Prague, the Golden City on the Vltava, is one of my favorite cities in Europe thanks to its rich history and fairytale architecture. Whether you come for the majestic Prague Castle, the atmospheric streets of the Old Town, or the vibrant nightlife, this city has something for everyone.
To fully enjoy this city, you will first have to answer the following question: where to stay in Prague first time?
Do you want to stay in the busy city center, or rather in the quiet Jewish quarter, or close to a large shopping street? We have visited Prague several times ourselves, for different reasons. With the help of these experiences, we would like to give you the right information so that you can get the most out of your city trip!
In brief: the best neighborhoods to stay in Prague are Staré Město, Malá Strana, Nové Město, Vinohrady, Žižkov, and Holešovice.
Staré Město and Malá Strana are the most central neighborhoods that offer the best access to the city’s highlights.
Of these, Staré Město is the most complete and Malá Strana the quieter of the two.
Nové Město is an ideal neighborhood if you want to combine visiting the highlights of Prague with shopping and going out.
Vinohrady, Žižkov, and Holešovice are the three alternative options.
Vinohrady is a quiet, local neighborhood that offers an authentic experience.
Žižkov is an alternative neighborhood known for its nightlife and affordable accommodations.
Holešovice is an up-and-coming neighborhood north of the tourist epicenter that offers fun, affordable accommodations.
You can easily navigate to each district by tapping the link. Or go straight to the overview of the best areas to stay in Prague first time.
Staré Město, also known as Prague’s Old Town, is the historic heart of the city and is home to the city’s most iconic sights.
It is home to the Old Town Square, which is among the most beautiful squares in Europe.
Surrounded by colorful facades, Gothic churches, and the impressive Town Hall with its famous Astronomical Clock.
This district is full of beautiful architecture and the winding streets make for a fairytale experience.
As you might expect, the Old Town is centrally located, making it easy to reach other great neighborhoods.
Mala Strana (via the iconic Charles Bridge), Nové Město, and Prague Castle are all within walking distance.
In addition, Staré Město offers a huge selection of restaurants, cafes, and bars.
The tourist epicenter is not only fun to explore during the day, but especially in the evening, when the streetlights illuminate the old buildings, it is an almost magical experience.
As you can imagine by now, Staré Město is the most popular district among tourists. This is also reflected in the prices.
Now, Prague is not necessarily the most expensive city in Europe, but Staré Město is one of the most expensive options in the city itself.
Because the city is relatively compact and Prague has a good metro system, you can often find more affordable options in the surrounding districts.
Even if you travel by car, Staré Město is far from ideal because you can hardly find a parking space here.
In 2022, we stayed near the National Museum of Prague for this reason, where you can easily park your car in one of the parking garages and you have direct access to the shopping street, but also two metro stations.
In addition, Staré Město is also very busy, especially when you compare it to the next district.
However, Staré Město is also a very nice district with plenty to do, both during the day and in the evening.
For the vast majority of tourists, Staré Město is simply the most ideal district of Prague.
Malá Strana is the district on the west side of the river, directly opposite Staré Město.
It is one of the oldest and most picturesque parts of Prague.
It is known for its beautiful Baroque architecture, with winding streets lined with elegant palaces, churches and historic houses.
Many of these buildings date back to the 17th and 18th centuries and have been excellently preserved, making the district feel like a step back in time.
Wallenstein Palace and St. Nicholas Church are some of the highlights you can admire here.
The district is located at the foot of the famous Prague Castle, one of the largest and oldest castle complexes in the world.
From Malá Strana you can climb up to the castle and the paths and stairs leading there offer breathtaking views of Prague.
The Charles Bridge, which connects Malá Strana to the Old Town (Staré Město), is one of the most visited and beloved sights in Prague.
It is especially impressive to walk across it in the morning or during sunset.
In addition to all the beautiful things Malá Strana has to offer, the district is also known for its quiet and romantic atmosphere, in contrast to the busy Old Town.
The district has a charming, almost village-like atmosphere, despite its central location in the city, which makes it an ideal district for couples and also families.
Keep in mind that this district is a lot quieter than the Old Town, which also means that there is much less to do in the evening.
There are also fewer shopping opportunities.
Finally, Malá Strana only has one metro station, so if you plan to explore the city by metro, you will be a bit more limited in options compared to the other districts.
But if you want to stay in a quiet and beautiful district with a central location, then Malá Strana is the best option!
How to get around Prague? Prague is a relatively compact city and most of the city’s highlights are located in and around the Old Town. Generally, you will explore the city on foot.
If you are in the neighborhoods bordering the Old Town, make sure you have good access to a metro station.
You also have the option of taking the tram, but this is mainly used by locals, not tourists.
Also consider taking a sightseeing cruise, which is a very relaxing way to see the city from a different perspective. These tours depart both during the day and in the evening, often last only one hour and come with various packages, including food and drinks.
If you are visiting Prague by car, stay in Nové Město, as you will have much better parking options there compared to the Old Town.
Nové Město, or the “New Town” of Prague, is a really nice part of the city.
Despite its name, Nové Město was founded in the 14th century by Charles IV.
Here you will find Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí), the beating heart of this part of the city.
It is one of the most important places in Prague because many meetings, demonstrations, and celebrations are held there.
But it is also the commercial center of the city with many shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
During our last visit to Prague, we stayed in this neighborhood.
You will find some historical sights here, including the National Museum, but the vast majority of the highlights are in and around the Old Town.
You can easily walk from Nové Město to Staré Město, but it is even easier to take the metro.
This district is very well connected by public transport.
And if you like a drink, this district will definitely not disappoint you.
