Districts · Prague
Prague by district
Prague is small enough to walk, but the hills and cobbles slow you down. The castle is on a hill on the west bank; the Old Town Square, Josefov and the New Town are on the flat east bank; Malá Strana links them below the castle. A first visit needs four clusters: the castle, the bridge and Lesser Town, the Old Town, and the New Town with Wenceslas Square.
About these names
Prague is divided into numbered districts (Praha 1 to Praha 22). Praha 1 is the old centre on both banks, Praha 2 and 3 are Vinohrady and Žižkov, Praha 7 is Holešovice and Letná. Postcodes follow: 110 00 is Praha 1.
- Old Town (Staré Město)Staré MěstosleepseeSuits: First visit, walking to everything, short staysThe square, the clock and the lanes around it: the busiest and most expensive part of the city, but the shortest walks. Choose a side street, not the square, and expect cobbles under a suitcase.2 sights · 2 eats · 1 sleep areaDistrict guide →
- Josefov (Jewish Quarter)JosefovseeSuits: History, a quiet hour, museum visitorsThe old Jewish ghetto north of the square: six synagogues and the Old Jewish Cemetery, plus the Pařížská street shopping strip. Closed on Saturdays for the museum.2 sights · 2 eatsDistrict guide →
- Malá Strana (Lesser Town)Malá StranaseesleepSuits: Quiet evenings, baroque streets, the castle climbBaroque palaces and gardens below the castle, reached over the bridge. Calmer than the Old Town at night; hillier, with steps and tram noise on the main road.2 sightsDistrict guide →
- Hradčany and the CastleHradčanyseeSuits: Morning sightseers, views, cathedral and palace visitsThe castle complex and the quiet square in front. It is a half-day visit, steep to reach: take tram 22 or a car up and walk down.1 sightsDistrict guide →
- New Town (Nové Město)Nové MěstosleepseeSuits: Trains and metro, mid-range hotels, dining outFounded in 1348 and now the business and shopping centre; Wenceslas Square is its spine. More affordable than the Old Town, with good metro links; the square itself is busy and a little rough after dark.1 sights · 3 eats · 1 sleep areaDistrict guide →
- VinohradysleepSuits: Second visits, cafés, quiet residential streetsA leafy residential district east of the New Town with cafés, wine bars and the Náměstí Míru square. Metro line A and trams reach the centre in 10 minutes.District guide →
- VyšehradseeSuits: A quiet fort hill, river views, a half-day outA hill fortress south of the New Town with a church, a cemetery and the best sunset view over the river. Metro C to Vyšehrad, or walk along the river.Short entry only: too little in this guide for a full page yet.
- Holešovice and LetnáHolešoviceseeeatSuits: Modern art, cafés, a park with a beer gardenThe former industrial district north of the river: the National Gallery's modern art building, a market hall and Letná Park's beer garden with a skyline view.District guide →
- Žižkov and KarlínŽižkoveatdrinkSuits: Late pubs, bars, a local feelŽižkov has the TV tower and the densest pub streets; Karlín is a rebuilt riverside district with restaurants. Both are 10 to 15 minutes from the centre by tram.District guide →
Hover, tap or tab to an area to see what it is like. Pins are sleep areas; arrows at the edge point to the airport.
Off the map: Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) (35–55 min by the usual route).
Not drawn yet (no coordinates in this guide): Vinohrady, Vyšehrad, Holešovice and Letná, Žižkov and Karlín. See the table above.
Where’s what, as a list:
- Old Town (Staré Město) (Staré Město): The square, the clock and the lanes around it: the busiest and most expensive part of the city, but the shortest walks. Choose a side street, not the square, and expect cobbles under a suitcase. Suits: First visit, walking to everything, short stays. Price band $$$.
- Josefov (Jewish Quarter) (Josefov): The old Jewish ghetto north of the square: six synagogues and the Old Jewish Cemetery, plus the Pařížská street shopping strip. Closed on Saturdays for the museum. Suits: History, a quiet hour, museum visitors.
- Malá Strana (Lesser Town) (Malá Strana): Baroque palaces and gardens below the castle, reached over the bridge. Calmer than the Old Town at night; hillier, with steps and tram noise on the main road. Suits: Quiet evenings, baroque streets, the castle climb.
- Hradčany and the Castle (Hradčany): The castle complex and the quiet square in front. It is a half-day visit, steep to reach: take tram 22 or a car up and walk down. Suits: Morning sightseers, views, cathedral and palace visits.
- New Town (Nové Město) (Nové Město): Founded in 1348 and now the business and shopping centre; Wenceslas Square is its spine. More affordable than the Old Town, with good metro links; the square itself is busy and a little rough after dark. Suits: Trains and metro, mid-range hotels, dining out. Price band $$.
- Vinohrady (Vinohrady): A leafy residential district east of the New Town with cafés, wine bars and the Náměstí Míru square. Metro line A and trams reach the centre in 10 minutes. Suits: Second visits, cafés, quiet residential streets.
- Vyšehrad (Vyšehrad): A hill fortress south of the New Town with a church, a cemetery and the best sunset view over the river. Metro C to Vyšehrad, or walk along the river. Suits: A quiet fort hill, river views, a half-day out.
- Holešovice and Letná (Holešovice): The former industrial district north of the river: the National Gallery's modern art building, a market hall and Letná Park's beer garden with a skyline view. Suits: Modern art, cafés, a park with a beer garden.
- Žižkov and Karlín (Žižkov): Žižkov has the TV tower and the densest pub streets; Karlín is a rebuilt riverside district with restaurants. Both are 10 to 15 minutes from the centre by tram. Suits: Late pubs, bars, a local feel.
- Sleep area New Town (Nové Město): suits Trains and metro, mid-range hotels, dining out, price band $$.
- Sleep area Old Town (Staré Město): suits First visit, walking to everything, short stays, price band $$$.
- Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG), 35–55 min by the usual route.