Backpackers Guide to Prague travel

Prague is a great place for backpackers on their gap year. The capital of the Czech Republic is reasonably cheap in comparison to the rest of Europe, and with the abundance of awesome sights, things to do and cool bars you certainly won’t be bored. Here is the brief backpackers guide to Prague.

Where to stay?

Prague has lots of cheap accommodation, particularly in the form of hostels. One favourite among backpackers is the newly refurbished Mosaic House, an eco-friendly building with a bar and lounge, which is located in the centre of Prague. Beds are incredibly cheap: you’ll pay about €3 per night if you opt for the larger dorms and about €10 for smaller ones.

How to get around?

The historical centre of Prague is conveniently compact, making it a great place to explore on foot. If you don’t fancy walking, however, the city has a great public transport network, which incorporates buses, trams and a metro system. Although all three types of transport are easy and straightforward to use, you’ll probably mainly find yourself on the metro, which has three lines and runs from 5am to midnight every day.

Be wary of taxis: there have been numerous instances of tourists being heavily overcharged by unscrupulous drivers. If you have no choice, make sure to insist the meter is switched on before you depart.

What to do?

Although Prague is quite a large city, most of its main sights are within reasonably close proximity to one another.

Probably the most famous and iconic place in the city is the Charles Bridge, which connects the Old Town and Prague Castle. It is a work of astonishing beauty, decorated by a series of exquisite baroque statues and almost 600 years old. You can’t say you’ve visited Prague until you’ve walked across that bridge.

The Old Town, with its cobbled streets and medieval architecture, is one of the most enjoyable places in Europe to have a stroll. Have a coffee in the main square (the location more than justifies the slightly high price) and check out the Astronomical Clock and the rather ambiguously named Old New Synagogue, which incidentally is the oldest in Europe.

Lastly, make sure you have a wander around Prague Castle, a sprawling complex (more of a citadel) which has long featured on UNESCO’s prestigious World Heritage list. Bearing over the city from its hilltop vantage point, the complex features incredible churches and palaces, and is still fully in tact despite being over 1,000 years old.

Where to drink?

Like any city in Europe, you won’t have to look far in Prague before you see somewhere to sit down and grab a beer. But also as with any city in Europe, some of Prague’s nightlife spots are better than others. A popular place among backpackers is Boulder Bar, which features its very own climbing wall. Another cool place is Lucerna Café, located in one of Prague’s most beautiful passages. Look out for the statue of the upside down horse. For a great traditional atmosphere and nightly music, check out U Fleka, beloved by tourists and locals alike. Lastly, consider having a drink in Vinarna U Sudu, an uber-cool wine bar housed in a medieval cellar and surprisingly cheap.

I hope this little backpackers guide to Prague will help in planning your next Free and Independent Travel to this popular European travel destination. – Travel Feeder

About The Author

Cecil Lee

The author is an avid traveler and photography hobbyist who loves to share with others his travel and photo-taking experience in many popular tourist destinations around Europe, Asia and Australasia. Read the exciting stories with many photos captured on his journeys.