AROUND PRAGUE TIPS
TIPS FROM LOCALS
Prague is not only about the Prague Castle, Charles Bridge and Old Town Square with the astronomical clock. Here are some tips for walks and off-the-beaten-track locations with no tourist crowds to expect.
VYŠEHRAD CASTLE
Almost a neighbor to the Prague Congress Centre the Vyšehrad Castle (10 min walk) boasts amazing views of the whole Prague district and Vltava River. An ideal place for morning, lunch break or evening walk during the congress.
This place served as the first headquarters of the Czech princes in the Prague region founded in about the 7th century. The visitors of the Vyšehrad Castle can also visit the Slavín Cemetery, which is a resting place of many Czech culture icons, including Bedřich Smetana, Antonín Dvořák, Alfons Mucha, Karel Čapek and many others.
Moreover, there is a beautiful „Beer Garden“ called „Na Hradbách“. Cheap beer and a good Balkan grill, very informal seating ideal for those warm days.
PANORAMIC VIEWS
We also recommend other panoramic views than the one from the Prague Castle.
- Vyšehrad – for details see above
- Dancing House – try the terrace at the top of the Dancing House, designed by Frank Gehry and Vlado Milunić.
- Petřín and Petřín tower – you can use the funicular for free with your complimentary Congress Public Transportation ticket.
- Letná Hill – especially from the place of the former Stalin´s statue (today a Metronom) – there is a bar as well or from the beer garden at „Letenský zámeček“.
- Vítkov – at Žižkov you can find National Monument with Žižka Statue (leader of Hussites during Bohemian Reformation). The monument also includes the Ceremonial Hall and an exhibition entitled the Crossroads of Czech and Czechoslovak Statehood.
- TV tower at Žižkov – this is remarkable place with nice statues of climbing babies from David Černý. It features new interiors and excellent views
- Riegerovy Sady at Vinohrady – next to TV tower, at the opposite cite of the city center from Prague Castle.
NÁPLAVKA
This is a popular Saturday market location as well as street/river party place. Just walk from the Prague Congress Centre through Vyšehrad down to the river side and go downstream. This section of the river side is full of bars and boat bars. The opening hours and number of parties are weather related. During September evenings keep warm clothes.
KARLOV
Another short walk -cross Nuselský Bridge and visit Karlov with famous church „Nanebevzetí Panny Marie a sv. Karla Velikého v Praze na Karlově“. It is a quiet place.
OUTSIDE THE CITY CENTRE
We would like to recommend you Prague districts next to the city center where the locals often meet with families and friends. In those districts, you can find nice cafeterias, bars, very good restaurants, mostly with fair prices and good/high quality.
- Vinohrady and Vršovice – around Náměstí Míru square,Jiřího z Poděbrad square and Francouzskáa street – A line
- Karlín – a district with huge progress after the flooding in 2002 – around Sokolovská street and Karlínské náměstí– C and B line
- Dejvice – around Hradčanská metro station and Dejvická street – A line
- Smíchov and Anděl – newly developed district at brownfields – B line
- Žižkov – a well-known district for the number of bars, pubs, bistros – between Vinohrady and Karlín
