Czech out Prague with Czech Airlines (CSA)

09/27—Summer 2015
Czech out Prague with Czech Airlines (CSA)
Prague the Capital of the Czech Republic and one of the most
popular European city break destinations is now available again
as a scheduled destination from Liverpool John Lennon Airport
and is less than 2 hours flying time away courtesy of Czech
Airlines (CSA).
Passengers now have the opportunity of travelling to the Czech
Capital either for a weekend stay or longer by Czech Airlines
Airbus A319 aircraft, which inaugurate the new twice weekly
service to Vaclav Havel Prague Airport, Ruzyne on Monday 18th
May. The new service operates out from Liverpool at 08.55 on
Fridays and Mondays with return flights departing from Prague
at 07.00 arriving at Liverpool at 08.15 on those days allowing a
good choice of short breaks or longer stays.
Czech currency is readily obtainable from a choice of bank cash
machines in the arrivals hall at Prague Airport (£1 = 37 CZK
(Czech Korunna)).
An Airport Express Bus operates every half hour to Namesti
Republiky and Revolucini in the centre of the City and tickets
can be obtained from the driver or at the Tourist Information
Office in arrivals. For our last visit to Prague we had pre booked
a transfer from the Airport with the hotel which cost us 800 CZK
(£22) and took around 25 minutes to reach the 4 star Savic Hotel
in the centre of the old town (The Stare Mesto).
The Astronomical clock
Peter Mawdsley
Great views are available from the tower of the Old Town Hall
and the rooftop restaurant of the nearby U Prince Hotel.
The Old Town Square (Staromestske nam) is the very centre of
activity surrounded by a wide choice of open air restaurants and
bars serving Czech and other popular cuisine. As well as the
Villa Richter located in the vineyards below the Castle, we ate at
the terrace restaurant at the U Prince Hotel in the main
square, the Ristorante Lascala an Italian restaurant in
Celetna, just off the Square (at the side of the Tyn
Church) and at the restaurant Dominikana at the Savic
Hotel, all of which we would recommend. Wine and
spirits are relatively expensive in Prague and we found
the local beers are more reasonably priced and well
worth sampling at around 50 to 60 CZK (£2) a glass.
The majority of the City’s major attractions are easily accessible
on foot although comfortable shoes are needed for many of the
cobbled streets and the climb up the steps or the
hills up to the Castle and up to the Petrin Tower. A
wide range of themed guided walking tours of the
City’s attractions are available from the Old Town
Square and tours by horse drawn carriage or open
topped replica veteran cars are also available. The
City has an extensive network of modern and
historic trams and its own underground metro
network.
Many but not all cafes and restaurants automatically add
a 10% service charge to your bill so check before you
decide what extra you want to leave for good service.
Classical and jazz concerts are held throughout the
day and evening at a wide variety of venues including many of
the medieval churches. Concerts are held at the impressive art nouveau Municipal House (Obecni dum). Tours of the building,
which is the home of the Prague Symphony orchestra are
available both during the day and in the evening and it contains a
number of impressive restaurants which are open to the public.
While we were there a Jazz festival was taking place with a large
sound stage set up in the centre of the square providing free
entertainment for jazz lovers and visitors. Many of the road and
direction signs only show the Czech names for places and
attractions which can be confusing if you are looking for the
English translation version.
Prague Castle (Prazsky Hrad) dominates the City from its hilltop
position across the Vltava River and its many bridges including
the Charles Bridge (Karluv Most), one of the most popular
visitor attractions with its artists and performers entertaining the
crowds, built in the 14 century for
Emperor Charles IV.
The main tourist office is located in the Old Town Hall next door
to the famous Astronomical Clock, which is surrounded by
crowds on the hour to watch it perform and listen to its chimes.
