Spec me Prague

Ahleckz · 27 Oct 2010 at 12:57

How cold are we talking?
I'm probably going to be in Prague for Christmas. 2008 I was in Moscow, where it was between -20 and -30. 2009 I was in Kiev where it was around -5 to -15.

Clipsey · 27 Oct 2010 at 13:09

Awesome city break, highly recommend it! Loads to do and see

EvilDreams · 27 Oct 2010 at 13:11

If you are going to Prague you should definitely go see this place:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedlec_Ossuary

Official site:

http://www.kostnice.cz/

I highly recommend it.

Ahleckz · 27 Oct 2010 at 13:14

EvilDreams said:
If you are going to Prague you should definitely go see this place:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedlec_Ossuary

I highly recommend it.

That looks awesome, reminds me of the Pechersk Lavra in Kiev where there are partially mummified bodies of Orthodox Saints. Seeing these unbound, decayed hands, in a glass box is very odd especially as you have to travel around the catacombs by your own little candle navigating the locals who kiss each glass coffin individually.

EvilDreams · 27 Oct 2010 at 13:16

Ahleckz said:
That looks awesome, reminds me of the Pechersk Lavra in Kiev where there are partially mummified bodies of Orthodox Saints. Seeing these unbound, decayed hands, in a glass box is very odd especially as you have to travel around the catacombs by your own little candle navigating the locals who kiss each glass coffin individually.

I haven't been to that one, but I love those types of macabre places. Sounds very "Indiana Jones"....

There is one in Rome too, I think it is/was a monastery, when the monks that live there die they exhume their remains and put them on display still dressed in their monk robes.

It was closed when I went to Rome though

Col_M · 27 Oct 2010 at 13:31

It's tricky to say how cold it will be but expect -5 possibly -10C if it's particularly cold, it's colder in Jan and Feb usually but last night it was -3 here. I can't say for sure if there will be snow as I usually go home to the UK for xmas but the last couple years it was snowing here from what I remember. If it does snow it's no big deal, everything still works and the roads and most pavements are cleared. You want it to snow though as the city looks beautiful under snow

A lot of hotels and other things have prices in Euros as well as crowns, not 100% sure but it's probably our proximity to Germany and it makes things easier for other continental tourists.

Smit · 27 Oct 2010 at 13:32

Ahleckz said:
How cold are we talking?
I'm probably going to be in Prague for Christmas. 2008 I was in Moscow, where it was between -20 and -30. 2009 I was in Kiev where it was around -5 to -15.

I believe last year was around -17 here (at the lowest it got) in Prague and that was in late December/January time

Not as cold as the likes of Kazakhstan at -40

Ahleckz · 27 Oct 2010 at 13:41

Ah right, I'll assume it'll be hotter than Moscow but colder than Kiev then and pack accordingly. Though, I doubt I'll be outside quite as much as I was in Moscow as I'm lead to believe it's a much more compact city.
I'm sure I'll just be inside bars and restaurants most of the time anyway!

Thanks.

Rotty · 27 Oct 2010 at 15:39

Lucero said:
Hmm, why do they book in Euros??

no idea they have done for years

make sure you check the preference rate and also expedia

Liquidfox · 28 Oct 2010 at 08:55

We went in Feb of one year, was around -5 if i remember rightly, place was dead too

Dr House · 28 Oct 2010 at 09:58

Rotty said:
and an excellent restaurant

http://www.zatisigroup.cz/en/vzatisi/

They have fantastic food, a little expensive but really really nice.

Django x2 · 28 Oct 2010 at 15:21

Where should I be looking for flights? I see that I can get Gatwick for around £65 pp.

Ideally I'd like to fly from Southampton, but I can't seem to find a website which shows which airports fly to where

Ahleckz · 28 Oct 2010 at 15:57

Lucero said:
Where should I be looking for flights? I see that I can get Gatwick for around £65 pp.

Ideally I'd like to fly from Southampton, but I can't seem to find a website which shows which airports fly to where

http://www.skyscanner.net/ is good, though Southampton is quite a small airport and it'll be unlikely any of the major carriers will fly from there. You'll probably get a flight to Amsterdam/Paris and have to change there. Won't be worth it, just travel to a bigger airport initially.

Rotty · 28 Oct 2010 at 18:17

Ahleckz said:
http://www.skyscanner.net/ is good, .

skyscanner is good for finding who flys where but rubbish for prices and bookings, the prices they quote are rarely competetive and when they are they are hardly ever available

PapaLazaru · 28 Oct 2010 at 18:39

Get smashed in the Beer Factory then head down to Paradise Bar.

Buddah · 28 Oct 2010 at 19:41

Go see the astronomical clock? Watch the video clip for much awsomeness

Housey · 28 Oct 2010 at 20:30

Great city, been there on many occasions, business and pleasure and always enjoyed it.

apeZ · 28 Oct 2010 at 21:11

Lucero said:
Where should I be looking for flights? I see that I can get Gatwick for around £65 pp.

Ideally I'd like to fly from Southampton, but I can't seem to find a website which shows which airports fly to where

Don't know anything about Prague, but I always use skyscanner.net for flights and then book through the actual airline. Gives a good breakdown of prices; I particularly like being able to see prices across the entire month, as they fluctuate a lot.

Django x2 · 27 Dec 2010 at 21:13

ok, so we're here

Very beautiful city, just getting bearings with landmarks and stuff.

A few Q's for those that know the area.

We are staying at the Novotel Praha, 38 katerinska, just south of Wenceslas Sq.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en...tljp129348423703832&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

Tomorrow we planned to go to Charles Bridge and then Old Town. What is the easiet way to get there, we don't mind a walk if it's not too far.

Also, recommendations for lunch stops / restauarants in those areas?

Wednesday we plan to do the Castle, again, what is the easiest way to get there from our location.

Thanks

weescott · 27 Dec 2010 at 22:16

Use the tube from Pavlova to muzeum and change onto the A line to Mustek (20kc IIRC for a ticket in the station) and walk the rest. There are signposts to the castle. You can walk but it's a bit far. Where you are staying there isn't that much to see in close proximity.

When you are in a bar, ask for Utopense (it translates to 'drowned') it's a pickled sausage that you have with beer. I was addicted to it.

There is an Irish bar that's right behind your hotel if you like that sort of thing. It's just inside Praha 1.