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Prague, Czechia
Photo: Czech Wikipedia user Packa, CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons
The West of Prague is to the west of the Castle district.
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White Mountain
This is where the eponymous Battle of White Mountain took place between Habsburg forces and the Czech nobility on 8 November 1620, as part of the Thirty Years' War. During the early fifteenth century's Hussite rebellions, most of the Czech people abandoned the Catholic church and followed the Protestant teachings of Jan Hus and similar preachers. Despite the annexation of the Czech lands by the very Catholic Austrian Habsburg family, the Czech nobility remained Protestant. When Emperor Ferdinand II violated an agreement signed by his predecessor which codified the mainly-Protestant nobility's rights, they got angry. Two Protestant churches were forcibly closed or destroyed on orders of the Bishop of Prague (Ferdinand's right-hand man), the nobility decided they'd had quite enough, and gathered at the Castle en masse. Count Thurn, the ringleader, and his assistants entered the Castle, where they were harassed by two Catholic members of Ferdinand's advisory council. The words 'defenestration' and 'Prague' are inextricably linked in history), Count Thurn and his friends threw the council members out a window. In a remarkably ironic twist of fate, they landed in a pile of manure and survived. What next? From a smelly pair of court lackeys to war?
Letohrádek Hvězda
Star-shaped and white, rising out of its meadow like a porcelain figurine, this small summer palace is located near one of the most infamous sites in Czech history. There is a small museum inside dedicated to the 18th century nationalist writer Alois Jirásek, best known for his collection of Czech fairy tales, available as Old Czech Legends in the U.S. Hvězda's shape is unusual, but this area is known for being near Bílá Hora.
A luxurious villa designed by Austrian and Czechoslovak architect Adolf Loos, the author of influential essay "Ornament and Crime" among others. The villa was built in the years 1928-1930, at the same time as the famous Mies Van der Rohe's Tugendhat Villa in Brno. Adolf Loos considered Müller Villa to be his most beautiful house and it is also the building where he most perfectly embodied the ideas of his Raumplan. The villa, including its interiors, has been renovated and restored to its original 1930 appearance in the late 1990s. Now Müller Villa is one of the most authentic and best preserved of Adolf Loos' works. It is possible to visit the Müller Villa by guided tour which must be booked in advance by telephone (+420 224 312 012) or through the official website
A huge monument erected to replace the Stalinist monument that preceded it.
Národní technické muzeum
Amazing collection of motorcycles, cars, aircraft and commercial vehicles, plus many examples of communist-era technological engineering.
A gallery for modern arts, modern EU gallery style. Huge white building with lot of exhibitions, installations and interesting objects to see. You can check the exhibitions during day (around 1-2 hr) and on the trip back to Holešovice visit the legendary underground grown up Cross Club.
Veletržní palác
The Czech National Gallery branch covering modern art movements. Permanent exhibitions cover art from 1796 to 1938, with an obvious bias towards art from what is now Czechia, but also with a particularly significant French collection. The gallery occupies the old trade fair building constructed in the 1920s, in itself a significant example of Functionalist architecture.
Exhibition ground used for exhibitions, concerts and other cultural events.
Non-for-profit centre for contemporary art. Has several departments, including music, theater and gallery.
Highest point of Prague, but realistically just a field.
Tramway Museum
A storehouse of superbly restored trams from Hapsburg-era four-wheelers to the iconic Tatra cars of the Communist era. Also trolleybuses, buses and service vehicles. It can occasionally look closed during opening times - try the metal door in the leftmost arch of the building. English-language leaflet guides available.
Cinema Oko
One of Prague's best art cinemas.
Stromovka (place of trees) Park is the largest of its kind in the city of Prague. The history of Stromovka dates back to 1268, when Premysl Otakar II used Stromovka as the royal hunting grounds. The park was open to the public in 1804, after Czech nobles saved the grounds from complete demolishment from the reign of Maria Theresa who ordered everything cut and burned. The park is no longer full of deer to hunt; the park now features paths for inline skating, romantic ponds, large meadows, a few cafes, and even horse stables. Stromovka is the perfect place to take a Sunday afternoon stroll with your family and friends.
