Prague - where to stay, what to do
Discussion
Got 4 days with the gf booked in Prague in the middle of Feb - looking for ideas where to stay and what to do.
Accomodation:
Been recommended The Augustine but quite alot over budget!
The rooms at The Alchymist Hotel and Spa look good and it gets good reviews, have seen them available for £127 per night for a double. Does anyone have any experience or any other suggestions? Thinking a hotel/spa type arrangment or possibly an apartment.
What to do:
I think its the 'Grand Restaurant Festival' when we are there which sounds great. Lots of restaurants doing degustation menus on offer. Any suggesetions as to where to eat and what else to do whilst we are there?
Any comments welcome.
Accomodation:
Been recommended The Augustine but quite alot over budget!
The rooms at The Alchymist Hotel and Spa look good and it gets good reviews, have seen them available for £127 per night for a double. Does anyone have any experience or any other suggestions? Thinking a hotel/spa type arrangment or possibly an apartment.
What to do:
I think its the 'Grand Restaurant Festival' when we are there which sounds great. Lots of restaurants doing degustation menus on offer. Any suggesetions as to where to eat and what else to do whilst we are there?
Any comments welcome.
Stayed here a couple of times, out of the city centre, but nice, and reasonable too !
http://www.htlpraha.cz/
http://www.htlpraha.cz/
I was looking to organise a stag do out there last year. You can do many things that involved strippers. Two favourites were - Limo transfer from the airport, with a stripper in the limo, and AK-47 Shooting, with a stripper firing one. Not sure if these will be entirely suitable for your trip though. Otherwise I would suggest a meander through the old town, it's apparently very pretty.
this is a nice hotel http://www.andelshotel.com/en/home/ great breakfast great bathrooms etc etc very good locartion away from center so cheaper but right next to malls and subway loads of restaurants that dont charge premiums.
then things to do terezin is a must very sobering place its a transit camp and former ghetto
then things to do terezin is a must very sobering place its a transit camp and former ghetto
soprano said:
Got 4 days with the gf booked in Prague
davepoth said:
You can do many things that involved strippers. Two favourites were - Limo transfer from the airport, with a stripper in the limo, and AK-47 Shooting, with a stripper firing one.
Andels looks good, also looking at Hotel Pariz - anyone stayed there?
I've stayed at Andels and thought it was great. As said it's not right in the mix but that's an advantage and it's only 5 mins on a tram. I remember a lovely bar across the way that did cheap pizza and beer!
I'm going back to Prague for my stag-do, I imagine we'll see a different side of the city!
I'm going back to Prague for my stag-do, I imagine we'll see a different side of the city!
Depending on how romantic you want to be, this might suit. I have eaten there a couple of times and it has always been glorious. Very good food and a great intimate restaurant inside an old music school. Not sure if they still do it but the dining room used to be lit only by candlelight. Maybe they went electric since I was last there. It is situated in the quiet part of town over the river just below the castle with the government buildings. So it is away from the stag-do bar area and if you are on foot, probably means a walk over the Charles Bridge to get to. Will need to be booked in advance.
http://www.palffy.cz/en/
http://www.palffy.cz/en/
I think it might be a bit below your budget, but the GF and myself stayed at the Red and Blue Hotel last year:
www.redandbluehotels.com/
Cost about £65 a night I think, and was really nice. The rooms were modern, and the breakfast was lovely. It was about 15 mins walk to the main square, or 2 or 3 mins on the tram.
www.redandbluehotels.com/
Cost about £65 a night I think, and was really nice. The rooms were modern, and the breakfast was lovely. It was about 15 mins walk to the main square, or 2 or 3 mins on the tram.
Hotel Josef - nice modern/boutique hotel. Great location.
http://www.hoteljosef.com/
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g274707-...
http://www.hoteljosef.com/
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g274707-...
What to do:
I think its the 'Grand Restaurant Festival' when we are there which sounds great. Lots of restaurants doing degustation menus on offer. Any suggesetions as to where to eat and what else to do whilst we are there?
Any comments welcome.
[/quote]
http://www.grand-restaurant.com/?lng=en
For dinner check out Architects club by Bethelem Chapel. Also Novomestsky Pivovar for serious Czech fare. It looks touristy but it's worth going and they brew their own beer.
There are a lot of cool bars in the Josefov quarter (between Municipal house and Old Town sq.)
Avoid restaurants on the main tourist routes which tend to be overpriced and not very good. Late night taxi drivers will take you for a ride, quite literally. It's always better to call and book one (AAA taxi are the most popular ones). Or use public transport. The night tram system works really well, it's frequent and reliable.
Things to see/do:
Prague Castle, Coronation Route, Charles Bridge into Lesser Town. Stop by St. Nicholas Church (one of the finest baroque churches in Europe). The Jewish quarter, worth visiting to learn the story of "Golem"
National Museum and National Theatre. There are also lots of good galleries, pick up a guide or ask in a hotel
Enjoy.
