What to do in Prague

PS. Have a read of this for pubs/clubs/etc:

http://www.praguepost.com/bestof.php

My favourite 'see Prague in an long afternoon' trip - always used to do this with vistors...

Takes a good three hours and you will be pretty ready for a beer after this
1. Walk from Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske Namesti) to Narodni Trida metro (check the map here )

Basically walk downhill, and then turn left at the bottom of the square. Keep walking along 28 rijna which then becomes Narodni. Turn Right when you get to Tesco. You will see a Metro stop and a Tram stop, you need the trams on the Tesco side. Buy a ticket at the newsagent kiosk.
(maté jidenky, prosim? MA-TAY YIZ-DENKY, PRO-SEEM? - then hold up fingers for how may you want. Include your thumb when gesturing for how many. A peace sign will mean 3...)

2. Get on the 22 or 23 (NOT any others) and punch your tickets. ((You will get inspected and fined if you don't and it is not worth the hassle of maybe having passports confiscated etc) Try to either stand at the very back of the tram and look out of the back window, or sit on the right hand side of the trams (it is almost mandatory to give up a seat for babièky (grannies!) though....
look after your wallet especially if any disturbance, pushing, or distraction happens in front of you. An argument say, or someone falls. Prague trams are notorious for pickpockets. Best strategy is to have a small 'muggers wallet' with some small amount of money for the day and then wear a moneybelt, or special lining pocket in clothes, or leave the goodies in the hotel safe. Money clothes (special hidden pockets) are good too, my wife travelled the Silk Road with $5000 in cash sewn into her dress - It survived arrest in Kazakhstan! ...


3. The tramride will give you a great view of the Charles Bridge and the castle on the right. Later you can look out of the back of the tram as you pass through baroque arches, the tram will them start to climb the hill (After the Malostranská metro stop), you will go up a double hairpin bend with a brief but spectacular view of the city. Get off the tram at the next but one stop. Hradcanská (H-RAD-CHANCE-KA) Hrad means castle.

4. Cross the street, and walk into the castle. All the guide books tell you what to see here, so I won't bore you. Don't waste to much time (or money) on the Crown Jewels...unless you are into that kind of thing.

5. Exit the castle at the 'uphill' gates (the massive statues)

6. If you have time walk across to the monastery at Strahov. Great views of the city on the walk.

Alternatively walk across the square ...) (good places for lunch around here too - but a bit pricy) ...) bear right and follow this street (Kanovnicka) until you come to the wonderfully named Novy Svet (New World Street) on the right, probably the prettiest street in Prague. Follow this until the end, turn left and walk until you come to the church on the left and the massive palace on the right (now a govt building) Turn left and this street will bring you back to the castle.

7. Follow the steps (this is why you took the tram up!) to the right of the castle downhill to Malostranská. Turn right at the bottom. If you get lost ask for Malostranská (MALLOW-STRAN-SKA)

6. Once in Malostranska, grab a beer or a coffee etc and then follow the McDonalds signs :rolleyes to Mostecká and onto the Charles Bridge (wallet alert!!) Stroll across the bridge (or if it is Summer - fight your way through the crowds) If it is too mad and crowded, once across, do not continue down the very narrow street (Karlova) just tourist shops here anyway, instead follow the tramlines to the left and then take the next street on the right. this takes you past the library (featured in the latest Heineken ad) Keep left at the square and eventually you will arrive at The Old Town Square - Staromestske Nameste or Staromá in slang.

7. If it is close to the hour, wait to see the clock do it's stuff (Wallet Alert!!!) and then turn 180 degrees and 'walk' down Melantrichová (more crowds) which will bring you back to Wenceslas Square.


My Prague top ten tips;

1. Wherever you eat - the goulash is usually good and cheap. Perfect with a beer.

2. Don't expect service with a smile in a traditional pub, put a beermat in front of you and wait. Don't signal. A beer will either be brought to you or you will be asked which beer you want (light or dark, 10 degree or 12) It will be brought and dumped on your table, usually with a bang. This is not rude or surly, just how it is done. A piece of paper with a stroke on it will be put on your table. Don't lose it, or you will pay a big fine. You will be brought another and another until you ask to pay (zaplatim, prosim) Check the waiters maths, they are often 'loose' in this respect, and then tip him a little extra (say the bill is 167 crowns - give him 180) Then you will get a smile. 200 will get you a big smile...The beer is cheap so why not be a good guy.

