Prague Hostels

Why stay in Prague?

Outside the popular and touristy old town, new Prague bustles with a lively energy and is home to plenty of budget hostels - not to mention pubs and parties. Compared to the high prices of Paris or London, it's still a bargain of a city. The days of eating and sleeping in Prague for what you could earn by playing guitar on the Charles Bridge every night, however, are long gone. In addition to hostels, keep in mind that some of the city's budget accommodations will carry the name "pension," and some of the city's cheapest beds are in organized campsites around Prague. Some of the Prague hostels to consider are listed here.

Hotel Rosemary is right in the Old Town, a five minute walk from the Old Town Square and an even shorter walk to Wenceslas Square. Praha-Prague's Heaven is in the New Town, a quick subway ride away from the Old Town. There are private rooms as well as dorms available. A 15-minute tram ride from the city center The Boathouse is right on the bank of the Vltava River and linens and breakfast are included in the price. You can even get a home cooked meal every night for a small fee.

Miss Sophie's is located in the New Town not far from the ever-popular Wenceslas Square, and offers everything from a private double room to a dorm bed. The amusingly-named Czech Inn is a bit further away from the center of everything, but boasts a completely modern design. It's also on a main tram line, so it's easy to get into the heart of the city. If you're looking for party central, look no further than Hostel ELF.

And if none of these is what you're looking for, keep searching the Prague hostels listings and you're sure to find something that's perfect for your needs and budget.

Once the capital of a country behind an iron curtain, Prague became a backpacker mecca when the wall came down. Prague was famous for its student population and their culture of art, literature and music. Aside from the more general reasons of the city's beauty and the country's overall embracing of its peaceful revolutionary movement, Prague was a magnet for backpackers and students for one very important reason - it was dirt cheap.

In the years following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the subsequent "divorce" of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Prague has hosted more tourists every year. The more crowded the cities of Western Europe become, the more marginally adventurous travelers there are who push at the fringes of what they're comfortable with. Despite being in Central (or Eastern, depending on who you talk to) Europe, Prague is popular enough nowadays with travelers that it sometimes feels like it's in the West. Its attractions, however, are distinctly Czech.

The old historic center of the city is where most of the main sights are, and they're easy to navigate on foot. The Old Town Square is ideal for people-watching and checking the time at the famous animated Astronomical Clock. Prague's Jewish Quarter is a fascinating glimpse back to a time before the Nazis decimated the Jewish population. The Charles Bridge is popular by day with artists and vendors, and by night with students and vagabond musicians. Prague's Castle is a bit of an uphill hike from the Charles Bridge, but it's worth the trip if only for the view of the city.

If you need anything else for your trip to Prague, you can find it right here. Search for cheap airfare to Prague and read about what there is to see and do in the city in our Prague Travel Guide.