Prague Nightlife
Prague has a rich and varied nightlife and has something for all tastes and budgets. Although many of the pubs and restaurants are typically closed by midnight, many bars and clubs in the centre of the city remain open and wild into the early hours.
The locals enjoy nothing more than a noisy, boisterous discussion accompanied by a beer in the many old style pubs in Prague. However, for a more mellow evening, head down the city's cobbled streets to sample the delights of Charles Bridge and Mala Strana or visit one of Prague's host of fine jazz clubs.
One of Prague's longest traditions is its classic music and the city's version of Mozart's Don Giovanni is not to be missed and can be enjoyed in a traditional and beautiful opera house in the heart of the city. Serious music loves are advised to take a trip to see a performance by the Czech Philharmonic at the Rudolfinium or the Prague Symphony Orchestra at Obecni dum. Once in Prague, visitors can usually get tickets at short notice for performances from the Nova Scena Annex at the National Theatre.
For a more lively night out, Prague offers a range of lively nightlife, including avant-garde clubs, slick cocktail bars, traditional whisky lounges and trendy DJ bars. There are many options in the city centre but for some of the more modern and cheaper clubs, visitors are advised to take a trip to the suburbs such as Zizkov.
Venues tend to be segregated into those for the wealthy Czechs and more well-off tourists, cheap and original bars for young locals and the cheesy, cheap and cheerful pubs for younger tourists and backpackers. Most bars and clubs stay open into the small hours, with many of the clubs chucking out at 6am on some nights. Be warned, however, most nightclubs in Prague are disguised strip joints with saunas and Jacuzzis. Nightclubs as the British know them are generally called discos, dance clubs, music clubs or jazz clubs.
Unlike some European countries, dress codes are unimportant to the Czechs and most clubs allow entry to all as long as you are over 18 (the legal drinking age in Prague). Most drinks are generally inexpensive and you will be able to enjoy a decent night out on a shoestring in this vibrant city. Beer is always cheap and traditional spirits such as vodka are also a safe option for those on a budget.
Irish and British themed bars are all the range in Prague at the moment but if this seems too much like a busman's holiday then some more traditional options include smaller, more traditional pubs and tiny bars where the locals hang out. U Sadu, Skroupovo namesti is a Czech beer hall in the city which also proves popular with Prague's student population.
For a rather different night out, why not try your hand at gambling? Casinos in Prague are big business, and unlike those in other parts of the world they are regarded as sophisticated and laid-back places to frequent. The minimum age for gambling in the Czech Republic is 18 but entrance fees to some of the larger casinos can be extortionate. From the poky pubs on the outskirts of the city, to the grand musical halls in the centre. Prague has nightlife to suit all tastes. Enjoy a glass of wine on a terrace, wander over Prague's many bridges or party until the early hours. Whatever your passion, Prague will certainly not disappoint.
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Nightlife
