Where in Prague?

boilerdoc2

boilerdoc2

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Need help from the world travelers of RFF. I'm heading for Prague this June and would appreciate some advice on where to photograph when there. Hwere to dine and stay, etc. I've wanted to go there for years and finally it's going to happen. Thanks in advance!
Steve
 
I rented a private room in an apartment near the Charles Bridge when I was there 17 years ago. Cost was a lot less then a room in a hotel. Found the service at the airport if I remember. Quite safe and secure.
 
I've never been to Europe, but the Czech Republic seems to have a reputation as a great tourist destination. The current issue of the Elks magazine has an article on castles in the 'Bohemia' section of the C.R. And Prague, according to what I've read, is one of those old, old cities with buildings and attractions that have been there a lot longer than any of us have. Budapest, Hungary is another one.
 
The center of town is a great place for photos. I also recommend a side trip to Karlo Vivari. My images are over 10 years old, bu take a look if you're interested:

http://homepage.mac.com/richam/PhotoAlbum113.html

A warning -- if you're a beer drinker, stay away from Pilsner Urquell, especially on tap. If you try it, you will likely want to stay there forever. Have fun.
 
Ahhh... Prague! My wife & I rented an apartment in Old Town (Stare Mesto - I believe). It was situated right in Staromestske Namesti & was very close to everything we wanted to visit. Prague is such a photogenic city that, to me, every little corner seemed like a photo op (I felt the same way about Paris).
Oh & the beer... Krusovic I think it was & pretty cheap a couple of years ago.
Here'a cliche shot of the castle...
258060011_380b665daf.jpg

Cheers & have a grand time!
 
Oh, you need some Besherovka, also. Have good time with a sousage in the main street, shoot it and enter the Black Theatre. There is also a Modern one (Multimedia) and very interesting.
 
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I spent a week in Prague in May, 2005, and had a wonderful time walking and photographing the city. What a great place! Here are some suggestions on what to shoot:

1) Prague Castle and the surrounding grounds, including the gardens. The walk from the Castle down the Vltava takes you through some wonderful older neighborhoods.

2) The Jewish Quarter. Do not miss this. Do the entire walking tour of the Jewish Museum (which takes you from synagogue to synagogue).

3) The grounds of the Czech parliament building are worth seeing.

4) There are paths and walkways on both sides of the Vltava that are worth strolling, w/ good views and opportunities for street photography.

5) Charles Bridge will be jammed with tourists. It IS photogenic, but perhaps best at dawn when fewer people are around and the light is better.

6) The square with the statue of Jan Hus is jammed w/ tourists. Possibly good opportunities for street photos?

7) I also recommend a day trip to the Therizin concentration camp and nearby museum. Very moving. It's possible to book a tour through one's hotel, but these can be of mixed quality (I felt rushed on the one I took), so you might want to research possibilities before going.

I took both Rick Steves and the Lonely Planet guidebooks; both are good, although the latter has a number of walking tours that you can do yourself, which I highly recommend.

As for restaurants, here are some I liked and would recommend:

Hergotova Cihelna (more upscale and modern, near Charles Bridge)
Hlucna Samota, in the Vinohrady District (also a pleasant place to wander around)
U Medvidku (beer hall near Bethlehem Square, inexpensive)
Kolkovna (excellent Czech food, near Jewish Quarter, owned by Pilsner Urquel)

In 2005, dining out was generally inexpensive, and the beer is excellent.

Enjoy!
 
Prague is a great city. I rubbed the gold cross embedded on the Charles Bridge, so I am sure I will be back someday. 🙂

Speaking of the bridge, it gets pretty crowded. The best vantage point I found was to go down on the castle side, and try to find your way to the riverbank. I had to walk along a one-foot ledge beside a children's playground, but worth it just to not have the mob of tourists in the photo.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rgphotos/258228884/in/set-72157594489167575/
 
I went in October. All of the advice here is right on target. I will say that getting an apartment is a much better deal than a hotel. Also, make sure you bring good shoes. The trams and metro are great, but you will do a lot of walking and the cobblestones can be rough.

If you have time for a day trip, take the train to Kutna-Hora. It's a pretty little town with a nice church and also a famous ossuary. Link to the ossuary here: http://www.kostnice.cz/

that's something to take pictures of -- bring some fast film.
 
brachal said:
If you have time for a day trip, take the train to Kutna-Hora. It's a pretty little town with a nice church and also a famous ossuary. Link to the ossuary here: http://www.kostnice.cz/

that's something to take pictures of -- bring some fast film.
Click to expand...

Yes ! The bone church is very impressive.

Roland.
 
It is nice to read all your experiences!

For restaurants, I might recommend also the one called Celnice in Namesti Republiky (lovely place, same group as Kolkovna), also there is one called U Vladare (near the Japanese/french/swedish embassies).

You should enter the corridor that leads there (avoid the terrace, prices are expensive), and on the right side there is a door that leads to what is called the "Konirna" (the stables) food is excellent, I go eat there often whe I'm going to the embassy (i'm working at the french embassy but not on the same geographical site) and it's a quiet place with lot of political personalities and celebrities going there "incognito". I've been eating several times one table away from the former minister of foreign affairs of czech republic.

If you want to have a drink in a VERY LOCAL place, try getting lost in the area of Zizkov, on the bar called "U vystřeleného oka". It's very local and typical, maybe I shouldn't spread the address too much, anyway it's not at all in the center of the town. It's here : http://amapy.atlas.cz/?smartname=uvystrelenehooka#x=-740801@y=-1043317@cs=1@sidx=10@app=0

Been walking around the town square and want to relax ? Go at the Grand Café Orient, the famous cubist house. The place is wonderful and romantic... you'll be transported back in the 30's with the pianist who plays standards. The decoration is in the cubist style, and still very modern despite the age. Order a Viennese coffee and just enjoy...

I'm getting lost, so many places to go! 😉
Cheers,
Max

buzz me if you want some specific infos!
 
I lived in Germany for four years and I have traveled all over Europe - Spain, France, Germany, Austria, England, Ireland . . . . . but it took me till this past October to finally get to Prague! I wish I had gone sooner because I love it. It is one of my favorite cities (next to Paris). You are in for a treat!!

Everyone else has already mentioned some good places to take photos. I would add . . . try to get to the top of a tall building and take a picture of the sky line. I have never seen so many spires!
 
I second 100% all the previous comments about Prague being an incredibly beautiful and interesting city.
I was there for a week about 4 years ago. In those times, my photographic interests were "smaller" than now, but I remember I found an exhibition gallery that got me impressed: the Leica Gallery Praha (link here).
However, can not remember exactly where it is located... I think in the Castle area... perhaps some native could provide further info on this and other interesting galleries... (just my 2 cents...)

Sure you will enjoy Prague!!!
 
Amazing advice folks. I have a BIG list of places to see. I hope to spend 2 full days there. Need lots of film/memory and batteries. Thanks so much. This is a great site for RF photography!
steve
 
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