I’ll soon be visiting Prague, my first time returning to Czechia since 2006. I’d welcome your advice on how to spend my (short) time there.
Tips For Visiting Prague – Your Advice Is Requested!
The last time I was in Prague, Czechia was still called the Czech Republic. It was my first-ever trip to Europe and I had a lovely time in the Bohemian capital city:
But I suspect much has changed in nearly 20 years…wow, I’m getting old! I’ll have 2.5 days in the city, so a bit longer than my usual very hasty trips.
I’m still deciding whether to try both the Lindner Hotel Prague Castle and Andaz Prague, or just spend both nights at the Andaz. I probably should split it up for review purposes…I’ve always wanted to try the Four Seasons Prague, but I’m not going to splurge for a really nice hotel when I’m traveling alone.
I’m fascinated by the Cold War period and the Iron Curtain. I visited the Museum of Communism last time and would like to visit again. If there is an art museum or gallery I should visit, I’d like to viist that too.
My brother says I must try a restaurant called Čestr and I look forward to doing so. Any other restaurant recommendations are welcomed.
Of course, I am looking for coffee recommendations as well and hope to find some great cafés.
Hopefully I can get a good rest each night too…it has been a very busy few weeks.
I’ll sahre more details about the trip in the days ahead and share realtime updates along the way, but I love the Live And Let’s Fly community and would welcome your insight on how I can best maximzie my time in Prague.
Last time I was there I stayed at the Aria hotel. Nice accommodations, really large rooms. The twin rooms were actually full size beds, which was nice bc I was traveling with a friend. No complaints.
https://www.ariahotel.net
One of the best meals that I ever had was at the Coda rooftop restaurant at the Aria Hotel.
Info on Prague.
The Real Guide – Prague
By Rob Humpheys
Edited by Kate & John FisherPrentice Hall Travel 1992
I was born on Prsgue during WWII. Last time visited Prague in 2018
The Honest Guide Team have a great selection of videos on how not to be scammed in Prauge.
Highly recommend viewing as a starting point https://www.youtube.com/@HONESTGUIDE
I second this. Honest Guide is a great Youtube channel, and while the focus is often on scams, they’re fun to watch, and it’s clear they love Prague and love to share it with outsiders.
I will say you have to go this butcher shop for the best hamburger (I say this as an American too btw!) Naše maso. It’s always packed and small inside, but seriously amazing burgers! and you can go next door for dessert at a cute little bakery for coffee and sweets.
Definitely ride the paternoster elevator in Prague City Hall.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g274707-d13159399-Reviews-Paternoster_Elevator-Prague_Bohemia.html
THIS! And do NOT leave when you get to the top and it tells you get off. Simply stay on and then it will transfer you in the opposite direction that you were going in. So much fun! And safe, obviously 🙂
The YMCA paternoster was fully operational when I stopped by during the holidays.
Reminds me of getting up to the rooftop bar at the Flemming Hotel in Frankfurt.
This one’s no longer accessible to the public, because of the huge TikTok crowds. Every idiot wanted the exact same video, so the City Hall closed off the entire corridor.
There are others, though, still accessible with a little bit of googling.
No longer possible. Over touristed. They’ve closed it down.
The Augustine was a beautiful property when I went in 2023, but the bedding felt a bit cheap. We loved everything else about it, though, including the beautiful bar, amazing breakfast, and the property itself is stunning.
And one more thing I’d add is that of the two Michelin starred restaurants, Field is far superior to La Degustation Boheme Bourgeoise.
Good afternoon, Matthew!
We did the following in 2022, so fairly recent:
Restaurants:
Cafe Imperial
Krcma
Sisters Bistro v Dlouhe (as seen on Rick Steves)
Lokal Dlouhaa
Restaurace Mincovna
Pivnice Stupartska (beer hall)
Churches
Church of Our Lady Victorious (the infant Jesus of Prague)
St. Nicholas Church
Church of Our Lady before Tyn (stained glass)
Gardens
Wallenstein Gardens
Franciscan Gardens
Narodni Muzeum
Thanks, Jim!
Letecké Muzeum Kbely aviation museum
Try the burger in Naše Maso Butchery.
http://www.nasemaso.cz/en/
And go to the Café Imperial to try Czech food, where Kafka used to go, I love the goulash with bread dumplings (knedlíky).
https://www.cafeimperial.cz/en/menu-ala-carte/
Would love to see a review of the Lindner Hotel Prague Castle. I made a 3-night reservation for my planned trip in September, while it was still a Hyatt category 1 hotel.
I stayed there for 3 night and enjoyed it very much! I paid 5,000 points per night, so it was an unbeatable value. Highly recommended given the cost. I was even upgraded to a better room.
