We love Prague. It's magical, super gay, and absolutely stunning. It makes for the ideal weekend city break with plenty of fun guaranteed!
For us, Prague definitely ranks as one of our top destinations in Europe as well as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It's super unique, with its striking Gothic architecture, magnificent medieval monuments, like something from a fairy tale. It's no wonder that it's one of the most visited cities in the world.
Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic, a former Soviet-influenced country in Central Europe, now part of the EU. The country is so rich with culture that you can never get bored exploring it. To give you a brief idea, its history date back to the 9th century when it used to be called ‘The Duchy of Bohemia' under the Great Moravian Empire. It was around this time that Prague Castle was built, one of Prague's most famous tourist sites. In addition, most of the beautiful and picturesque medieval buildings of the Old Town, like “Charles Bridge” were subsequently built in the 1300s by the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles IV. There's a lot to see here, which we've summarised below, but make sure you also give yourself ample time to check out the dynamic gay nightlife of Prague.
We loved strolling through the narrow cobblestone streets of Prague's old Town and experiencing the thrilling gay nightlife in the evening
Our guide sets out everything you need to know about gay travel to Prague, including our favorite gay hangouts, clubs, places to stay, best things to do, and practical tips to help you have an awesome time in the “City of a Hundred Spires”.
Heads up: We just wanted to let you know that this post contains affiliate links. That means if you book something through one of those links, we'll get a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It helps us keep our blog going – so thank you in advance for your support! ♥
Explore Prague with a gay guide
If you want to see all the best sights of Prague with a gay and local guide, join one of the Gaily Tours. This way you'll learn about the city's history from someone with real insight into the gay scene, as well as having a great time!
Is Prague safe for gay travelers?
Although the former Eastern bloc nations are not known for being the most gay friendly, the Czech Republic is the big shining gay beacon of the region. Each time we've visited the country as a gay couple (both recently and in the early 2000s), we've had a fantastic time and felt extremely welcome.
LGBTQ travelers will feel safe and welcome in Prague since it is a very gay friendly city and the attitude to homosexuality is super liberal.
Put it this way, we felt safe walking the streets of the Old Town and Vinohrady hand in hand, which is not something we normally do back home in London or Lyon. At most, we got a few raised eyebrows but largely looks of disinterest more than anything. It's not surprising: a study by the Pew Research Centre in 2013 showed that 80% of the Czech public thought that homosexuality should be accepted by society, which was one of the highest among the 39 countries surveyed.
Other positive LGBTQ facts about the Czech Republic which show how gay friendly it is:
Gay area of Prague
The main gay area of Prague is in the trendy residential neighborhood called “Vinohrady”, which is the eastern edge of “Prague 2”. The majority of the gay hangouts are mainly found here, with a couple of others in “Prague 1”. Prague 1 is the main touristic neighborhood directly north of Vinohrady, split into 4 parts: the “Old Town”, the “New Town”, the “Lesser Town” and the “Prague Castle area”.
There are also a few gay bars and clubs popping up in neighborhoods around the city, like the OMG club (see below), located in the northern neighborhood of Holešovice.
Vinohrady is also one of the best neighborhoods in Prague for dining, with a wide range of excellent international restaurants. For us, this was another major factor for basing ourselves here as the majority of the restaurants in the Old Town were mediocre tourist traps, so having an area with lots of highly-rated restaurants was a breath of fresh air.
Getting around Prague
Prague has so many excellent sights to take in, it can be quite overwhelming. We highly recommend preordering your Prague Card online which includes free entry to most museums, attractions like Prague Castle, the Zoo, and even a free riverboat cruise on the Vltava.
Gay hotels in Prague
If you want to make the most of Prague's gay nightlife, we suggest you base yourself in the Vinohrady neighborhood so that you are within walking distance to the gay bars and only a few metro stops away from the main touristic sites of the Old Town. It's also a very safe residential neighborhood. Otherwise, if you want to be close to the main touristic sites, consider booking a hotel in the Old Town. These are our top gay-friendly picks:
01
The Four Seasons
Old Town
Why we love it
- So luxurious and romantic
- Gorgeous views
- Welcoming and helpful staff
- Lovely AVA Spa
The Four Seasons is one of the best gay-friendly luxury 5-star hotels in Prague. It is set in three historical buildings across the picturesque Vltava River overlooking Prague Castle and the famous Charles Bridge.
