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Flean's Guide To Prague
Situated 5 hours from Berlin, Munich, Vienna and Budapest, Prague lies right in the centre of Europe. With a chequered history of invasions and rarely having it's own identity, the Czech Republic has developed at an unprecedented rate since the ‘Velvet revolution' of 1989, hen communism was replaced by a free-market democratic political system.Luckily, Prague's 600 years of architecture wasvirtually untouched by the world wars, making itarguably the most beautiful city in Europe, possiblyeven the world.
Prague is a safe city with an exceptionally low crimerate, and Czechs are an extremely intelligent andfriendly race.
With prices that are frighteningly low by westernstandards (30p a beer anyone?), Prague (or Praha toCzechs) is the ideal location for a break from the UK.
Areas of the city
Prague is roughly divided into 4 main areas; StareMesto (Old town), Nove Mesto (New town), Vinohrady /Zizkov & the eastern suburbs and Malostrana / Hradcany & the western suburbs.
Transport
The transport system in Prague is exceptionally cheap, efficient and reliable. The city is served by a metro system, trams, buses and trains. The metro runs from 05.00am to 12.15am daily, and the trams run 24 hours aday. An 8Kc ticket is valid for 15 mins, whilst a 12Kcticket is valid for 90 mins.
Top sight seeing tips
Karluv Most (Charles bridge)
(Metro A Starometska)
Despite being as busy as Oxford St, the Karluv Most isa must see. It is a Medieval stone bridge filled withBaroque statuary. At it's most beautiful as the sun issetting.
Zizkov Tv Tower
(Metro A Jiriho Z Podebrad)
At over 140m in height, the TV tower is visible fromvirtually everywhere in the city. From close up itlooks like a futuristic space shuttle, made even moredisturbing by the addition of model babies crawling upand down the sides. Excellent views of the city.
Prazsky Hrad (Prague castle)
(Metro A Hradcanska)
Situated on the western hill, Prague castle dominatesthe skyline, looking down over the rest of the city.Housing the Cathedral, royal palace and numerousmuseums and galleries, an afternoon wandering thecastle is not to be missed.
Where to eat
U Sadlu
(Klimentska 2, Prague 1, Metro B NamestiRepubliky)
A massive traditional Czech beer hall servingdelicious and cheap Czech food ranging from pigs neckto fried cheese.
Pod Viktorkef
(Seifertova 51, Prague 3, Tram 9/5/26 Husinecka stop)
Doubling up as a hotel, this pub serves great Czechand international food, with some of the best Pilsnerin the city, therefore the world. It's also my local so gimme a shout if you make it there
Radost Fx
(Belehradska 120, Prague 2, Metro C I P Pavlova)
The Radost is a complex of bars, a café and a club. It serves without doubt the best vegetarian food in the Czech Republic. Also open to 5am every day!
Bars / Pubs / Clubs
Prague is world famous for the quality of it's beer,and even a badly served pint is infinitely better thananything found in the UK. It is also essential to trythe Czech made herbal spirit ‘Becherovka'. But be warned, do not have more than 5 shots of it!
Palac Akropolis
(Kubelikova 27, Prague 3, metro A Jiriho Z Podebrad)
With 3 bars, a live music space and a café, the Akropolis is an excellent place to lose the tourist and your mind. Live music most days and dj bars open till 5am every day, the Akropolis is essential.
U Rudolfinum
(Alsovo Nabrezi, Prague 1, Metro A Starometska)
Situated next to the Rudolfinum concert hall on the bank of the Vltava, this small and smoky local Czech pub serves the best beer in Prague. Staff are very friendly, but do not expect much communication in English!
Punto Azul
(Kroftova 1, Prague 5, Metro B Andel)
A basement dj bar serving excellent beer and adangerously large selection of spirits. Talented dj's play eclectic music from funk to Electro -an excellent place to begin a night out.
Roxy
(Dlouha 33, Prague 1, Metro B NamestiRepubliky)
An old converted theatre that gets the pick of the international talent (artists recently to have played include Stanton Warriors, Andy C, Kid Loco etc) Please be warned - a night out in the Roxy will invariably result in a sore head the next day.
Cross club
(Plynarni 23, Prague 7, Metro C NadraziHolesovice)
A slight trek from the beaten path, but well worth the effort. A labyrinth of rooms and corridors, the Cross club is possibly the best club in Prague. Open daily,music ranges from Hip Hop and breakbeat to Techno and Electro.
Where to stay
Cloister Inn
(Konvikstka 14, Prague 1, Metro B Narodni Trida)
Pleasant hotel with clean but basic rooms. Very good value for the location.
Imperial
(Na Porici 15, Prague 1, Metro B NamestiRepubliky)
Recommended by a Big Chiller who came to visit me, clean and basic rooms, but exceptional value for money.
Travellers Hostel
(Dlouha 33, Prague 1, Metro B Namesti Republiky)
Exceptionally cheap accommodation in an excellentcentral location. Private and shared rooms available.
flean
Written: 24th Mar, 05
Read: 3677 times
