (beer is a major reason for coming), visit some museums, take a bike tour if available, take tons of pictures. We'll probably take a day trip to another town as well. We like to go out at night, so wherever we stay should be walking distance or good public transport to decent nightlife (fun pubs with live music and outdoor terraces in good weather are our style - a little old for clubbing now).

Should we stay near the castle? Across the river in the old town? Or are there other neighborhoods that we should consider?

Thanks!

>>Should we stay near the castle?<<

Nope - we really didn't like the castle area that much. Lots of up hills & down hills also

>>Across the river in the old town?<<

Yep - that's where we stayed & we really liked the area. We stayed at the Hotel Hastel, & thought it was perfectly located.

We were there this past Sept.

Stu Dudley.

Both the Castle area and Old Town Square are good places to stay. You're young enough to not have to worry about the up and downs of the hills!

was just in prague a year ago. anywhere in city centre by the Tower, etc., will be good. Be sure to get to New Town as well as Old Town.

I stayed in Old Town. Really liked the area.

If you are looking for an apartment, check out homeaway.com.
Jan47ete recommended that to me for Salzburg and Vienna and I found six that I like in Salzburg. Looking into Vienna next.

Stay in the OLd Town if at all possible. The Castle area is extremely hilly and I wouldn't stay there - too much up and down.

I am not going to add to the 2where to stay" bit just to say that as long as you are near a metro stop or close to a tram line it really dosen't matter where you stay as the public transport system in praue is terrific and you can get just about anywhere cheaply and quickly.
as to the beer a major reason for your visit.I don't know how early in the summer you intend to vist but there is a big beer festival on in May.I will be there from the 13-20th May.
http://www.ceskypivnifestival.cz/en/
might be worth considering.if not then have a look at some of my previous posts ,lots of info on beer and where to drink it in them.

sorry spelling went to heck on that last post.

Been to Prague three times and either the castle area or the old town are lovely places to stay. Our old town hotel was www.hotel-pariz.cz and looking out at the Charles bridge, www.utripstrosu.cz We had no trouble walking to the castle, although it can get hot in the summer. From the Charles bridge, it's about 10-15 minutes to the old town. Probably about the same to the castle.

P.S. A download of information for Prague. www.inyourpocket.com Richard

november_moon, I have been to Prague twice, the first time I booked a package that included air & hotel, The Diplomat hotel is right at the beginning of the metro line into the Old Town, it was convenient enough - however my next visit I rented an apartment in the Old Town and it was much more enjoyable. In my opinion, Prague is an easy city to walk so pretty much wherever you stay in town wouldn't be an issue. If you have a nice day and want a little something different, pick up the makings for a picnic lunch, grab a paper or book, your camera and head up to Petrin Hill for some r&r. Here is a website:
http://www.allpraha.com/d/33683/A_Wa...h_Petrin_Park/

Enjoy your trip,
Susan

I've been to Prague several times and always stay in the Josefov area, I like it the best. I think that is officially part of what they call "Old Town" area of town, but it's not what a lot of people mean when they say that, they mean right around the square. You can easily walk to the main square from there and it is close enough to a metro stop (I use Namesti Republicky) and tram lines, but not as hectic as right around the main square.

I think the castle area is not very convenient at all nor a good place to stay.

Thank you all for your great responses. We do like to walk a lot and aren't opposed to hills - we'll walk all day in San Francisco. (Hi Stu - your SF recommendations have been invaluable to us :) ) But it is good to know the topography so that we can decide whether or not we actually want to traverse a bunch of hills.

The Josefov area sounds interesting - in the old town area, but not smack in the middle of things.

We aren't sure if we will rent an apartment or go with a hotel. Both have their positives and negatives, of course. This part of a 2.5 week trip and since we will be in Prague for several nights, we might appreciate the extra room to spread out.

<Should we stay near the castle? Across the river in the old town?>

Neither. Stay on Kampa Island. Kampa Island is located under the Charles Bridge - there is a flight of stairs that will take you onto the bridge or walk to the New Town side and use a ramp. Why Kampa Island? In the summer, old town will be crowded with tourists, not so Kampa. Think of it as a lovely, quiet oasis in the middle of the crush, yet in the heart of everything - there is a nice green park there too with benches along the river having wonderful views of Old Town, particularly at night. From Kampa, Old Town is a very short walk. Kampa Island has its own peaceful square with some excellent restaurants. Leaving the island on the New Town side, you will be near a tram that will take you up to the castle and everything in-between.