We think it's one of the most romantic places to stay in Prague! It's not cheap of course, but well worth it, especially to celebrate a special anniversary or if you're on your honeymoon.
The service here is absolutely top-notch (said with a posh British accent). The staff is very friendly, always willing to advise on the best things to do in Prague. As a gay couple, we've always felt extremely welcome here and cannot recommend it enough. Spa lovers should check out their AVA Spa where you can book in a couple of lush facials and body treatments, with some pretty sweet views of Prague Castle.
The Four Seasons also has a highly-rated Italian restaurant called CottoCrudo, which is worth checking out. You can enjoy the raw bar, a cheese cave, salami, and prosciutto towers as well as the wine cellar. The hotel can also organize a variety of romantic couples experiences for you, from a private boat ride on the Vltava River to a fabulous high tea, it's perfect for a romantic getaway in Prague.
02
La Fenice
Vinohrady
Why we love it
- Pet friendly
- Walking distance to local gay scene
- Romantic welcome package available
- Good medium budget option
La Fenice is a popular choice amongst LGBTQ travelers. It was highly recommended by local friends and other gay travelers to Prague who stayed here and raved about it. It is perfect if you want to be based within walking distance of the gay scene in Vinohrady.
It's a 4-star hotel with 68 spacious rooms, some with a small kitchenette, which is handy if you don't always want to eat out or are trying to save money. Some rooms also have cute private balconies.
La Fenice is a good medium-budget option, especially for couples. They offer a €40 romantic welcome package, which includes a bouquet of flowers and a bottle of Czech beer or branded Moravian red wine. They'll also organize flowers in your room if it's a special occasion. We loved the ambiance of the hotel, which gives off a sort of old-world elegance, with historic furniture and an old-fashioned lift.
An excellent buffet breakfast is included in the room rates, with lots of choice in the lovely breakfast room. La Fenice is also pet-friendly: they will let you bring your pets with you for an additional fee of €30 a night, perfect if you like to travel with your four-legged friend. There are lots of great restaurants and cafes nearby, plus the friendly staff is so helpful, even lending us umbrellas when it rained!
03
Hotel Josef
Old Town
Why we love it
- Fantastic views of the Old Town
- Excellent gay friendly luxury option
- Book the penthouse and get a personal trainer!
- Gorgeous design and architecture
Hotel Josef is a gorgeous, modern design boutique hotel, located in the heart of Prague's Old Town. As well as being one of the most luxurious hotels in Prague, it is notorious for its gay-friendly reputation.
We initially discovered it on our first trip to Prague and it has become one of our favorite gay-friendly hotels to stay in the Old Town. One of the things we love about Hotel Josef is the views of Prague Castle. You can't beat this for a romantic stay!
While Hotel Josef is in the heart of the Old Town, its design is anything but old-fashioned. Designed by Czech architect Eva Jiricna, the hotel features huge windows to let in lots of light, minimalist furnishings and pops of color. The staff here are fantastic and there are lots of little added extras, like free sightseeing trips on the back of retro scooters! The on-site French bakery is also wonderful, for breakfast or a light snack during the day.
There is a wide variety of room styles to choose from, including tiny ones for solo travelers and huge ones with incredible balcony views. Another added bonus: for guests renting out the penthouse, you are assigned your own personal trainer who designs a whole workout for you. This includes a morning run with him through the Old Town! There's also a beautiful little private garden and a bar for your nightly cocktail.
Gay hostels in Prague
Whilst Prague is more expensive than the rest of the country, it's still a great value compared to many other European capitals. Here are some of the best gay-friendly hostels and guesthouses to stay in Prague:
01
Czech Inn Hostel
Vinohrady
Why we love it
- Walking distance to Vinohrady's gay bars
- Hip design hostel
- Very affordable
- Cool cellar bar for meeting other travellers
The Czech Inn is one of the coolest gay-friendly hostels to stay in Vinohrady. It's a design hostel set in a restored 19th-century building just on the outskirts of Prague's city center.
