My trip to Prague and Budapest was via a tour company, so they handled all matters regarding lodging. Fortunately, Rick Steves’ Europe selected an excellent hotel in Prague with a central location, a hearty breakfast, well-appointed rooms, and great customer service.
The following is some insight into selecting a hotel in Prague based on the 5 days I spent in the city.
My recommendation to travelers is to select a hotel in Staré Mesto (Old Town), Malá Strana (Lesser Town), or Nové Město (New Town), as this is where most of the must-see attractions are located.
Staré Mesto (Old Town)
This district is home to the Astronomical Clock, Old Town Square, the Jewish District, and several other note-worthy sites. It also has a great number of restaurants and shops. My hotel was located in Staré Mesto, about a 5-minute walk from Old Town Square, and it was extremely convenient because I could walk to most places and not have to rely on public transportation. One negative to lodging near Old Town Square is the crowds and noise, which can get bothersome during peak travel seasons like summer and Christmas time.
The northern section of Staré Mesto, especially the area around the Jewish District, is peaceful and beautiful and would be a great place to lodge when visiting Prague.
Malá Strana (Lesser Town)
Across the Charles Bridge from Staré Mesto, one finds Malá Strana (Lesser Town). This district is also close to most sites, but unlike Staré Mesto, I found it to be less crowded and less touristy. When my parents visited Prague, they lodged in Malá Strana at the Hotel Pod Vezi. They enjoyed this part of the city and said it was peaceful during the evenings when they would go out for a stroll.
Malá Strana has more hills than Staré Mesto and Nové Město but none that I would consider steep. The steeper hills are found in the northern portion of Malá Strana as one walks towards Hradčany Square and Prague Castle.
Nové Město (New Town)
To the east and south of Staré Mesto, one finds Nové Město (New Town). While the area does have “New” in its name, there are still plenty of historical buildings and sites to be found. Nové Město is where one finds Wenceslas Square and the Národní Muzeum (National Museum) alongside more modern eateries, cafes, stores, and bars. I spent one day in this part of Prague, and it definitely felt more modern and less crowded than Staré Mesto and Malá Strana.
While Nové Město is relatively close to sites found in Staré Mesto, travelers may need to use public transit to reach attractions in Malá Strana and Prague Castle. Public transportation is plentiful in Nové Město, and this area is home to two major metro stations, Můstek and Muzeum.
When selecting a hotel in Prague, one needs to consider that older, historic hotels may not be accessible. My hotel, built in the 1930s, did not have accessible rooms or an accessible breakfast area.
Review of Leon D’ Oro
My hotel in Prague was simply the best, but I may be biased because my room had a terrace with amazing views of the Astronomical Clock Tower and St. Vitus Cathedral. The Leon D’ Oro only has a handful of rooms with a balcony, so I got very lucky!! This hotel is a stone’s throw away from Old Town Square, a 10-minute walk to Charles Bridge, a 15-minute walk to Wenceslas Square, and if you’re adventurous like me, a 30-minute scenic walk to Prague Castle.
Leon D’ Oro is a simple hotel located in the heart of Old Town with spacious rooms and suites and a hearty breakfast buffet. When it comes to amenities, it provides travelers with a business center, luggage storage, and a parking garage. The hotel does offer shuttle service to/from Václav Havel Airport Prague at a rate of 45€ per their site. (I opted for another shuttle service, which I found via Get Your Guide, as it was less expensive.)
When I emailed the hotel to reserve additional nights before the tour, the staff was very responsive and helpful in answering my questions. The staff also provided great customer service during my stay and quickly addressed a maintenance issue.
Did I feel safe in the hotel? Yes, very much so! My first 2 days in Prague were as a solo traveler, so safety was a big concern, and this hotel exceeded expectations. All common areas were well-lit, reception desk staff monitored the front door, and room doors were locked by several bolts. I highly recommend this hotel to female travelers while visiting Prague.
Per my reservation, I had a double room. The room was very clean and had considerable storage space: a dresser with several drawers and a large cabinet with hanging space. The bathroom was also spacious. The only drawback was how high the mirror was placed. I am only 4 feet, 11 inches, and all I could see in the mirror was the top of my head!
The room also had a safe, kettle, coffee packets, tea, cream, and sugar.
The hotel also provided a hearty breakfast buffet ~ table filled with different types of sweet breads, pancakes, waffles, jams, sauces; table topped with various types of fruit; section with items such as avocado toast, eggs, sausage, other types of meat, hash browns; yogurt bar with all sorts of toppings; another table with breads, rolls, muffins; dispenser with different types of juices; an absolutely wonderful machine that made espressos, lattes, cappuccinos, and more. And the selection changed every morning so breakfast did not get boring. I really miss the heart-shaped pancakes and the cappuccino machine!!
(As you can tell, the breakfast at the Leon D’ Oro was one of the highlights of my trip!)
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