Hradčany / Strahov

Hotel Monastery

★★★★★

Hotel Monastery offers something rare in Prague: a peaceful night in the castle district, inside the precincts of a working monastery, with the city spread out below your window. It stands at Strahovské nádvoří 13, in the courtyard of Strahov Monastery at the top of Hradčany, in a quiet monastery garden. The building is the former Premonstratensian wash house, once part of the monastery's economic headquarters, and the hotel dates its foundations to the early seventeenth century. Because it is a protected historic monument, it has no lift, and all rooms are reached by stairs, something to consider if you have heavy luggage or limited mobility. The hotel advertises views of Prague Castle, Malá Strana and the Old Town along the Vltava, and its setting is the main reason to stay: when the day-trippers have gone, the monastery courtyard, the Strahov gardens and the lanes of Hradčany become wonderfully calm, and you can walk to the castle in the early morning before the crowds. Room types include standard and deluxe doubles, attic duplex doubles with sloping ceilings, and a standard family room. The neighbours are extraordinary: the Strahov Library with its Baroque halls, the monastery brewery with its own beers, the Loreta pilgrimage site, the tiny lanes of Nový Svět and the Petřín lookout tower are all within a short walk, and Prague Castle is about ten minutes on foot. Trams 22 and 23 stop at nearby Pohořelec for trips down to Malá Strana and the centre. It is a small, personal hotel rather than a full-service one, and its charm lies in the setting and the history.

Who it suits: couples looking for romance and quiet, history lovers, and photographers who want the castle district at dawn and dusk. Families can book the family room, but should be ready for stairs and a hilltop location. Beer lovers have the Strahov monastery brewery on the doorstep, a rare luxury for a hotel guest.

Getting around: from Pohořelec, trams run down through Malá Strana to the river and the centre in a few minutes, so the Old Town is easy to reach, but plan your days to make the most of the hilltop location: castle district in the morning, Petřín and Malá Strana in the afternoon, and dinner in the Old Town or back up the hill at the brewery. Walking down to Malá Strana through the Strahov gardens is beautiful; walking back up is a workout, so take the tram.

The trade-offs: no lift, a location away from the Old Town nightlife, and limited services compared with a large hotel. In return you get one of the most atmospheric addresses in Prague at a mid-range price, with the castle, the monastery and some of the city's finest views on your doorstep. Pack light, bring comfortable shoes for the cobbles and plan at least one sunset walk through the Strahov gardens.