Prague travel guide

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

34 nights

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

Hotels Sherry Recommends

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