Prague, the capital of Czech Republic, is a major European city, the financial and economic centre of the country and, at the same time, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. People wishing to rent an apartment in Prague fall into various categories: working professionals from other EU countries, university students, participants of conventions and conferences, numerous tourists. Some want to rent an apartment in Prague short-term, for 5-7 days, yet others are looking for a long-term Prague rental, from several months to several years. Not only terms of rent, but also personal preferences, individual circumstances vary widely: some want to have a house next to cultural and historic monuments of Prague, others look for bustling nightlife, yet others long for quietness, privacy and proximity of green spaces.
Before starting your search for accommodation in Prague, it is very important to learn about the city and its areas, which neighbourhoods attract which socioeconomic types of residents, which areas are quieter, which ones are more expensive. This review is designed to give you some pointers.
The Old Town (StarГ© MД›sto) is the historic centre of Prague with the highest concentration of monuments, museums, theatres, galleries, countless restaurants and bars in the city. Apartment rentals in Prague that are located in the Old Town will allow you to live within walking distance from most major points of interest of Prague. The Old Town is traversed by 3 metro lines and the tram line, making commuting to other neighbourhoods easy and fast. The flip side of the coin is the high cost of renting, the constant presence of tourists and the practical impossibility to park a car. You should keep this in mind, especially if you are looking for an apartment in Prague long-term, especially for family living.
The Jewish quarter, or Josefov is the smallest district of Prague, surrounded on all sides by the Old Town. It used to be the Jewish ghetto of Prague, but the vast majority of buildings were demolished at the end of the 19th century during the mass reconstruction of the Czech capital, and only a handful of old structures are preserved: six synagogues, a Jewish cemetery and a town hall. Nowadays it is difficult to tell where Josefov ends and the Old Town begins, so those wishing to rent an apartment in this neighbourhood of Prague should know that it won't be much different from renting in StarГ© MД›sto.
The Old Town is found on the right bank of the Vltava river, and if you cross over the Charles bridge to the left bank, you will find yourself in The Less Side (MalГЎ Strana). It is a beautiful area with cobblestone streets, buildings with unique architecture that dates back centuries, several gardens. Fewer tourists mean that it is also quieter, and embassies of many countries are found here. The cost of rent in MalГЎ Strana is comparable to that of the Old Town, but renting an apartment in this area of Prague is more difficult due to the limited accommodation supply.
The New Town (NovГ© MД›sto) is located to the southeast from the Old Town. Don't let the name fool you - Charles IV founded the New Town back in the 14th century. It is lacking in landmarks, and tourists rarely visit, excluding avid shoppers, as it is here where the main shopping streets of Prague are found - Na PЕ™ГkopД› street and VГЎclavskГ© nГЎmД›stГ square in particular. The vast majority of buildings in the New Town are offices and residential complexes, so renting here is not a problem, either for short or long term. Thanks to its proximity to the historic centre of Prague, abundance of restaurants and shops, relative quietness, the New Town is a very comfortable, albeit not cheap, place to live in Prague.
Quite possibly the most optimal choice for middle-class renters looking for an apartment in Prague is the neighbourhood called Vinohrady, located on the hilltop to the east from the New Town, right behind the Wenceslas Square. In the 19th century the area was occupied by vineyards, hence the name of the neighbourhood. Young professionals, foreign nationals and wealthy Prague residents prefer living here for the following reasons: Vinohrady is located next to the centre, public transit here is well-developed, parks are numerous and there is no shortage of good restaurants , yet tourist presence is practically nil. Naturally, with growing popularity the cost of rent in Vinohrady climbs up as well.
Adjoining the central neighbourhoods of Prague from the east, ЕЅiЕѕkov had been a separate working class town until 1922. Today it is a full-grown neighbourhood of Prague with a colourful mosaic of residents. Up until the Second World War Zizkov had had bad reputation, but today it is a secure and comfortable place to live, even "greener" than Vinohrady, let alone the central areas of the city. The last several decades saw many buildings being reconstructed, large malls and stores being built, good restaurants and cafes being opened. Zizkov's appearance is improving ever so slowly: the view is still spoiled by numerous panel high-rises, built in the soviet era. Zizkov is very popular among students and young foreigners: even though it is devoid of respectable air of the New Town or Vinohrady, renting an apartment here is a fair bit cheaper.
To see the list of all available apartments for rent in a certain district of Prague, use the interactive map of the city on this page.
