As told by DIWYY Reader and Guest Writer, Michelle, who has spent the summers of 2007 and 2008 working in Prague.
Where Michelle Stayed: My first summer, I lived in an apartment in Vinohrady with some friends. Vinohrady is a young and trendy neighborhood with lots of fun restaurants and bars on nearly every street corner. Unfortunately, the area can be a bit expensive but there are some good deals for apartments that are pretty affordable, especially when living with a few roommates.
My second summer, I lived in a comfortable apartment in Brevnov, a residential area east of Pragsky Hrad (Prague Castle). I lived with my brother, his wife and their baby. Brevnov is a quaint neighborhood filled with parks, grocery stores, and schools. It is ideal for families who want to get away from the high paced city lifestyle but still want to remain close enough to it for comfort. With about a 15-20 minute walk to the center or a 5-10 minute tram this neighborhood is ideal for any lifestyle preference.
Michelle’s Recommendations for Sightseeing: Prague is truly an amazing city that offers a little bit of everything. Historically, it is one of Europe’s oldest cities that fortunately did not get destroyed during any of the World Wars. Aside from hitting up must see’s such as Prague Castle, Charles Bridge and Old Town Square, some of my best times were simply maneuvering through the narrow, cobble-stoned streets which always lead me to the abundance of café’s, art galleries and cute boutiques that Prague is known for. If fashion is your forte then Prague has got you covered as well with tons of shopping malls, fashion centers and of course stores filled with Bohemian Crystal (what the Czech Republic is known for!). As well as being historically, artistically and culturally rich, Prague has one of the best nightlife scenes I’ve experienced in Europe. One thing is always certain in Prague, people are always willing to have a good time and party. Going out in Prague starts relatively late; people don’t really hit the bars (which are happening pretty much any night of the week) until 12 midnight and clubs until 2 am. Some of my favorite clubs in Prague were: Roxy, Mish Mash and Mecca.
Some day trips I took while in Prague to neighboring cities in the Czech Republic that I would definitely recommend are: Karovy Vary, Pilzen, Cesky Krumlov, Brno and Kutna Hora.
Getting Around Town: The city is really easy to maneuver by foot as no place is too far to walk to but, fortunately for those a bit lazier, the city’s public transport system is amazing. The metro is really easy to use and comprised of only three lines: A, B, C which pretty much cover all parts of Prague. The trams are not only a great method of transport but also a great sightseeing tool. They are very frequent and especially convenient at night. The day trams stop at 2 am with the night trams starting up again at 3 am. And if taxi’s are your thing, I always relied on AAA taxi cabs as they were the safest and provided me with the best rates.
Language Tips: Czech is the official language in the Czech Republic and boy is it a difficult language to pick up! Luckily, it has been my experience that most people, especially at restaurants, stores or tourist hubs speak English. I don’t speak a word of Czech and have never encountered any problems getting around the city. Although, I would recommend picking up some basic words in Czech such as: thank you, you’re welcome, how much as they do tend to be useful every so often!
Last Thoughts on Prague: If you are at all considering going to Prague you should definitely do it! Eastern Europe, particularly Prague, is slowly but surely being discovered by western travelers as an amazing place to visit and spend time in. It is one of the most vibrant and exciting cities I have ever visited! I haven’t ever met anyone who has ever disliked his or her time in this almost storybook city.
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Not sure if it’s “appropriate” to comment here. BUT just wanted to confirm (for those who may be skeptical) that the trams are incredibly user friendly and useful, to add St Nicholas to the sightseeing, and recommend Sir Toby’s as a hostel (the breakfast alone is worth it!).
Thank you for your tips, Jaime! Be sure to also register for our forums at http://www.diwyy.com/mybb so you can share your knowledge and tips with other readers on a variety of destinations and topics!
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