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Prague Areas 1 to 10

As most of "tourist" Prague is now divided into areas 1 to 10. It's worth shedding a little light on what to expect from each. For all references to the "river" direction, if you were standing on the Old Town side of the river and were facing the castle the river is flowing from right to left hence everything to the left is "downriver" and everything to the right is "upriver".

  • Prague 1 - Includes the whole of the Mala Strana/Castle area on one side of the river and extends to the highway on the Old Town side. Contains the highest concentrations of accommodation, bars and restaurants. Both Old Town and New Town are within Prague 1. Large pedestrianised area around the Old Town Square extending almost to Wenceslas Square and Republic Square.

  • Prague 2 - South and south west of central Prague extending about 1km further than the Prague 1 boundary following up river. Extends around the east part of Prague. Includes the areas called Vinohrady and Namesti Miru. Well within the metro area. Common to find street names which are countries or capital cities around Namesti Miru. To the south this area ends at Vysehrad (Nusle) on the Prague 4 border. Currently in this border area you'll find the Fox apartments and the Hotel Union amongst others. On Vinohradska you'll find the Palac Flora shopping centre, the front of the centre is in Prague 2, the rear borders the New Jewish Cemetery which is Prague 10 and the next closest road is in Prague 3.

  • Prague 3 - On one side it has a border with Vinohradska starting at the Jiriho z Podebrad Metro. On the far side it borders with Prague 8 and extending away from Vinohrady this becomes Prague 10. The biggest residential area in Prague 3 is called Zizkov. On the Prague 8 side it is accessible by bus and tram. Prague 3 is a working class area somewhat affected by petty crime in the Zizkov Area. I would not park around here overnight. On the Vinohradska side you have the Hotel Anna and Hotel Claris plus apartments on Slezka. On the Prague 8 side the main road is Seifertova and hotels in this road include the Victoria, Ariston and Olsanka.

  • Prague 4 - Going south down river for 3 km, on the other side of Prague 2 you come to Prague 4. Lower level accommodation (pensions and hostels) are largely grouped around Podoli and Branik on the river. The 4* hotels are around Pankrac/Vysehrad. The river side has a tram and bus service only. From the city, heading towards Brno you leave Prague by crossing the Nusle Bridge and the far side of the bridge is Prague 4. On one part, Prague 4 stays close to the southern ring road, extends all the way around to the areas of Pankrac and Krc and finally to Branik on the river. The 5* Hotel in the Pankrac area is the Corinthia Towers. 4* Hotels nearby are the Corinthia Panorama, Holiday Inn Congress Centre and Barcelo. There's a pair of 3* called Otar and Oya. Prague 4 is heavily redidential and has metro stations from Vysehrad extending out 4km to Opatov and Haje (end of line). There are many small hotels and pensions in the area. At the far end of the area are the Hotel Opatov, Hotel Top (4*) and Euro Hotel (3*). The Opatov and Eurohotel are 10 mins walking distance from their respective metro stations. Top Hotel is about 20 mins but has a regular bus 115 service. It is most important to check transport details unless you want to spend out on taxis. The town of Hostivar marks the Prague 4/10 border.

  • Prague 5 - We go back over the river for this area. Extending down river from Mala Strana all the way to Zbraslav about 7km to the south. On the far side of the castle it extends away towards the Airport. The bigger hotels in this area include anything in Ujezd (Roma, Riverside) or Andel (Andels Design, Movenpick) and Smichov (plus botels Admiral and Vodnik). The area is semi residential with some light industry. The last metro in the area is Smichov but the tram now extends to Hlubocepy which puts it a 5 minute walk from there to the Best Western Hotel Smaragd. Prague 5 is the biggest Prague area.

  • Prague 6 - From the castle this area extends west and north to it's boundary with Prague 7. The most popular area is Dejvice with it's fast connection to the Airport and the Dejvicka Metro Station. Prague 6 is heavily residential and contains the highest concentration of Embassies and Consulates in Prague.