It has a hip brick cellar bar, which is a nice place to hang out with fellow travelers before heading out to the gay bars. There's regular live entertainment and a happy hour, plus you can even organize a Prague pub crawl at the reception!
The Czech Inn offers a mix of affordable dorm beds, private rooms, and even apartments with fully-equipped kitchens. The private rooms look just as elegant as if you were staying in a nice hotel, with marble bathrooms and free toiletries. Even if you're staying in a dorm room they're a cut above the rest, with premium dorms that don't have bunks and a very cool basement dorm. Bonus, the hostel is dog-friendly!
Staying in a hostel like this is a great way to meet other travelers and have fun, especially when there's an on-site bar with regular events. A buffet breakfast is served each day, there's a shared kitchen area for cooking and a cafe next door to reception. If you want to know about the best things to do in the area the staff is happy to help and the hostel offers its own free walking tour of Prague.
STAY WITH A GAY LOCAL
Misterb&b is the Airbnb equivalent for the LGBTQ community. Unlike on Airbnb, you know your host is gay, voiding any nasty surprises when you check-in. It is also a great way to meet gay locals and discover the underground gay scene. Click below to get 10 € (or $10) off our first booking.
02
Sir Toby's Hostel
Holešovice
Why we love it
- In the artsy area of Holešovice
- Great budget option
- Close to the big gay party OMG at Mecca
- Very gay friendly hostel
Sir Toby's seems to have been around forever. It was one of the first hostels in Prague and was the first place we stayed at when traveling in Prague as a young gay couple on a budget many many moons ago…
Although Sir Toby's is quite far out from Vinohrady, it's an excellent gay-friendly budget option to consider. It's located in the up-and-coming artsy neighborhood of Holešovice, which is around 10 minutes tram ride north from the Old Town.
They offer a mix of very affordable dorm beds and private rooms, most with private bathrooms as well. All of the rooms are furnished with lovely Czech antiquities and have a desk for those of us who need to get some work done while traveling. We loved the cozy feeling of Sir Toby's, with wooden flooring, skylights in some rooms, and lovely clean, modern bathrooms.
There's a cellar bar with board games to enjoy and a
03
Prague's Rainbow Guesthouse
Vinohrady
Why we love it
- Walking distance to gay bars
- Good budget option
- Lovely gay host, Ron
- Free continental breakfast
Sometimes referred to as “Ron’s Rainbow Guest House”, this charming guesthouse is known for its quaint and welcoming environment due to the warm hospitality of its gay owner, Ron.
The guesthouse is located in a beautiful 1910 Art Nouveau Building with two self-contained apartments consisting of four large rooms, which can be booked either individually or as a suite with two adjoining rooms if you're traveling as a group.
This is a really convenient budget option if you want to be based in walking distance to the gay nightlife of Vinohrady and stay with a local gay host. Ron is on hand to give you all the best local tips on things to do and see in Prague, as well as providing the
Staying here really feels like you're just visiting a friend in his house, as Ron really goes above and beyond to make guests feel welcome. An American ex-pat who's lived in Prague for more than 20 years, he gives all guests a map and can help you organize tickets for attractions. If you want something more personal than a standard hotel then staying with Ron will meet all your expectations and more!
Gay bars in Prague
The main gay bars of Prague is based in the Vinohrady gay neighborhood, with a few popping up elsewhere in the city. These are the main ones to check out.
Explore Prague on a gay pub crawl
If you want to visit all of Prague's best gay bars in a fun (but small) group you can join a gay pub crawl! This is a fantastic way to make new friends and check out the gay scene, without having to go alone.
Piano Bar
Piano Bar is one of the staples of the Prague gay scene, going strong since 1995. We love coming here to start the night with a few cocktails. They also have fun drag shows taking place throughout the night. On Sundays, they have a hilarious bingo night, which attracts a lot of the local gay guys.
Piano Bar is located at Milesovska 10 and is open every day from 5pm to 2am.
