How to Escape Prague’s Tourist Crowds
Also called The City of a Hundred Spires, Prague has many amazing attractions for first-time or returning visitors. But especially in busy months, Old Town and the center feel a bit like Disneyland. As a tour guide here, I like to recommend places outside of the typically visited areas so that visitors can be able to experience what life here is really like.
Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy Prague outside of the center during your next visit to the Golden City
Beer gardens
No better way to experience the life of locals than at a beer garden. Spring, summer, and any warm fall days are spent with friends over a few beers enjoying the outdoors. Of course, beer isn’t the only option — but the Czech’s drink more beer than anyone else in the world, so it’s in your best interest to join in!
It doesn’t hurt that our best beer garden’s come hand-in-hand with some of Prague’s best views.
A favorite among locals is Letna park. Follow the stairs up to the Metronome and you will stumble upon a postcard-perfect view of the Vltava river. During the summers you can also find Stalin Bar (aptly named after the world’s biggest Stalin statue that used to stand in place of the metronome). If you are looking for tables and chairs, it’s only a 5-minute walk to the beer garden — with plenty of seating overlooking the city.
Another favorite you may read about is Riegrovy Sady in Vinohrady. But unfortunately, as of April 2019, the main beer garden is still closed with no signs of reappearing for the season. This is a truly sad time, but there are still at least 2 other options for beer in this park, so don’t worry too hard.
You could always do Náplavka or Manifesto Market for similar beer vibes.
Hipster Spots
A true traveler knows that you have to get yourself to where the locals live to see the real city. Prague’s Letna and Žižkov regions are great places to start.
A short walk from the metronome is the area of Prague called Letna. Sandwiched between two massive parks, the area has special local tranquility. Many tourists find themselves in the massive National Museum building Veletržní palác, enjoying works from a whole spectrum of artists like Mucha and Van Gogh.
Foodies have found themselves thriving in Letna recently. With new places opening constantly, it’s hard to keep track. I’m a big proponent of wandering around to find something that catches your eye. If you are someone who needs suggestions, here’s a shortlist of places to check out: Bistro 8, Cobra, Mr. Hotdog, Salt & Peppa Kitchen, or Cafe Letka (now a brewery too!)
Czech’s do like to have a good drink. And if you are also looking to quench your thirst — look no further than Zizkov. An easy find thanks to its iconic TV Tower, Zizkov is hipster heaven. With a little bit of leftover grunge, Zizkov claims to have the biggest concentration of bars and pubs in Europe. You can find over 300 drinking venues in it’s 5 square km radius. Just go for a short walk, and you’ll certainly find a place to stop in for a bit.
Breweries
A true Czech national treasure, pilsner beers have a special place in the Czech culture. Sure you can find lots of unique beer’s in the center — but venture out a little bit and you’ll find more special (and cheaper!)
Local and craft beer can be found at the Hostivar Brewery. With a big summer garden and delicious food, come and enjoy an afternoon with friends and you won’t regret it.
Hop on the metro to get yourself to Richter Brewery where you can have affordable beer surrounded by locals. They typically have 3–4 of their beer’s, which is enough once you find your favorite.
Monastery beers are popular too! If you get yourself to Břevnov you can try beer from a Monastery that has been in the brewing game since the 10th century!
With these suggestions, I hope your next visit to Prague feels a bit less crowded and much more local.
