PRAGUE
Area: Czech Republic


Location:
In W_central part of country at heart of W province of Bohemia. 130 miles NW of Brno. 95 miles SE of Dresden (Germany). 10 miles SE of Ruzyne international airport.

Telephone code from UK:
420 2

Website:
http://www.pis.cz

Position:
Surrounded by woodland and vineyards to N; castles and chateaux in Sazava Valley to S; rolling hills to W.

Description:
This romantic city is divided by the River Vltava: the hilly left bank contains Hradcany _ with a castle and the imposing St Vitus Cathedral _ and Mala Strana, full of elegant 18th-century mansions, baroque gardens and narrow cobbled streets. The right bank houses Josefov (Jewish Quarter) and Stare Mesto (Old Town), the complex web of streets which fan out from the graceful Staromestske Namesti (Old Town Square) with its famous town-hall clock and Jan Hus monument. Further S is Nove Mesto (New Town), which borders the somewhat commercially orientated Wenceslas Square. Although the city spans an area of six by four miles, most of tourist interest lies within a mile's radius of Charles Bridge _ where visitors will also find the best views of Prague's almost completely unspoilt skyline; the castle is another good vantage point for viewing the terracotta, copper green and gold cupolas and spires of the city. Its architectural legacy remains intact: medieval, baroque and rococo. Its squares and riverfront streets have many lively Parisian-style cafes, street performers and, since the Velvet Revolution, tiny markets selling anything from fresh produce to jewellery. The city abounds in book shops, galleries and classical concert venues, especially chamber music.

Suitability:
Something for everyone, mainly middle- and upmarket. Particularly suits those with special interest in music or architecture.

Accommodation:
Range of hotels in centre and on periphery to suit all budgets; many self-catering apartments; burgeoning network of bed and breakfast accommodation. Two-tier pricing means foreigners sometimes pay more. The millennium gave rise to a dramatic increase in flights from W Europe to the city, which has resulted in many old buildings and palaces being renovated and turned into tastefully designed boutique-style hotels.

Shopping:
Main international areas in Wenceslas Square and nearby Na Prikope; handicraft shops in Mala Strana. Good buys include Bohemian crystal, gems, porcelain, wooden toys, puppets and masks, cheap CDs and cassettes and musical instruments.

Entertainments:
Daytime: exploring the city including castle complex, St Vitus Cathedral, National Museum, Jewish Cemetery, Strahov Monastery, People's Observatory, Mirror Maze, a reduced-size Eiffel Tower, Charles Bridge, Franz Kafka Museum, Old Town Hall, Celetna and St Agnes Convent. Numerous art galleries including National Gallery. Countless palaces and gardens. River trips. Regular classical music concerts in churches in the afternoon and early evening. String of festivals through year devoted to music, mime, puppetry and film. Nightlife: many discos and music clubs offering Czech and foreign touring bands; jazz clubs; one or two all-night bars; strip joints. Most nightclubs tend to be within hotels. Plenty of theatres (some in English), but also mime and puppets; concerts.

Eating:
At least one example of every type of cuisine _ most reasonably cheap. Czech food tends to be centred around meat, particularly pork and goose, and dumplings; not much in the way of fresh vegetables and fruit, although this is gradually changing. A few health-food shops. Ample number of fast-food joints in all main tourist areas. Splendid beer; cheap wine and champagne.

Public-transport:
A very pedestrianised city so easy for walking despite the cobbles, but a fast and regular network of trams traverse the city, day and night. The Metro is clean, cheap and efficient, and with only three lines, easy to use.

Local-excursions:
Half/full day: trips to outlying vineyards, breweries and castles; boat trips along River Vltava. Full day: medieval mining town of Kutna Hora; spa town of Podebrady; medieval castle of Karlstejn. Larger hotels organise excursions; otherwise details can be obtained from Cedok and Pragotours in Na Prikope.