3. Only hit the Irish bars if you are desperate. Most young czechs speak great English and a very friendly (not to mention goodlooking) Irish bars are generally overpriced. Check the web for bar reviews (everything changes quickly) The Prague Post is a good place to start.
One legend though is Chateau (ask anyone where it is - walk through the archway behind the Old Town Square 'disneyland' church - and out the other side...) This bar was formerly known as Chapeau Rouge and most long term expats refer to it as such. It is a mad place. No tills and very little chance of getting the right change, drug dealers, visa-whores and tourists all mix and get drunk. Seedy-chic you could call it. I've known of face-slashings and mafia bustups. Drunk girls hurling pint glasses at the barmen. The bouncers will half-kill you if you get out of line here, but that means you can step in the door in relative safety. Most tourists don't see what goes on, but go along and have a look at the some of the characters here. Best chance of pulling too...(they are open until around 4.30am ) Get pissed, but be careful.

4. Roxy (on Dlouha 33 )

Wonderful club, cheap and with a real sense of 'when the going gets weird, the weird turn pro' Another legend in the world of Prague clubs.

Also don't miss Radost FX. Very hip, great veggie restaurant and small but cool club.
Was voted one of the Top Ten Clubs of the World by Ministry mag.

5. Learn some Czech. Four words are all you need, two for politeness
Prosim = please
díky = thanks (DEE-KY)
and two to stop you looking like an idiot;
Tam = there (push)
Sem = here (pull)

6. Learn some history

Here's a 15 page quick history of everything czech. everything you see will make more sense.
http://archiv.radio.cz/history/history02.html

7. Be respectful.
Don't laugh at how cheap everything is, or tell people that they earn a pittance.
On the other hand don't be too suprised by how expensive some things have become(accommodation esp.)
Be generous when you tip but not so much that it seems money is no object.
Don't piss in the streets.
Don't freeload on the metro/trams. You will get caught.

8. Don't take taxis
Prague has a great 24hr public transport, get a map, or ask people on the street, Czechs are mostly very helpful.
Taxis will rip you off unless you agree a fare, and even then may try.

9. Go to the Opera.
If you have never thought that you could stand Opera, GO!
Everyone should experience Prague Opera houses once in their lives.

10. Book now to go back in Winter. Best. New. Years. Evar!

Enjoy - and post your trip report!!

It's a lovely city. I was in it for a weekend a few years ago. Very cultural. Lots of music going on. Everywhere you go there are people pushing leaflets into your hand. It is an industry over there. We eventually copped on and kept our hands in our pockets as we walked around. Go to an opera, definitely. You may not understand a word, but they are an event, an experience. We went to one when we were there. You'll find the place is full of puppet shops, another big thing over there.

There is still a lot of the hint of communism there. Things like trains run very efficiently, unlike here in Dublin. Some of the people are nice, but some are lacking in customer service skills. A few examples: When we went to book the opera, there were 11 of us. One of the women with us went up to the counter to try and book for us but the woman at the counter kept turning to the woman beside her for a natter instead of attending to the customer.

Another time one of the guys went to buy some cigarettes from a small street stall. He got his change and as he came away he asked me to remind him what the exchange rate was, because he thought he had been short changed. He turned back to go to the man and the man had the extra change waiting for my friend, but he had made no effort to call us back.

On another occasion we were getting ice creams from an ice cream van. There was a young woman serving. When one of the guys went up and told her what he wanted she gave him a sort of "Oh yeah and what do you expect me to do about it?" look.

Don't let that put you off, because most of the people are nice. Shop around before buying things. You'll always find the same things a bit cheaper somewhere else if you do. It is a great city to visit, so you will enjoy it.

Flukey wrote:

Some of the people are nice, but some are lacking in customer service skills.

