I'm going to Prague in early December and wondered if anybody could recommend good eating and drinking places. Also does anyone know where the 3 day transport passes are available? Can you buy them from the airport? I'm wondering if the guidebook I have is out of date.
I also would like to hear of anyone's experiences with pickpockets.

just got back last night after 5 days - with my second visit in 9 months...

don't worry about pickpockets - take the usual precautions and you'll be fine. if you experience anything particularly unsavoury, its more likely it'll be from the beered up boys that flood the place each weekend. i definately recommend going during the week - it makes quite a difference.

as for where to eat and drink, there couldn't be more choice. restaurants are more pricey around the old town square and the castle, but head down one of the back streets and you'll soon stumble across something that takes your fancy. on average, quality czech food should cost you no more than 250kc each including beer. though i suppose it depends what your after...

i ate cracking czech, argentinian and belgian over the last week. try les moule in the josefov district for wicked moules et frites!

a couple of my favourite cafes are gourmand au gourmand (just off the old town square, don't remember the street name) - a brilliantly tiled patisserie selling cakes to die for. the other - the antiques cafe - is in stare mastro at the bottom of the many steps leading up by the side of the castle, and is a quaint little hobbit-hole-esque cafe serving snacks, beer and (again) cake.

i've never really used public transport when i've been to prague. most of the tourist sites are within walking distance and the numerous bars and cafes offer perfect reason for rest stops.

some more ideas for yer -

go the state national opera! even if its not your bag its worth checking out. tickets from the tourist information office in the old town square - approx £11 - you can usually get tickets if you book a couple of days in advance.

take a trip up the funicular railway on the hill that overlooks prague for spectacular panoramas of the old town, charles bridge, stare mastro, prasky hrad etc...

oh and i nearly forgot the grand opulence of the imperial cafe, in which you get free donuts with your coffee - or if you choose, you can buy a bowl of the previous days leftover donuts and throw them at the rest of the diners! can't say i dared do it - but i'd love to. the bowl of donuts sits on the bar in full view of the diners and you are advised to quickly leave or face the consequences should it move!

**takes breathe, goes back to finding other ways to distract himself from the work he shoud've been doing before he went away...**

enjoy yourself.

I have been wanting to go for some time now. When is the best time to go, best place to stay? I'm talking in terms of events that may be on.

Europa Hotel on Wenszeslaz square for a cheap breakfast and I dont think the place has changed or been decorated since the 1930s. Beautifull building hope its still open. Across the square is a fairly modern hotel but in the basement is a fairy grotto type resteraunt (looks like a film set ) with decent food (if I can remember the name Ill post)

Dragon

Originally posted by dragonsoup
Across the square is a fairly modern hotel but in the basement is a fairy grotto type resteraunt (looks like a film set )

Dragon

Probably the Clangers film set, eh?

Originally posted by wsanderson
I'm going to Prague in early December and wondered if anybody could recommend good eating and drinking places.


Err Macdonalds - theyre quite cheap! :cool:


I also would like to hear of anyone's experiences with pickpockets.

Quess what? They pick my ****ing pockets! These Prague Pickpockets are so unoriginal!:| :confused:

check this -

http://www.platan.cz/

cost me approx £120 for 4 nights inc breakfast for a double. they have one pension seperate from the rest - up on the 5th floor with a roof terrace overlooking the river.

go anytime during the winter months and you'll freeze. having said that snow adds another dimension to prague altogther. just take yer mittens.

jolly good.

We stayed here http://www.accommodation-prague.cz/sl.html . It was fairly old fashioned, but very clean, has it's own bathroom/shower and kitchenette. It's on a quiet street but very close to the underground (Flora). The man who owns the apartment is very friendly and helpful, he will collect you from the airport and take you back at the end of your stay for a fee, which is a lot cheaper than getting a taxi. It works out at £22.00 per night for the room.

The underground is easy to use, once you've sussed it. It's cheap, but isn't classified on how far you go, instead on the length of time you'r using it - you shouldn't ever really need anything other than the 12 kc which gives you half an hour. And there are NEVER any conductors on! I would reccommend using the underground if you're only going for a couple of days as, yes, everything is nearby, but you could waste half your holiday walking everywhere instead of getting to the places you want to visit.

I would also recommend NOT eating or drinking too much in the old town, it's about as expensive as London, but we found the other side of the river to be a lot prettier and cheaper. As you go up the hill to the castle, the bars and restaurants are a lot cheaper, nicer, and more friendly than the other side.

The beggars are an odd lot, butI'll leave that for you to see for yourself!

The last thing I would reccommend doing is buying the Lonely Planet guide to Prague - we found it invaluable.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1740594789/qid=1100431871/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2_2/026-3175764-3946826

I really enjoyed it. The buildings and scenery are spectacular. Just be aware that the locals can come across, IMO, as VERY unfriendly. But this shouldn't spoil your visit. Oooh and the Absinthe is VERY cheap over there.

Does anybody know if it's possible to catch a train from Prague to Munich and how much?

Hopefully off to Prague for my 20th. With 40p drinks and hundreds of bars.. You can't go wrong :P

[QUOTE]Originally posted by BoroughGal
[B]The underground is easy to use, once you've sussed it. It's cheap, but isn't classified on how far you go, instead on the length of time you'r using it - you shouldn't ever really need anything other than the 12 kc which gives you half an hour. And there are NEVER any conductors on! I would reccommend using the underground if you're only going for a couple of days as, yes, everything is nearby, but you could waste half your holiday walking everywhere instead of getting to the places you want to visit.
]

underground looks like a set from Dr Who - it's fantastic. remember to 'validate' your ticket before you get on the train though...if there is a conductor, they show no mercy just because you're a tourist!

...and if you like ice cream go to the little shop just behind the Oldest Synagogue (in the Jewish Qtr...)...FANTASTIC!...and the bread dumplings are an interesting experience too...
and you can climb to the top of the tower that straddles the start of Charles Bridge too...which gives a decent view..