I have always wanted to go to Prague!

I thought it was very beautiful and heard it was very gay  and gay friendly.  WOW!  What a great trip! My partner and I were just there last month and we were worried 6 days might be too long. NOT AT ALL. We could have stayed 10 days easily! There is so much to see and do.

Prague is a city of unique and awesome beauty. A wealth of incredible buildings, structures and monuments that span several eras. Architectural forms, ranging from Romanesque and Gothic through Renaissance and Baroque to Art Nouveau, Cubism and Deconstructionist - amazing beauty!

Seeing the city in all its glory requires several FULL days. Awesome structures and locations such as Prague Castle, Old Town Square, Charles Bridge, Lesser Town Square and Petrin Hill are must-sees. But quarters outside the centre, such as Zizkov and Vinohrady, also have plenty to offer to those interested in sightseeing, dining, and of course there is the amazing beer and a good selection of wines.

The travel group PRAGUE SAINTS arranged our visit. They are a British owned gay-run travel company providing accommodation and tour services for gay visitors to the Czech Republic. And they own a popular local neighborhood bar called THE SAINTS. Prague Saints has been featured  in Lonely Planet, Time Out, Fodors, Let’s go Europe, Prague in your pocket, Out North West, DNA magazine Australia, Guide Mag USA and Sapphic Central!

The gay scene is very big here, with lots of cafes, bars, nightclubs, and several saunas. And the American dollar exchange is great at most places.  Most clubs have no cover and drinks are reasonable.

By Western standards the Czech Republic remains a fairly cheap country. Locally produced food and drink (especially beer) are very good value.  Some tourist-orientated restaurants and bars have sharply increased their prices in the last couple of years but they still remain reasonable when compared to those in more Western capitals.  The one aspect of a visit that can be considered expensive is accommodation.  Hotels in the centre, especially in high season, often charge well over 100 euros per night.  However, there are deals to be had - and Prague Saints can help you.

Despite its membership of the EU, the Czechs have not yet joined the Euro (although plan to do so sometime in the next few years...) and the currency is the crown which hovers around 30 to the pound, 24 to the euro and 22 to the US dollar. (as of July 2008)

The Czech Republic has become a much more liberal and gay-friendly destination in recent years and the Prague gay scene, mainly centred around the Vinohrady area (close to the city centre), is particularly vibrant and accessible. More than half a dozen new bars or clubs have opened up in the last year alone and there are around 25 gay bars, discos and saunas in the city as a whole.

 

 

Homosexuality in the Czech Republic is legal and the minimum age of consent is 15. There are no laws concerning tourists with HIV/AIDS. The number of HIV/AIDS sufferers in the country is low. In keeping with the mood of increasing tolerance the Czech parliament recently approved a law allowing gay partnerships.

PRAGUE SAINTS provides a wealth of information on everything about Prague! Be sure to consult their site - and we'll be covering more of the hot spots we visited, next time!