The East of Prague is on the east side of the Vlatava River beside the Old Town, New Town and Žižkov districts. It consists of the numbered districts of Praha 10, Praha 11 and Praha 12.
Understand
editEast Bank of Vltava features many different districts. Some of them are just ugly block of communist architecture, but there are also some worth noting.
Vinohrady is an old district centered around Náměstí Míru. It consists mainly of residential buildings from the end of 19th century, mainly flats but also some villas. It is build on place on former vineyards, so the terrain here is quite hilly. Vinohrady is one of the most popular (and expensive) districts to live in Prague, as it is very close the the center, it features many nice shops and restaurants and is rather quiet. As such it is preferred by families, while youger inhabitants prefer neighboring districts of Žižkov or Vršovice. Still, Vinohrady can offer something to its visitor - restaurants, upper class bars and plentiful parks.
Karlín is a former working class district, lying by the Vltava river. It used to be known as an ugly district with high criminality up until 2002, when it got heavily damaged by a large flood. Since then, Karlín has been completely rebuild as a district with numerous offices and rather expensive flats. Its shady pubs have all turned into fancy restaurants and hipster bars, suited for the middle aged people who work in offices located here. Aside from these, you can find a few music venues and theatres here.
Vršovice is a district located in a steep slope. There are similar to Vinohrady in visage, but a bit more lively. You can find numerous popular bars, pubs and cafés here - because of this, Vršovice is very popular among young crowd, even though not as such as Žižkov. Unlike Vinohrady, the tradtion of wine making is still alive in this disctrict, so you can get a glass of wine here while sitting in the huge park Grébovka.
Jižní Město is a very large district located in the southern part of Prague. It consists mainly of ugly blocks of flats build during communist era. It also features large block of students dormitories, so if you are looking for some more authentic nightlife, this might be your destination.
Trója is located north of the center, right at the bank of Vltava. I could be described as a "weekend district" - not many people live here, but there are numerous attractions. You can find the large Prague ZOO here, as well as a botanical garden and a beautiful chateau. The biking path connecting Trója with the rest of Prague is very popular.
Libeň is a residential district in Rokytka stream valley. It features beautiful new blocks of houses build in former harbor, a long cycling path and a few historical sights.
Pankrác is not very interesting, as it features a lot of new semi-skyscrapers with offices. There is really no reason to visit this district, but if you intend to work in Prague, it is quite likely you are going to work here.
There are many other bigger and smaller districts at the East bank of Vltava. Many of them used to be towns or villages on their own, but they were connected to Prague during communist era (1948-1989) and quickly became not-really-interesting suburbs, even though there are occasionally some sights worth noting among these.
Get in
editVinohrady
editStops Náměstí míru ("Peace Square") or Jiřího z Poděbrad and trams 4, 10, 11, 16 and 22.
Karlín
editStops Florenc and Křižíkova and Invalidovna . Trams nr. 3 and 8. You can also walk here using a pedestrian tunnel in the hill Vítkov which leads from Žižkov. Another way to get here is ferry from Holešovice, which costs only 12 Kč.
Vršovice
editTrams 4, 6, 7, 22, 24. No metro connection, but you can go to Náměstí míru and then use tram 4 or 22.
Trója
editThe fastest way to get to Troja is to take subway to station Nádraží Holešovice (you can get there also by several tram or bus lines) and from there continue with bus 112 or the dedicated free ZOO bus (on weekends in the season) to the station Zoo Praha. This station is just between the zoo and castle, to get to the botanical garden, follow the marked way uphill (5-10 minutes). Alternatively, from May to October, you can take a steamboat from the city center (Rašínovo nábřeží). If you happen to be in the peninsula area of Praha 7, especially around the Royal Game Preserve or Výstaviště, it can be a nice walk or a bike ride.
Jižní Město
editJižní Město is served by metro C stations Háje, Opatov and Chodov.
Libeň
editLibeň is served by yellow metro B - stations Palmovka and Českomoravská.
Pankrác
Pankrác is served red metro line C, stations Pankrác and Budějovická.
See
editTroja
editThree of the main attractions of Prague - Troja (the zoo, the botanical garden, and the castle) are close to each other and make a great opportunity for a day trip. To save entrance costs, buy Trojská karta (Troy Card). The price is 250 Kč for adults, 130 Kč for children and 650 Kč for families (two adults and two children). It also offers free entry to some bonus actions by these attractions. You can buy the Troy Card at ticket offices of these attractions or in the ticket office of Pražská paroplavební (Prague steamship company).
- 1 Prague Zoo (Zoo Praha), U Trojského zámku 3/120. Founded in 1931, it is well known for its significant contribution to saving many species, most notably the Przewalski horse. In 2008 Forbes Traveler Magazine listed Prague Zoo as the 7th best in the world. The zoo occupies 45 hectares (111 acres) and houses over 5000 animals that represent 674 species from all around the world (as of December 31, 2008). There is also a chairlift in the zoo.
