Prague Guide

For getting about, there is underground, bus and tram, or you can rent cars, bikes or Segway scooters, which seem to take you anywhere. Although a member of the European Union, this land-locked country is not in the Euro and has its own currency, the Koruna - prices, however, are often quoted in either Euros or sterling (rough equivalent for easy mental calculations, 10 Euros is 250 Koruna). The climate is generally cooler than in Britain so Prague makes the most of spring and summer with markets, festivals and boat trips; but winter visits can be magical with frosts and snowfall.

There is a vibrant local culture which, along with the traditional architecture, makes this feel a very foreign city. In the Czech Republic Bank Holidays are known as Red Letter Days! It doesn’t have to be an expensive place to stay with plenty of hotels and apartments. For budget breaks there are hostels where groups sharing can stay for as little as 12 Euros a night.

Charmingly, and unusually, Prague also has ‘botels’ on the river; a night’s stay with breakfast in a three star botel comes in at about £30 for double room. Some hotels at the top end of the range - five and four star - are described as “designer and boutique”, often in buildings that are either of historic and cultural note or purpose built and designed with something special on offer. A night at one of these could set you back about £200, double room only.

The majority of hotels in this city are classed three-star and above; a four star hotel in the old town typically costs from about £60 for a double room for the night. Four days in an apartment is about £400 for a couple - but this is four star, in a medieval setting. You’re eating in a melting pot of cuisine in Prague: Italian, Mexican, Indian, French, Kosher, seafood - and Czech, with duck confit, foie gras and crispy potatoes, for example.

Typically, for a good Czech restaurant with river views, prices come in at about €5-10 for a starter and €10 - 15 for a main course. Late night life offers pubs - both Czech and Irish - casinos, bars, jazz clubs and night clubs, with the latest music genres, often in intriguing venues like cellars and attics. For culture vultures there is opera, orchestras, theatre and ‘black light’ theatre - something peculiarly Czech that has been developed into entrancing performance art.

There are a number of shopping complexes, and this activity comes Czech style too: glass and porcelain, puppets and marionettes, and local liqueurs make good gifts. There is a big market, shopping and entertainment complex, River Town, on the banks of the Vitava. There is no doubt that this is not a city you can do in a couple of days - but you can always dip your toe in the water and come again.