Prague doesn’t shut down when the museums close. After dark it becomes one of the liveliest cities in Central Europe, and prices still compare well with other Western European capitals. Here are the best areas and options for a night out in Prague, depending on what you’re in the mood for.
Best areas for nightlife in Prague
- Old Town (Staré Město): the biggest concentration of bars and international-style pubs, especially around Dlouhá and Kaprova streets. It’s the liveliest area, but also the most expensive and the most crowded, especially in summer.
- Žižkov: said to have more bars per square meter than anywhere in Europe, though nobody has ever actually counted. A genuinely local crowd and much lower prices than in the center.
- Karlín: an up-and-coming area with more modern, design-focused venues, popular with young professionals and Prague’s expat community.
- Vinohrady: calmer and more upscale, with craft cocktails and a food scene that has grown a lot in recent years.
Historic beer halls
- U Pinkasů: the first pub in Prague to serve Pilsner Urquell, with more than 180 years of history.
- Pivovar U Medvídků: a brewpub famous for its X33, one of the strongest beers in the world. It’s served in small glasses, and for good reason.
- Lokál Dlouhááá: the traditional Czech pub reinvented, with beer served from tanks for maximum freshness and a loud but authentic atmosphere.
Prague pub crawls and night tours
Pub crawls are very popular with younger travelers: a local guide takes you to 3–4 bars in one night, sometimes with a drink included at each stop. It’s an easy way to meet people and find places you’d struggle to discover on your own. They usually start around 8:00–9:00 p.m. and are booked through activity booking sites rather than at the bar door.
If you’d rather have some history with your beer, there’s a guided tour that combines several pubs around the Castle area with a ride on a historic tram. Book the guided Castle pubs and beer tour »
Cocktails, speakeasies and absinthe
Prague also has a serious cocktail scene, with speakeasy-style bars hidden behind unmarked doors, Prohibition style. They’re small, so it’s almost always worth booking. The Czech Republic is also known for good absinthe, and several shops in the center offer tastings. Many of the versions sold to tourists are much weaker than traditional Czech absinthe, though, so if you’re really curious, ask at a specialist bar rather than a souvenir shop.
Practical tips for a night out
- Night trams and night buses (lines 90–99) run all night, so you don’t need to rely on taxis to get back.
- Drinks in the most touristy areas can cost twice as much as in Žižkov, and walking a few streets away from the main circuit makes a real difference. A local beer can cost from €1.50 in a neighborhood bar to €5–6 on a terrace on Old Town Square.
- Always check your bill. In tourist areas, some places add extra charges that aren’t clearly shown.
- Most bars and pubs close between 1:00 and 3:00 a.m., although some clubs in the center stay open until dawn on weekends.
Our advice
Before your night out, make the most of the day with one of our free walking tours. And ask your guide: they usually have good tips on where to go afterward that you won’t find in any guidebook. To check you’re safe getting around at night, read our guide on whether Prague is safe for tourists.