- 2 Prague Botanical Garden (Botanická zahrada Praha). Open air exhibitions including historical vineyard of St. Claire and Japanese garden. Tropical greenhouse Fata morgana. Each year in spring an exhibition of living butterflies.
- 3 Troja Palace (Trojský zámeček). Baroque chateau with garden and art exhibitions.
Libeň
edit- 4 Libeň chateau (Libeňský zámek).
- 5 Libeň Gas Reservoir (Libeňský plynojem), ulice V mezihoří 2228/2a. A large metal ball which used to server as a reservoir for gas. You can not get inside, but it is still interesting to see it from the outside.
- 6 Libeň water tower. A water tower build at the end of 19th century to resemble a lighthouse.
Karlín
editKarlín is worth taking a short walk, as there are many old buildings turned into offices in an interesting way.
- 7 Invalidovna (B line "Invalidovna"). It may seem like big chateau, but "Invalidovna" was baroque dormitory from 1737 for war invalids from by famous architect Kilián Ignác Dienzenhofer. Damaged during 2002 floods, just front facade is reconstructed now. In front of building is very nice and tidy park.
- 8 School at Lyčka square, Lyčkovo náměstí 460/6. This building on a small square with park is build in Art Noveau style as is consider as one of the most beautiful buildings in Prague.
- 9 Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius. A huge Neo-Romanesque basilica dominating a large square. free.
- 10 Rohan island (Rohanský ostrov). Between the road and Vltava river, there use to be many industrial buildings, which have all be teared down. Today, there is a flat grass plan with and a forest, which is called a "jungle inside a city". People interested in urbex might be interested in various ruins found in the forest.
Vršovice
edit- 11 St. Wenceslas Church (Kostel sv. Václava). Big functionalist church by famous architect Josef Gočár in Vršovice.
- 12 Havlíčkovy sady (Gröbovka/Grébovka), U Havlíčkových Sadů (By foot from tram station "Krymská" or "Otakarova"). A quiet little park with interesting artificial cave building "Grotta". A good relaxing place nearby city center.
Jižní Město
edit- 13 Chodov Fortress (Chodovská tvrz) (Metro C station Chodov), ☏ +420 267 914 831, pokladna@chodovskatvrz.cz. An old fortress surrounded by communist architecture.
- 14 Hotel Kupa, Anežky Malé 955/2 (near Háje metro stop on line C). So ugly it is beautiful, these are two tall communist block building connected by a sky bridge, creating something like a comie Kuala Lumpur.
Others
edit- 15 Most inteligence ("The Bridge of Intelligentsia", officially named Branický most) (If you want to visit the bridge, take a tram from "Karlovo náměstí" to station "Nádraží Braník"; the bridge has sidewalks for pedestrians, they are accessible through stair ramps at pillars.). majestic railway bridge built in the 1950s, longest ferroconcrete railway bridge in Europe. It was build by forced labour of members of intelligentsia, who were transferred to manual professions by rule of communist government. As a monument to the stupidity of the communist rulers, only a single rail was laid on the two-rail bridge, because the second rail didn't fit into the tunnel on one bank. The bridge remains in service to this day and is used mainly for cargo trains.
- 16 Aviation Museum Kbely (Letecké muzeum Kbely), Mladoboleslavská, Praha 9 – Kbely (10 minutes from Letňany underground station (stop Letecké museum)). from May till October, every day except Monday from 10.00 AM to 6 PM. Part of the Military Museum, opened in the 1960s on the grounds of former military airfield. One of the largest museums of this type in Europe, has 275 aircraft, of which around 100 are displayed. Free.
- 17 Podolí Waterworks Building (Podolská vodárna), Podolská 15 (trams 3 a 17, station "Podolská vodárna" (just three stops from Metro B station "Karlovo náměstí")), ☏ +420 272 172 345, jiri.dejmek@pvk.cz. It looks like this monumental building from late twenties might be a building of parliament or at least a town hall, but it's just waterworks building. Located by the Vltava river, the industrial building was built neoclassicism style by architect Antonín Engel. You can visit a museum of Prague water supply there.
- 18 Ctěnice Chateau (At the edge of Prague, nearest bus stop is "Ctěnice" served by bus 185 from Letňany), ☏ +420 286 001 366, ctenice@muzeumprahy.cz. 10ː00-18ː00 Closed on Mondays. A chateau turned into an interesting museum of hisrical carriages.
- 19 Nový hrad u Kunratic. nonstop. A Gothic castle ruin inside a large park "Kunratický les". The park itself is rather a forest and present a good place to relax as such. free.
