Getting to and around Prague

1. Getting to Prague from Manchester

There are several budget airlines that fly directly from Manchester to Prague and it will usually take you 2 hours at an average cost of 20 to 40 pounds for a one-way ticket in 2022 if there’s no flight delay or cancellation. If you are travelling around Europe during summer (from June to August), you should be prepared that airports are likely to be crowded as it is the peak tourist season in most countries. You should check the latest news and advice from the airline companies to find out how much time in advance you should reach the airport. Personally, I would reach 3 hours ahead of my scheduled flight time.  

2.  Getting around Prague

Accommodations in Prague

1. Giotto Apartments (S$37 Per Person Per night, stayed for 3 Nights)

I have booked this accommodation 3 months in advance and I am excited to get a private room at a pretty reasonable price. Even though this accommodation is not located in the city centre, as the public transport network is really extensive, efficient and affordable in Prague, it is easy to get into the city centre quickly. Furthermore, for just S$12 extra per night, I get to enjoy my personal space and a private ensuite toilet as compared to staying in a hostel in the city centre. I personally think this is money well spent to ensure that I will have a good night’s rest as I could easily save this amount by just cooking 1 to 2 meals per day instead of eating out. This apartment has a really awesome and well-equipped kitchen as well. I would definitely check out this accommodation again if I were visiting Prague again.

Nevertheless, for people who are very sensitive, this place may not be suited for you as the walls in the apartment are so thin that you can hear the cars on the street and people talking in the next room. I found it unbearable the first day when I stayed in the room. However, I got used to the noise on the 2nd day and developed an attachment to the place on the 3rd day when I had to leave.

2. Sir Toby’s Hostel (S$ 25 Per Person Per night, stayed for 1 night)   

I had booked this accommodation as I had to catch the bus to Berlin at 8 am the next day. I wanted to make sure that I was located within walking distance (20-30 mins) of the bus terminal. I stayed in a dormitory room for six people and I had a pretty good night’s sleep. The bedsheet was smelling fresh and clean. I am also really thankful that the other roommates were all very considerate. If you are planning to stay in a hostel, I will recommend you tire yourself out during the day so that when you hit the bed in the hostel, you will fall right asleep regardless of the noise in the surrounding. 

If you are planning to cook in this hostel, do note that the fridges are really small and packed. I would probably choose not to cook if I were staying in this hostel for several days. 

Attractions in Prague

1. Prague Old Town

As compared to Italian Old Town like Venice, Florence and Verona, Prague’s old town is massive. It takes 1 hour to walk from one side of the city centre to the other end.

The historic buildings are renovated and restored to the olden days’ glory. It is really magical to be walking around the city. The roads are clean and most buildings are in new condition. Overall, I felt that the buildings in Prague were better maintained than in the cities in Italy. 

I am really impressed by the development in the city and my assumptions about Prague were completely wrong. You can find out more about it here. 

2. Prague Castle

The view from the castle was rewarding. The climb up the castle was a little tiring for me as I was panting by the time we reached the vantage point on the castle. The climb ascends is definitely less rigorous than climbing up onto Mount Faber in Singapore or even the Bukit Timah hill. However, I think that climbing up to the castle may be a little challenging for my dad. It was to my surprise that the entrance to Prague Castle is free unlike many of the attractions in Italy and Edinburgh. 

Food in Prague

1. Eating from the Supermarket (S$7 per meal)

As a tourist, the two common supermarkets that you will come across in Prague are Albert and Lidl. I am also surprised to learn that the general prices of food in Prague are in fact higher than in the UK. I think the main reason is that groceries are taxed at 15% in the Czech Republic while 0% in the UK. Therefore, I am really thankful that I still have access to pretty affordable and high-quality food in the UK at this moment. 

Personally, I would think that the cost of living in Prague would be quite high for me as most of my expenditures are predominantly on groceries. For 6 meals eating from the Supermarket in Prague, I spent £26/S$42 which averages £4/S$7 per meal. I would have spent the same amount eating from a Chinese restaurant in Prague in September 2022. Once again, this experience dispelled my assumptions that eating from the supermarket would always be cheaper in Europe.   This assumption is true in the UK, Italy and Germany, but not in the Czech Republic.      

Just like in Italy, Chinese food in the Czech Republic is the most affordable eating-out option.  I paid S$6 for a plate of tofu fried noodles and S$3 for a bowl of hot and sour soup. The taste of the food was decent and I would give this restaurant 3 out of 5 stars. 

Total Expenditures

Next Destination: Berlin

You can find out more about my journey from Prague to Berlin here.