Prague's historic centre is small enough that most hotels are within a 30-minute walk of Old Town Square, so "where to stay" is less about distance and more about atmosphere, noise and price. This guide compares the neighbourhoods that visitors actually choose between, with the practical detail that matters on arrival: how the driver gets you and your luggage there.
The quick answer
First visit and no budget limit: Old Town or the Lesser Town. Best value close to everything: New Town around Wenceslas Square or the streets towards the National Theatre. Quieter, more local, better cafés: Vinohrady. Modern hotels with parking and quick motorway access: Karlín, Smíchov or Anděl. Every one of them is 20 to 40 minutes from the airport by private car for a fixed 750 CZK.
Old Town (Staré Město)
The medieval core around Old Town Square and Charles Bridge. You step out of the hotel into the sights, and pay for it in price and noise: the lanes are busy until midnight. Cars are restricted, so hotels here arrange a permit for luggage drop-off; your driver can take you to the door with it. Best for short first visits.
Lesser Town (Malá Strana) and Hradčany
The baroque quarter under the castle, across Charles Bridge: palaces, gardens, cobbled lanes and the quietest evenings in the centre. Uphill in places, fewer restaurants late at night. Hotels near Malostranské náměstí are reachable by car; the castle district above is more restricted. Best for romance, photographers and anyone who wants the castle at breakfast.
New Town (Nové Město) and Wenceslas Square
Not new since 1348, but wider streets, more chain hotels and the best public transport: three metro lines meet here. Wenceslas Square itself is loud at night; the streets between it and the river (towards Národní and the National Theatre) are the sweet spot. Best for value, transport and business travellers.
Vinohrady
Elegant 19th-century residential district east of the centre, with Riegrovy sady park, the best café and restaurant density in the city and a local rather than tourist feel. 15 minutes by metro or tram to the Old Town, 25 on foot. Best for longer stays and repeat visitors.
Žižkov, Karlín, Smíchov and Anděl
Žižkov is the bar district under the TV tower, cheap and loud. Karlín, rebuilt after the 2002 flood, has the new office and hotel quarter along the river and good restaurants. Smíchov and Anděl on the left bank have large modern hotels with parking, a shopping centre and the fastest way onto the motorways for day trips. Best for cars, groups and business.
Comparison
| Area | Walk to Old Town Square | Character | Price | Car access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Town | 0–10 min | historic, busy, loud at night | highest | restricted, permit for drop-off |
| Lesser Town | 10–15 min | baroque, quiet, hilly | high | partly restricted |
| New Town | 5–15 min | practical, best transport | medium | good |
| Vinohrady | 25 min | local, cafés, parks | medium | good |
| Karlín / Smíchov | 20–30 min | modern, business | medium–low | best, parking |
| Žižkov | 25 min | bars, budget | low | good |
Getting to your hotel
Arriving by plane? A private transfer from Prague Airport to the city centre is a fixed 750 CZK for a sedan with up to 4 passengers, 20 to 40 minutes, with the driver waiting in the arrivals hall.
The price is the same for every district, at any hour, and the driver knows which Old Town hotels can be reached by car and where the drop-off point is for those that cannot. See the best time to visit Prague for when hotel prices are lowest.
Get an instant fixed price in the booking form — the quote you see is the price you pay, for the whole car.