Do
editWhat these districts can not offer when it comes to sights, they can offer in numerous activities and cultural venues which you can find here.
Culture
edit- 1 Forum Karlín, Pernerova 53, Praha 8. Multifunctional auditorium for 3,000 people where different cultural events take place.
- 2 Karlin Musical Theatre, Křižíkova 10, Praha 8. Musicals are commonplace here, just be sure to check if there are in original or in Czech version.
Activities
edit- 3 Podolí Swimming Stadion (Plavecký stadion Podolí) (300 m walking from tram station Kublov (lines 3 and 17)), ☏ +420 241 433 952. daily 6:00–21:45. Old, famous and big swimming areal including three big pools (one inside and two outside), fitness, sauna and massages
- 4 Hotivař dam (Walk from Háje metro station (line C)). A water dam surrounded by a large park offers numerous things to do, such as small aquapark, naturist beach and a boat rental.
- 1 Bobsleight track Prosek, Prosecká 906/34b (Walk from metro stop Prosek on the line C), ☏ +420 736 222 303, info@bobovadraha.cz. 11ː00-21ː00. A Bobsleight Roller Coaster build in a steep slope above Libeň district, from which you can walk here. Bobsled are in waterside-like track. Bobsleds have a brake controllable by the rider. 80 Kč per ride, cheaper if you buy more.
- 5 Hloubětím swimming pool, Hloubětínská 80/32 (Near Hloubětín metro station on line B), ☏ +420 281 864 012, info@montservispraha.cz. 6ː00-21ː00. A quiet indoor 50m swimming pool and an outside area. 120 Kč.
- Roller skating. There are some bicycle path good for roller skating, such as 6 roller skating track which replaced former railway.
Eat
editTroja
edit20 Restaurant Salabka, K Bohnicím 57/2, ☏ +420 778 019 002, restaurant@salabka.cz. An up-scale restaurant in Trója with artisan food and wine from their own vineyard dinner 1650 Kč, lunch 630 Kč.
Libeň
editKarlín
edit1 Lokál Hamburk, Sokolovská 55, ☏ +420 222 310 361. In Karlín. Part of famous Ambi restaurant group, offering high-quality Czech food for reasonable prices 150 Kč for a cheaper lunch.
2 Minutka, Křižíkova 123. 11ː00 - 13̠ː30 during working days.. A hidden gem in Karlín. By visage, this is a remnant of the communist era, a self catering bistro. The food is however very cheap and tasty. In the ground floor, you will find "fancier" food, while the second floor presents the real working class cafeteria. They are used to foreigners due to nearby Expedia office. decent meal 80Kč<.
3 Garage Poutine, Křižíkova 134/58, ☏ +420 608 892 476, karlin@poutine.cz. Mo-Fri 11ː00-14ː00 and 16ː30-19ː30. Probably the only place in Prague where they serve Canadian fast food Poutine. Very popular among the office slaves working near the place. 85 Kč for cheapest type of Poutine.
Vršovice
editJižní Město
edit4 Koliba, Gregorova 8 (2 minutes uphill from Roztyly station), ☏ +420 222 564 335, fax: +420 272941344, info@kolibapraha.cz. 11AM - 1AM. Amazing view over Prague. A bit touristy with live music. But good food cooked on an open barbecue.
Other
edit- 5 Pind, Korunní 67. Indian cuisine, possible to sit outside.
- 6 U Bohouše, Polská 34. 11:00-23:00. Mostly czech cuisine
- 7 Bruxx. Belgian. Seafood and beer (dozens of kinds).
- 8 Dish - fine burger bistro, Římská 29. 11:00–23:00. Home-made burgers and chips.
- 9 Pizzeria Aria, Křižíkova 267/9, ☏ +420 224 812 958. 11::00-23:00. A pizzeria on walking distance from the bus station, with great value for those who like Italian food. Pasta dishes for 115 Kc, but also the paella is recommendable for 180 Kc. They also serve Italian and local desserts such as tiramisu and medovnik. A very basic establishment for a quick lunch or dinner. Suitable for kids.
Buy
edit- 1 Bohemian Retro, Chvalova 8. Tues-Fri 11am -7pm. Vintage clothing and accessories.
- 2 Adelaide, Blodkova 2, ☏ +420 222 515 279. Mo-Fri 10:00-18:00, Sat 10:00-12:00. Shop with hand-made and original clothes and gifts.
- 3 SAPA, Libušská 319/126 (bus stop "Sídliště Písnice" served by bus 197 from B metro line station "Smíchovské Nádraží" and bus 113 from C metro station "Kačerov"). 8ː00 - 18ː00. Very large Vietnamese run market. Center of Vietnamese community in Prague, called "Little Hanoi" for a good reason - it is like a teleport do Southeast Asia. There is also a community centre and a small Buddhist temple. You can find numerous shops with exotic food, cheap clothes a some of the best Vietnamese street food in Prague. Czech Vietnamese community is very friendly and everyone is welcome here.
