Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we recommend or where we send you. How this works.
Mala Strana
The other side of the river, directly below the castle. Baroque, steep, and noticeably quieter once the day-trippers have walked back across the bridge.
Mala Strana is the Prague people picture when they are not picturing the Old Town Square: palace walls, red roofs stacked up a hillside, and lanes that empty out in the evening.
The trade is physical. This side of the river is built on a slope, the streets are cobbled, and the walk from the bridge to the castle gate climbs steadily. With a heavy suitcase and an evening flight, that matters.
- Best for
- Couples, second visits, quiet evenings
- Avoid if
- You have mobility issues or a heavy case
- Nightly price
- Similar to the Old Town, sometimes higher
- Metro
- Malostranska (A), then a walk or tram 22
- Noise
- Low after 21:00
What it is actually like
Crowded along one axis and empty everywhere else. The route from the bridge up Nerudova to the castle carries almost every visitor in Prague; step one street sideways and you have a baroque neighbourhood largely to yourself.
The one piece of local knowledge worth having here: tram 22 runs up the hill to Prazsky hrad, so you can ride up to the castle and walk down through Mala Strana rather than climbing. It is covered by an ordinary 46 CZK ticket.
Eating here
Better than the Old Town at the same price, though still tourist-facing near the bridge. The streets around Maltese Square and toward Ujezd hold the restaurants locals will actually cross the river for.
For a serious meal on a budget, the answer is still two metro stops out — see Vinohrady or the food section of the weekend guide.
Getting in and out
Malostranska on metro line A is the connection, but it sits at the bottom of the district, so most addresses involve a climb. Coming from the airport, bus 119 to Nadrazi Veleslavin then metro A runs straight there.
- Metro A at Malostranska
- Trams 12, 20, 22 along the river and up the hill
- Night trams 57 and 58 cross the bridge at Ujezd
Who should book here
Mala Strana suits couples, second visits, and anyone who would rather walk fifteen minutes than listen to a stag party. The evenings are the argument: once the day visitors have crossed back over the bridge, you have a floodlit baroque district that is almost empty, and that is a genuinely rare thing in a European capital.
It suits families and heavy luggage much less well. The hills are real, the cobbles are uneven, and the nearest metro sits at the bottom of the slope.
The funicular up Petrin hill runs on an ordinary transport ticket and takes you to the best free view in Prague. It is a five-minute walk from most Mala Strana addresses and almost nobody staying in the Old Town bothers.
| Compared with | Mala Strana wins on | The other wins on |
|---|---|---|
| Old Town | Quiet, views, atmosphere in the evening | Flat streets, restaurant choice |
| Vinohrady | Being inside the historic city | Price, food, everyday life |
| Josefov | Space and calm | Being five minutes from everything |
The choice between Mala Strana and the Old Town is really a choice between evenings and mornings.
Skip-the-queue tickets and guided walks for these dates — compare times and prices before you go.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mala Strana a good area to stay in Prague?
It is the best area in the city for a couple on a second visit, and a good one on a first visit if quiet evenings matter more than the shortest possible walk to the sights.
Is Mala Strana hilly?
Yes. The district runs from the river up to the castle, and most streets slope. Tram 22 removes the worst of it if you use it in the uphill direction.
How far is Mala Strana from the Old Town?
About fifteen minutes on foot, across Charles Bridge. Early in the morning that walk is one of the best in Europe; at midday it is a slow shuffle through a crowd.