I think its the 'Grand Restaurant Festival' when we are there which sounds great. Lots of restaurants doing degustation menus on offer. Any suggesetions as to where to eat and what else to do whilst we are there?
Any comments welcome.
[/quote]
http://www.grand-restaurant.com/?lng=en
For dinner check out Architects club by Bethelem Chapel. Also Novomestsky Pivovar for serious Czech fare. It looks touristy but it's worth going and they brew their own beer.
There are a lot of cool bars in the Josefov quarter (between Municipal house and Old Town sq.)
Avoid restaurants on the main tourist routes which tend to be overpriced and not very good. Late night taxi drivers will take you for a ride, quite literally. It's always better to call and book one (AAA taxi are the most popular ones). Or use public transport. The night tram system works really well, it's frequent and reliable.
Things to see/do:
Prague Castle, Coronation Route, Charles Bridge into Lesser Town. Stop by St. Nicholas Church (one of the finest baroque churches in Europe). The Jewish quarter, worth visiting to learn the story of "Golem"
National Museum and National Theatre. There are also lots of good galleries, pick up a guide or ask in a hotel
Enjoy.
Edited by 6th Gear on Wednesday 25th January 06:12
1st time I went: Hotel Adria on Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske Namesti?) in the old town (Stare Mesto)
2nd time: The Golden Star (Zlata Hveszda) in Mala Strana. Bang next to the castle
3rd time: The Red Lion hotel (Dum U Cerveneho Lva) also in Mala Strana a few yards from the Golden Star
Adria was fine, very handy location. That was before the cheap flights and stag crowd ruined Prague though, Wenceslas Square has got a lot seedier since then.
Golden Star very nice small hotel, recommended. Up on a hill, stunning views if you're lucky with what room you get. Handy for the Castle. It's about a 10-15 minute walk down the hill into town, but there are plenty of (cheap) bars and restaurants on the way down. Might be trickier if there's snow, I only went in summer.
Red Lion: also fine, a few yards downhill from the Golden Star but also has some good views. Can't remember much else about it to be honest.
The best restaurant in town is (or certainly was about 5 years ago) called Kampa Park. Diners have included the Czech president, Arnie, Bill & Hilary Clinton (when he was the big man). Very good food, and right on the river Vltava next to the famous Charles bridge (Karluv Most). It has some sister restaurants http://www.kampagroup.com/en/index.php or another place is Allegro, apparently michelin starred.
Things to do:
visit the Castle. Wander around the streets of the old town - there's nowhere quite as stunning (IMO), even Florence. Have some beers in the Old Town Square at the bar right next to the Astronomical Clock. Visit the cathedral on the same square. Get a cable car from Karmelitska (Mala Strana side of the river i.e. west) up to top of the hill in Petrin where there's a park and observatory and a tower (bit like a mini Eiffel Tower) that you can climb up. Back on the old town side (east) get a tram from Staromestska or Karlovy Lazne (near the bridge) south along the river to Vysehrad cemetary, where Dvorak is buried (and others that are famous and Czech). Tram stops are Vyton, Albertov or some other one that I can't pronounce or spell - Ostrocilovo Namesti I think).
Take a tube train - anywhere will do, even if just from Staromestska to Musek or Muzeum (where the big Wenceslas-on-a-horse monument is) to experience the futuristic wonder of the tube system. Every station is unique IIRC, amazingly clean and modern, built by the soviets (anyone who has been on the St Petersburg or Moscow underground will know what I mean, but in a slightly different way). Of course first you need a ticket, which is fun in itself when all the instructions on the ticket machines are in Czech).
"Czech" out (sorry) the formal gardens "Valdstejnska zahrada" (entrance on Letenska, IIRC). Somewhere very nearby is another park full of weird sculptures, but I can't for the life of me remember the name. Also at the Franz Kafka museum, even if you don't go in, look at the statues outside by David Cerny. Search for the other weird statues of his: the odd babies climbing up the Zizikov TV tower, or crawling in Kampa Park. Or his hanging man, hanging from a roof somewhere in the old town (keep looking up). Take time to examine the statues on the Charles bridge.
See a classical concert or watch a puppet show (Prague is well known for these things).
Finally, drink some beer and spend a night at the cheesy nightclub, Lavka (right by the bridge, east side) - or a less cheesy club perhaps - and when it closes around 5am, get your camera and take some dawn photos - this is the time to get some shots of the Charles bridge and other places while they are empty of tourists. I did this, and glad I did. There's nothing quite like sightseeing at 5am after a night of drinking.
2nd time: The Golden Star (Zlata Hveszda) in Mala Strana. Bang next to the castle
3rd time: The Red Lion hotel (Dum U Cerveneho Lva) also in Mala Strana a few yards from the Golden Star
Adria was fine, very handy location. That was before the cheap flights and stag crowd ruined Prague though, Wenceslas Square has got a lot seedier since then.
