A great place for a calm picnic that doesn’t feel like inside the city at all. In fact, if it weren’t for the ubiquitous gentle hum coming from the near transport artery, you would feel like in the countryside.

With fertile fields on one side and a soothing view of the city from the rocky edge on the other, this is a perfect place for relaxing in the grass or a tranquil walk. I understand most people who visit Prague don’t look for places like this but I think it’s a welcome change from the overcrowded downtown streets.

And maybe surprisingly it’s quite easily accessible. There are two options – from “above”: metro station Radlická (B line) or from “below”: tram stop Lihovar (lines 4, 12, 14 and 20) – the latter being shorter, you just cross the train tracks and climb up the hill. Still, make sure you check it on Google maps before going.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Dívčí hrady | Relaxing | Free
U Dívčích hradů, 15000 | Praha 5
24 hours daily

The lime stone cliffs in the south-west of Prague, just above Prokopské údolí, are particularly unique. The whole area of Barrandov is actually called after a French paleontologist Joachim Barrande who made some significant discoveries in this area in the 19th century. The lime stone preserved a lot of prehistoric sea fossils and you can still find them if you know where to seek.

Later, lime stone appeared to be a very attractive mining item. So until some mid-20th century, the whole massive was being mined out. That is also where the largest cliffs come from. Time to time, some of the massive would collapse, leaving the big rocks grow like teeth from the terrain.

By the cliffs there is also one of the best-guarded military areas in the Czech republic. No-one really knows what is its purpose. It is only known that the hills are drilled through with a number of corridors. Allegedly there used to be a secret nazi bomb-research center while later the communists used the space for storage of explosives.

To get to the cliffs, find your own way up either from Hlubočepská or Zlíchov bus/tram stop. If you make it up to the edge, you will definitely agree that it’s one of the best imaginable places for a Sunday trip (which can be either 3 or 15 km long, depends on you) or a picnic. The massive offers a great view of Prague while you can hear the muted sounds of the city…

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Barrandov cliffs | Relaxing | Free
Hlubočepská | Praha 5
24 hours daily

Prague is a very green city, which I find particularly important. In the center there are quite a lot of parks while the outskirts are full of woods. One of the nicest is the hardwood forest at the foothill of Chuchle, at the southwest of Prague. By legend, it is even a magical forest and under one of the trees near the cemetery there is supposed to be a treasure chest…

It is a great place for a family walk or a picnic. You can also find a so-called “mini zoo” there, which was originally a first-aid station for wounded or ill forest animals. But then came the idea of making it a place you where you can actually show the animals. So they built the surrounding-fitting runs and cages and these days you can find there all sorts of deer, boars, owls, wild cats or even a bobcat.

My very favourite place is the somewhat hidden church with a surprisingly large cemetery. If you manage to look through all the leaves (or in winter ) that spot offers a nice view of the river and a part of Prague. It is very silent and often feels even somehow deserted.

Chuchle forest is very comforting in the summer. In the fall you will find all kinds of colourful leaves but you may have most fun there in the winter. If you manage to rent a bobsleigh or something like that, the hill will make for a perfect place to use it…

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Chuchle forest | Relaxing | Free
Velka Chuchle | Praha 5
24 hours daily

One of the places to visit at Újezd is definitely Popocafépetl. There are actually five Cafés of this name in Prague (Na Struze, Italská, Melantrichova, Michalská) – this is the only one which works as a music club, though.

When you find the a bit hollow entrance and walk down the stairs to what used to be a mid-age cellar, you will immediately smell the unmistakable odour. Then you walk into the small and only mildly-lit club with an original and sort of old-school decoration and the party can begin. You can order a coffee, beer, wine or basically any cocktail you name for a very reasonable price.

Virtually every day there is a concert on. Pick yours: Fridays and Saturdays there will be a DJ playing 80′s, 90′s and dance music, live gypsy bands play Sundays, Latino Mondays and other live concerts follow the other days. Just check out the program on their website. The entry is usually free or symbolic. I would just recommend making a reservation since the small club is often very crowded.

Last but not least, Popocafepetl doesn’t basically know anything like a rigid closing-time. They just close when there are not many people left – which can be either at 02:00 or 05:00. Therefore, it’s also a great place to hang out after you’ve been kicked out from somewhere else and still feel like partying…

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Popocafépetl @ Újezd | Bars, Coffee & tea, Music | Staropramen, 0.5L CZK 29
Újezd 19 | Praha 5 | +420739110021
18:00 – 02:00 daily

The name tells it all. Café in Seventh Heaven is a very favorite student café in Prague known for its practical location, great atmosphere, nice interior, wonderful coffee and wine. It is very cozy especially in the winter. What makes it most of all visit-worthy: it is a place to chill, work, eat and party. Us, locals, go there even alone, since it is quite certain, that some of our friends will be already sitting there…

If you visit this place, I would recommend going up the stairs. There’s even a comfy couch in the top floor as well as a nice sight out from the windows and, most of all, a stylish model of a human-sized „god” sitting on a swing.

