42 Best Hotels in Prague, Czech Republic

A baroque fever dream of Prague masterminded by an Italian developer, the Alchymist doesn't go the understated route. With filigreed designs; a front courtyard with a koi pond and a bridge; room after room of intricate, gilded designs stitched together by a 500-year-old staircase; and a UNESCO-protected façade, it's the living definition of de trop. Thankfully, that's what makes it so fun. And little extras just embellish all that glamour, including wood floors and ceilings with painted designs and a small but excellent spa. 

Opened in 1932, the Alcron was one of Prague's first luxury hotels; a major renovation of the building at the end of the '90s modernized the look but restored the art deco building and the crystal chandeliers—and kept the charm. The dramatic white-marble staircase front and center is bound to impress. The hotel is no longer the luxury leader it was 12 years ago, but that's just fine—it occupies the business niche quite well, outfitting rooms with flat-screen TVs and offering express dry-cleaning service and good Wi-Fi throughout. The restaurant remains one of Prague's best.

A stylish hotel comprising rooms and apartments, in a slightly off-the-beaten-track location in Malá Strana. It has some gorgeous design and a lovely outdoor courtyard, and having this authentic, beautiful neighborhood often entirely to yourself but still being close to the main sights is a real treat. Rooms are comfortable and spacious, with traditional parquet flooring and some with outside space. Breakfast is served in the original 12th-century hall on the second floor.

This charming music-themed property kicked off Prague's luxury hotel boom in the early 2000s and still holds up well against the competition. While the music theme may be more of a gimmick than an amenity, that's forgivable considering that the hotel hosts live concerts and even has an on-site music librarian. Rooms are sleek and decorated in sandy tones with red and pink punctuations, flat-screen TVs, and spacious, well-lit bathrooms. Another attraction is the rooftop restaurant and bar, with drop-dead gorgeous views of Prague. Although it's at the base of the street leading to the American embassy, there are plenty of bars and restaurants nearby.

There's plenty of competition in Prague's high-end hotel market, but the Augustine—now part of Marriott's Luxury Collection—continues to come out on top. How did they pull it off? First, there's the historic location, converted from a 13th-century monastery, with several monks still living on the grounds. Then there's the impeccable service and great drinking and dining offer, including an atmospheric cellar bar with their own beer brand. And finally, the rooms themselves: designed by Olga Polizzi, they incorporate modernist and cubist furniture designs—chaises, dressers—with art from 1920s and '30s Czechoslovakia and splashes of color on the unfinished wood floors. There are many other five-star hotels in the city, but the Augustine truly reflects Prague's distinctive beauty.

Though this hotel shares a street with the fancy-pants Grand Mark, and also occupies a baroque town palace, it's a step down in terms of atmosphere and quality (but also, fortunately, price). Here, Best Western has gone for modern chain-hotel convenience, especially in the serviceable room furnishings, at the expense of an awe-inspiring design. To get a sense of the building's heritage, take a look at the 14th-century wine cellar.

The concept here is "chinoiserie meets art nouveau," as best as we can tell, meshing the hotel's original 100-year-old structure with Asian script and Buddhas throughout. In the rooms, this comes across as black-lacquer cabinetry, silky smooth linens, and freestanding bathtubs with a mosaic of a dragon on the exterior. It's a bit love it or hate it, and it doesn't exactly scream "Czech," but it's certainly luxurious. The spa is small but management compensates with in-room treatments. At peak times the lobby hums with a motley collection of moneyed Europeans chatting with the Czech staff wearing Chinese outfits. Guests get to use a separate entrance for the Buddha-Bar, and breakfast is served in the more continental Siddhartha Café.

Dripping with glamour, this mammoth 19th-century neoclassical palace is part of the Marriott Hotel's high-end Autograph Collection. The high-ceilinged lobby space, which was once a post office and now does double duty as a café, oozes luxe touches like towering palm trees and gargantuan floor lamps. The big beds, armchairs, and striped wallpaper maintain the period feel in the rooms. Elsewhere, there are plenty of other baronial touches, including a big cigar bar, one of the oldest Cognac vaults in Europe, and a gorgeous Roman spa with mosaic tile flooring.

A friendly jewel-theme hotel that's close to all the Staré Mĕsto action, the staff here go the extra mile, from the little afternoon tea cakes brought to your room to the bedtime-story cards distributed in the evening. Beds are large and luxurious, though some rooms are not huge. Save money by booking one of the three single rooms if you're traveling alone. There can be a little street noise; the hotel bar overlooking said street is a cool place to start or end your night and offers discounts for guests.