But as you live in Ireland, you'll be well used to that...

"Are you OK?" "Are you alright there"

-"I will be when you ask me how you can help!" :rolleyes:

I forget the last time someone actually said 'how can I help you?' or 'what can I do for you?'...ah yes, I was in the US at the time :rolleyes:

Don't get me started on beer...

Budvar is great, but at it's best in Cesky Budjovice (brewed there..) The best budvar in Prague IMHO (and gulaš) is in the pub on the street directly opposite Tesco. Turn your back on the Front of Tesco and cross the street, walk down 30 yards - Can't think of it's name..oh yes - U Medviku.

Czech out (bah dum tish!) Krušovice (KROO-SHO-VITZ-AY) been brewed since 1517 and I think they have it just right now! Defo one to have in a traditional czech pub.

By the way, don't be asking for different beers in a regular pub...they usually have one type. You will tell which one by the signage, beermats, tablecloths...Most common is Staropramen...it was great in my time, but Bass and Interbrew bought the brewery and started messing. It has been getting worse but it is still delicious by Irish standards (crap Bud, carlsberg)

One place that is worth a visit to eat and sample their beer is Novoměstský pivovar, a microbrewery off Wenceslas Sq. Take the street halfway up the Square (tramlines) If you are facing uphill - follow the tramlines right. there is a McDonalds on this street (Vodičkova) and the pub is opposite-ish Number 20 down a short entrance. If you can't see any copper vats you are in the wrong pub (although the other two on this street are ok too...) Website here = http://www.npivovar.cz

Other good B names to look out for Radegast, Gambrinus, Velkopopovický (try saying it after a few beers)

Try a few shots too, it is quite traditional to drink a Becherovká after a meal - this wonderful herbal liqueur has legendary 'amphetamine' qualities, that make a couple off shots a good start to a night. You can order a 'maly' in most trad places (half-shot)
Slivovice - Plum brandy is rocket fuel (not one of my favourites) and there are a million other flavours of fruit brandies.

Absynth of course - my advice is to be careful, and just have one and then drink nothing but beer for an hour...it is EXTREMELY strong...70% pure alcohol. DON'T shoot it - you will probably be sick...instead drink it czech style with sugar and water...
history here - http://www.think.cz/issue/36/4.html - howto is here - http://www.seborabsinth.com/sebar/recipes.asp?cocktail=absinthritual

Finally the total scoop on all czech beers is here -http://www.xs4all.nl/~patto1ro/czecbrew.htm

You'll be an expert by the time you go...

I'm just back from Prague today! I want to go back so much The people are so nice if you make an effort. The public transport is flawless, women are great looking, friendly and speak great english! Fell in love with the country and the women!

If I was going back to Praha, I'd stay for only 2/3 nights midweek as all the larger louts come at the weekend and there is a nicer crowd during the week.

Have a good one!

eoin_s wrote:

Folks,

What is good to do in Prague? - heading over there in a few weeks for 3 days, and it is looking hard to figure out what to squeeze in. Getting pished is a given, so good restaurants, pubs & clubs etc would also be a help. What are the best attractions?

thanks...

Do you mind me asking how much your tickets cost and who you are flying with please? Im thinking of heading over myself around xmas time - thanks!

That's great, thanks for the site boogieman (and all the info, everyone)!

Gonna try and go there for a week after christmas, sounds brilliant.

Sweet! Ive just been told im being treated to a trip to prague for my birthday (nov 16th) Got a great deal on flights on www.opodo.co.uk and a deal on a 4star hotel at http://prague.hotels-europe.ws They have a few deals like 4 nights for the price of 3 etc.

perfect timing to find the thread!

Any more stuff to do, we will be there for 5 nights!

PS, whats the story with exchanging cash? where the best here or there?

Saruman wrote:

It even covers the venhicular (however you spell it) the tram that goes up the side of the mountain. It takes you up to a park. At the top is a sort of replica of the eiffel tower.

The funicular is not in operation at the momment! We found out the hard way, but its definatly worth the walk - amazing views of the city. Don't know when it's going to be running again.

BM.