Rome and Prague...

[Neil]

Following on from the "Anyone been to Amsterdam lately...?" thread, I'm going to Rome in September (first time ever) and Prague in October (my second visit there) so what do people recommend I see and do in these awesome cities?

[Guest Neubeatz]

Went to Rome 30 years ago Neil, cant remember much about it(local plonk was cheaper than soft drinks),

Dont drink the water from the roadside fountains...........

[Benji]

You don't do anything in Rome - It just happens. Trust me. It's a beautiful city with so much to offer. I'm excited for you. Hope you have a great time dude.

[Frosty Jack]

This seems to be a good insiders guide to Rome -

http://www.romebuddy.com/

[Neil]

You don't do anything in Rome - It just happens. Trust me. It's a beautiful city with so much to offer. I'm excited for you. Hope you have a great time dude.

Thanks!

[RossP]

In Prague, head to the top of 'the hill'. Can't remember what the name is, but you'll see it from the city centre. It has an exact replica of the top third of the Eiffel Tower there, and on the walk up if you stray off the path, you'll see caves that people live in!!

Also, don't go into the George and Dragon pub, or Caffreys, in the centre; as you'll be paying ten times more for rubbish beer.

[Neil]

In Prague' date=' head to the top of 'the hill'. Can't remember what the name is, but you'll see it from the city centre. It has an exact replica of the top third of the Eiffel Tower there, and on the walk up if you stray off the path, you'll see caves that people live in!![/quote']

Ah, the TV Tower in ikov. Yeah, I didn't see that the last time so I might wander and check it out although it is a dodgier district of the city.

[Bodast]

I was living in Zizkov and it isn't dodgy any more - I never had any 'incidents' even alone late at nite... Czechs don't like it because they're scared of gypsies, and it has the reputation of being a gypsy area (not really true).

The hill with the Eiffel tower on top is Petrin Hill, so yeah, there. My favourite way to get to the castle is go to Pohorelec on the 22 or 23 tram and then walk down past the Loreta and into the main castle gates (rather than getting off at tram stop Prazky hrad), then you can walk down through Malastranske namesti and across Charles Bridge or up Nerudova Street which is nice. There's the Communism Museum on Na Prikope, which is small and busy but very informative if you're interested in that stuff. Vysehrad is the 'other' castle which is nice with some good views and isn't as busy as Prague castle is all the time. If you're into castles you can go to Karlstejn too which is about 30 minutes train ride out of the city (I never went there but everyone says it's cool). Obecni dum (municipal house) is pretty awesome, I guess it's expensive to see a concert there though. Letna park has a good beer garden but I guess it'll be closed in October, but it's still nice for a walk and there's a great view of the city from there too. Don't drink Staropramen or Branik, drink Krusovice, Pilsner and Gambrinus... [just a suggestion] There are a few free 'event' magazines in case you want some live music and some places that do gigs or DJs are Palac Akropolis (Kubelikova), Abaton (near Palmovka), Vagon (near National Theatre), Roxy (near Old Town Square). There are a lot of jazz clubs around too... It depends what you want to do, really. More info on request...

[Uncle Mog]

don't take any of the bus tour things in rome, if you're there for a few days you can walk to pretty much all the major places of interest and do it at your own pace. plus find really cool restaurants and cafes at the same time. It really is an amazing city! my favourite after NY

[A.Pel]

Rome is pretty much my favourite European city.

TOP TEN AS SEEN BY ME:

1. Spanish Steps. I don't care what anyone says, its awesome. Full of drunk people to have banter with and you see the occasional marriage proposal. Free.

2. Trevi Fountain, go at night when it is all lit up. And chuck the penny in etc. Also Free.

3. Sistine Chapel - Beautiful, for some reason I cried. It's full of disrespectful tourists and you've got to get up at around 7.30am to queue as they only allow a certain number of people in the Vatican city. Very expensive.

