Prague: Not Just the City of a Hundred Spires

Prague buys real estate in your heart after you spend some time there. I don't think I will ever tire of walking the crooked streets and admiring the century-old architecture. But what really makes the city undeniably magnetic is its people. The Czech people are the most relaxed, easy-going, and friendly I've ever met. Their famous sense of humor is wonderful and I'm not sure they know the meaning of the word 'stress.' They seem to enjoy life more than anyone else, and they want to make sure that everyone who visits their largest city enjoys it as much as they do.

In this journal, I hope to introduce you to the some of Prague's highlights and inspire you to journey there yourself.

Quick Tips:

*Prague hotels have always been overpriced. If you aren't in the mood for a 'hostel' experience, try searching for pensions. Much cheaper than hotels, pensions are often just a couple rooms in someones home, they almost always include a full breakfast and genuine Czech hospitality.

*When looking for typical souvenirs, shop around. You'll find the same "made in Czech" articles in almost every shop but the price tag varies with the shop's location. The souvenir stores closest to Old Town Square and along the Royal Route across the Charles Bridge are most expensive.

*Learn a few words of Czech. The Czech language can seem impossible pronounce to native English speakers, but learning and using 'hello,' 'thank you,' and 'goodbye' will automatically open the doors of communication. The Czechs understand how difficult their language is for foreigners, so they appreciate all attempts to speak it. The nicest aspect of their language is that it is entirely phonetic. Once you learn the sound of each of their 40-something letter alphabet (note that 'ch' is considered a separate letter and follows 'h' in the alphabet) you can pronounce any word.

Best Way To Get Around:

Prague is home to a fantastic Metro. When faced with distances more than you are willing to walk, hop on the Metro. A one hour ticket that allows you even to switch between the three modes of public transportation (Metro, tram and bus) costs 14 CZK or the equivalent of about .65 USD. The Metro is very efficient and quite clean, especially compared with those of American cities. The Metro system is comprised of 3 lines. A is green, B is yellow and C is red. A and B intersect at station Mustek, B and C at Florenc and A and C intersect at Muzeum. The Metro operates from 5am to midnight with about 5 minutes between trains.

The bus system is also relatively easy to follow. If you cannot find the information you need at the station, just ask! Someone waiting for their bus will give you advice and likely, walk you to the right stop just to make sure you find it.

Taxis are infamous for being unreliable and overpriced. If you must take a taxi, agree on the price before you set out. Or better yet, have someone at your hotel desk call you a car. It will be more reasonably priced and reliable.

The bare essentials. This hostel is located on the 4th floor of a building just 2 blocks from the Old Town Square. The elevator doesn't always work, so be prepared to carry your belongings up all the flights of stairs. The rooms are small and the beds are narrow. Towels can be rented from the front desk for the equivalent of $1-2 a person. The bathrooms, though shared by all of the rooms, are kept very clean and in good working order. No breakfast is included.

Overall, a good choice if you are on a tight budget as hotels in Prague are overpriced compared to food and goods. The hostel staff is friendly enough and gets the job done.

This small hotel (only 17 rooms) is located on the north side of Staromestske Nameste (Old Town Square), right next to Tyn Church. Hotels in the Old Town are usually the most expensive in Prague as all of the most visited historical sites are within easy walking distance, however, this four star hotel, occupying a home built in the 1330s(!) is the least expensive in the area.

The rooms are impeccably clean, extremely comfortable and the amenities are top notch. The staff at the front desk (open 24 hours a day) is wonderful; they say hello and goodbye every time you pass and are always ready to help with a smile.

I stayed at this Pension 11 years ago and nearly stayed here again this summer but decided to stay in Old Town in the thick of things instead. The owners of this lovely little pension (bed and breakfast) take extra good care of their guests, and cook delicious breakfasts.

The pension is clean and comfortable and perfect for a quiet home away from home. The location is far from the beaten path but convenient (300m) to the nearest metro stop. The Pilsen-Prague highway is 1km away. Overall, a 15 minute journey downtown.

I recommend this lovely accommodation to anyone looking for a relaxing, family-friendly base from which to explore Prague's highlights.

This hotel, within view of Hradcany (the Prague Castle) is in the opposite direction from downtown. The location is not very convenient for tourists looking for an easy walk to the main sites. Hotel Pyramida is equipped with an indoor swimming pool, sauna, massage, fitness center, and solarium as well as its own gift shop. The restaurant, at which I ate several meals, buffet style, is quite good. The hotel website fails to mention that it costs 100Kc to use the swimming pool, etc.

I think this hotel caters more to the business traveler but can be a nice base for a large group of tourists. I visited Prague and stayed here as part of a 100-member orchestra in 2004.

Although rather high, the price tag includes the knowledge that might very well walk into your room and forget that you are in Prague, and instead believe yourself to be in any high-end hotel in the United States. You can decide whether that is good or bad.