Shopping malls
edit- 4 Letňany Shopping Centre (OC Letňany), Veselská 663, Praha 9 (Metro C: Letňany then free bus). Huge shopping centre north of the city.
Drink
editTroja
editLibeň
editKarlín
edit- 1 Shadow Cafe, Křižíkova 134/58, ☏ +420 725 800 576, karlin@shadowcafe.cz. A nice rooftop bar near Křížikova metro station. Come early (6PM) on Friday or there will not be a place for you.
- 2 Antony Bar, Křižíkova 70/67, ☏ +420 608 268 739, antonybar@seznam.cz. 11ː00-24ː00 everyday except Saturday. A nice bar with cheap beer. Quite small, you might need a reservation if your group is bigger beer for 30 Kč.
Vršovice
edit- 3 Bar Milá tchýně, Minská 626/11, ☏ +420 723 675 950, info@milatchyne.cz. A nice bar in Vršovice district, a lot of people on Fridays
- 4 Café V Lese ((Forest Café)), Krymská 12. 12:00–3:00. Café with a gallery and music club, runned by famous Czech activist Ondřej Kobza.
Jižní Město
edit- 5 El Mágico, Chemická 953, ☏ +420 702 155 950, elmagico@elmagico.cz. A popular club in university campus (thus popular especially among local students). Due to its distance and target group, beer is 40 Kč and entry fee is no more than 50 Kč. There is a direct night bus 511 from a bus stop near this club to the center.
Others
edit- 6 Kaaba Café, Mánesova 20. 08:00 - 24:00. small café, friendly atmosphere
- 7 Vinohradský pivovar ((Vinohrady brewery)), Korunní 106. Brewery with restaurant renewed in 2013. Interior of restaurant is very simple and modern.
- 8 mamacoffe, náměstí Jiřího z Poděbrad 12, ☏ +420 773 656 958. Mo-Fri: 8:00-19:00 Sat-Sun: 9:00-19:00. Fair trade café, one of four mamacofee cafés in Prague.
- 9 U Posledního soudu, Jagellonská 8, Praha 3, ☏ +420 603 412 671. Small but great and inexpensive wine bar serving Czech wines and wines from neighboring countries.
- 10 Maleše Microbrewery (Malešický mikropivovar), Malešická 126/50, ☏ +420 727 803 872, info@malesickymikropivovar.cz. A nice new brewery in Malešice district.
- 11 Kolčavka Brewery (Pivovar Kolčavka), ulice Nad Kolčavkou 907/8, ☏ +420 736 735 685, spravce@pivovarkolcavka.cz. A nice small brewery in Libeň district
Sleep
editMany hotels and hostels in Prague 3 are located just 15 minutes walking distance from the center of Prague.
- 1 Hotel Agricola, Rostovská 25, ☏ +420 267 310 762.
Budget
edit- 2 Czech Inn, Francouzska 76, ☏ +420 267 267 600. With its chic-modern design, Czech Inn offers a wide variety in accommodation from shared rooms, private double rooms, and apartments. Breakfast buffet served daily, with a trendy bar to try your favorite Czech beers and cocktails. Prices from 275Kč for a shared room and 1,250Kč for a private double room.
Mid-range
edit- 3 Hotel Claris, Slezská 26, ☏ +420 242 446 111. All of the 24 rooms are equipped with shower/bath, WC, hair dryer, sat TV, IDD telephone with voice mail, safe and free Wi-Fi.
- 4 Hotel Anna, Budečská 17, ☏ +420 222 513 111. Each of the 22 rooms is equipped with shower & WC, hair dryer, IDD telephone, satellite TV and a safety deposit box.
North
edit- 5 Hilton Prague, Pobrezni 1, Praha 8, ☏ +420 224 841 111, fax: +420 224 842 378. Large modern hotel right on the bank of the Vltava close to the Old Town. Double rooms range from €155 per night for a simple guest room to €215 for an executive suite.
- 6 Hotel Florenc, Křižíkova 11 (opposite Karlinske Divadlo (Karlin Theatre)), ☏ +420 224 816 247, hf@hotel-florenc.cz.
- 7 Clarion Congress Hotel Prague, Freyova str., Prague 9 (metro line B at the Vysocanska station, just 10 minutes by metro from the centre). 4-star hotel connected to the Fenix shopping gallery and close to O2 Arena. 559 modernly and appealingly furnished standard and executive rooms. Wireless internet in public areas and wired internet in the rooms. Spa and fitness facilities are available in the building at an additional cost. Rooms from €65/night.