Just back from Prague and with new reviews to write :)
Just back from Prague and with new reviews to write :)
Member since:09.03.2007
Reviews:36
Members who trust:18
I have just returned from a three night break to Prague and thought I better write a review whilst it was still fresh in my mind. I was going to use the title “Czech it out” for my review, but found that someone else had already used that :)
Prague is a city that I have long wanted to visit, but was put off by horror stories of drunken English hooligans wrecking the place. I finally took the plunge and decided to visit and I am very glad I did, because it was totally different from my preconceptions of the city.
Getting there ========= With the advent of the cheap airlines Prague has become an extremely easy place to get to. We flew on EasyJet from Newcastle, but there are flights from most UK airports to the City. The flight time for us was around 1hr 45 minutes, so depending on where you are in the country this may be plus or minus a few minutes.
After you arrive and go through all the usual passport control and baggage reclaim sections then you will find yourself in the arrivals hall. From here a taxi can be flagged or the bus caught to the city centre. We decided to pre-book an airport transfer from the airport to our hotel – the cost was pretty similar to what I had seen for a taxi ride and you do no run the risk of being ripped off (by all accounts Czech taxi drivers are notorious for ripping off tourists). There are many companies
who arrange airport transfers – if your hotel does not do it then other companies can be found online and believe me it is MUCH easier.
Things to see and do ================ One thing Prague is not lacking is things to see and do. I think that in 4 or 5 days most of the major tourist sites can be covered. The ones we visited were as follows:
- The Castle area. This is probably the #1 tourist spot in the whole of Prague and to be honest you could spend pretty much an entire day here. One of the main sights in the castle grounds is St Vitus’ cathedral, which can be seen from pretty much anywhere in central Prague. There is invariably a massive queue to get in here (avoid 12-2 as you will be queuing for an hour or more), but once you get in you can’t help but be amazed at the sheer scale and beauty of the building. You can also visit the crypts where various famous kings (including Wenceslas) are buried and if you are feeling energetic you can climb the 287 steps of the tower for one of the best views in Prague. - Charles Bridge. This is probably the second most popular place in Prague – this gothic bridge crosses the Vltava River, guarded at each side by immense towers. The architecture on the bridge is absolutely amazing and there are usually Jazz bands playing at various points along the route. Beware though that this bridge gets incredibly busy and is a target for the pickpockets for which Prague, unfortunately has become synonymous. - Old Town/Old Town Square. You could spend hours wandering the cobbled streets of the old town (more than likely lost as we were on many occasions). There are a huge variety of shops, restaurants and attractions, but everything in this section centres on the old town square. Here you can find the world famous astronomical clock, which for me was a world famous disappointment (and not just me, you could hear a sigh of disappointment from the assembled crowd after each show). You can also find here possibly the most expensive bottle of beer in Prague, at approximately £4 - Petrin Hill. A little of the normal tourist trail, Petrin Hill overlooks the old town of Prague. It can be reached by funicular train or by walking and offers a magnificent view of the old town. Also there is the mirror labyrinth, and observatory and a viewing tower, which looks like the Eiffel tower.
Accommodation ============ The accommodation in Prague ranges from hostels all the way to 5* luxury. I would recommend if possible booking in advance as a lot of the hotels seem to be quite small and fill up quickly. Accommodation in the main tourist areas is, as would be expected a lot more expensive but a difference of 100 yards can mean a massive difference in price.
Eating and drinking =============== Every street in the old town is teeming with places to eat and drink. Pizza places seem to be very popular in the old town for some reason, but there are also plenty of traditional places plus in the newer sections of town chain restaurants such as McDonalds etc.
The best tip I can give here is that you should never, ever, ever eat or drink in the old town square. As an example we were in a bar on the second night that was offering 500ml glasses of Pilsner for 40 koruna (about £1). We walked round the corner and sat in a restaurant beside the astronomical clock – the same drink there was almost £4, 4 times as much!
Czech specialities come highly recommended and seem to consist of meat and dumplings – Goulash being one of the national dishes.
Safety and security ============== Prague has a bit of an unwanted reputation for petty crime and whilst we did not see any ourselves I can imagine it happening easily in the busy tourist spots, such as under the astronomical clock, Charles Bridge etc. I think as long as you are careful you should not have too many problems – I had a money belt that I kept hidden under my t-shirt and only took out what we needed for that day/night; the rest remained in the safe back at the hotel. Never take your passport out because it can take a day or more to get a temporary one sorted out if it is lost or stolen.
Any crime that does seem to occur in Prague seems to be predominantly petty – I never felt at any stage like I was about to be mugged, except once in a quiet back street that we accidentally wandered into beside Wenceslas square, which was very seedy.
I also expected, after recent newspaper reports that the centre of Prague would be a hellhole of rampaging Brits, fighting and throwing up in the plant pots, but in the whole time we were there we did not see a single stag or hen night. I think if you spend a lot of time around Wenceslas square then these type of groups may exist, but in the old town they are none-existent.
Hints and tips ========== - Prague card. If you are staying in Prague for 2 days or more then a Prague card comes highly recommended. For around 750k (£18 or so) you get a card that allows free access into the majority of the sites around Prague, including the castle and most of the stuff around Charles Bridge. For a little extra unlimited transport can be added to this in case you do not wish to walk (see below). - Walk everywhere. Provided the weather is nice and you are reasonably fir then by far the best way of getting around is to walk. You discover little roads that you never would normally have discovered and it makes the whole trip a lot more enjoyable. The vast majority of the sites are within easy walking distance. - Take a map. As a follow on to the above point it is essential that if you are walking that you take a map. The streets around the old town especially are incredibly confusing and it is very easy to get lost. - Try and visit the main tourist sites early. Some of the sites, especially Charles Bridge get extremely busy. Going there earlier means you may be able to appreciate them more. - Wenceslas Square. Unless you are in the area probably not worth making a special trip to go and see. It is quite impressive, but also very seedy and there is a better chance of getting your pocket picked here than anywhere else in Prague. - Astronomical clock. As mentioned previously this was a massive disappointment. Again, if you are in the area round about the hour or half hour then by all means watch it, but don’t base your plans around going to see it!
Conclusion ========= Prague is a fantastic city and one I would recommend to everyone. As long as you take a little care with your personal possessions then there is no reason why you should not be able to enjoy the many fascinating sites in complete security.
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Been intending to read this for a while. Was in Prague back in 2001 and loved it out of season. Not anything like the number of visitors now. Personally I found crime a problem, someone tried to slash my bag with a knife in one case and there was another incident were a group of men started a fight as a distraction. Both occured on the metro though which could be a warning. Still, this is all very good and brings back happy memories.
torr 25.08.2007 16:50
Good thorough review. I went about ten years ago, while it was still in the process of being "discovered". Glad it hasn't deteriorated too much since. Duncan
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Advantages: A very beautiful and historic city with plenty to keep you occupied Disadvantages: Can be very crowded and increasing in popularity with stag weekenders
fizzytom 02.02.2004 (28.04.2004)
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