Golden Star very nice small hotel, recommended. Up on a hill, stunning views if you're lucky with what room you get. Handy for the Castle. It's about a 10-15 minute walk down the hill into town, but there are plenty of (cheap) bars and restaurants on the way down. Might be trickier if there's snow, I only went in summer.
Red Lion: also fine, a few yards downhill from the Golden Star but also has some good views. Can't remember much else about it to be honest.
The best restaurant in town is (or certainly was about 5 years ago) called Kampa Park. Diners have included the Czech president, Arnie, Bill & Hilary Clinton (when he was the big man). Very good food, and right on the river Vltava next to the famous Charles bridge (Karluv Most). It has some sister restaurants http://www.kampagroup.com/en/index.php or another place is Allegro, apparently michelin starred.
Things to do:
visit the Castle. Wander around the streets of the old town - there's nowhere quite as stunning (IMO), even Florence. Have some beers in the Old Town Square at the bar right next to the Astronomical Clock. Visit the cathedral on the same square. Get a cable car from Karmelitska (Mala Strana side of the river i.e. west) up to top of the hill in Petrin where there's a park and observatory and a tower (bit like a mini Eiffel Tower) that you can climb up. Back on the old town side (east) get a tram from Staromestska or Karlovy Lazne (near the bridge) south along the river to Vysehrad cemetary, where Dvorak is buried (and others that are famous and Czech). Tram stops are Vyton, Albertov or some other one that I can't pronounce or spell - Ostrocilovo Namesti I think).
Take a tube train - anywhere will do, even if just from Staromestska to Musek or Muzeum (where the big Wenceslas-on-a-horse monument is) to experience the futuristic wonder of the tube system. Every station is unique IIRC, amazingly clean and modern, built by the soviets (anyone who has been on the St Petersburg or Moscow underground will know what I mean, but in a slightly different way). Of course first you need a ticket, which is fun in itself when all the instructions on the ticket machines are in Czech).
"Czech" out (sorry) the formal gardens "Valdstejnska zahrada" (entrance on Letenska, IIRC). Somewhere very nearby is another park full of weird sculptures, but I can't for the life of me remember the name. Also at the Franz Kafka museum, even if you don't go in, look at the statues outside by David Cerny. Search for the other weird statues of his: the odd babies climbing up the Zizikov TV tower, or crawling in Kampa Park. Or his hanging man, hanging from a roof somewhere in the old town (keep looking up). Take time to examine the statues on the Charles bridge.
See a classical concert or watch a puppet show (Prague is well known for these things).
Finally, drink some beer and spend a night at the cheesy nightclub, Lavka (right by the bridge, east side) - or a less cheesy club perhaps - and when it closes around 5am, get your camera and take some dawn photos - this is the time to get some shots of the Charles bridge and other places while they are empty of tourists. I did this, and glad I did. There's nothing quite like sightseeing at 5am after a night of drinking.
Leftfield suggestion for you - google Restaurant Nebozizek.
It's just across the river from the heart of town, but really only a 15min walk from Wenceslas Square.
It's (or at least was - we went some time ago, so do some checking to make sure it's still good) a rather good restaurant, which has served heads of state.
It's got two small 'suites' on the first floor, so it's pretty exclusive. Nice big rooms, 4-posters, separate table and sofa/chaise-longue, classic-style furniture, HUGE bathroom.
It's half-way up the hill that is a national park, so you've got peace and quiet AND good views...your bedroom windows look out over the city.
Don't expect a 4* place, but do expect something from a bygone era where surroundings and service mattered more than wi-fi and self check-in!
It's just across the river from the heart of town, but really only a 15min walk from Wenceslas Square.
It's (or at least was - we went some time ago, so do some checking to make sure it's still good) a rather good restaurant, which has served heads of state.
It's got two small 'suites' on the first floor, so it's pretty exclusive. Nice big rooms, 4-posters, separate table and sofa/chaise-longue, classic-style furniture, HUGE bathroom.
It's half-way up the hill that is a national park, so you've got peace and quiet AND good views...your bedroom windows look out over the city.
Don't expect a 4* place, but do expect something from a bygone era where surroundings and service mattered more than wi-fi and self check-in!
6th Gear said:
Hotel Josef - nice modern/boutique hotel. Great location.
http://www.hoteljosef.com/
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g274707-...
I'd agree with this - stayed there a few years ago and it was very nice.http://www.hoteljosef.com/
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g274707-...
Expensive bar, but lovely inside (couples atmosphere), away from the tourists around old town and did some truly sublime cocktails!
http://www.barandbooks.cz/tynska/
http://www.barandbooks.cz/tynska/
tezzer said:
Stayed here a couple of times, out of the city centre, but nice, and reasonable too !
http://www.htlpraha.cz/
Stayed here as well, the old Communist Party haunt!http://www.htlpraha.cz/
Went to the Opera, really good fun!
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