WHERE TO stay
HOTEL AMADEUS This highly affordable option in Žižkov has a few quirky touches on the way in. The entrance corridor is dotted with wine corks, while niches in the staircase have been filled with bird cages and little plastic birds. The rooms are clean, comfortable and equipped with essentials such as kettles and fridges – but it’s fans rather than air conditioning. Rooms start at £32.
amadeushotel.cz
THE GOLDEN KEY On the busiest route through Malá Strana, this recently renovated joint goes in for lots of loving little features – free biscotti in the lobby, antique-look furniture in the rooms, and a hidden courtyard with dangling, egg-shaped chairs. The attic rooms with original wooden beams have immense character. Rooms cost from £74.
goldenkey.astenhotels.com
LE PALAIS A vision of Vinohrady grandeur, Le Palais gets a regular stream of locals popping in for spa treatments. The vibe is of belle époque comfortable refinement, there’s a sizeable art collection and bathrooms come with heated floors. Rooms cost from £142.
lepalaishotel.eu
WHY GO? This hilltop district is dominated by the Hrad – the largest castle on Earth – although go beyond it and there are some less busy sights to check out. The Černín Palace is a stout behemoth that’s closed to the public, but offers access to its tranquil formal
HRADCANY
gardens, and the Loreta pilgrimage complex opposite is a contrastingly dainty baroque effort.
WHAT TO DO The Hrad is essentially a small town in its own right. Highlights include the magnificent Gothic St Vitus’
Cathedral, Imperial Mausoleum, cutesy alleyway known as Golden Lane and the enormous Vladislav Hall – so big, jousting tournaments used to be held there. Do Something Different sells a
guided Prague Castle walking tour, offering more detail than you’d get going alone, for £44.
KARLIN
WHY GO? Karlin is the antidote for when the better-known areas of the city seem overrun. The riverside neighbourhood took a beating in the 2002 floods, but the subsequent rejuvenation has been hugely impressive. The eye- catching River City complex is full of striking modern architecture, while elsewhere, there’s a heavy concentration of art nouveau buildings.
WHAT TO DO It’s a great area for grazing – several good-quality bars and restaurants have opened up – but it’s also a place where locals genuinely hang out. The coolest example of this is Kasárna Karlin, a former barracks turned cultural centre with galleries, outdoor movie screenings and beach volleyball. The twin-spired, rose-windowed Saints Cyril and Methodius Cathedral is an absolute beauty, too.
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3 OCTOBER 2019
travelweekly.co.uk
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