I signed up for a river cruise with Viking in the course of the month of December to go to a wide range of Christmas markets alongside the Danube in Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, and Germany. Prague was a brief flight from the place to begin of the river cruise in Budapest, and has all the time been actually excessive on my checklist, particularly in the course of the vacation season as a result of I’ve heard such unbelievable issues about their Christmas markets.
Though the Christmas markets have been my motivation to get there, I noticed as soon as within the metropolis that there’s rather more to do, see, drink, and eat past the Christmas markets in Prague. Whether or not you’re on the lookout for historical past and structure, nightlife, unbelievable meals, enjoyable day journeys to take from Prague, or C, the entire above, I’ve obtained you coated!
PART I — The place To Keep
Hotel Mozart
Whenever I look for a hotel to stay at, I look for a few things. Great customer service reviews, clean rooms, comfortable beds, and, of course, a convenient location might even be my top priority. You really can’t beat a great location, especially if you’re planning on walking the majority of the time you’re exploring. The 5-star Hotel Mozart places visitors proper in the midst of all of it, with views of the Charles Bridge (a 3 minute stroll away) and the Prague Fort. I feel I solely took public transportation as soon as as a result of town may be very walkable, however there’s a tram cease proper exterior the resort. The rooms have historic 18th century character and attraction, with trendy facilities like AC and WiFi, and supply a cushty place to lounge in on the finish of the night. I cherished the tall home windows with flowing curtains that cracked open, so I might hear the bustling sounds of town at night time after I was stress-free or journaling about my journey.
KEY AMENITIES:
ROOM RATE: Usually $250-350 per night time
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PART II — The place To Eat
Vinohradský Parlament Restaurant
Vinohradský is understood for his or her recent dumplings. They’re large and sometimes served as the primary dish with a candy plum sauce. They make their dumplings recent daily, along with snacks to pair with drinks like do-it-yourself pâté with cherry jelly and pickled apple or pork knee served with a plum sauce, onions, salty jam, and a butter bun. The dumplings may be partnered with a wide range of sauces just like the cream sauce, the rosehip sauce, or the black plum sauce that I actually loved.
Taste of Prague Foodie Tour
Meals is my favourite approach to uncover a brand new nation, so I do meals excursions typically when visiting new locations. Once I say this one caught out, it actually caught out since you truly go away full. Normally you simply attempt a few issues and also you typically nonetheless want a meal afterwards, however I can’t stress sufficient the significance of becoming a member of this tour hungry. They offer you a ton of meals and desserts to attempt. It’s well worth the cash (CZK 3,000, about $134.10) they usually took us to some actually nice, extremely rated locations that I’ve examine. The locations we visited are listed beneath individually!
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Lokál Dlouhááá
We began with a glass of Pilsner, along with your alternative of pour; Čochtan (no foam), Hladinka (20-25% foam), Šnyt (half foam/half beer), or Mlíko” (virtually completely foam). People would ship that again, however locals love their foam and consider it provides to the drink. We shared fried cheese with tartare sauce, marinated hermelin cheese, potato salad, a wide range of sausages and native ham with creamy horseradish at Dlouha 33.
Naše Maso at Dlouhá 39
After Dlouha 33, we stopped at Naše Maso, a well-known deli within the metropolis. They’re well-known for a lot of issues, together with their meatloaf sandwich. We every tried a little bit little bit of their meatloaf in a bun, which was completely seasoned and juicy.
Kro Kitchen at Sokolovska 79
We ventured to Kro Kitchen to attempt their well-known roasted rooster dish. Actually, when individuals point out rooster to me in a restaurant, I can’t assist however stick my nostril up a little bit bit after being drive fed rooster virtually day by day as a baby. Nonetheless, I quickly discovered {that a} fundamental roasted, juicy rooster is the perfect vessel for an unbelievable sauce. The rooster at Kro Kitchen was smothered in a soy and butter sauce that was so salty and savory, I nonetheless dream about it to at the present time. We paired this with potato pancakes, braised beef with mushroom sauce, and cabbage salad. We washed it down with Johanes and Kliment ciders and Vinohradska 11 beers!