Letenské sady
The Letná Park is on a high plateau just north of and above the city centere. Therefore, it was the place where the massive Stalin's Monument, overlooking the city, was unveiled in 1955. It was the world's largest representation of Stalin, featuring the Soviet leader in front of a line of workers; it was nicknamed "Fronta na maso" or "Meat Queue" by locals, as this was a time when such queues were a daily part of life in the city. In the 1962, the monument was demolished and the place was vacant till the end of the communist era. After the Velvet Revolution, a giant, functional Prague Metronome was built on the spot.
A popular rocky park with a nearby 'Džbán' water basin.
Prokopské údolí
A long valley. Combined with other areas that are not part of the main valley, it spans more than 5 km, almost all the way from Vltava to Řeporyje, with numerous side-tracks. A small bathing place can be found here, as well as opportunities for rock climbing, running etc.
A picturesque hilly small park, crossed by a train track.
Visit the home of Prague's most famous brewery which was founded in 1869. There are tours available in English and there is a restaurant at the same complex.
Karting Centre
Race karts on the longest kart track in Europe.
They serve typical Czech lunch for 180-190Kč between 11:00 and 15:00.
Indian and Bangladeshi cuisine.
Family-run restaurant with garden specializing in Mediterranean cuisine.
Czech cuisine.
Small restaurant with a variety of delicious yet affordable meals, all vegan.
American-owned establishment specialising in wings.
Owned by Jan Punčochář, a famous Czech chef, this restaurant specialises in Austrian cuisine - main focus being schnitzels.
Restaurant's name translates as "Up on the hill" and the restaurant actually is up on the hill, above Smíchovské nádraží railway station. It's a hidden little gem, almost-like-family restaurant, with tasty food, good service and reasonable prices - one of the best "value for money" restaurants in Prague. Despite short menu, it offers diverse dishes inspired by both Czech traditional and world cuisine.
Arabic and vegetarian dishes.
Klub Cross
Amazing industrial venue, beautifully decorated with sculptures and constructions made of scrap metal, engine parts, glass and electric gadgets. You can stop there just for a beer and to admire the industrial design, or attend some of the actions, which include concerts, theater, cinema, and travel talks.
Located on the Vltava river, this boat hotel has a nightclub, restaurant and terrace big enough for 85 guests to enjoy the view across the waters to the city. Admiral has singles, doubles and apartments that can sleep up to four people for 2030Kč/2160Kč/3770Kč during low season, rising to 3220Kč/3380Kč/5830Kč during holiday periods.
This four-star hotel has two separated buildings, which are connected by a cable car (accessible by the public, free). There are rooms with terrace offering beautiful view over Prague.
159 bright and modern single, double or triple bed rooms, breakfast buffet, Bohemian and international cuisine and inviting lobby bar. There are also several conference rooms available for up to 120 people.
A luxurious hotel on the banks of the Vltava. Rates vary by season and room type and there are many package deals available but expect to pay from 5250 Kč for a double room per night.
A luxury hotel built in the 1950s under communist rule, and the largest Stalinist building in Prague.
Near the Svatý Antonin church and the Vltava river.
Friendly hostel with regular events.
Bohemian style hostel experience filled with Czech antiques. Communal hostel where it's easy to meet other travellers. They show Czech films with English subtitles, have regular Czech beer-tasting and sometimes local musicians come to play. Also very clean. Not right in the centre but 10 minutes away or so by tram.
Prague's biggest shopping centre with plenty of choice among its wide array of shops. The Andél tram station is just outside the door.
Medium-sized mall with a cinema, hypermarket Interspar, fast foods, huge parking lot and near the metro/bus station Zličín. IKEA nearby. If you are hungry after your flight, take a bus 100 from the airport to Zličín and then just walk few metres to this mall and buy something to eat.
A shopping mall 1 station from the Prague Airport, but otherwise very far away from the center. Ideal for last minute shopping before your departure, also because it's far less busy than other shopping centers. Take bus 191 from Petřiny metro station.
Use metro station {{station|Dejvická|A}}, to get to Praha 6. Use metro station {{station|Anděl|B}}, to get to Praha 5, and station {{station|Zličín|B}}, to get to Praha 13.
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