Gay Prague City Guide

Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Located in the northwest of the country on the Vltava River, the city is home to about 2 million in its larger urban area.

Prague city centre has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992. With a history dating back over a thousand years, Prague has many famous cultural sights, museums, theatres, galleries and other historical exhibits, attracting more than 4 million visitors a year.

The city also has a growing and exciting gay scene that can be enjoyed in any of Prague's gay bars, clubs and venues. Most of the gay scene can be found in and around the Vinohrady area.

Gay Rights in the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is one of the most liberal countries in Central Europe when it comes to LGBT rights.  Homosexuality was decriminalised in 1962, and homosexual prostitution was decriminalised in 1990.

The age of consent is 15. In 2006, the country legalised registered partnerships for same-sex couples. The Army doesn't question the sexual orientation of soldiers and allows gay men to serve openly.

In 2016, the Czech Constitutional court struck down a ban which forbade people living in registered partnerships from adopting children as individuals. However, joint adoption of children by same-sex couples and adoption of a same-sex partner's child remains illegal.

Gay Scene

The Czech Republic has become a gay-friendly destination for travelers in recent years.  There is no gay epicentre in Prague, but much of the gay scene is concentrated around the trendy Vinohrady district, close to the Old Town city centre.

There are a few dozen Gay Bars, Gay Dance Clubs, Gay Saunas and Gay Cruise Clubs, and new gay establishments are opening all the time.

The city's most popular bar is Club Termax, the largest gay club in Prague and an extremely busy location on weekends. Termax attracts a younger gay crowd with it’s colourful and stylish interior, pop anthems and great drink deals. The club hosts a number of themed nights and drag performances.

Klub 21 is another popular destination for LGBT+ locals and has been a focal point in the gay scene in Prague for years. The traditional Czech style pub is industrially brick-walled and has an edgy but friendly vibe that attracts a mixed crowd in terms of age and style.

Read More: A gay guide to Prague.

Gay hotels in Prague

The majority of Prague's best hotels are located in the centre of the city and are situated conveniently close to many of the most popular attractions. Many of the hotels in Prague are housed inside beautiful historic buildings, packed with original features and guests can enjoy being transported back in time during their stay. The city has a range of mid-range to luxury hotels and there are options for travelers of every interest and style.

One of the most elegant and luxurious hotels in Prague is The Grand Mark, a 5-star venue housed inside a stunning 17th-century palace. The hotel is just one of the luxury options available to guests wishing to stay in the city's iconic centre. Other options include Buddha-Bar and Hotel Kings Court.

Travelers looking to be located close to Prague's gay district should consider a hotel in the Vinohrady area. Hotels here offer guests easy access to the heart of the city's gay district and many such as Mosaic House promise guests a comfortable stay in a modern and elegant hotel.

Gay saunas in Prague 

Prague boasts Eastern Europe's largest and most frequented gay sauna scene. The saunas in Prague vary in terms of quality, cleanliness and cost, but as long as travelers research their destination beforehand they can enjoy a fun sauna visit.

Sauna Babylonia is Prague's largest sauna and has been operating since 1998. The sauna is also the most popular in the city and gets very busy at peak times. Babylonia has a range of facilities including Swedish steam rooms, video lounges and private cabins.

Getting to Prague

Ruzyně International Airport (PRG), located 20 km northwest of the city centre, is served by a number of airlines with direct connections from European cities. It normally takes about 30 minutes to reach the city centre from the airport by car.

The cheapest way to get to the city from the airport is by bus. Buy a ticket from the kiosk or the vending machine next to the bus stop. You can also buy the ticket from the driver, but it is more expensive. Lines 119 and 100 take you to Nádraží Veleslavín and Zličín metro stations respectively, with a journey time of around 15-20 minutes and costs 32 CZK

Operated by Czech Railways, there is also the Airport Express bus. These buses leave the airport every 30 minutes from around 6 am-9 pm.  Tickets are 60 CZK per person and available from the driver. The Airport Express will take you to the railway and subway station Dejvická and Masarykovo nádraží and ends at Prague's main train station Hlavní nádraží.

Taxis are the most convenient way to reach the city centre costing around 650 to 850 CZK. Although there will be taxis waiting outside it is cheaper to arrange one via a shuttle service. Various companies run shuttle services to the hotel and back. They can be found at the airport arrival halls. They usually charge around 400 to 500 CZK per trip and are generally slightly cheaper than taxis.

Getting around Prague

Foot

Prague is a very walkable city. One can easily walk from Wenceslas Square to the Old Town Square, or from the Old Town to Charles Bridge and the Castle district. Pedestrians should enter crosswalks carefully in Prague, as drivers are not as likely to yield as they are in other European cities. In the Czech Republic, it is illegal to cross at a pedestrian crossing on a red man.

Tram and Metro

Prague public transport is fast, efficient and quite simple to use. Sometimes you have to change a few times. There are three metro lines, numerous tram and bus lines, regional (S) trains within Prague, as well as a few ferries across Vltava river. All are part of Prague integrated transport (PID).

Taxi

Avoid getting a taxi on the street, but if you have to, try to negotiate the price in advance.

Things to do in Prague

There are limitless possibilities when it comes to things to do in Prague. However, the most important attractions include:

• Wander through the Old Town
• Enjoy the views from Charles Bridge
• Explore the beautiful Prague Castle
• Learn about the city's history at Lobkowicz Palace
• Tour the stunning St. Vitus Cathedral
• Soak up the Old Town Square.

Read More: Things to do in Prague.

FAQs

When to Visit

The best times to visit Prague are spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) when the weather is mild and tourists are fewer than in the summer.

Consider a winter trip if you want to enjoy Prague without having to push through crowds, but the city has a fair amount of snow. Despite this, visiting the city in the winter is great for guests wishing to experience an authentic Prague Christmas, complete with one of the best Christmas Markets in Europe.

Visa

The Czech Republic is within the Schengen visa area, meaning travelers from EU member states can travel freely into the country without a visa. If travelling from outside Europe, you should check to see if you require a Schengen visa.

Money

The currency in the Czech Republic is crown (koruna - Kč). Some stores, restaurants and hotels accept payments in euros but the exchange rate may not be very good.

Cash dispensers are widely available and credit and debit cards are widely accepted throughout the city.

Tipping is commonly expected in the Czech Republic and particularly in the tourist-heavy city of Prague, travelers are typically expected to tip 10%.