Lauren Tabbron shares her favourite things to do in Manchester
Jess Astbury regales tales of festivities in warmer climates.
Getting there
Flights to Prague are very cheap, with prices from Easyjet ranging from £18 to £50 each way all year round, from airports such as London Gatwick, Stansted, Bristol and East Midlands.
When to go
Prague experiences warm summers with showery spells, and very cold winters. Temperatures tend to range between 12 and 22˚C from June to August, but the best months to go for sun without the rain are May and September.
Where to stay
I would highly recommend Sir Toby's hostel. Located slightly outside of the city centre, but only ten minutes away by tram. This hostel is quiet and quaint with friendly staff but also a good place to meet young travellers and party-goers. On a rainy (or hung-over) morning relax on the comfy sofas in the book corner, or head down to the cellar for a quiet drink in the cosy bar, which even provides board games.
Prices start from £8 per night for a shared dormitory.
What to do
The historic Old Town Square is a great place to see some of Prague’s stunning architecture, including the tower at the Old Town Hall and the Astronomical Clock, which features an hourly show of the Apostles and other moving sculptures. After you’ve finished sightseeing, relax and soak up the atmosphere in one of the many cafés surrounding the square. Be careful though; although prices in Prague are generally very low, they are likely to be a lot harder on your bank balance in this touristy area.
The New town is the business and cultural centre of the city. Its modern appearance stands in stark contrast to the traditional charm of the Old Town, and here you’ll find an array of department stores, boutiques and hotels. That’s not to say that the New Town is lacking in culture though – there are also numerous theatres and museums, such as the National Museum and the National Theatre for your delectation and delight.
A great opportunity to immerse yourself in some of Prague’s history, this is Europe’s largest medieval castle complex and the former offices of the Czech Republic’s kings, emperors and presidents. Visit Saint Vitus Cathedral, St George’s Basilica and of course, the Czech crown jewels.
This Gothic stone bridge provides beautiful views of the Vltava River and the surrounding city. During the day it is bustling with musicians, painters and traders – where you can buy souvenirs and beautiful hand-made jewellery.
Where to eat
Never normally a personal fan of a meat-free diet, I was pleasantly surprised by Radost fx, a vegetarian restaurant and bar. This cosy harem-esque restaurant/café/bar is welcoming and once you’ve finished eating you can sample some of the tasty cocktails in the lounge area.
My personal highlight when it came to eating was Cremeria Milano. This coffee shop is famous for its delightful array of delicious ice cream, cakes and pastries. Not only great to visit on a sunny day, Cremeria Milano also stays open late in the evening. We stopped off for a dessert and an extremely rich hot chocolate after an evening meal, and sat outside under the warmth of the patio heaters.
Nightlife
A good cocktail bar for getting into the party mood is Bombay, which although quite small, has an extensive drinks menu and plays some lively dance music. Once suitably energised, make your way to Roxy, a popular nightclub playing mostly Drum ‘n’ Bass and Techno music, near the Old Town Square. Although this club doesn’t have a very modern interior (it feels more like a basement), the drinks are cheap, and the atmosphere is sociable- perfect for meeting other students and travellers.
The Bottom Line
With beautiful architecture almost unrivalled elsewhere in Europe, Prague is a cultural hot spot. This is an ideal destination for a short city break, which fits easily within a student budget.
Right. I'm going there in September. I've decided 
For fear of not getting an answer from the author yet again... how does it compare to similar cities in eastern Europe?
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