Rivaling the best design hotels in capital cities around the world, this unique retreat goes toe to toe with many of the city's grande dame hotels; it's smart, fresh, and funky, with a modern art deco theme created by a host of top-notch designers. There's an art tour, a rooftop spa, and gorgeous decor, with artworks scattered throughout the public areas, although the rooms are perhaps a little plain considering the thought put into the other areas of the hotel.

Though it has plenty of competition at the top end of the market, the Prague outpost of the Four Seasons luxury chain keeps up, not least because it simply has one of the best locations in the city: right on the river, close to the Charles Bridge, giving guests beautiful views from many of the rooms and a general fairy-tale feel. It has a mix of old European-style and more modern rooms across its different wings (there are four buildings in all; the modern structure is joined by existing buildings from the baroque, neoclassical, and neo-Renaissance eras). It's classic Four Seasons throughout: exceedingly comfortable, stately, perhaps-a-little-too-traditional decoration combined with all modern conveniences, a knockout spa and pool, and formal, conscientious service. There's a lavish breakfast spread that, alas, is not included in the basic rate. Both the Italian and Japanese in-house restaurants (the latter on the roof) are brilliant, too. Try to reserve well in advance (three months) to get a better rate.

Consistently rated one of Prague's best boutique hotels, Golden Well offers luxurious rooms with stellar views, first-class service, and one of the city's finest restaurants. Hidden away at the top of a narrow side street, the 16th-century hotel building is effectively stuck onto the side of a hill below Prague Castle, affording it magnificent views of Malá Strana's orange rooftops. The bedrooms themselves are opulent and elegant, with plush furnishing, Richelieu reproduction antiques, and large framed portraits, while the bathrooms are more modern affairs, with rain showers and remote-controlled toilet seats. Each room also features large screens with Apple TV, Illy capsule coffee machines, and smart iPads. Breakfast, which consists of hot savory and sweet menu items (order as many dishes as you like), as well as a well-stocked buffet, is served in the hotel's famous restaurant-with-a-view Terasa U Zlaté studně. But what most distinguishes the Golden Well is its staff; they're among the friendliest and most professional in Prague.

Consistently rated one of Prague's best boutique hotels, the Golden Well Hotel is hidden away at the top of a narrow side street in Malá Strana. Effectively built into the side of a hill below Prague Castle (it's so close, guests get free tickets to the castle gardens), the location affords spectacular views of the city. Rooms are done in a classic Renaissance style, some with original ceiling beams. Bathrooms are spacious—some rooms even come with Jacuzzis. Upstairs, the eponymous restaurant serves breakfast with a side of the panoramic views. But what most distinguishes the Golden Well is its staff; they're easily the best, and the friendliest, in Prague.

This stately old art nouveau palais dominates a picturesque corner near the Powder Tower and Námĕstí Republiky. The rooms are decked out in elegant cream linens and dark-wood furniture for a conservative tone (save for some whimsical carpeting). Although the location is good, the rooms can be a bit overpriced when compared with others in the area. The upper-floor suites have amazing views of Staré Mĕsto. During the communist period the hotel was used as an exclusive residence for high-ranking party members. Don't miss the hotel tour.

From the outside, this gigantic, 11-floor, glass-and-steel building looks like a throwback to communist Czechoslovakia, but step inside and you'll find a pleasant, modern, and stylish business hotel. The rooms and suites are warm and spacious, with all the modern conveniences; opt for an Executive Room for access to the beautifully renovated Executive Lounge, or go all out with a corner Apartment Suite, complete with either private gym or entertainment room. Outside of the bedrooms, the hotel has an impressive array of dining and drinking options, from restaurants and bistros to beer pubs and cocktail bars, as well as a casino atrium and summertime beer garden. There's also an expansive health club, including an indoor pool, fitness area, sauna, steam room, and various spa treatments on offer. The riverside location is quiet and peaceful, yet it's only a pleasant 20-minute stroll from the hotel to Staroměstské náměstí (Old Town Square).

The bright neoclassical façade and art nouveau details have been lovingly restored on this 19th-century building on a quiet residential street. The spacious and comfortable rooms feature simple wooden furniture and chic black-and-white photos of Prague, while the suites on the top floors offer lovely views of the historic district. It's significantly cheaper than most city-center hotels and just a short tram or Metro ride away.

A 14th-century Gothic façade and many poetic architectural details have been preserved in this affordable hotel, thanks to an extensive renovation. Rooms are furnished with antiques, and many have decorated Renaissance-style wooden beams. The suite is even adorned with a frescoed ceiling. But the hotel does not forsake modern comforts; all rooms have air-conditioning and there's free Wi-Fi throughout. Renovations included the addition of a small wellness facility and spa and a revamped restaurant.