4. Numerous chapels and churches that you will come across, the ones away from the beaten track are best.

5. I think its called the Victor something monument. Huge white building with horse statues on top. There is a large grass roundabout infront which you can sit on, go at night - but not too late because it shuts at like 4/5pm.

6. Colloseum, obv. Full of tourists, beggars and shitty stalls. Got to queue for fucking ages and its expensive. Half of it is always shut down for restoration anyway.

7. Ride a vespa. Never did it myself but I don't think you could go to italy and not want to.

8. I've forgotton the name of it, but there's a huge park which overlooks the roman ruins and the entire city. Bit of a mission up there but worth it.

9. Eat pizza, pasta and ice-cream. OBV.

10. Go on ''Colloseum Booze Crawl''.

End of.

[Paranoid Android]

when you're in Rome you should try and make it down to Pompei one day, it's absolutely awesome and quite surreal.

The vatican and the vatican museum are fantastic. I agree with A.Pel Trevi fountain at night is beautiful.

[salsadecacahuete]

screw sightseeing. eat the ice cream.

[Guest neil ex]

I was living in Zizkov and it isn't dodgy any more - I never had any 'incidents' even alone late at nite... Czechs don't like it because they're scared of gypsies' date=' and it has the reputation of being a gypsy area (not really true).

The hill with the Eiffel tower on top is Petrin Hill, so yeah, there. My favourite way to get to the castle is go to Pohorelec on the 22 or 23 tram and then walk down past the Loreta and into the main castle gates (rather than getting off at tram stop Prazky hrad), then you can walk down through Malastranske namesti and across Charles Bridge or up Nerudova Street which is nice. There's the Communism Museum on Na Prikope, which is small and busy but very informative if you're interested in that stuff. Vysehrad is the 'other' castle which is nice with some good views and isn't as busy as Prague castle is all the time. If you're into castles you can go to Karlstejn too which is about 30 minutes train ride out of the city (I never went there but everyone says it's cool). Obecni dum (municipal house) is pretty awesome, I guess it's expensive to see a concert there though. Letna park has a good beer garden but I guess it'll be closed in October, but it's still nice for a walk and there's a great view of the city from there too. Don't drink Staropramen or Branik, drink Krusovice, Pilsner and Gambrinus... [just a suggestion'] There are a few free 'event' magazines in case you want some live music and some places that do gigs or DJs are Palac Akropolis (Kubelikova), Abaton (near Palmovka), Vagon (near National Theatre), Roxy (near Old Town Square). There are a lot of jazz clubs around too... It depends what you want to do, really. More info on request...

The Communist Museum is very informative (a lot of reading), so I think it's worth going there when you're feeling nice and refreshed.. That was about the only touristy thing I saw/did in Prague. I went to Palac Akropolis (all Czech people) and Roxy and both were really good.. I went to a really great park with a great beer garden to watch Australia v Italy (might have been the same one mentioned above).. Also you should make the most of the British £ being a lot stronger than the Czech Crown. You can eat very very well for very cheap.. Taking a random tram out the centre for food is always good fun, as you get to see a part of the city you probably wouldn't normally see, it's probably cheaper and the people are sometimes friendlier.. Just pick a stop with an interesting name! Go where the Czech people go, they know the city better than the tourists! If you're planning on seeing other parts of the Czech Rep, you must see a small town in the south called Ceske Krumlov! It's really beautiful, and you won't regret making the trip!

[Ollie]

defo the communist museum and the various local pubs

[Bodast]

I went to a really great park with a great beer garden to watch Australia v Italy (might have been the same one mentioned above)..

Mighta been Riegrovy, seemed like everyone in Prague went to watch the World Cup there and it's always an awesome atmosphere. Plus only 5 minutes from my flat. Aw.. I miss that place already..

[Neil]

Thanks Bodast for the info! I went to see the Communist Museum the last time I was there but I'll easily go visit it again to see if much has changed in the 3 years or so. Is it still in the Casino building? I always thought that was rather ironic.