That’s great to hear! Have you also stayed at the Lindner Hotel in Vienna? Is it similarly good to the one in Prague?
I almost did but Taylor Swift concert was canceled 🙁 Reviews aren’t that great though.
Stayed at both this past Summer. Prague castle Lindner has a great location, but make sure you understand how to use the tram (its super easy and cheap) as you will want it to get up and down the hill (even to the actual castle, as misnamed the Lindner is actually the old monastery site above the castle).
Vienna Lindner is also a good location next to the Belvedere gardens. Also, trams are a must for this one too. From right outside the front there is a line straight to the heart of the city. and a small walk to the metro (easy for to and from the airport).
Note: Linder is excellent Hyatt value (especially if Globalist), very likely to get a room upgrade and breakfast is decent. BUT they are often used for large group bookings (sport teams, work venues) so there can be large groups around which can dampen the vibe.
Sadly, I’ve lost Globalist. Using Guest of Honor at Andaz Prague, but is breakfast worth paying for at Linder Prague?
John Lennon Wall mural (if you are into music nostalgia).
It’s STILL called the Czech Republic. Vast majority of English-speaking Czechs hate the name Czechia which is a secondary official name with the primary one still being the Czech Republic.
Why was it changed in the first place? Czech Republic doesn’t strike me as having the same hypernatinationalism issues as Turkey / Turkiye.
The Czech Republic is a modern and progressive European state. I think having the word “republic” in its name has somewhat of a negative connotation; it makes it sound like a post-Soviet state, and modern day Czech Republic is anything but that. Still, I wouldn’t call it Czechia.
You can’t command how something is referred to in English. Türkiye and Czechia and not English words – the letter combinations, the ‘umlaut’… It’s meaningless for a country to define their English name in another language. Should the British ban the French from saying Londres??? FWIW, the UK government still officially calls it the Czech Republic. Interesting that the State Dept has gone with Czechia.
Another fact-Czech (too easy): it’s not Bohemian capital city. For simplicity sake, the Czech Republic consists of western part (Bohemia) and eastern part (Moravia). So calling Prague capital city of Bohemia is like calling Pittsburgh the capital city of Pennsylvania.
Ha. Thank you.
I stayed at the Boho Hotel. Junior Suite. About $250 a night. 4 stars. It is rated well which is why I stayed there instead of Augustine. Augustine is on the other side of the river near the palace and church but away from the old town square. I didn’t know there was a four seasons when I stayed there but I don’t like the look of the rooms. Boho has a nice restaurant and room service.
There is a place called Vyšehrad that has nice views. There is the dancing house. The Eiffel Tower is interesting. I climbed the Great South Tower of the Cathedral. It’s a lot of steps even for fit people.
If the weather is pleasant, I’ll try to make the climb.
Second Vyšehrad. Also honest guide channel. Honestly, just watch that for great recs. You can skip the scammer vids – most of the scams are pretty obvious, but their other content is truly genuine and interesting, Also, try the tartar…anywhere. grab the pid local transit app. very easy to ride the buses, trams and subway. tickets are simple time based,
I think you’d enjoy the Kafka Museum. I had a very tasty rabbit stew in one of the restaurants in Old Town near Prague Castle, but I can’t remember the name of the place. You can’t go wrong with goulash and bread dumplings pretty much anywhere in the city, though.
Heidi and I love Kafka…will have to check it out.
I know you love Mexican food and wherever our travels bring us, we always seek out a Mexican restaurant. It’s one of our traditions all over the world.
You should definitely stop by Cantina. This was one of the best, if not the best, Mexican restaurant in Europe. The flavors and spices amazingly authentic.
Give yourself a treat and stop by. You won’t regret it
@Marc, great suggestion! I’m going to go!
– You probably know this already, but it’s always worth reiterating. Don’t take taxis off the street, they’re more expensive when hailed even if they’re totally legitimate- and there’s always the risk of ending up with one that’s dodgy. Modry Andel is likely the best taxi firm in town.
– The inside of the Prague Castle is definitely worth a visit, you can pre-book guided tours. I can’t remember whether they’re completely free or there’s a nominal amount to pay.
– Letna Park is probably the best place to walk in the entire world, I certainly haven’t been to anything similar, the views are spectacular, the vibe is super chilled and it somehow doesn’t attract many tourists.
-EMA Espresso Bar in Florenc is definitely worth a visit. In the same neighbourhood, you can also find Pivovarsky Klub Benedikt which is a very unusual thing being an unpretentious microbrewery, and the food’s excellent too.
