Where should I stay in Prague?

Old Town/Malá Strana for the sights, Vinohrady or Žižkov for a local, value feel.

Trams, metro and walking; the centre is compact. Trams are scenic and cheap.

2–3 days for the castle, old town, bridge and a neighbourhood.

Good value — beer and food are inexpensive, though the Old Town is pricier.

When is the best time to visit?

May–June and September; December for Christmas markets (cold and busy).

SherryStay Destination Guide

Prague

Storybook old town, the cheapest beer in Europe, no traffic.

Czech Republic

About Prague

Prague looks like a fairy tale and rewards you for arriving early. Cross the Charles Bridge at dawn, before the crowds and the caricaturists, and its baroque saints have the river mist to themselves; by mid-morning the Astronomical Clock draws its hourly crowd on the Old Town Square, and the castle glows on the hill above the red rooftops. This is a city made for wandering — Gothic spires, art-nouveau façades, the synagogues and old cemetery of the Jewish Quarter of Josefov, all walkable and astonishingly intact. Lately Prague has been trading its stag-party reputation for something better: the beer is still world-class and gloriously cheap, but the energy has moved to neighbourhoods like Karlín, a flood-scarred district reborn with specialty coffee, riverside viaducts and some of the city’s best food. Come for the storybook centre; stay for the beer halls, the concerts, and the quiet lanes just beyond the postcard.

Sherry's Take

Stay in Staré Město (Old Town) or Malá Strana (Lesser Town) — both are walkable to everything and beautiful. Avoid Wenceslas Square hotels — louder, less charming, same price.

Best For

CouplesArchitectureBeer loversBudget luxuryHistory

Go in

AprilMaySeptemberOctober

Avoid if possible

NovemberFebruary

Where to Stay

Old Town (Staré Město)

Cobblestone, astronomical clock, walkable to everything

Lesser Town (Malá Strana)

Castle-side, quieter, beautiful, restaurant-heavy

Vinohrady

Local, leafy, hipster cafés, cheap food

Žižkov

Edgy, bars, TV Tower, cheapest stays

Money-Saving Tips

1Pilsner Urquell on tap is cheaper than mineral water at most restaurants (~80 CZK / €3.20).
2Lunch menu (polední menu, 11:00–14:00) at proper restaurants: 180–250 CZK for soup + main.
3Avoid "tourist trap" restaurants on Old Town Square — walk one block to side streets, prices drop 40%.

Getting Around

172h transit pass 330 CZK (€13) covers all metro, tram, bus, funicular — the best deal for 3-day visits.
2Václav Havel airport → centre: Bus 119 to Nádraží Veleslavín then Metro A, 60 CZK total, 35 min — taxi is 700 CZK.
3Walk between Old Town, Lesser Town, and the Castle — 30 min of pure postcard, the metro skips the best parts.

Most Common Mistake

Booking near the main train station (Hlavní Nádraží) to save €20/night. The area is rough at night and you save 15 min walk, lose the entire neighborhood charm.

Ideal Stay

3–4 nights

Combine with

• Český Krumlov (3h by bus)
• Kutná Hora (1h by train)
• Vienna (4h by train)

Useful Local Hotel Phrases

Czech

HelloDobrý denDO-bree den
Thank youDěkujiDYE-koo-yi
PleaseProsímPRO-seem
Check-inUbytováníoo-bi-to-VA-nyee
Check-outOdhlášeníod-HLA-she-nyee
HotelHotelHO-tel
ReceptionRecepceRE-tsep-tse
BreakfastSnídaněSNYEE-da-nye
Wi-FiWi-Fiwee-fee
TaxiTaxiTAK-si
AirportLetištěLE-tyish-tye
Train stationNádražíNAA-dra-zhee
HelpPomocPO-mots
How much?Kolik to stojí?KO-lik to STO-yee
Where is...?Kde je...?kde-ye

Prague at a glance

Prague is in Czech Republic.
The nearest airport to Prague is Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG).
Getting in from the airport takes 30–45 min to the centre.
The best way in is Airport Express bus to the metro, or a taxi/Bolt.
A day in Prague costs roughly €45–80 per person on a budget, €110–220 mid-range and €400+ at the luxury end.
Sherry suggests 3–4 nights in Prague.
February is usually the cheapest month to visit Prague, December is the busiest, and September offers the best value.

Common questions

Where should I stay in Prague?: Old Town/Malá Strana for the sights, Vinohrady or Žižkov for a local, value feel.
How do I get around?: Trams, metro and walking; the centre is compact. Trams are scenic and cheap.
How many days?: 2–3 days for the castle, old town, bridge and a neighbourhood.
Is Prague cheap?: Good value — beer and food are inexpensive, though the Old Town is pricier.
When is the best time to visit?: May–June and September; December for Christmas markets (cold and busy).

Where to stay in Prague

Looking for hotels in Prague? It helps to decide on an area first — our guide to where to stay in Prague sets out which neighbourhoods suit which kind of trip.

Around Town the options include Old Town Square Hotel, Old Town Square Residence by Emblem, Renovated Flat in Old Town Square by Prague Days and Old Town Home Prague.

Around Residence the options include Hotel & Residence U Tri Bubnu and Arcadia Residence.

Around Home the options include FanTom Home and Stylish, Light-Filled Home in the Historic Center.

Elsewhere in the city you will also find Grand Hotel Praha, Elizza Hotel, Hotel Cerny Slon, HostelGoldenBridge, Hotel Lippert, Kozna Suites, U Tří Bubnů, Hotel Dar, APTs in OLD TOWN PRAGUE by Michal&Friends, Hotel U Prince Prague by BHG, Ventana Hotel Prague, PrahaBel 1, Rott Hotel, Kozna Loft, Astronomical Clock Suite by Ruterra and Old Town Boutique Apartments.