We really loved being able to go up onto the bridge in the early morning hours or late at night for the views without having to make a trip to get there. I do not know your hotel tastes or budget, but we stayed 7 nights on Kampa at the Hotel Kampa Garden and very much enjoyed the place. Consider it high end budget. Some of the rooms there have spectacular views of Old Town, or pleasant views of New Town or the park, others no view at all other than a consulate wall, so if considering that hotel make sure you ask for one with a view. It is also completely non smoking and has one room that is fully equipped for folks using a wheelchair.

If not Kampa, I agree that another choice would be Josefov, or the square that is just behind the Tyn Church where the Hotel Metamorphis is located. You couldn't get closer to the historical square than that, yet it is quieter.

We stayed at the Bishop's House Hotel and would do so again. Here's why: (1) it is LITERALLY 60 meters from the Charles Bridge; (2) it is two blocks from the central area of Mala Strana (and the tram that basingstoke mentions); (3) it is about 1/10 of a mile from Kampa Island; (4) it is easy walking distance to Old Town Square and less easy (based on uphill all the way) walking distance to the Castle; (5) it is on a quiet street; (6) rooms were big; (7) breakfast was good; (8) price was good.

Staying in Hradcany (castle area) leaves you isolated from most of the remaining sites, which are in Old Town, New Town or far south of Hradcany on the west side of the Vltava. Staying in Old Town is fine, if you get a quiet hotel/apartment. But we liked walking over the bridge to and from the Old Town Square every night, which is something you won't do if you stay in Old Town.

We'd second the earler recommendation here for The Pariz. It's a fabulous restored, Art Nouveau, turn of the century (now we have to say 20th Century), hotel with onhe of the great buffet breakfasts for guests. It's in the Old Town and we found (and we were 63 and 68) the "downtown" of Prague to be pretty compact for walking. When we visited the Castle, we simply hopped on a tram and traveled by rail to the top of the hill. After touring that neighborhood, we leisurely strolled down the hill, crossed the Vltava River on the famous bridge and were back in downtown Prague.

If you're inclined toward the more relatively recent historic sites, we recommend a tour of the Jewish Quarter. It's both fascinating (see where the Golem is said to be imprisoned) and very moving. Wenceslas Square is both very lively during the day and at night and a meaningful memorial to the post WWII Russian occupation. Prague, which was occupied by the Germans in WWII (and they were simply replaced by the Soviets to no real improvement for the people), is very conscious of its mid-20th Century history, e.g., the Museum of Communism, the Freedom Café.

And the real Budweiser, locally "'Bud Var", seems even better than the reral Pilsner Urquell. Try them both.

I second the suggestion of Kampa Island, but we very much enjoyed our stay at the Hotel Savic which gets consistently good reviews. It's just a couple of blocks from Old Town Square and the river, and I prefer its location over Hotel Pariz.

http://www.hotelsavic.cz/hotelsavic/

I liked the location of the Hotel Maximilian, which I think is in Josefov, or maybe the border between Josevof and Old Town.

But we're talking a very small area here - the actual time to walk to the Old Town Square was less than 10 minutes iirc. (It's been a few years since I've been to Prague, but I might have stayed at the Maximilian on Christina's recommendation, can't quite remember. But I recommend it.)

I also like Mala Strana, just on the other side of the bridge. It's a little quieter and less congested than the Old Town side iirc. Either way, so long as you're within a reasonable distance of the bridge (or under it on Kampa Island), you'll be fine. I wouldn't stay up the hill near the castle though for the same reasons everyone has said.

As a few folk have mentioned Kampa Island I will just add my bit.I love the area,never stayed there but I always go for a wander round the area when I am in Prague it is just delightful,lots of decent hotels and pensions as well as good bars and resturants.A peaceful haven right in the centre of the city.For a forst time tourist I don't think you can really get a more central area for visiting all the sights.