Where to Stay

Since the Velvet Revolution in late 1989 and the opening up of its borders, the Czech Republic - and Prague in particular - has seen an enormous explosion in tourism resulting in major building and renovation programs to accommodate the influx of leisure and business visitors.

With its luxurious five-star hotels, one-room apartments in private houses, country houses and converted castles, budget accommodation and botels, Prague can now begin to rank itself as one of the best cities for people to visit with accommodation available to suit a wide variety of tastes and budgets. With the great increase in the number of rooms available, there is now accommodation to be had at any time of the year - even at the last minute (although, as always, it is advisable to book in advance).

North & Western Suburbs

The North and Western suburbs of Prague are the place to go if you want to be able to explore the bustling, main part of the city by day but return to a quiet neighborhood at night. Not to worry however, despite being a little ways off the beaten tourist track, these areas are accessible by public transportation to the center. One option for those looking for a fancy, quiet and relaxing accommodation can try Crowne Plaza Prague, where you will find all the comforts of home. The Hotel Wienna is another comfortable, quiet option offering horseback riding and tennis, that won't be quite so hard on your wallet. Another affordable, no frills option is the Hotel Pyramida, just a short distance from Castle Hill. For a more down home, rustic feeling, Pension Villa Maria will make you feel right at home. They also organize free airport and train station pick-ups along with day trips out of the city.

Hradcany

One of the oldest districts of Prague, Hradcany is home to Prague Castle and with its cobblestone streets is steeped in history, charm and things to do. To get the real historical feel of the area, the Hotel U Krale Karla is a great choice. Located in a former Benedictine structure, this building has been around since before the 17th Century. The Grand Hotel Evropa is another landmark hotel, situated in a beautiful building with surprisingly affordable prices, but no shortage of charm. For a more unusual type of lodging, try the Albatros Botel, a hotel on a boat with comfortable, clean rooms, you can't get a better river view anywhere. For a more luxurious experience, the InterContinental Praha can provide you with mountains of relaxation in their swimming pool, solarium and sauna, not to mention any of the numerous services they provide to their guests. Even more exclusive is the boutique Hotel Savoy, where the stars stay in Prague. Fear not budget travelers, not all accommodations in this district are pricy landmarks, for the budget backpacker, the Old Prague Hostel is a great place to stay, with a great location and extremely affordable prices.

Mala Strana

Mala Strana is also known as the "Lesser Side" and is another of Prague's oldest districts, situated across the Charles Bridge below Prague Castle, it is home to many foreign embassies. Incredibly close to all the action of Prague's center, but mostly removed from the hoards of tourists, Mala Strana is a great area to stay in. Common in Mala Strana are Pensions like Pension Dientzenhofer, a small, comfortable guest house located in a 16th-century building, named for being the birthplace of Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer, a well known Czech architect of the time. Hotel Hoffmeister is on a slightly larger scale than the small pensions, and fits in perfectly with the grand buildings of the district. It also boasts a good restaurant with great wines. Hotel Pod Vezi is a great place to experience "magical Prague," quiet, cozy and quaint on the inside, but with tons of activity as soon as you step out the front door. Hotel U Trí Pštrosu is another hotel with a history. It was originally the first coffee house in all of Bohemia, and nowadays is an elegant, fanciful accommodation.

Josefov

The old Jewish Ghetto, Josefov is another district ripe with history and culture, along with wonderfully medieval narrow, winding cobblestone streets. Josefov and the surrounding areas is a good, interesting central location. Hotel Maximilian is a quiet hotel close to Josefov, as well as easily accessible to the rest of the city's major sights. Special features of the Maximilian include a Thai Massage studio and a floating pool. Casa Marcello is another nearby option, tucked behind a convent and featuring a Mediterranean feel, it is another quiet, relaxing option. Hotel Josef is another hotel with modern amenities in ancient surroundings, including a courtyard where you can enjoy your breakfast from the restaurant.

Vysehrad & the Eastern Suburbs

Located a little farther from the center, Vysehrad, the Eastern Suburbs and the surrounding areas, such as Zizkov and Vinohrady are a good option for those wishing to be slightly more removed from the big, crowded city atmosphere. Hotel U Tri Korunek, located in the Zizkov area is very popular with tour groups, and is situated in an area with an abundance of nightlife, so you won't be bored a little ways from the city center. Dorint Don Giovanni is an easy ten minutes by metro from the center, and features luxurious artwork and fountains as well as well equipped business facilities. Standard Hotel Prague, is very tourist oriented, arranging tours and providing information on the city and local culture, and also features wonderful gardens which are a particularly nice place to spend time in the summer. Pension Brezina, in the Vinohrady area is just a short trip from major attractions and features three different types of newly redone rooms. Another Vinohrady pension is Pension Holiday Home, quiet and comfortable within walking distance from the central sights of Prague.

Prague also has a number of recognized camping sites and although these tend to be situated outside the city, they have the advantage of being extremely cheap and are usually clean and well looked after. The location of these sites is no real disadvantage as public transport is always available and it is cheap and fast to get anywhere in Prague.

Corresponding with the increase in the number of rooms available, a number of accommodation agencies have been established: some are located at the airport and the main railway station, Hlavni Nadrazi. The largest travel bureau in the Czech Republic is Cedok (formerly the state travel agency). It offers accommodation at all prices and last-minute bookings can be made at their offices. At the airport, Cedok can be found at the arrival hall, and their main office in Prague is at Na Prikope at the bottom right of Wenceslas Square.