From cozy pubs to nightclubs that stay open until the early hours, you will find it all here.
The streets around Wenceslas Square and Národní třída in particular are hotspots for evening entertainment.
As mentioned before, there are plenty of parking garages and parking facilities, so if you are visiting Prague by car, I recommend choosing this district.
What are the disadvantages of staying in Nové Město? The highlights of the city are mainly located in the older parts of the city and it is about a twenty-minute walk from here.
That may not seem like much, but if you want to freshen up and change after a day of sightseeing to explore Staré Město in the evening, you will be walking quite a few kilometers.
With the help of the metro, that is easily solved, but it is not like you can step out of your hotel and be surrounded by the highlights of Prague.
If you are looking for a quiet and local neighbourhood, Vinohrady is one of the best options you have.
This neighbourhood is known for its beautiful Art Nouveau architecture.
You will find many elegantly designed buildings with colourful facades and balconies.
Walking through this neighbourhood is an attraction in itself.
Unlike the more touristy neighbourhoods, Vinohrady has an authentic local feel. This is mainly because the neighbourhood is residential, so you can easily experience the daily life of the Prague locals here.
It is also the ideal neighbourhood to escape the hustle and bustle of the city centre. Vinohrady is known for its thriving café and food culture.
The neighbourhood is full of nice and cosy places for lunch and brunch.
In the evening, you can also discover all sorts of nice pubs and bars here, but the nightlife is much more relaxed compared to other parts of the city.
Despite its residential character, Vinohrady is well connected to the centre of Prague.
There are several metro stations and tram stops that will take you to popular places. That also brings us directly to the disadvantage of this district. You have few to no real highlights here.
Because you are further away from the old part, you will always have to travel a bit by public transport.
For that exact reason, you will see few tourists here, and that is what makes it so unique.
If you are looking for an authentic neighborhood, stay in Vinohrady.
Žižkov is a district east of the Old Town and is the ideal destination for tourists looking for something different from the typical tourist experience.
The district is known for its alternative vibe and attracts many artists, students and free spirits.
Žižkov has a reputation as one of the best places in Prague for nightlife.
The district has the highest number of bars per square meter in the city, ranging from traditional Czech pubs to trendy cocktail bars and underground clubs.
Although Žižkov has an alternative vibe, it also offers historical sights.
The district is dominated by the imposing Žižkov Television Tower, an iconic building that defines the Prague skyline.
The tower is famous (and infamous) for its controversial design and the giant climbing baby statues by artist David Černý.
From the top, you have a beautiful panoramic view of the city.
In addition, Vítkov Hill is an important historical site in Žižkov, where you can admire the National Monument and the largest equestrian statue in Europe.
This statue commemorates Jan Žižka, a national hero and leader of the Hussites, after whom the district is named.
Since this district is not very popular, you can find many independent cafes and restaurants that are much cheaper.
You can also find plenty of affordable accommodation here, making it the most popular district among budget-conscious travelers.
Note that you are further away from the city center and the absolute highlights of Prague.
Fortunately, the district has good public transport connections.
Žižkov is not exactly a district for the average tourist, but if you like nightlife and an alternative atmosphere, then Žižkov is by far the best option you can have!
The last district we recommend is Holešovice, an up-and-coming district north of the Old Town.
This former industrial area is being transformed into a trendy district.
This is of course a big contrast to the historical parts of Prague.
It is also a district known for its vibrant markets and events.
For example, you will find the Holešovice Market (Holešovická tržnice) here, where you can discover lots of street food.
Unlike the more touristy parts of Prague, such as Staré Město and Malá Strana, Holešovice is less crowded and less overrun by tourists.
This means that you can have a more authentic and relaxed experience, away from the hustle and bustle of the main attractions.
And in terms of location, Holešovice is quite central.
You only have to cross the bridge and you are already in the Old Town.
Because it is an up-and-coming district, you can find nice, affordable accommodation here.
Note that the district is mainly aimed at locals and not so much at tourists.
For example, there are no real highlights here and there is hardly any nightlife.
For that, you have to go to the Old Town.
But it is an ideal district for those who are looking for something affordable in a quiet area while staying close to the highlights of the city.
Staré Město (Old Town): The Old Town is the heart of Prague and one of the most iconic parts of the city. Here you will find famous landmarks such as the Astronomical Clock and Old Town Square. This district is ideal for those who want to be in the heart of Prague’s history and culture, surrounded by beautiful architecture and cozy cafés.
Mala Strana (Lesser Town): Situated at the foot of Prague Castle, Mala Strana has a fairytale charm with its winding streets and palaces. This area offers a quieter alternative to the busy Old Town but is still within walking distance of the main attractions.
Nové Město (New Town): Despite its name, the New Town dates back to the 14th century and is a bustling area full of shops, restaurants, and nightlife. The famous Wenceslas Square, an important historical site, is located here. This is a great district for those who want to enjoy both culture and modern city life.
Vinohrady: This district is popular with expats and young professionals, giving it an international vibe. With its trendy cafés, wine bars, and quiet streets, it’s the perfect choice for those looking for an authentic Prague experience away from the tourist crowds.
Žižkov: Žižkov is a creative district known for its alternative vibe and nightlife. It has a raw charm with lots of street art, cozy pubs, and affordable eateries. Young travellers in particular tend to stay in this district, where they explore Prague’s nightlife in the evening.
Holešovice: Holešovice is an up-and-coming district that has been redeveloped in recent years. This is the ideal place for those looking for something affordable close to Prague’s highlights in a quiet area.
*Tapping on the district will take you directly to the relevant section of the article for more detailed information.