One thing I would like to pick your brains on is nightclubs. Would you recommend any? Aside from various bars I can only ever remember going to one club last time and it was rather cool. An underground place full of bars in little stone clad rooms everywhere across from the National Theatre. Can't for the life of me remember what it was called.

[RossP]

There's the nightclub next to the Charles Bridge, that was the best one i visited whilst in Prague. Its five levels, where each level has different music; my favourite was the cheesy one which played Ghostbusters et al.

Can't quite remember the other 2 i went to while there, but one of them was underground and had a big dancefloor; it was rubbish

[Hugh_Jazz]

when you're in Rome you should try and make it down to Pompei one day' date=' it's absolutely awesome and quite surreal.

The vatican and the vatican museum are fantastic. I agree with A.Pel Trevi fountain at night is beautiful.[/quote']

Go to Pompeii while you're in Rome?

It must be over 200 miles away. Pompeii is south of Naples.

[Bodast]

Thanks Bodast for the info! I went to see the Communist Museum the last time I was there but I'll easily go visit it again to see if much has changed in the 3 years or so. Is it still in the Casino building? I always thought that was rather ironic.

One thing I would like to pick your brains on is nightclubs. Would you recommend any? Aside from various bars I can only ever remember going to one club last time and it was rather cool. An underground place full of bars in little stone clad rooms everywhere across from the National Theatre. Can't for the life of me remember what it was called.

Sounds like it might be N11' date=' I never went there but that's where it is and I've heard it's a cool place.

The club RossP mentioned is Karlovy Lazne, you can't really miss it... I'm not really into clubbing and it never appealed but I have met a huge number of people on the way home from there who said it was awesome, and it does have a big range of music.

Nebe is a pretty trendy place for expats and 'artists' but not overly cliquey (it gets too packed for that), it's a few minutes walk from Narodni Trida.. On Thursdays they have indie nite which reminds me a bit of Exodus, and otherwise they have random DJs and occasionally acoustic type bands (not much room for a stage).

Cross Club is fun, it's not quite in the centre (near Nadrazi Holesovice metro) but it's cool because there are lots of bizarre metal structures outside and inside it, a good mix of people, lots of loud music (metal, reggae, jungle.. dunno, it depends when you go).

I like Palac Akropolis for live music because it's a nice size (don't know how big the main room is actually, maybe Moshulu sized but it seems bigger because it's tall) and there are a couple of bars and a restaurant depending on your mood..

Roxy is good if you like dancing, everyone loves it, and free entry on Mondays!

I've only ever been to Abaton for quite big international type bands so I'm not sure what they do on 'normal' nights, I think it's quite popular with indie fans though and it's one of the bigger clubs.

Guru is nice to chill out in at the bar area and they also have live music and then DJs most nights.

Ridgeback is an African club, quite small but they have some cool percussion bands there every week.

Reduta Jazz Club and Rock Cafe are both popular and next to each other near National Theatre. I only ever went to the Rock Club, it's got lots of... umm.. well, rock fans in it.

For a big Euro-pop/RnB sexy party disco, go to Hany Bany or Face to Face. Sometimes Face to Face has naked dancers and they're open til early morning !! Yay

Soo.. hopefully some of that's vaguely useful! It's a bit hard to recommend one place (if I had to, then Akropolis or Cross Club) but that's what I think of a few of the clubs/venues. Best thing would be to have a look on [url']www.prague.tv or www.expats.cz where they have some info about aalll the clubs in the city and also listings so you don't have to turn up and hope they're playing something you like.

Oh and yeah, the Comm Museum is still there, they have a poster saying "we're above McDonalds, across from Benetton - Viva la imperialism!"

[Old Gold]

7. Ride a vespa. Never did it myself but I don't think you could go to italy and not want to.

My thoughts exactly!

[Paranoid Android]

Go to Pompeii while you're in Rome?

It must be over 200 miles away. Pompeii is south of Naples.

Naples is only a 2hr train away from Rome and then it's about another 30 mins on the metro from Naples to Pompei. It's easily done and definitely worth taking the time for.