Moon Prague & Budapest (Moon Handbooks) - Softcover

Tom Dirlis arrived in Prague in the spring of 1999 and fell in love with the city’s charm and mystique at first sight. He felt compelled to stay and began supporting himself by writing numerous travel and opinion pieces for local publications, as well as marketing copy for multinational corporations. In 2000, he traveled to Budapest and fell in love all over again.  

More than a decade later, Tom continues to write articles, editorials, and copy, as well as plays and short stories. He was a finalist in Prague’s first playwriting competition in 2007. His most recent play was performed in New York in the summer of 2013. He is currently working on his first novel.

Prague Like a Local

Everybody knows what the main sights, bars, and restaurants are, but what if you’d like to live like a local? Eat, drink, and stroll where they do here are a few local tips.

Day 1

Start your day with an affordable breakfast and bottomless cup of coffee at Bohemia Bagel by Charles Bridge. Pick up an extra bagel or two if you like because you’ll be doing a lot of walking. Start with the streets of Malá Strana (Lesser Town) and work your way through Kampa Island over to Petrín Hill. Take the funicular or do as the brave do and make your way slowly up the hill on foot, resting and admiring the view below as often as you like. When you get to the top, stroll through the large grounds and, if you have the energy, climb up Petrín Lookout Tower for an excellent panoramic view. Grab a delicious and healthy lunch at Malý Buddha, then continue on to the castle. When you’re done there, leave the tourist hordes behind and head on over for more peaceful walking through both Wallenstein Gardens and Vojan Park, and say hello to the peacocks in the latter. Enjoy a delicious Balkan dinner at the unbeatable Gitanes, and when you’re ready to rock and roll with the local contingent, start drinking at Klub Újezd, where anything goes. If something a little more upscale is to your liking, get on over to Blue Light for cocktails and impromptu conversations. Both bars stay open until very late, so dig in and get ready to party like a Bohemian.

Day 2

Enjoy breakfast at the charming Café Louvre, then make your way to Stromovka Park, one of Prague’s more serene getaways, where you can breathe in the fresh air and clear your head among laughing children, playful dogs, and the fortunate locals who don’t have a day job. Come out on the end where Výstavište is located and take your pick from amusement rides, the Lapidárium, or Sea World. Have lunch at one of the local restaurants and walk it off with a romantic stroll through Letná Park before grabbing a picnic bench at its popular beer garden for informal drinks and excellent views of the city below. Have a fun dinner at local favorite Hostinec na Staré Kovárne before moving a couple of doors down to Fraktal, where free-form conversation comes more naturally than you might think. Order a beer. Drink. Repeat.

Day 3

Take your pick from the countless restaurants along Wenceslas Square and have breakfast while watching the people go by. Next, it’s shopping along Na Príkope Street whose boutiques, malls, and specialty shops will easily keep you busy till lunch. For a real local experience, break bread at U Govindy Vegetarian Club. Spend a few hours browsing the myriad of shops lining both Celetná and Parížská Streets, picking up gifts and mooning over outfits you can’t afford. Have a cup of coffee with local artists and students at Café Montmartre, then explore the back streets of Staré Mesto (Old Town) while asking yourself if a downtown core can really be this beautiful. An exotic dinner at Zebra Asian Noodle Bar will provide the sturdy base you’ll need for drinks at the always fun and rowdy Harley’s Bar. If cocktails and the in-crowd are more your speed, then a night at M1 Secret Lounge should do the trick.