Prague

Where to stay

Most budget hostels cluster in Žižkov and Vinohrady, both a short tram or metro ride from the Old Town. Vinohrady puts you on Metro Line A with stops like Náměstí Míru and Jiřího z Poděbrad close at hand, while Žižkov runs a notch cheaper across beds, food, and beer.

Getting around

• Buy a 24-hour or 3-day transit pass at any metro station rather than single-ride tickets. It covers the metro, trams, and buses, and pays for itself after two or three trips.
• Eat away from Old Town Square and Charles Bridge. The same svíčková or goulash costs roughly half as much at a pub in Žižkov or around Náměstí Jiřího z Poděbrad.
• The Náplavka farmers market runs Saturday mornings along the Vltava embankment near Palackého náměstí. It is a genuinely cheap breakfast option with local food and coffee, and none of the tourist markup.

When to go

January and February offer the lowest hostel prices, while beds fill up and rates climb from June through August, with July being the tightest month to find anything decent at short notice.