Prague & the Czech Republic Guidebook
Favorite discoveries or tips:
While in Prague we used the guide services of Vaclav Storek. Well worth the time and money. He was very humorous, conducted the tour at a very reasonable pace. His wealth of information about Prague was unbelievable. Also his command of the English language was unbelievable. Would highly recommend him as the first thing to do when in Prague. He provides you a great overview for future exploration on your own.
Richard Thompson in Pendleton, IN USA 06/13/2013
While in Prague we used the guide services of Vaclav Storek. We had a great time! He was punctual, considerate, extremely knowledgable and personable. He communicated his love for his city and country in a sensitive and informative manner. We highly recommend him.
Sue Winegar in Portland , Or USA 06/09/2013
Coolest bar in Prague (and coolest one I've ever been to anywhere): Cross Club. Patio and lower floor made of welded salvage metal, gears, etc. Steam punk themed. Second floor a zen garden theme. Third floor is something different (was closed when we went).
Vyšehrad would also be a good place to include in the book. It's not as physically impressive as some of the other sites in Prague, but it's got some history and would be nice to see in the next edition of the book.
Mike in Salt Lake City, UT USA 06/06/2013
I toured the villages of Malenice and Prachatice with a friend. The small chapels found in the countryside were beautiful. The Czech people were friendly and kind. It was helpful to have the local currency immediately available.
Theresa A. Palmer in Festus, MO USA 06/01/2013
In Prague we stayed at GJ Residence Na Vinohradu, a 15-minute tram ride into downtown. Our host Jan and his family were extremely helpful and friendly, and we enjoyed chatting with them during our stay. Our room which included a small sitting area, was upstairs over a courtyard which I'm sure is beautiful in the warmer months. The breakfast menu varied daily and was plentiful and good and overall cost was reasonable.
I think the thing that was most memorable and important to us was the interaction with our hosts. From our first contact, their flexibility and helpfulness were outstanding. They arranged for a car and driver to transport us to and from the station, had tram tickets available for purchase as well as an information sheet on which trams to take and pointed us toward local restaurants for dinner.
Overall a really great experience!
Na Vinohradu 217/8 (at corner of Pod Vinohradem & Na Vinogradu) Praha 4 – Branik
Barbara Billips in Savannah, GA USA 05/02/2013
Franz Kafka Museum near Kamka Island and it is dark and mysterious, but gives a good sense of who Kafka was
Drale Brabantskeho restaurant is at the bottom of Zamecke Schody and says it is the oldest midevgal restaurant in Prague. They will serve pork and cabbage mideval style, on the table without a plate or for moderns, with a plate
Peter Grant in Bristol, VT USA 04/17/2013
Used the recommended guide, Sarka Kacabova, to provide tours throughout Prague. Used her services for 2 days. The knowledge of "Irena" was fantastic. She strives to show you everything. Get your walking shoes. Best money spent.
William in Buena Park, CA USA 04/15/2013
Prague/Cesky Krumlov - Student Agency
I had heard many great experiences online, regarding Student Agency, as well as from the poster from this site. I found these to be true! This has got to be the best way to get from Prague to Cesky Krumlov and back! It was extremely comfortable and convenient! I purchased my ticket online and even got to reserve the exact seat on the bus. The price was very reasonable.
You get on board at Prague’s Na Knizeci Station (Metro-Andel), and it Stops at the Bus Station in Cesky Krumlov, with a few passenger pick ups along the way.
The buses modern, very comfortable and they looked like they were kept up. They served hot drinks and you had the option of purchasing cold drinks. They played a movie on a small monitor. Compared to the other buses that pulled in, they were heads above the rest! It was very soothing and relaxing ride on the road, passing through the beautiful Southern Bohemian countryside, as well as little towns along the way. I highly recommend Student Agency! (Trip taken mid/late Sept. 2012)
Kaz in Santa Clarita, CA USA 03/31/2013
We hired Peter Zidek (www.bohemiantours.cz) for an afternoon walking tour, and were very pleased. Especially enjoyed his insights on the Jewish quarter.
Memorable meals in restaurants with good prices on castle end of Charles Bridge: Lokal, and Beseda. Both feature Czech cuisine.
C Johnson in Seattle, WA USA 12/08/2012
We did enjoy the Mikulvov wine area. It was a needed break from the big cities. The hike was wonderful.
Shelley Cooper in Ithaca, Ny USA 11/15/2012
The Lida Guest House Pension was wonderful, Yan picked us up at the airport and gave us a mini tour of Prague. The rooms were clean and breakfast was prepared by Yan's wife, Yitka, they both were great and speak good English.
