Where to stay

As the current capital of Bohemia and the Czech Republic, and the former capital of the Holy Roman Empire and communist-ruled Czechoslovakia, Prague's cityscape is as eclectic as it gets. For epic views across the river to the city's sea of spires and gothic and baroque buildings, find a hotel in the Malá Strana (Lesser Town), right below lofty Prague Castle. Your views will take in Staré Město (Old Town) on the other side of the river, with its historic towers, palaces, bridges and museums. The Old Town and fascinating Josefov (Jewish Quarter) are part of the Prague 1 district. In the Nové Město (New Town), but still east of the river, is the futuristic-looking Dancing House, a tribute to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. There is no shortage of hotels in the New Town, but booking ahead is recommended in all of the Prague City Center.

Wenceslas Square in the Nové Město (New Town) has legendary nightlife. Close to Prague's main train station and serviced by trams that run 24/7, the New Town is a very popular place to stay. Not just for beer-loving tourists, but also for young people from all over northern Europe, who book cheap flights to Prague to hold their pre-wedding parties. Those wishing to stay in the Prague City Center on the weekend should always book their trip early for this reason alone. The New Town hotels in and around Republic Square are slightly quieter than the ones close to Wenceslas Square, but are still surrounded by bars and cafés. For a touch of romance, find a Staré Město (Old Town) or Nové Město (New Town) hotel with a rooftop terrace offering views of the Hradčany, the city's 9th-century Castle District with the illuminated Prague Castle. There are also great accommodations below the castle in the Malá Strana (Lesser Town), which has cozy taverns and wine bars as well as hidden basement bars in cellars.

Located right across from the Old Town, the Prague 5 district on the west bank of the Vltava River is a much cheaper neighborhood to stay in for culture and nightlife. The art galleries, cafés and clubs of Smíchov are getting hipper every day. This neighborhood is right below the hillside Malá Strana (Lesser Town) and is also home to the Smíchovská Náplavka riverfront park, which hosts bohemian food festivals in summer. Seeing the rest of Prague from Smíchov is easy using the Anděl transportation hub by the Palacký Bridge. Also in District 5 is Strahov, which is not only home to the Great Strahov Stadium, a massive sporting and concert venue, but also to many budget hotels, live music venues and low-key student bars. Stay near the medieval Strahov Monastery or Štefánik's Observatory to combine nightlife with cultural explorations. Book a hotel in the Holesovice neigborhood by the Rivertown Market in Prague 7 to mingle with the city's expats in the trendy bars and clubs of this cheaper residential district.

Prague has almost as many malls as it has church spires and bars. The Staré Město (Old Town) and Nové Město (New Town) in the Prague City Center are charming and very convenient places to stay for a shopping spree. The hotels near the New Jewish Cemetery in Prague 10 and most of the Prague 2 hotels are near the Palac Flora, a modern shopping center that will appeal to fashionable folks and families. While mostly residential, the southern Prague 4 district is a good place to stay for those who arrive by car, since it's close to the ring road and there is a huge range of mid-range and luxury hotels in this business and retail district with its modern high-rise towers. Prague 4 has multiple big shopping malls; Pankrác is a convenient neighborhood to stay close to these retail centers.