Where to stay in Prague

What’s not to like about Prague? From the splendour of Gothic Prague to Art Nouveau and Modernist masterpieces, from traditional pubs to a thumping clubbing scene, everyone can find their thing in the Czech capital. Likewise, there's somewhere to stay for everyone. Prague made our list of the best cheap places to travel in the world. Here's our guide to where to stay in Prague.

The information in this article is inspired by The Rough Guide to Prague, your essential guide for visiting Prague.

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Hradčany: stay in the oldest Prague neighbourhood

On catching your first sight of Prague Castle from across the Vltava River you will be taken aback by its vast size. Not for the rulers of Bohemia a simple stone stronghold: rather, a citadel as big as a small town, its numerous fine buildings an imposing reminder of the power of royalty through the centuries.

From its beginnings some 1,000 years ago, it developed to perform important ceremonial functions in addition to its protective ones. In recent times, part of the castle was renovated to house the office of the president of the Czech Republic.

If you're interested in having an unusual time in Prague, read our guide to alternative Prague.

Where to stay in Hradčany:

• Best for Baroque touches with a view: Questenberk. Housed in a former Baroque chapel, the Questenberk boasts twenty-first century bedrooms with smart decor. Some quarters have unrivalled views.

• Best for a slice of rural life brought to the city: U Raka. In the Nový svět area of Hradčany, this wonderfully bucolic hotel in a little half-timbered, eighteenth-century cottage would be more at home in the Czech mountains.

Find more accommodation options to stay in Hradčany

Prague is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Read our guide about the most beautiful cities and find even more destinations from all over the world whose beauty will not leave you untouched.

Malá Strana (Lesser Town): the best area for families

Lying below the castle and stretching to the banks of the Vtlava River is Malá Strana, the Lesser Quarter or Little Quarter. The area was first settled in the 13th century when Otakar II invited German craftsmen to settle in Prague. Several fierce fires destroyed the early town, so although the street plan remains faithful to Otakar’s original instructions, the majority of the buildings date from a later period.

Following the CounterReformation in the mid-17th century, Malá Strana became fashionable with courtiers and aristocrats, and their money was invested in mansions replete with Renaissance and Baroque details. This is still a residential area, a factor which gives it an intimate atmosphere tangibly different to that of Staré Město just across the river.

Where to stay in Malá Strana:

• Best for retro style: Sax. Wholly incongruous with the area’s Baroque pomp, these funky digs sport groovy 1960s retro styling with 1970s psychedelic wallpaper and vintage-style furniture.

• Best for gardens and views: Golden Well Hotel. Tucked into the hill below Prague Castle, next to the terraced gardens, the Golden Well offers incredible views across the rooftops of Malá Strana.

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Nové Město (New Town): where to stay in Prague for foodies

Fans of twentieth-century architecture are wowed by the Art Nouveau, Cubist and Functionalist architectural parade. With a wide selection of eateries, this is also the best district to find yourself at mealtimes.

Charles IV gave the go-ahead for the building of the New Town (Nové Město) in 1348 when overcrowding in the Old Town was becoming an acute problem. Although much of the first stage of building has been swept away in subsequent redevelopment, the New Town has many important attractions. It is also a focus for hotels, and entertainment in the form of theatres, nightclubs and cinemas.

Na příkopě is the street that was the traditional dividing line between the Old Town and the New Town. It was built over the old moat, the defensive structure around the Old Town and links to the Powder Gate at its eastern end. Today it is pedestrianised, and is one of Prague’s most important retail streets, lined with modern shops, restaurants, casinos and exchange offices.

Where to stay in Nové Město:

• Best for most-desired rooms in town: Dancing House Hotel. Prague’s most controversial chunk of post-communist architecture has been turned into a show-stopping hotel by former Czech footballer Vladimír Šmicer. In fact, the Fred Royal and Ginger Royal suites in the building's towers are now two of the most desirable hotel rooms in the capital.

• Best for style-meets-spa: BoHo. One of Prague's most stylish hotels offers rooms in shades of grey that you never even knew existed. There’s also an in-house restaurant and crisp wellness facilities.

Staré Město (Old Town) and Josefov: best area for first time visitors

While political power was invested in Hradčany, the Old Town (Staré Město) – a cluster of streets on the opposite bank of the river – was the commercial heart of Prague. The city sat on important trading routes, east–west from Krakow into Germany and north–south from Vienna to Warsaw. As the Bohemian groschen became one of the major currencies in Europe, so the city began to take on a grander appearance.