  • Prague 7 - This area is to the north of Prague 6 and extends down river including the areas of Troja and Liben. These areas suffered in the flood of 2002. Troja is the home of Prague Zoo. The biggest concentration of accommodation is in the Holesovice area. Hotels in this area include the Park Hotel Veletrzni, Extol Inn, Sir Toby's Hostel and the Duo. Holesovice train station has a metro but, most of the area is served only by bus and tram. Closest metro to the Duo is Ladvi (800m).

  • Prague 8 - On the other side of the river from Prague 7 and the other side of the highway from Prague 1 you are in Prague 8. Most people know the area as Karlin although it begins at Florenc and extends down river past Ceskomoravska metro. Karlin was heavily damaged in the flood of 2002. It is not somewhere I recommend to those who want to walk around and enjoy the area. I advise anybody staying in Karlin to make use of a taxi service or use public transport. Hotels in the area include the Hilton (right by the highway at Florenc), Mucha (also Florenc), Bonsai, IBIS Karlin, Olympic & Cechie (both at Palmovka). Past Palmovka it becomes more industrial.

  • Prague 9 - If you had continued out of Prague 8 then eventually it becomes Prague 9. Not much in the way of accommodation out here (only the hotel Diana is worth a mention for it's restaurant). There are concentrations of apartment blocks from Ceskomoravska until Cerny Most. A couple of large shopping centres and Industrial zones have developed over the last few years.

  • Prague 10 - Prague 10 has borders with Prague 2, Prague 3 and Prague 9 and is the last Prague area before entering the Prague-East district of the Stredocesky area. It has metro stations at Zelivskeho, Strasnice and Skalka. Highest concentration of residential blocks is around Strasnice and Zahradni Mesto (Garden Town - all the streets have names of flowers). Most of the accommodation is centered around Strasnice and the street/area called Vrsovice. Hotels in the Strasnice area are the Comfort Inn, Juno and Hotel Slavia. All are 3*. At Zelivskeho is the Dorint Novotel (formerly the Don Giovanni).

  • In general I would avoid the following places and the reason why.

    Zizkov, Prague 3 - The area behind Vinohrady can be rough after dark, frequent car crime.
    Florenc, Prague 8 - Prague 8 is everything behind the Hilton hotel and Florenc is right next to the Hilton. Lots of cheap accommodation on the Hilton side of the highway. On the other side of the highway is Prague 1. It's my recommendation that those seeking "safe" accom look elsewhere as during the day the Florenc metro is a "bum magnet" and at night there's more of them but, now having consumed more alcohol. For those souls willing to take a chance, take a look at "david's apartment boarding house" (www.davids.cz).
    Karlin, Prague 8 - Not a place I would want to walk around at night. To stay here you must be prepared to take taxis or public transport (tram or metro).
    Holiday Inn (Dejvice) also known as the Crowne Plaza (was known as the International Hotel pre 1989), Prague 6 - It is a long way from the castle let alone the Old Town. Last metro stop is 1km from the hotel. There is a tram line but, overall the location is not good.
    Don Giovanni (now known as the Dorint Novotel), Prague 10 - A very nice hotel but, not a great location. Has the advantage of the Zelivskeho Metro right next to the hotel and a night tramline but, walking home will be at least 40 minutes from Wenceslas Square.
    Union Hotel, Prague 2 - Great website, bad location. Right on the Prague 2/4 border, no metro but, has night tram. Not an area to walk around at night.
    Euro Hotel Praha, Chodov - situated 3km south east of the centre, nothing in the immediate area except a petrol station and a KFC restaurant, public transport option for metro (10 min walk).
    Top Hotel - rated as 4* and labelled as a "conference" hotel but, if you have to get a taxi from the city centre it will be costing big bucks. Suits people travelling within the public transport timetable as it is served by bus 115 from Chodov metro. para