The guide books recommend allowing at
least half a day to look around the Castle,
Museums, St Vitus’s Cathedral and the
surrounding grounds and gardens (We
would allow at least a couple of half days
just to scratch the surface of the area
around the Castle). Entry to the grounds
and gardens is free and entrance to the
interior of the buildings costs from 250 to
350 CZK for the major attractions. Just
below the Castle complex on slopes
leading down to the river can be found the
Villa Richter Vineyard with its open air
wine bar and restaurant with brilliant
views over the river and old town (a three
course fixed price lunch menu was
available for 250 CZK). There are lots of
great bars and restaurants with beer
gardens opening out on to the river on the
bank opposite the old town on either side
of the Charles Bridge.
Prague Castle from the River
LJLA—so much quicker and easier than Manchester
Peter Mawdsley
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A selection of boat tours are operated
09/27—Summer 2015
The Charles Bridge
Prague Tourist Office
City dominated by the National Museum at one end and by a
statue of St Wenceslas on a horse surrounded by four Czech
patron saints. It is also the home of some stunning historic
buildings and for those seeking some familiar retail therapy a
large Marks & Spencer store.
from various departure points on both sides of the river,
including lunch and dinner and jazz cruises throughout the day
and night (prices from 190 CZK for an hour long cruise).
After our second half day exploring Prague Castle we continued
on up the hill to visit the Loreto Shrine (Loretanska Kaple) and
then continued across to the Strahov Monastery (Strahovsky
Klaster). Past the nearby Bellevista restaurant set in another
vineyard which also had impressive views back down to the
Castle then took the footpath on up to the wooded Petrin Hill to
visit Prague’s scaled down version of the Eiffel Tower
(Rozhledna built in 1891) where you can climb to the top of its
299 steps if you are fit enough. A maze, pleasant gardens and an
observatory are also set nearby and a funicular railway provides
an easier way of getting either up or down the hill and some great
views (cost 60 CZK fare).
A small food and gifts market was being held on the Monday
morning that we were there in Havelska just off the Old Town
Square.
An early start will be involved to return to Vaclav Havel Airport
Prague, Ruzyne for the 07.00 return flight back to Liverpool.
Once airside at Prague Airport there are good viewing opportunities of the aprons and a good selection of catering and retail are
available. Security screening of bags was not centralised at
Prague but instead carried out close to the individual gate areas
and took some time to get through, with several flights being
handled at once. Once through to the forward departure gate area
there was only a small café and duty free shop.
Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske Namesti) which is actually a long
boulevard with gardens down the middle was the central scene of
the Velvet Revolution which lead to the end of Communism in
the Country in November 1989, is the main focus of the modern
We would thoroughly recommend Prague for a weekend break or
longer and the both the Savic and the U Prince Hotels where we
The Charles Bridge and Cruise Boats
Prague Tourist Office
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LJLA—Centre of the Known Universe
09/27—Summer 2015
stayed for our weekend visit.
Prague is also well known for its Christmas markets which are
among the best in Europe and it will be possible to travel to them
direct from Liverpool on the new service.
Further information:
Prague Tourist Office—
www.prague-info.cz/
Flights are now on sale at—
www.czechairlines.co.uk
Prague Airport—
www.prg.aero
Public transport information—
www.prg.aero/en/parking-transport/transport/public-transit/
Minibus to City—
www.cedaz.cz/public-shuttle-bus-from-airport-to-prague-centre.php
Train & Express Bus to City—
www.prg.aero/en/parking-transport/transport/train-airport-express/
Savic Hotel—
www.savic.eu/
U Prince Hotel—https://www.hoteluprince.com/hotel-en
Prague Castle information and prices—
www.hrad.cz/en/prague-castle/prague-castle-tourist-information/
tickets.shtml
River cruises—
www.cruise-prague.cz/cruises
Right Upper—The Petrin Tower
Right Lower—The Municipal House – Concert Hall
Below—St Vitus’s Cathedral
Peter Mawdsley
Previously published in 09/27—110—Autumn 2009 when Peter
went to Prague with Wizz. Now updated to 2015 and CSA.
Czech Airlines Airbus A319
LJLA—so much quicker and easier than Manchester
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Czech Airlines