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Where to stay in Prague: the city’s best areas

Get to know the Golden City’s five most charming neighbourhoods – and decide where to stay in Prague in the process

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It might seem like an obvious thing to say, but Prague is Prague. That is true, but the various districts that make up the Czech capital (22 in total, from Staré Město to Uhříněves) are every bit as distinctive as towns around the country. The old world pomp and circumstance of Prague 1 is a different world to the gritty industrial charms of Prague 5, while a night out in Prague 7 is a different proposition to one in Prague 2. That’s the sort of place the Czech capital is.

Luckily for us, Prague has one of the best public transport networks on the continent, so crossing the city is as easy as sitting on a train. That opens up all sorts of options for accommodation, allowing visitors to stay outside the centre while still having easy access to the major sights and sounds of the city. Of course, you can stay in the centre as well as there is no shortage of options. Choosing where to stay in Prague is a joy when faced with all the excellent districts, and we’re here to help you decide which one is right for you.

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Where to stay in Prague: your essential guide

You’re likely to cross paths with both locals and transplants in this neighbourhood known for its cafés, green spaces and an LGBTQ-friendly bar scene. Vinohrady gives visitors a chance to step slightly off the beaten path, just beyond the city centre, without forgoing access to English-speaking staff or bumbling into less welcoming, locals-only spaces.

If a fairytale reputation for romance, history and elegance is what draws you to Prague, this is your neighbourhood. The cobblestoned streets curve in mysterious waves across the hills that connect the Prague Castle to the Charles Bridge. This area bustles with sightseers by day, then gives way to reasonably peaceful nights.

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If this isn’t your first trip to Prague, or you’re more interested in a glimpse of local life than major monuments, make this grittier neighbourhood your base (think functional concrete apartment blocks, rather than historic pastel façades). Sprawling Žižkov, which starts around the square at Jiřího z Poděbrad and extends off the eastern edge of most tourist maps, is known for its high concentration of pubs, so you’ll never be far from a drink.

This former industrial neighbourhood has followed in the footsteps of so many others of its kind by converting warehouse spaces and factories into gathering places for artists and other creatives. Across the water from the historic city centre and a bend in the Vltava away from Prague Castle, Holešovice shows Prague is looking to the future – while keeping its past very much in sight.

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This micro-neighbourhood is technically part of the larger New Town district that wraps around Prague’s historic centre. The southern area near Charles Square (Karlovo Náměstí) has a more residential vibe than Wenceslas Square and Náměstí Republiky, also in the New Town. Karlovo Náměstí boasts easy walking access to nightlife options and the waterfront, with the added bonus of a good night’s sleep.

Looking for somewhere amazing to stay?

  • Hotels

Following the fall of the Berlin Wall, much of the residential property in Prague’s historic centre was swiftly converted into hotels. The result is that there’s no shortage of accommodation options in the city, from luxury boutique spots near the city's top attractions to cheaper, more modest hotels elsewhere.

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