Staré Mesto (Old Town)

Tourist Spots:

• Libraries. This might sound like a weird one, but the municipal library of Prague is well worth a visit. It’s free in – but you only need to go to the entry hall anyway. Inside is this cool sculpture.

• Kelementium. If you’ve seen a library in a film, chances are it’s this one (so I’ve been told). It’s known as the most beautiful library in the world. Although it costs about 300ck (€12, discounted for students under 25 – around €10), it’s well worth it. The guided tour is mandatory but really good. When we went it was crazy hot and the elevator was broken. We had to climb up spiral stairs and it was still the best thing I’ve ever done in Prague! You can’t go into the room itself as the books have to be kept at a specific temperature and moisture level. You view it from a ground-level balcony. No photos allowed, unfortunately.

• You continue on upstairs from this library to the astronomical tower. This is the best view I’ve seen of Old Town, including those from parks etc. You can circle the whole tower and get loads of vantage points. If you choose one activity to spend on, make it Klementium.

• Paternoster (“Death Elevator”). Named after rosary beads (weird ha), these elevators move in a continuous loop. There’s several surviving in Europe, with three in Prague. One of these is right in Old Town, in the university’s faculty of law. They’re cool to use or just look at – it took me two visits to actually get inside. Fun and free.

• Astronomical Clock. One of the most famous tourist spots in Prague. This is usually jam packed on the hour mark with people staring upwards (when it chimes between 9am and 11pm, the twelve apostles figurines do some little shindig on it, I’m not sure, I always got too frustrated with the crowds to stay and watch). Sadly, the man who made the clock was actually blinded afterwards, so that he could never make something so beautiful again. It’s free, so worth a walk past at some point.

• Charles Bridge. Again a standard tourist attraction but also free! The bridge connects Old Town to Malá Strana (castle area, my previous post is on that if you’re curious) and is way longer than you’d expect. It’s thronged with both history and tourists. The atmosphere is great though, with lots of musicians and statues to appreciate as you pass. Also, the handmade jewelry sold there actually isn’t bad value. Keep an eye on your stuff though, this is the biggest spot for pick-pocketing!

• Old Town Square. Right by the astronomical clock is the centre of Old Town – the square. There’s a few very cool, gothic buildings to look at. Definitely don’t get any of the food or drink there though, it’s really overpriced. At certain times of year, there’s markets set up here with stages, music and lots more to look at.

• Jewish Quarter. The Jewish quarter is interesting to walk around. The first stop-off I would recommend is the cemetery. While you can pay for tickets to go inside, there’s also a door around the side with a hole you can peak into (for free). You can get pretty much the same view from there. Secondly, is the old synagogue with a stairs around the back. As the myth goes, a golem was created out of clay by an old rabbi during Medieval times in Prague, to protect the Jewish people from violent riots. The golem went out of control and started to attack random citizens. The rabbi used magic to turn him back into clay, and locked him behind an iron door in this synagogue (where you can see the stairs).

• Hanging Freud Statue: Prague loves its quirky statues! Another David Cerny work, this depicts the phobia Freud had of his own death. Make sure you look up so you don’t miss it when passing. It sways in the wind so realistically that the fire department has been called by people before, mistaking him for a real man.

Food and Drinks:

• Skautsky Institut. This one is a bit of a secret bar. A beer in any place around Old Town Square is (at least) the equivalent of fiver – except this place. Instead here, it’s 40 ck, which is less than €2! There’s a terrace inside you can sit at, as well as a little alcove that has a full view over the square. Order in Czech if possible.

• Zázemí. This is one of my all-time favourite bars in Prague. Its very typically Czech and you never know what you’ll find, from a film-orchestra practising, to a rock concert, to the staff handing out free shots of vodka for one of their birthdays (all three of these actually happened to me). It’s really cheap but order in Czech if you can – they serve difference glasses/brands/sizes for people speaking English, similar to above.

• Al Capones. Just next door to Zazemí, this cocktail bar is perfect for a bar crawl. It’s the only place around that you’ll get a cocktail for the equivalent of €3, and they have a load of choice.

• Vzorkovna (Dog’s Bar): This is where I usually finished my bar crawl from the above two. Most people visiting will have heard of this quirky spot, or been recommended it. It’s named after the greyhound that chills out there – but there’s lots more to it. It’s got little spots you can climb up to, swings, oversized doors as tables, a stage with a netted seating area above and more. You pay 100 ck at the door, but this goes onto a card that you use for the night. You have to top up to buy anything, but be careful how much you do! That entrance fee alone covers two beers so you often don’t need any more.

• U Vejvodu. This beer hall is right in the centre. The drinks are very decently priced, but I wouldn’t recommend getting food there. It’s pretty expensive, with very small portions. Hop in for a casual beer, or three.

• Sad Man’s Tongue. This sixties themed restaurant has some of the best burgers around. If you’re vegetarian they have plenty of Linda McCartney options too! It’s a fun night out, with all the decor and waiting staff dressed to suit.

• Cafe Atmosphere. This is another secret bar that’s pretty decently priced. In traditional Czech style, it has a very small entrance and seems as if it’s just a narrow bar. Head down to the back to the outdoor courtyard for the nicest area.

Nightlife:

• Clock Tower Bar Crawl. I’m possibly biased with this one as the staff are my friends, but it is the bar crawl I’d recommend you’re looking to party in Prague. It begins at the same location mentioned in my previous post, with the Riverside tour, and continues on to different bars, finishing with a club. There’s free drinks along the way and great people to lead you/party with. Find any of the green t-shirts around Old Town Square to ask them more about it!

• The Roxy. This is by far one of the coolest venues in Prague. It’s an old, beautiful theatre, converted into a club. Generally, big events are held there that you have to by tickets in advance for, so check who’s on in advance. I was there for Klap Tone and it was well worth it.

• Epic. If standard European club is what you’re after, this is definitely the post I’d recommend. There’s nothing particularly unusual about it – but it has a huge dance floor, a sit-down area with couches, lots of cool lights and great music. There’s often an entry fee so just check their Facebook to see what event/fee is that night. Drinks inside are very expensive as is standard for these types of clubs, so best for a night where you plan to pre-drink then head out late. It also stays open until the early hours!

• Chapeau Rouge. With three floors, this club has a style for everyone. From RnB to early noughties, to Techno in the Berlin-style boiler room, to the live music on the bottom floor, this place has it all. Drink prices are cheaper than most clubs but again, check in advance for events and fees. My particular favourite is the Dark Room monthly event.