Where to stay in Prague?

stay in staré město: prague's historic center

The historic heart of Prague, Stare Mesto is the capital's main tourist area.

This makes it the best place to stay during your stay in Prague. The whole of Stare Mesto can be explored on foot. The different architectural styles and numerous tourist attractions make the walk all the more enjoyable.

Its central location, bordered by the Vltava River to the north and west, makes Stare Mesto an ideal place to choose accommodation.

Lodging in this area also gives you easy access to other tourist areas, such as Mala Strana and Hradcany, which can be reached via the Charles Bridge.

Centrally located for your accommodation, Stare Mesto is also well served by several metro and streetcar lines. These will give you quick access to all the interesting areas of Prague to visit.

The main sights in Stare Mesto are as follows:

• Old Town Square, a true symbol of Prague's history
• Astronomical Clock, a medieval clock that comes alive at each new hour
• Josefov, a former Jewish quarter with six emblematic synagogues and an impressive old Jewish cemetery
• Tour Poudrière, Gothic tower separating the Old and New Towns
• Clementium, an architectural complex featuring the Czech National Library

If you're looking for a lively place to stay in the evenings, Staré Město has plenty of bars, restaurants and discos open late into the night.

Accommodation is mainly divided between luxury and mid-range hotels and apartments. There are very few hostels or guesthouses.

Mala Strana: stay in Prague's romantic, baroque atmosphere

Mala Strana is located to the east of Stare Mesto. Both are separated by the famous Charles Bridge over the Vltava River. With its many palaces and churches, Mala Strana is also characterized by a strong historical side and a more romantic atmosphere. Finding accommodation to stay here can be a very good choice.

Its central location between the Prague Castle and Old Town districts means you can easily visit the three main tourist areas of the capital.

However, if you're staying for more than a few days, Mala Strana is more out of the way than Stare Mesto, so you'll find it easier to get around on foot in more easterly locations. What's more, the public transport system is a little more limited.

The main sights in Mala Strana are :

• Waldstein Palace, seat of the Czech Senate, surrounded by magnificent gardens and open to visitors
• Petrin Tower, a hilltop tower offering one of the best views of the capital
• Notre Dame des Victoires, the church that houses Prague's Infant Jesus statue
• Kampa Island, a tranquil green space on the Vltava River
• John Lennon Wall, an artistic symbol of freedom

In the evening, the general atmosphere in Mala Strana is quite calm, ideal if you're looking for a romantic place to stay.

In terms of type and range of accommodation, you'll find mainly hotels and apartments of good standing, with prices a little lower than in Stare Mesto.

Nove Mesto: prague's new city

Less touristy than the previous three areas, Nove Mesto nevertheless has a number of attractions to visit.

Located to the south of Stare Mesto, it is an interesting alternative for accommodation. With its central location, staying in Nove Mesto makes sense, especially as it is well served by public transport.
The main attractions are as follows:

• Wenceslas Square, historic symbol of major events
• State Opera House, Prague's largest stage
• Mucha Museum, exhibiting the art nouveau works of Czech artist Alfons Mucha
• Museum of Communism, an overview of the Soviet era in the Czech Republic

Prague's nightlife is quite lively, with numerous bars and clubs.

The type of accommodation in this district is highly diversified, with hotels and apartments predominating. But there are also a good number of guesthouses and youth hostels.

hradcany: accommodation in prague's castle district

Hradcarny is home to Prague Castle, the country's main cultural and historical structure since the 9th century. Apart from visiting this complex, accommodation in Hradcarny is not a very attractive option. Even if all the attractions are within walking distance, its eccentricity from the center means you'll need to take public transport to get to the other districts.

The main places to visit in this district are the following:

• Prague Castle, an enclosure of churches, gardens and palaces
• St. Vitus Cathedral, the capital's main religious building
• Strahov Monastery, a convent with a majestic Baroque library
• Our Lady of Loreto, a Catholic pilgrimage site

Very touristy during the day, this area is extremely quiet in the evening. Mainly known for its castle and important religious buildings, Hradcany has very few places to stay.

holesovice and karlin: in search of pragmatic authenticity

Located respectively to the north and northeast of the Old Town, Holesovice and Karlin are two districts less visited by tourists. Although they don't include any must-see sights, they will give you a whole new view of Prague.