A sprightly presence on an imperious street (think communist-era blocks), the Hotel Grandium offers modern design at good prices. The lobby is a rather snazzy mirrored number, while rooms are decked out in muted browns, grays, and whites. Even the smaller rooms have a spacious black-tile bathroom and views of the courtyard. Though this street is quiet, the location is a stone's throw to Wenceslas Square's attractions. The in-house restaurant, Noodles, features tasty Asian-inspired dishes.

A well-priced, charming, family-run hotel located in a quiet spot just a few minutes from Old Town Square, with welcoming touches including complimentary all-day coffee in the lobby or courtyard—oh, and a golem statue out front. Rooms are large and pleasant, and include air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi, but the welcome you'll receive from the owner and staff are worth more than any amount of amenities. Rooms at the front offer views of beautiful Haštalské náměstí and its adorable church, and there's a clutch of good restaurants nearby.

Built in 1348, this landmark—now a flashy boutique hotel with major design chops—is where the author Jan Neruda and his mother lived in 1860. As a tribute, lines from Neruda's Povídky malostranské (Malá Strana Stories) are painted in the stone hallways. The building supposedly has a ghost—you might hear her jingling keys in the hallway. Designed with the help of local architect Bořek Šipek, the rooms are all interesting and bright in decor terms, but try to see a couple before choosing, as some toward the back of the hotel look out onto a wall.

This efficiently run establishment just outside Staré Mĕsto offers more comforts than most in its class, as well as a pretty setting arranged around a central courtyard and plant-filled balconies. Couple that with a prime location and reasonable prices, and overall it's a good value. Rooms face either the street or the small courtyard and restaurant, which means it can get a bit loud sometimes. 

With the quaint look of a woodsman's cottage from a bedtime story, this private guesthouse is saturated with romance. Despite only being a 10-minute walk from Prague Castle, it has a wonderfully quiet location on the ancient, winding street of Nový Svět, just behind the Loreto Church. One side of the 18th-century building presents a rare example of half-timbering, and the rooms sustain the country feel with whitewashed walls, exposed brickwork, and stone and iron fittings. There's also a clay-pot-covered courtyard garden, a café serving afternoon snacks, and an interesting collection of artworks (from paintings to sculptures) dotted around the property. With a convenient but peaceful location and just six rooms available, a bit of notice and a lot of luck is needed to reserve a place.

Authentically austere, what U Zlatého Jelena---the Golden Deer---lacks in personality and amenities it makes up for with a killer location off Old Town Square and a sense of history: the building dates from 1366. With parquet floors, wooden furniture, and metal bed frames, rooms are not so much warm as functional, but the staff is honest and helpful, and these are probably the largest rooms you will find in the city center without spending a fortune at a four-star hotel.

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the modern rooms, done out in browns and beiges, are small and dark and lack views. Free Wi-Fi is available in public areas and in rooms.

Rooms are without frills but have everything you would expect from an international chain hotel. If you are looking for a reasonably priced place to sleep but little else, it fits the bill. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.

If you're looking for history, the Iron Gate has it in spades—the original building dates to the 14th century, and the architectural details are fascinating (ask to see a room with painted ceiling beams). During the 16th century it underwent a major renovation, adding balconies and terraces. In 2003 it was restored yet again, exposing the original frescoes that had been hidden for years. The sleigh beds, tasteful antique touches, and fluffy terry bathrobes are nice details.

The Jalta is arguably the smartest, most interesting hotel on central Wenceslas Square, with a historically protected façade that dates to the 1950s in the socialist realist style first developed in the Soviet Union. Inside, an Andy Warhol screen print of local boy Franz Kafka looks over the lobby, and rooms have been made over with a smart contemporary look, with toiletries from L'Occitane and Egyptian cotton linens. All the rooms have air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi. Try to get a balcony room fronting the square, with a dramatic view of the National Museum. Despite the central location, the excellent windows stifle street noise.

True to its name, the Riverside is situated right above the Vltava across from Frank Gehry's Tančící dům (Dancing House). The location, just below Malá Strana in Smíchov, makes for unobstructed views of the Narodní divadlo (National Theater) as well as of Prague Castle itself; courtyard-facing rooms get balconies as a consolation prize. The look here, designed by Frenchman Pascale de Montremy, differs from the strict modern or overstuffed baroque of many Czech hotels, with a theme of preppy stripes on the curtains and headboards, hardwood floors, and organically shaped bathroom fixtures. Breakfast is served in a nook in the basement, and there's often a lively mix of guests gathered in the lobby bar.