Today it offers streets of architectural delights from the medieval to the Baroque. Old Town Square, at the heart of the Old Town and once the main marketplace for the city, is a good place to embark on a visit.

Where to stay in Staré Město and Josefov:

• Best for modern vintage: Astoria Hotel. Housed in a stylish building of the 1920s right in the heart of Prague's Old Town.

• Best for luxury at the heart of things: Ventana. Located right in the thick of the Old Town action, this luxury boutique hotel has spacious rooms, excellent breakfasts and impeccably regimented staff. Think marble-and-tile bathrooms and a library illuminated with crystal chandeliers.

Find more accommodation options in Staré Město and Josefov

Vinohrady: the neighbourhood of restaurants and bistros in Prague

Take metro line A to Jiřího z Poděbrad station, and you will emerge in the increasingly fashionable, densely built-up quarter of Vinohrady, somewhat dingy in places but full of atmosphere and historical charm, which makes it one of the best places to stay in Prague. Nearby is the Modernist Church of the Sacred Heart, built in 1932, which has a distinctive, tombstone shaped clocktower.

Where to stay in Vinohrady:

• Best for location and friendly vibe: Anna. Smartly appointed rooms, friendly staff and a decent location make this a popular Vinohrady choice. It's also convenient, with trams and the metro close by.

• Best for luxury and elegance: Le Palais. Plush late nineteenth-century hotel overlooking the Nusle valley, with the Belle Epoque theme continued throughout the lobby and rooms.

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Žižkov: where to stay in Prague for bar-hopping

If you're a real beer culture fan, have a look at our guide to famous Czech beer. And don't miss on our tailor-made 11-day tour to the beer culture of in Czechia, Austria and Germany.

Where to stay in Žižkov:

• Best for family: Hidden Art Boutique Residence. Set in Prague, within 1.8 km of Historical Building of the National Museum of Prague and 4.1 km of Municipal House, Hidden Art Boutique Residence offers accommodation with free WiFi.

• Best for location: Hotel Golden City Garni. This independently-owned Hotel Golden City Garni in the well-preserved area of Zizkov, close to the centre of the city, is a great base for exploring Prague.

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Karlín: Prague's charming off-the-radar area

Although the area is quietly becoming one of Prague's most attractive neighbourhoods, it hasn't always been this way. The Karlín district experienced one of the worst floods in the Czech capital in 2002 when the Vltava River burst its banks.

The flooding of the area caused many of the buildings to be damaged. Although there was a real estate boom in Prague at the time, premises in Karlín were much cheaper than in other parts of the city. This housing situation in the area has naturally attracted members of the creative and artistic community. This has led to the creation of Karlín Studios, home to affordable artistic ateliers, and an attendant gallery.

The charm of Karlín remains the same even as the neighbourhood continues to grow. Here you can still enjoy the intricate plasterwork of the nineteenth-century pompous apartment blocks and take in the beautiful views from the top of Vítkov Hill.

Having been an industrial area in the past, the air quality here has now improved thanks to the development of cycling culture. You can still sample the local national cuisine in a pub or pop into a modern coffee shop for a cup of locally roasted coffee.

Where to stay in Karlín:

• Best for comfort: Hotel Royal Prague. Hotel Royal Prague is set in Prague in the district of Karlín, 2.3 km from Prague National Museum. The hotel is located just 3 subway stations from the centre, only 50 m from subway and tram station Křižíkova. Hotel Royal Prague features a free WiFi throughout the property. Guests can enjoy the on-site bar.

• Best for budget: Adeba Hotel. Hotel Adeba can be found 2 metro stops or 3 tram stops from the very centre of Prague, and only a 5-minute walk from the Florenc Central Bus Station. There is a spa centre with sauna and hot tub on site.

Find more accomodation options in Karlín

The Czech Republic is famous for more than just its capital. Read our guide to the best things to do in the Czech Republic.

If you prefer to plan and book your trip to Prague without any effort and hassle, use the expertise of our local travel experts to make sure your trip will be just like you dream it to be.

Ready for a trip to Prague? Check out the snapshot The Rough Guide to Prague. If you travel further in the Czech Republic, read more about the best time to go to the Czech Republic. For inspiration use the itineraries and our local travel experts. A bit more hands on, learn about getting there, getting around the country and where to stay once you are there.

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Top image: Old Town Square © Creative Travel Projects/Shutterstock.