The Café provides a free wi-fi service, which makes it a great place to go to with a laptop and work a bit. You can meet some well-known journalists, economists or politicians there doing precisely that. If you are a non-smoker, they have a special room just for you.

The waiters are usually very compliant, although often a bit stoned – it is a forgivable thing, though, I guess. The prices are not lowest but still reasonable – as I said, the usual visitors are students. Just be ware – you can get easily addicted to Café in Seventh Heaven and start spending days and weeks there!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Kavárna v Sedmém nebi | Coffee & tea | Café Latté CZK 45
Zborovská 68 | Praha 5 | +420257318110
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 01:00, Sat 12:00 – 01:00, Sun 12:00 – 00:00

Na Kopci restaurant, which is situated in the quiet villadom part of Smíchov is owned by two friends who have known each other since childhood. The outside of the restaurant might surprise you – it’s a typical building from the communist eighties. Compared to the outside, the inside of the restaurant is nice and modern, various family photos are decorating the walls.

At the end of 2010, the owners opened another room in the restaurant, hence there is more space for the hungry visitors. A couple of important things : 1) I strongly recommend to make a reservation, 2) the restaurant is non-smoking, 3) if you’re by foot, keep in mind that it might be a quite long walk uphill!

The cuisine can be considered as international – it consists of various selected dishes of different types. The menu changes during the year and reflects the seasons – that is something what I appreciate about restaurants. 

For starters, try the chef’s selection of six starters, from the main courses I can recommend one of the favorite dishes –  the beef tartare with fries. From the actual menu, I would recommend also the braised lamb shank or veal liver with glazed pear. 

The fact that the restaurant is uphill might be positive at the end – if you do not want to take a bus or taxi on your way back, you can simply roll down with a big tummy

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Na Kopci | Restaurants (International) | Beef tartare with fries CZK 250
K Závěrce 2774/20 | Praha 5 | +420251553102
Mon – Fri 11:30 – 14:30 & 17:30 – 23:00, Sat – Sun 11:30 – 23:00

A laid back atmosphere, exquisite Mexican cuisine and welcoming staff are the main reasons why I can be found in this restaurant just off Anděl metro stop several times a month. As their kitchen is open well until midnight, it’s a nice place for a late dinner. Proved for the third year now – unfortunately rare occurence to find, fortunately to have it so close.

The chef in Hombre del Mundo masters, without a drop in a quality, tacos, fajitas, enchiladas, quesadillas, burritos, grilled meat, vegetables, salads a of course deserts too. If I should pick one plate to recommend you it would be “Sartén filetés de carne”. In other words fine slices of sirloin put on hot oil with rosemary and green pepper – and brought directly to your table. So beware – it is incredibly hot and incredibly good. Perfect with warm vegetables or french fries, as you wish.

But the bartender does not lag far behind the chef. What about a Daiquiri as a starter and Mojito as a dessert?

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Hombre del Mundo | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (Mexican) | Main meal from CZK 90
Nádražní 21 | Praha 5 | +420257326902
Mon – Fri 11:00 – 00:00

5

Are you one of those, whose souvenirs are collected in the skin? Or you just fancy Prague so much that you must engrave it into your derm? Then choose carefully where you go.

There are plenty of tattoo studios but few are really good. There is place called Hell, Poupětova 7, in Prague 7 with its branch Fallen Angel in Prague 5, Kováků 4. Both do tattoos, the first one does piercing and heavy bodymods too. But don’t expect any catalog – they do only originals.

Another one pretty famous and hipster trendy is Tribo (doing both tattoo and piercing) located in Lidická 8 (P5) and also in the very centre – Klimentská 2. The Prague 5 location hosts Musa with a very characteristic style and there are also many guest tattoo artists. I have also heard some good experiences with Alien tattoo studio in Jilská street 22 (Prague 1). Very significant style has Peter Bobek, who opened his studio in summer 2011.

In all those you shall be safe: everything is clean, disinfected, tattoo artists speak at least English (if not Spanish, Italian or German on top of it) and will discuss with you all your questions and remarks and of course will give you proper aftercare treatments and advices.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
A tattoo souvenir | Relaxing, Shopping | Small bw tattoo CZK 500
Kováků 4 | Praha 5
Check the website for opening times

5