Alex in Baltimore, Md USA 10/21/2012
There is no mention in the guidebook about the small, but excellent and well-thought out Prague City Museum. It's conveniently located in the new town, and has a great 3D film that lets you fly through and explore medieval Prague. We really, really enjoyed it, and were so surprised that it's not in the book.
Mary in Saugerties, NY USA 09/25/2012
Charles Bridge is mobbed by people: except at daybreak! Get up early and watch the sun rise over the steeples in old town and light up the castle and Mala Strana!
Mary Zawacki in Saugerties, NY USA 09/25/2012
Cesky Kromlov, Kutna Hora
Martin Himmelfarb in Venice, FL USA 09/12/2012
If you are considering hiring a personal guide, I highly recommend Darina Krajakova, krajakova@hotmail.com. After listening to Rick's podcast, and following his recommendation, I decided to try using a tour guide and contacted Vaclav Storek. Mr. Storek replied that he was unavailable on the dates that I needed and recommended Darina. We had wonderful 2 days 4 hrs each day with her. She, with so much love and ease, made us totally fall in love with Prague. Darina's great knowledge on history, art, architecture, music, richly complemented by her easy going personality sense of humor and love and pride for home town, helped us get to know Prague in short 2 days. After Darina would leave us to our own devices to spend the afternoons, she gave us useful hints on what was best to see and the best ways getting there. And, of course Rick Steve's Prague and Czech Republic book was our tour guide in the afternoons.
alla in staten island, ny USA 08/18/2012
I really appreciated the historic information provided for the country in general and for the specific sites listed in the book. I also really liked the advice about the tram system, withdrawing money via ATM, tips on what days were best for various activities, and the great sense of humor!
Jennifer in Toledo, OH USA 07/28/2012
In Trebon, We encourage Rick to take a look at Penzion Kavárna U Míšk? at Husova ul. 11 (http://www.misek.cz/en/guest-house-restaurant-cafe-relaxation-centre-u-misku). We only ate lunch there, but it was superb. As much as we had enjoyed eating at the Šupina restaurant, both the fish and the desserts were better at the Kavárna U Míšk?. And the ambience is far better in the little garden courtyard. There’s a clever dumb-waiter device that lowers the food from the upstairs kitchen down to the garden. Our waiter was very friendly, spoke very good English, and was eager to practice because U Míšk? doesn’t get many English speakers. U Míšk? also has an indoor restaurant, a pension, and a wellness center (it’s across the path from the Bertiny Lázn?. We can only speak for the outside and the courtyard of U Míšk?, which are charming. From the website, the interior appears to be equally charming. I’d love to hear Rick’s review of the place.
Helen Schmedeman in Madison, WI USA 06/06/2012
I would suggest adding the following to your book to make it easier to understand how to get to and from Prague/Cesky Krumlov. The easiest way to get from Prague (Praha) to Cesky Krumlov is to book your ticket on line at www.studentagency.cz. You can book about six weeks in advance of when you want to travel. When booking click on Praha - Na Knizeci for the Prague Intercity Station and on Cesky Krumlov - AN for the bus station closest to downtown Cesky Krumlov. To get to the Intercity Bus Station take the subway to the Andel stop on the yellow line. Go up the steps upon arrival at the Andel stop and you are immediately at the Intercity Bus Station and need only to walk 50 yards to the platform to take the bus from Prague to Cesky Krumlov. The student agency bus makes two stops on the way, but you do NOT have to change buses anywhere. The buses are immaculate, have toilets and offer free beverages and a free movie. The seats on the bus are very comfortable...better than an economy seat on an airplane.
Jan McMullen in Gig Harbor, WA USA 05/17/2012
We just returned from a week in Prague and used your guidebook exclusively. We would like to recommend the Restaurace Monarchie Lucerna Catering s.r.o. Stepanska 704/61, Praha 1 Wonderful food with very reasonable prices less than a block off Wenceslas Square. The sauces here are wonderful! Has English on the menus and helped with my gluten free problem.
Terri Schneider in San Jose, CA USA 05/03/2012
The spa towns of Karlovy Vary and Marianske Lazne are worth visiting for their settings and 19th-century architecture. Fun places for people watching too.
