Short break to Prague

sallysaver

Hi,
Going to Prague for short break beginning of March. I'm sure lots of MSE's have been there and wondered if you would like to share your experiences, good or bad, do's or don't-do's and any reasonable but nice eateries that are worth a mention. I am aware of the well documented places (i.e. Castle, Wenceslass Square etc) and the Pickpockets! but if anyone has anything extra to add, it would be much appreciated. Thanks. Regards - Sallysaver

muzzle_2

This fairly new service from Guardian Unlimited is always worth checking:

http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/places/czech-republic/prague/

Post-It-Note_3

My advise would be...if you visit petrin hill, take the cable car....its one hellova climb otherwise!

ejmna1

Prague’s a great place for a short break, Walk up to the Prazský hrad (Prague Castle) if you can manage to do it late afternoon once the sun goes down it's amazing.
You'll need at least a couple of hours to see everything up there and it's worth buying the Multi use ticket as you can go back again if you need to. You have to have a beer in the old Square sat outside but be warned you pay a premium for the view do it once but a few hundred yards away there are hidden bars that a V cheap.
Food wise there are loads of restaurants at all prices:
Square which is in Malostranské nám. which is over the river below the castle is a great contemporary place and the food is stunning (whilst your there pay a visit to the Bars on this side of the river they have far less in the way of tourists in them.
There are 2 great Ice Cream Shops around the old square and an amazing sandwich and cake shop Au Gourmand Dlouhá 10; metro Námestí Republiky. (also has a small seated area) which is great for take aways or food for the flight home.
Taxi to and from the Airport is a harrowing experience but not expensive and we got the drivers mobile number and used him to get back at the end of our stay.

For more info go to the rough guide site they have loads of useful stuff

pattycake

The public transport system is clean, quick and efficient. Do not be afraid to use the trams and the metro. You can purchase a pass for 3 days, 7 days or longer in the airport arrivals hall. You will need Czech crowns, they do not take credit cards. You then stamp the pass the first time you use the ticket and can then have unlimited travel for your time frame. It is an integrated system, so you can catch the metro into town, jump on a tram to say, get up to the Castle. The funicular up to Petrin is also included.

If you get the funicular up to the park, you can then walk to your left and eventually arrive at Prague Castle. Amazing views to be had along the way.

It will still be cold in March. Pack lots of layers and your most comfortable footwear. You will walk miles.

I live part of the time in Prague and never tire of the city.

djl

Prague is a great city. the charles bridge and tyn church (in oldtown sq) are good. the castle was crap its boring best seen from a view ONLY. theres terizin a former nazi camp thats worth a look ( outside prague on a tour ) also a boat trip with lunch and the tv tower called zizkov and the pitrin tower (was only open a weekends ). hope you like it.

Huggins

If you like beer ...Get yourself to the DARTS BARS ( or V.similar name) down a side street from the Hotel Esplanade (if you haven't booked all ready I would recommend this hotel - we got a good deal to) - you'll have to do your research on google to see where it is located. Went to prague on stag do and found this small friendly bar on the last day and discovered it's 50p for a quality pint! and £2 most other places. There is also a chain of quite tacky looking steak houses - i forget the name - which sell argentinian steaks - this was the nicest steak i've ever had! and i've had a few! Perhaps someone else can fill you on the name of this chain.

There is plenty to do and see. Watch out for the local street vendors and newsagents etc they will keep your change! try to give exact money. However the people in general are friendly.

it's a great place.

trisontana

Just got back from a short trip to Prague. As well as the stuff mentioned above I have got a couple of tips.

(1) take one of the walking tours , the guide we had was very knowledgeable. The one we took was the 4 hour "introduction to Prague" which showed you all the main sites and let you get your bearings so that you could return under on your own to have a longer look.

(2) The Museum Of Communism. This gives you an insight of what it was to live under the former regime. There is a shop with hardly anything in it, posters depicting the "workers paradise", a reconstruction of a padded room used by the secret police for interrogations, and video displays showing the various demonstrations that took place, culminating in the "Velvet Revolution". This includes shots of the secret police beating up demonstrators. OK it's not a bundle of laughs but it gives very god idea of what people had to endure under the "Red Terror".

The museum is located at the Old-Town end of Wenslasus Square, next to McDonald's and on the first floor of the Casino.

sallysaver

Hi,
Thanks for all the information you have given me. Am I right in thinking that the 3 day 'transport' ticket you can buy is valid on the bus, metro and tram and if so, does it need to be stamped each time it is used? Sallysaver

pattycake

Sallysaver, you only punch the ticket the first time you use it. On the metro the machines are at the top of the escalators. On the trams, near the doors. They are coloured yellow. The machine stamps a time and date and that gives the start time for the ticket.

The transport system is integrated, therefore the ticket is valid on all forms of public transport within Prague (ie not on trains going outside the city).

The system operates on trust. Inspectors travel on the trams in plain clothes and may ask to see your ticket. There is an on-the-spot fine of something like 500Kr for travelling without a ticket.

Having said all this, in five years of extensive travel on the metro/trams, I have only been asked for my ticket twice. However, this does not mean that I would risk travelling without one.

Have fun.

catch22

You might find this site useful?

http://www.pragueexperience.com/index.asp