– Last time I visited, I stayed in a duplex suite in the NH Prague City. Super spacious, very good views,, slightly outside of the centre. I think it was a bit less than €100 per night, phenomenal value. Probably of no interest to your US readers though as NH is a Spanish chain belonging to a Thai group.
The Villa Richter restaurant and vineyard next to the Prague Castle, preferably a table on the patio overlooking the city.
You should actually do a day trip to Pilsen birthplace of the REAL pilsen or to Ceske Budejovice with beatiful old town. I would not miss a beer in U fleku.
A couple of places that haven’t been mentioned are the Old Jewish Cemetery (with 12,000 graves and thousands of headstones dating back hundreds of years),and also the nearby Museum of Puppet Art (marionettes) museum. Also near the Castle is the Strahov Monastery, with the two beautiful libraries along with the Cabinet of Curiosities.
For a bar, try Bar Hemmingway – walking distance from the Charles Bridge. For dinner try Alma and if you like goose, try U Zpěváčků. Small Czech diner that was fun!
Make an advanced reservation for a private tour of the Stahov Monastery Library. It’s the only way you’ll be able to actually walk into the book room. The Spanish Synagogue is also interesting and beautiful.
Andaz is fine and clean. Did not eat in the hotel. Helpful concierge- loved using public tram system. Tram line directly behind hotel.
Are those pictures from your modeling career? Looking good bro.
I was still a teenager then – oh how time flies.
I live opposite Andaz and would recommend it to anyone who comes here . Definitely one of the most prime locations and most attractions are walking distance. Old town square is just 10/12 mins walk as well as lots of great cafes and restaurants just within 2km range you have the best of everything in the city centre . You can easily move around on foot or take the tram behind Andaz hotel . The area is so walkable and full of life
Truly a city not to be missed,been there multiple times,never disappoints.Its so beautiful I just enjoy walking around without a planned itinerary.Dont remember the names of the hotels where I stayed but they were all mid range, immaculately clean and included typical central European breakfast.My Latvian friend who is quite the snob regards Riga,conceded Prague is a gem.Vienna left us with a meh,ok and Budapest never again(too many ripoffs).
Have you heard of “Czech hunters”?
One of the best websites on the internet. Would love to see Matthew on there TB
Have you heard of “Get a Life”?
Food: Eska, Lokal, Sisters, Nase Maso.
Drink: Dva Khouti, Automat, Letna Garden
Late night: Vzorkovna
See: go up the tower on the east side of Charles Bridge. If it’s open, then Colorado-Mansfeld (sp?) palace nearby is cool. Walk the river beyond the Dancing House in the evening for drinks and a view — area is called Naplavka and I’m partial to the Bike7 bar there. The Operation Anthropoid Church is an interesting visit. Take the pedestrian tunnel from Karlin up to Zizkov. Great sunset views of Prague 1 and the Castle from Rigrovy Sad park.
For Coffee, Cafe Cafe, and Pastacaffe. Both are good people watching, coffees and food
1) Fly there in business class
2) Stay in American-branded luxury hotels
3) Don’t eat any local food
4) Only talk to other foreigners, except in the case of staff
Sounds about white.
Do go to the bunker under the Jalta hotel. Chilling.
I was in Prague last year and had an incredible stay at the new hotel The Julius. The service, experience, and location were amazing and the Prague hotel is the first incarnation of this new luxury hotel group. I would highly recommend staying here at least one night.
I also had a wonderful dinner at the Michelin starred La Degustation Bohême Bourgeoise that serves delicious bohemian inspired cuisine that is paired with Czech wine and spirits.
National Memorial to the Heroes of the Heydrich Terror.
Boho hotel is fabulous and has a free walking tour on Wednesday and Saturdays! The breakfast is excellent and the library room is great to meet people. I would also recommend the Julius hotel the rooms are large and there bar is open late.
Marie B as a restaurant is a great concept
Le Degustación also delicious
Tiskarna Narodni great Czech food
Cafe Savoy for coffee
The New Stage of the National theatre
Emmaus Monastery 14 century frescos
Rotunda SV Martina
Spanish synagogue
Dancing House
Kafka rotating head
Miners coffee Old Town, Best matcha
Kantyna great butcher shop
Hey Matt as a fellow sauna lover, let me recommend checking out Infinit Step, a pool and sauna complex I’ve been to a few times. It’s fantastic:
https://step.infinit.cz/kontakty
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Q3V4BhVHMv5fHw7V7
Thanks, Matt!
If you are going to be there the Monday after Easter holiday there, the Czecks unique customs for that day. I can’t do it justice on a short reply, but it was great. Google easter traditions in Czeck. you may have to go outside of the city, but if you have friends there its worth it.