David Couzens in Los Gatos, CA USA 04/27/2012
We just returned from a two week vacation, which took us to Prague, Vienna, and Budapest. Prior to our arrival in Prague, we had arranged for a private tour with Vaclav Storek, which was the BEST thing we did! Vaclav is a wealth of historical knowledge and his insight to both past and present history, as well as his engaging, informative style kept the four of us attentive and inquisitive throughout our five hour tour. Vaclav is a true professional, who will do nothing but enhance your Prague experience! I would highly recommend his services to anyone seeking to get the most out their visit to this wonderful and historic city.
Mike in Wildomar, CA USA 01/07/2012
Hello. . I just returned from Vienna, Salzburg and Prague. I highly HIGHLY recommend the guide we had to take us through these cities and country side. Mgr. Vaclav Storek was exceptional. He was very articulate and his knowledge both current and ancient history was interesting and commanding. He is very organized and managed all of us with ease. He carefully picked the best places for us to eat and guided us through the cities showing us details that we would have missed had we not had him. If we asked a question that he didn't have an answer, we were sure get the answer at our next meeting. Vaclav is a native of Prague and will be very happy to work with your group (s). Mgr. Vaclav Storeck, +420? 603 743 523, www.storek.guide-prague.cz,vaclavstorek@post.cz
char friis in bellevue, wa USA 01/01/2012
Hello. . I just returned from Vienna, Salzburg and Prague. I highly HIGHLY recommend the guide we had to take us through these cities and country side. Mgr. Vaclav Storek was exceptional. He was very articulate and his knowledge both current and ancient history was interesting and commanding. He is very organized and managed all of us with ease. He carefully picked the best places for us to eat and guided us through the cities showing us details that we would have missed had we not had him. If we asked a question that he didn't have an answer, we were sure get the answer at our next meeting. Vaclav is a native of Prague and will be very happy to work with your group (s). Mgr. Vaclav Storeck, +420? 603 743 523, www.storek.guide-prague.cz,vaclavstorek@post.cz
char friis in bellevue, wa USA 01/01/2012
Hello. . I just returned from Vienna, Salzburg and Prague. I highly HIGHLY recommend the guide we had to take us through these cities and country side. Mgr. Vaclav Storek was exceptional. He was very articulate and his knowledge both current and ancient history was interesting and commanding. He is very organized and managed all of us with ease. He carefully picked the best places for us to eat and guided us through the cities showing us details that we would have missed had we not had him. If we asked a question that he didn't have an answer, we were sure get the answer at our next meeting. Vaclav is a native of Prague and will be very happy to work with your group (s). Mgr. Vaclav Storeck, +420? 603 743 523, www.storek.guide-prague.cz,vaclavstorek@post.cz
char friis in bellevue, wa USA 01/01/2012
We hired Peter Zidek (www.bohemiantours.cz), a great guide recommended on this site. He provided us with a rich travel experience, his style was a perfect match for us and his presentation of the cultural history of Prague and Bohemia was genuine, filled with meaning and superbly accurate. Finally, his directed walks through the city were expertly crafted to our individual needs. We would sincerely recommend his services to others.
Peggy and Arthur Stein in Denver, CO USA 11/13/2011
using local guides that you recommend. Outstanding In Prague were personal guide Lenka Gajardo Hodrova who works with Sarka Kacabova and Jana Kratka. Mike Jakubuv with mike.chauffer@cmail.cz. In Vienna, we enjoyed Lisa Aeiler as our guide. In Budapest we enjoyed Peter Polczman as our guide. Andrea Makkay was very helpful in arranging tours for us.
Nick Melillo in Carlsbad, CA USA 11/04/2011
Yes, Kamil Vondrous. A wonderful travel guide in Prague!!! He was so knowledgeable and a delight to spend time with.
AWIlde in LA, CA USA 10/22/2011
In Prague we stayed at the Green Garland B&B from your book. Although it was very cleaned, the room we had was in the third floor walk up. Stairs were very steeped. This should be mentioned in your book.
Helen Kluck in Gloucester, MA USA 10/10/2011
Vysehrad chapel and grounds. A quiet walk through an interesting part of Prague history. Old roman rotunda/round building, other sights. Rec'd by host, and worth a walk.
Peter in Edina, MN USA 09/27/2011
Vysehrad chapel and grounds. A quiet walk through an interesting part of Prague history. Old roman rotunda/round building, other sights. Rec'd by host, and worth a walk.
Peter in Edina, MN USA 09/27/2011
Recommend this addition:
When returning from the Castle Quarter, stop by the Certovka Restaurant Vinarna between the bottom of the castle stairs (Stare Zamecke Schody) and the Charles Bridge for drinks, a meal, &/or a grand view of the Vltava River. The passageway down to the restaurant is so narrow, one needs to push a button to gain the one[-way access--great fun! U luzickeho seminare 24, 118 00, Praha 1. Tel.: +420 257 532 205. certovka@volny.cz. www.certovka.praha.cz.
