Old Town vs New Town Prague: Which Is Better?

Old Town vs New Town Prague…Which is better? If you’re visiting Prague, you’ll inevitably stumble across both of these areas of the city. But you may be torn on which area would be worth your time while visiting.

Both Old Town and New Town Prague have features that make them amazing in their own way. So this guide will go over them to help you figure out which area of Prague is better to stay in and explore for you. I’ll discuss whether Old Town or New Town Prague is better for sightseeing, activities, cultural experiences, food and nightlife, including specific recommendations for tours, locations, and where to stay in Old Town and New Town.

Before we get into all the details, let’s start with a brief overview of Old Town and New Town Prague!

Old Town Prague Overview

Old Town Prague (aka Staré Město) is the historical center of Prague, protected by UNESCO.

The star of this area is the main square, Old Town Square, located in the heart of Old Town. It was founded in the 12th century and was the central marketplace for the city. Today, Old Town Square still holds markets, including Christmas and Easter markets. It’s also home to the Astronomical Clock, Old Town Hall, and the Church of Our Lady Before Týn. You’ll see that just north of the Old Town Square is the Jewish Quarter, Josefov, formerly a Jewish ghetto.

On the eastern entrance of Old Town Prague sits the Powder Gate. This Gothic tower was one of the original city gates that separated Old Town from New Town.

New Town Prague Overview

New Town Prague (aka Nové Město) is the newest quarter in Prague (founded in 1348, though, so it’s not that new) which wraps around Old Town Prague and stretches down the Vltava riverbank.

While almost all the streets in Old Town Prague are crooked, the streets in New Town Prague run parallel and perpendicular to each other. It’s home to various squares, with the main 3 being Cattle Market, Horse Market, and Hay Market. These are now renamed as Charles Square, Wenceslas Square, and Senovazne Square. Today, New Town Prague is the main shopping area in the city as well as the main hub for all things entertainment and nightlife.

Old Town vs New Town Prague: Which is Better?

Now, let the battle of Old Town vs New Town Prague begin!

Better for Sightseeing: Old Town Prague

With Old Town Prague being the historical center of the city, it’s no wonder that it’s home to tons of attractions and sites. There’s the Old Town Square, Astronomical Clock, Church of Our Lady Before Týn, Josefov, and Powder Gate, all of which I mentioned previously.

Book Here: Old Town Hall & Astronomical Clock Entrance Ticket

New Town Prague has a few too, such as Wenceslas Square, the Dancing House, and the Rotating Head of Franz Kafka. And while both Old Town and New Town Prague have various attractions and historical sites, the rich history of Old Town Prague means that it has more in-depth and fascinating opportunities for sightseeing.

For example, in Josefov there’s the Old Jewish Cemetery and the Old-New Synagogue. The Old Jewish Cemetery was one of the oldest surviving Jewish burial grounds in the world and the most overcrowded cemetery in Europe. It covers a small area despite over 100,000 bodies being buried here (the bodies are buried on top of each other with graves layered up to 10 deep). Meanwhile, the Old-New Synagogue, built in the 13th century, is the oldest-running synagogue in Europe.

Book Here: Jewish Quarter Walking Tour with Synagogue Admission Tickets

Old Town Prague is also located on the east end of the famous Charles Bridge, with the Old Town Bridge Tower sitting on it. Whether it’s day or night, you’ll see tons of people walking on Charles Bridge and snapping photos of it.

Book Here: Charles Bridge Towers Combined Entry Ticket

When you visit Prague, you’ll also see tons of groups of people exploring and taking tours of Old Town because of how much history it has (despite being a smaller area of the city). So for all the touristy sightseeing of popular landmarks and attractions, Old Town Prague takes the cake!

Better for Activities + Entertainment: New Town Prague

While Old Town Prague is better for sightseeing, New Town Prague is better for activities and entertainment! Since Old Town has stayed the historical center of Prague, it’s New Town Prague that has more modern attractions and is just a more affluent area in general.

A few fun things to do in New Town Prague include doing an escape room or getting on the death elevator (Paternoster elevator) in New Town Hall, going on a shopping spree at Palladium shopping mall, and bathing while drinking unlimited beer at a Beer spa.

And I can’t discuss activities to do in New Town Prague without mentioning the tons of museums to visit, such as:

• National Museum
• Museum of Senses
• Museum of Communism
• The Cold War Museum
• National Film Museum
• Mucha Museum
• Museum of Fantastic Illusions
• Gallery of Steel Figures
• Prague Lumia Gallery

While visiting Prague, you’ll never run out of things to do because there’s always something to explore and enjoy in New Town!

Better for Cultural Experiences: Old Town Prague

As I previously mentioned, Old Town is the historical center of Prague, so inevitably, it has more cultural heritage sites and tours.

Both Old Town and New Town Prague have theaters for concerts and operas (Municipal House in Old Town and the National Theatre in New Town), but in regard to examples of art, movements, and way of life, Old Town Prague wins.

