Czeching out Prague (on a budget)!

Prague's tribute to John Lennon

• Getting there

With the wide range of budget flights available this shouldn’t prove too much of a problem. As always its best to book early but some late deals can be found if you are willing to be flexible about where you fly from and who you fly with. Despite living only half an hour away from Heathrow and Gatwick, I trained it to Birmingham for a BMI baby flight, and by returning a day earlier than my housemates was able to catch a cheaper Easyjet flight back to Gatwick.

• Where to stay

Many hours were whiled away in procrastination on Skype as we attempted to co-ordinate our flights, escape jury service, and find somewhere to stay. As seasoned travellers, we decided to opt out of the hostel experience instead trawling through the plethora of apartment websites: a past time that more than paid off when we arrived in a beautiful building in the heart of the city. With all modern furnishings and equipment it was a bargain at approximately £15 per night. There was even a Vienetta awaiting us in the freezer and having our own kitchen enabled us to save on eating out.

• What to do
  

Depending on the time of year there will be numerous options available. We went in early October and benefitted from quieter streets and clear blue skies. However, winter in Prague is said to be beautiful with its fairytale spires, castle, and Christmas markets, all covered in a dusting of snow.

Part of the experience of Prague is just walking in the city and taking in the beauty of its buildings, squares and the atmosphere associated with its different areas. The Jewish quarter, Mala Strana and Old Town all have an abundance of cafes, gardens and sites to pique your interest. As you make your way from one to another you will inevitably find yourself passing to and fro over the river on the Charles Bridge: one of the city’s most recognisable destinations and apparently the most popular site for proposals in Europe (or so the Czechs would have us believe).

The most impressive and obvious attraction is Prague castle: a vast, sprawling complex that dominates the city’s hillside. It contains a number of museums and galleries, the Cathedral, and the Royal Palace. It is free to wander within the walls, admiring the magnificent architecture and to visit the Cathedral, but if you wish to enter some of the other buildings, such as the house where Kafka once lived, you will need to pay.

To bring out the child in you, the mirror maze is well worth a visit as you attempt to

discover the angle which produces the most reflections. And hidden away in a quieter part of the city is the John Lennon wall where fans have left their tributes to the music legend.

Many of the churches host classical music concerts in the evenings which can be a relaxing and atmospheric way to end your day. Remember to wrap up warm and look at the bill before heading inside though, as there’s nothing worse than sitting inside a freezing church listening to music you don’t even like.

• Food and Drink

Wine and beer is incredibly cheap in Prague making it popular for a night out or two. However if you don’t fancy hitting the clubs there are numerous bars and late night cafes, some providing live entertainment to tempt customers. By cooking for ourselves most nights and eating street food (the sausages and waffles are amazing) the rest of the time, we were able to splash out on a traditional restaurant recommended by the receptionist of our apartment, where we enjoyed home-made ghoulash served in a hollowed out loaf of bread. As in most cities it's best to stay away from restaurants in the tourist centres which tend to be overpriced, and instead head a little further out for an authentic taste.

• Final Say

For under £100 we had an amazing few days filled with fun, food, and culture, without a hen or stag party in sight, and we even managed to learn a few things along the way: Prague isn’t a country (Livi) and it doesn’t use the euro (despite being an EU member state), but it is very, very beautiful.

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