However, accommodation in these areas is not optimal, as they are far from the main tourist attractions. As you can see, although served by the metro, staying in these districts is not necessarily a good idea for a first stay in Prague.

Holesovice, a former industrial district, has recently become an increasingly popular place for modern art lovers and young people. Its transformations have seen the emergence of a number of places that have become must-sees in terms of modern art. The DOX contemporary art center, located in a former factory, is the most symbolic example of this change. Letna Park, a large and increasingly popular green space with an impressive view over Prague, represents the recent attraction of young people to this area.

Located just below Holesovice, Karlin has also shed its industrial past and become one of the capital's undisputed nightlife and dining hotspots.

The area also boasts a number of places worth a visit, such as theChurch of Saints Cyril and Methodius, with its magnificent interior decor. But also Invalidovna, an unfinished project based on the model of the Hôtel des Invalides in Paris.

They are therefore interesting for those wishing to enjoy modern art and a trendy nightlife atmosphere.

As you can see, choosing to stay in one of these two places is a disadvantage for those who want to make the most of Prague's atmosphere, and be as close as possible to the main sights. The hotels and apartments that make up the accommodation offer for these districts are, however, attractively priced, making them a good alternative for cheap accommodation in Prague.

vysherad: the inspiration for czech legends

South of Nove Mesto, Vysherad is often overlooked by guidebooks and forgotten by tourists. Yet it is of vital importance to the history of Prague and the Czech Republic, through the various legends attached to it. If you're staying in the capital for more than three days, or if this is not your first visit to the city, this district is well worth a detour to better understand the “historic soul of Prague”. However, because of its eccentric location, it's not worth staying overnight.

The main sites to see in this area are as follows:

• Vysherad Castle, a 10th-century fortification with large green areas
• Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul, 11th-century neo-Gothic church
• Vysherad cemetery, where famous Czech personalities are laid to rest
• Vysherad Casemates, an underground chamber containing 6 original statues of the Charles Bridge

As you can see, this area can be visited in half a day by public transport. It's an interesting area to explore if you have the time. But between its location and the extremely quiet evening atmosphere, there's very little point in staying in this area. The advantage, however, is that you can find good-value accommodation here.

vinohrady and zizkov: accommodation in the hipster and working-class traditions

Vinohrady and Zizkov are two residential districts in the eastern part of Prague. Not very popular with tourists, their visits give you a different view of the capital. However, accommodation in these districts is not particularly interesting, as they are located far from the main tourist attractions.

Vinohrady is a former bourgeois district that has recently become increasingly fashionable for artists and expatriates alike. The proliferation of trendy restaurants and bars is a major factor in its recent hipster appeal.

Among the district's main attractions areSt. Ludmila's Church, the Vinohrady Theater and the Vinohrady Market Hall. A visit to the area can therefore easily be done over half a day using public transport, without the need for accommodation.

Zizkov is a former working-class district. Although it has the opposite historical characteristics of Vinohrady, it has also become one of the most popular places for young locals to go out at night and for expatriates to live. Not least because of the proliferation of trendy, alternative venues.

The imposing Television Tower is the most important attraction in the district. The colorful facade of the Akropolis cultural center represents one of Prague's most renowned art scenes. TO STAY in this area, however, is of little interest.

smichov: prague's industrial heritage

Smichov is a former major industrial district of the capital. Now residential and commercial, it lies to the south of Mala Strana.

Due to its geographical location, this district is not an attractive place to stay during your stay. However, if you have enough time, you can take a stroll through a small historical area aroundSt. Wenceslas Church.

A visit to the Staropramen brewery, the oldest and second-largest in the Czech Republic, will allow you to immerse yourself in one of the country's leading culinary reputations.
However, there's not really much else to explore here.