Of course, Old Town Prague has Josefov, which is the best area in the city to explore and learn about Czech Jewish history and life. Additionally, in Old Town, you can find examples of Czech Cubism at The House of the Black Madonna, the Municipal Library (home to the Infinity Book Tunnel), and take various cultural and historical tours.

Book Here: WWII Guided Tour & The Crypt of Operation Anthropoid

Better for Food: Tied

When it comes to brunch spots and restaurants in Prague, you’ll most likely naturally gravitate towards New Town simply because there are more places to eat. However, the handful of restaurants in Old Town offer a diverse range of delicious cuisines too.

Both Old and New Town Prague have a wide range of restaurants serving anything from Czech cuisine to Palestinian, Japanese, Vietnamese, Indian, Korean and Lebanese cuisine. And if you’re looking for bistros, steak houses, or bar and grills, both Old and New Town have them too!

Some of my favourite brunch spots are in Old Town, while some of my favourite restaurants for dinner are in New Town. So it’s only fair that I mention my top brunch spots and restaurant recommendations for Old Town and New Town Prague!

Best brunch spots and restaurants in Old Town:

• Cafe NoD
• Matzip
• VENUE

Best brunch spots and restaurants in New Town:

• Mr Falafel (Palestinian Restaurant)
• Veget Bistro Cafe
• Výtopna Railway Restaurant 

Now, the one thing I will give Old Town Prague more credit for, though, is its abundance of chimney cake bakeries. If you’re looking to try some chimney cake, head to Old Town since you’ll see one on every corner!

Better for Nightlife: New Town Prague

Old Town Prague generally appeals to an older crowd while New Town Prague appeals to a younger crowd. This is most likely because New Town is a more lively area at night with more bars, clubs, pubs, and cabarets compared to Old Town.

The best spots to enjoy Prague nightlife in New Town are Wenceslas Square, the center of Prague’s nightlife, and Náplavka waterfront, which has boat bars and restaurants along the embankment of the Vltava River.

Prague is also known to have tons of speakeasies, most of which are also in New Town. They have such cool and unique themes and concepts, plus the budget-friendly prices for the drinks are an extra cherry on top! For example, my favourite speakeasy in Prague is AnonymouS Shrink’s Office. You choose your cocktail based on Swiss psychiatrist Hermann Rorschach’s inkblot psychology. Somehow the psychology and mixology method worked for me because I really enjoyed my cocktail!

New Town alone is enough to experience and enjoy the nightlife in Prague, especially if you’re a young person!

So Is It Better to Stay in Old Town or New Town Prague?

Honestly, the choice between Old Town vs New Town Prague comes down to your preference!

If you prefer to be closer to Prague’s landmarks and not be disturbed by loud music and people at night, then Old Town Prague would be better. But if you prefer to be closer to museums and fun locations for activities and then end your nights out at a bar, club, or pub, then it’s better to stay in New Town Prague.

Now that you’ve chosen your preference from all the information mentioned above, the next question is where exactly to stay in Old Town or New Town Prague. Well, lucky for you, I’ve got some hotel and hostel recommendations!

Where to Stay in Old Town Prague

• Hotel: Ibis Praha Old Town – This is right in the heart of Prague and within walking distance from Old Town Square and Josefov. They offer a breakfast buffet, and if you arrive earlier than your check-in time, they keep your luggage safe for you at no extra cost! This is where I stayed when I visited Prague, and I absolutely loved it!
• Hostel: Women’s Only Hostel Prague – A lovely, safe place to stay in Prague as a woman, located only 100m from Old Town Square. They offer free wifi, city maps, a common room, a book exchange, a washing machine, and even its own restaurant and cafe!

You can find some more hotels on the map below!

Where to Stay in New Town Prague

• Hotel: Hotel 1. Republic – A lush hotel with 1920/30s interior and style. All the rooms offer a TV, coffee and tea maker, and a bathrobe. It’s only 400m from Wenceslas Square and the National Museum!
• Hostel: Sophie’s Hostel – A chic hostel tucked in New Town offering an on-site bar/cafe, a breakfast buffet between 7 am and 11 am, free Wi-Fi, and insider Prague travel tips from staff.

You can find some more hotels on the map below!

Old Town vs New Town Prague: Final Thoughts

Old Town Prague has a lot of historical and cultural significance and tons of landmarks. Meanwhile, New Town Prague is modern and is a hub for activities, nightlife, and shopping. This is why I’d recommend staying in Old Town Prague, as it’s a great base for exploring Old Town and it’s not too far from enjoying what New Town has to offer. I hope this guide was useful for planning your trip to Prague!

More guides to help you plan your trip to Prague:

• One Day in Prague: The Ultimate Itinerary (coming soon!)
• How to Spend 2 days in Prague
• Where to Stay in Prague for First-Timers
• Prague Instagram Captions (Best Puns + Quotes)

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