Thanks to its combination of history, culture and nightlife, Prague is a perfect destination for a long weekend and while staying in one of Prague’s hotels is a lovely and a somewhat easier option, we wanted to really get a feel for Prague and opted to stay in a luxury Prague apartments just a short walk from the old town square. The block was brand new but totally in keeping with the style of the area, located on a quaint cobbled street, set back from the road allowing you to enjoy both a relaxing weekend, whilst still being amongst the hubub of the city.
Our stylish and modern apartment had a fully-stocked kitchen, comfy beds and best of all, a luxurious bath. The 24 hour concierge was a great source of information, allowing us to pick their brains for recommendations for bars and restaurants and other city activities, as well as the block even housing its own art gallery.
The apartments offer a similar service to a hotel – offering airport collections, stocking your fridge for arrival and even being able to arrange a tour guide at your request. They cater for both short and long stays – just in case you fall totally in love with the city, which is easy to do.
Prague’s old town square is the centre of the old town district, with medieval churches and buildings. Make sure to pay a visit to the astronomical Clock, which comes to life on the hour with a bell-ringing skeleton and moving apostles. For a bird’s eye view of the city climb the powder tower which offers a stunning 360 degree view of Prague’s rooftops. Prague has a wealth of extraordinarily well preserved Jewish heritage. If you only visit one of the many synagogues, make sure it’s the Spanish synagogue, with its breathtakingly elaborate interior.
One of the most popular tourist destinations in the city is the Prague Castle. The official residence of the Czech president and one of the largest castles in the world, the beautiful architecture and stained glass windows more than make up for the uphill climb to reach the castle.
The Prague nightlife certainly lived up to its reputation. Beer is as little as £1.50 a pint and pubs can be found nestling in almost every corner of the old town district. Dlouha and Dusni streets are crammed with bars catering for every taste, from 80’s pop to Irish sports bars. Cloud 9 Sky Bar & Lounge at the top of the Hilton offers spectacular views and speciality cocktails. Hangar, a short walk from old town square, offers a totally different experience to Cloud 9 but is no less worth a visit. Inspired by air travel in the 1940’s-60’s, the upstairs pilot’s bar recreates the luxury of a first class flight in the 60’s (complete with air hostesses) while the club downstairs celebrates the military pilots of the 40’s and 50’s. The drinks menu is extensive and the cocktails superb. For a different dinner experience try the Jazz boat, a cruise along the Vltava river complete with a restaurant, bar and live jazz band. if that doesn’t float your boat, the Bellevue is highly recommended, offering a modern twist on traditional Czech cuisine. For a more reasonable, but still delicious, meal the bohemica old town offers an atmospheric dining experience.
For the opera buffs out there, the Prague opera house is well worth a visit with seats as little as £6. even those who don’t know their Verdi from their Wagner will marvel at the stunning interior.
There is plenty of shopping on offer, from the designer boutiques on Parizska street to high street brands such as Zara and H&M clustered around Wenceslas square.
Whether you’re after culture or nightlife, Prague has it all and a stay in a luxury apartment will both be great for budget and seem like a home away from home. Perfect.
We stayed: One bedroom apartment ‘hip apartment’ Cost: Eur 90/night.
More details about the rates and the apartment can be found here:
http://www.prague-stay.com/ accommodation/apartment/415-one- bedroom-hip-apartment/
flights:
We flew with EasyJet. EasyJet flies to Prague from 5 UK airports (Bristol, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester), with prices starting from £77.48 per person (One-way, including taxes and based on two people on the same booking).