Value: 4/5
Livability: 3.5/5
Nightlife: 3.5/5
Prague may be the most beautiful city in Eastern Europe. The old town district has incredible architecture. However, the beauty of Prague is well known across Europe, and this has caused it to be overrun by tourists.
There are so many British stag parties, that you may hear more English spoken on the streets of the old town than you hear native Czech. While the Czechs seem a bit more Germanic and thus more reserved than their other Slavic brothers, I think that this may partially be due to their patience continuously being tried by the hoards of rowdy tourists that run drunkenly through their picturesque streets.
Prague is a pretty liberal city, which is possibly reinforced by the fact that the majority of population does not actively practice any religion. In this regard, Prague has a similar feel to that of being in Amsterdam. The prices in Prague are low on average (not much more than $1 for a beer), but skyrocket in the town square and other tourist locations located around the city center. It may be worth finding accommodation in a cheaper district such as Prague 3, and then taking the metro to the city center. The Prague metro system is clean and works very well. In addition to the metro, there also exists a system of trams. However, watch out for pickpockets while taking the tram.
For outdoor activities, there is a paved bike path that runs along the river. Flying down the Prague hillside though an underground tunnel, while perched on an old soviet single gear bicycle, will remain one of my favorite memories. The terror of trying to balance with the bike while traveling down the escalator of one of Prague’s incredibly deep metro stations, will also not soon be forgotten.
Recommended Places:
James Dean Club (V Kolkovně 922/1, 110 00 Praha 1, Czech Republic)
The upstairs of this establishment is designed like an old American diner from the 1950s, where the incredibly beautiful waitresses dress in uniforms that match the era. The downstairs area contains a dance floor and an additional bar. Live fire breathing shows are regularly put on downstairs by the bar staff. The clientele is a mix of locals and tourists. This is probably my favorite place for drinks in Prague. The downstairs area is good for mingling, while the upstairs area can serve a more quite place to continue a conversation. The music played is also mostly rock, which is a nice change from the typical Top 40 garbage that you find at most places these days.
Harley’s Bar (Dlouhá 18, 110 00 Praha 1, Czech Republic)
While labeled as a “biker” themed bar, it quickly becomes apparent that its not a true biker bar in the American sense. Inside, rather than finding tattooed men with long beards, you instead find a much younger generation dancing to Blink-182 and Green Day songs. Like James Dean, about an equal mix of locals and tourists visit this bar. This place always seems to have a pretty positive and fun loving atmosphere whenever I have visited it.
Karlovy lázně (Smetanovo nábř. 198/1, 110 00 Praha 1, Czech Republic)
This is the biggest club in central Europe, with 5 floors that play different music. This club caters to the large German and British tour groups that come to the city. I don’t remember ever meeting an actual Czech person in this place. For a traveler like me, who likes to meet locals and have more authentic experiences, this place was not my cup of tea. However, for those just looking for a place to rave and party, then this club may be worth checking out.
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