Larry Iversen in Bremerton, WA USA 07/07/2011
My wife wanted a crystal water pitcher, but was having trouble finding the one she liked enough to haul one home, until we found Celetna Crystal. Fabulous store! We went upstarts, and the salesperson set out eight different water pitchers for Peg to do a side by side comparison, and she found the one she bought. Celetna 15, Praha 1; http://www.czechcrystal.com; sales@czechcrystal.com.
Larry Iversen in Bremerton, WA USA 07/07/2011
1) If it is a warm/hot day in Prague, then take the Tram #22 to the top of the Castle Quarter and save yourself the sweat! 2) According to our host at the Green Garland Pension, the fare to the airport by shuttle and by taxi is the same.
Larry Iversen in Bremerton, WA USA 07/07/2011
There was no information at all about Vysehrad, a major site, in the guidebook.
Bobbie Helland in Escondido, CA USA 07/02/2011
We were unfortunately too cheap to stay in any of the recommended pensions in the Old Town of Prague but were please to discover another one near the recommended ones: Pension U Lilie on Lilova street. Although not the most posh place around, it was clean, staff were helpful, breakfast was great (included in rate) and a fabulous location for walking.
Karen Lee in Calgary, AB Canada 06/10/2011
Rick, I was in Prague last week and happened on two great places, one a restaurant and the other a hotel, both in the same little neighborhood near Lida Guesthouse—that you might want to consider recommending to your readers; I’ll certainly be recommending them to my friends:
The restaurant is Palatino, a family-friendly Italian restaurant and pizzeria. The wait staff was friendly and spoke passable English. The salads were great and the pasta vegetariana, penne loaded with veggies in a spicy marinara sauce, was excellent. The prices were quite reasonable; one of the huge salads was about 130 czk, and the pasta vegetariana was 135 czk. These are big portions, so the value is excellent. The location couldn’t be handier; it’s a block from the Prazskeho Povstani Metro stop, on the ground floor of the building next to the big blue-glass CSOB building mentioned in the guidebook (on Lomnickeho street). An ideal dinner spot for those staying at Guesthouse Lida who are too spent from a hard day of sightseeing to head downtown just to find a good meal. Address: Lomnickeho 1704 Tel: 241 401 985
The second recommendation is a hotel that is down the street from Lida. Jan arranged for me to stay there when Lida was full and I enquired about staying another night. It’s called Vila Barbora. It’s literally a block down and just around the corner from Lida, and is an apartment building on the ground floor, the second than third floors holding hotel rooms. The room I had was spacious and spotless. It had a kitchenette with microwave, utensils, bowls and plates, a dining table, a sofa, flat screen TV, spotlessly clean bathroom with shower, and a balcony with a very nice view. All for a very reasonable 1,200 czk per night. I cannot recommend highly it enough. The location was handy, being a couple blocks away from both the tram stop (17) and the Prazskeho Povstani Metro stop. Address: Doudova 22 Praha 4 Tel: +420 777 188 1888 www.vila-barbora.cz, email: ubytovani@omikron.cz I have their card if you’d like me to scan it and send it to you.
Hope these recommendations are helpful. Your book was indispensable on my trip. Keep on traveling!
-James Ullrich, Seattle, WA
James Ullrich in Seattle, WA USA 05/28/2011
Back from Prague. Contacted Vaclav Storek for personal tour per guidebook recommendation. Outstanding! Earned every cent. Beautiful, clean city. Felt safe all the time but used Rick Steves recommendation when need taxi. Current poor exchange rates made costs similar to US.
robert pecha in folsom, ca USA 05/04/2011
We just returned from Prague and had a private tour by Mr. Kamil Anthony Vondrous. He has lived in the Czech Republic all his life, came to Prague to study philosophy, and decided to stay on. He was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, covered all the basics in our 4-hour introductory walking tour of Prague, and was willing to expand on areas where we had questions. He and his wife are trying to start their own private tour company and request some publicity.
Jenny Li in Dallas, TX USA 04/26/2011
Ristorante Carmelita Pizza Bar www.restauracecarmelita.cz Ujezd 31 Prague Mala Strana 118 00 phone+420 257 312 564 in the Little Quarter Great Italian pizzas and pastas at great prices. Non smoking area downstairs
Stefan Ferraro in Gatineau, QC Canada 03/09/2011