Cukrarna Mysak at Vodickova 31
We stopped at Cukrarna Mysak to style a number of totally different desserts. The group tried a trio of candy treats known as Větrník, konakova spicka and buchticky se sodo, all completely unbelievable. It’s positively value coming right here to seize a cup of espresso and style a number of of their sweets.
PART III — What To Do
Charles Bridge
Professional tip, being so near the Charles Bridge, in case you prefer to take footage like me, I can’t advocate going at dawn sufficient. I obtained this tip from my greatest good friend who truly obtained engaged on the Charles Bridge. It goes from being only a couple individuals having fun with the dawn scattered round, to packed and utterly mobbed in the course of the day, virtually unable to maneuver.
Discover town with a information from Absolutely Prague
I met up with Jana Marková, the proprietor, founder and head information of the tour company Absolutely Prague, to discover town. Relating to choosing a information, it’s vital to me to seek out somebody who actually is aware of the hidden gems and Jana grew up in Previous City. She has loads of set tour choices across the metropolis, however she will be able to additionally create a tour based mostly in your pursuits. I used to be there throughout Christmas time earlier than hopping on a European Christmas Market river cruise with Viking alongside the Danube, so it was actually vital to me to not solely see a few of the websites, however the native Christmas markets.
In addition to the extravagant Christmas Markets round city, there are smaller markets scattered all through town, and Jana was in a position to give me her enter on the most effective ones. We went to Previous City Sq., noticed the Astronomical Clock, visited Wenceslas Sq., stopped at native markets, Náměstí Míru, Žižkov Tower, had lunch at Vinohradský Parliament, and explored the Vinohrady district. She was in a position to take my time-frame and slot in issues that have been most vital to me, permitting me to get some actually particular items to convey residence for vacation presents, expertise native meals, sightsee, and extra all inside just some hours.
Český Krumlov Day Journey
I initially discovered this little city from an tour that Viking supplied in the course of the river cruise, however quickly realized it’s solely a few 2 hour drive from Prague. I’ve been to almost 60 international locations and this little city stole my coronary heart. It caught out to me for its storybook vibes, pleasant locals, plethora of cute storefronts, native retailers, unbelievable structure, and in case you go to in the course of the holidays, they’d a small Christmas market stuffed with native crafts and meals, as effectively. Český Krumlov within the South Bohemia area, about 2 hours from Prague, and is unquestionably well worth the detour. Particularly across the holidays!
PART IV — Golf equipment and Nightlife
Anonymous Shrink’s Office
Nameless is a bar within the metropolis, hidden inside Bullet Bar. In case you go within the again, there’s a brick wall with a cocktail shaker. You push the shaker and head down the steps to a secret bar, recognized for having no menu. They use the Rorschac Take a look at from Hermann Rorschach (aka the inkblot check), and make you a drink based mostly in your alternative. It’s notoriously tough to get into, so make a reservation upfront.
Karlovy Lázně
If you wish to exit in Prague, one of many highlights of town is Karlovy Lázně, a well-known 5 story membership situated inside a historic fifteenth century constructing within the metropolis, with totally different music on every ground. Every ground has its personal particular theme, enhancing the expertise. You’ll be able to spend the night time bar hopping throughout the similar constructing for a extremely distinctive expertise in Czech Republic, on the largest music membership in Central Europe.
Banker’s Bar
At Bankers Bar at Haštalská 16, a Becherovka gimlet cocktail is a should. Becherovka smells unbelievable and is filled with potent herbs. For a chill bar to finish the night time with a gimlet and good dialog, the Banker’s Bar is the perfect spot. It has the vibe of a Cuban bar and all kinds of rums. They make scrumptious cocktails, and sometimes have reside music.
Prague ought to be on the prime of your journey checklist, not only for the vacations, however 12 months spherical!