The Saints Bar
The Sains Bar is one of the smaller gay bars in Prague, with a cozy atmosphere and really cute, friendly bartenders. This is a great spot to check out if you're traveling alone, as it attracts a lot of international and everyone is happy to chat. The Saints Bar Quiz night every Sunday is definitely worth checking out.
Saints is located at Polska 32 and is open daily until 2am (until 4am on weekends).
Klub U Rudolfa
While it's called a club it's really a bar, with lots of tables and paneled booths to sit in. Rudolfa is an important piece of gay history in Prague because it is the longest continually running gay bar. It's a very local bar, with mainly gay Czech lads. Like Saints, it's cozy and a very friendly place to hang out, there's even a jukebox for you to pick songs on!
Rudolfa is located at Mezibranská 3 and is open daily until 2am.
Klub 21
Klub 21 is a very unique basement bar in an 18th-century cellar vault, and while it's a bit hard to find, it's so popular that it gets busy on most evenings. When we went, the crowd was mainly 25+ and a mix of local and international patrons, all of who were very friendly. You have to ring a buzzer to get in, so it feels like a fun speakeasy!
Klub 21 is located at Římská 21 and is open daily (except Sundays) until 3am.
UP&DOWN Bar&Club
A clever play on words – UP is the upstairs area which is a gay bar by day. DOWN is the downstairs dance area that becomes a club night after 9pm. The crowd includes a mix of everyone in our LGBTQ+ family and a handful of very pretty Czech rent boys. Loving the beer for $1 deals so be sure to look out for those! We love some of their themed events – “Beefeater Zesty Lemon Weekend” is our favorite and always a guaranteed awesome night out.
UP&DOWN is located at Seifertova 32/3, 130 00 Praha 3-Žižkov and is open daily until around 3am.
Gay cafes in Prague
The coffee culture of Prague is just as prominent as its beer culture. Along with the gay bars, we also found a handful of fun gay cafes in Prague worth checking out. Funnily enough, most of these are based close together in the touristic heart of the Old Town. Only Celebrity is in Vinohrady.
Heads up: the iconic Story Theatre Club and Cafe Bar closed its doors for good in March 2024.
Traveling alone in Prague?
Handy tip: if you're traveling alone, one of the best ways we found to quickly make friends is to try out the Prague Alternative Walking Tour. It's the perfect way to quickly discover the alternative side of Prague including the local LGBT+ movement.
Celebrity Cafe
A gay cafe in Vinohrady, great for brunch, cheap beer, cocktails, and of course coffee! The friendly staff always have a smile on their face and will help you decide what to order. With fabulous music like ABBA and the Pet Shop Boys, Celebrity Cafe is a common spot to come during the day to meet that Grindr date…
Celebrity Cafe is located at Vinohradska 40 and is open daily from 8am to 11pm (until 1am on weekends).
Cafe-Cafe
This is a great little stylish cafe in the Old Town to take a break from the sightseeing and grab a bite to eat. It has a hip, young crowd, delicious cakes, and super cute waiters! The cakes here are amazing, we always visit multiple times so we can have a slice of heaven. They also do a yummy Banoffee pie and pancakes.
Cafe-Cafe is located at Rytířská 10/10 and is open daily from 10am to 11pm.
Cafe Bar Flirt
Another cool cafe in the Old Town, located just down the road from Cafe-Cafe. This is more a cafe/bar to come later in the day after you've finished fawning the pretty waiter boys over at Cafe-Cafe. It also has a dancing area that comes alive later in the day, especially on weekends.
Cafe Bar Flirt is located at Martinská 5 and is open daily from 12pm to 1am (until 3am on weekends).
Q Cafe
This is a snug bar/cafe located closer in the “New Town” part of Prague 1. It's very popular with LGBTQ locals, so expect it to get busy, but the atmosphere is so warm, welcoming, and safe. As well as a cool place to get a coffee, snack, or cheeky early cocktail, it's a bit like an art gallery, displaying works from local artists.
Q Cafe is located at Opatovická 12 and is open daily from 1pm to 2am.
Gay clubs in Prague
Heaven
Heaven has been on the gay scene of Prague since 1998. It closed for a while for renovation, but in 2021 like a phoenix it rose from the Covid ashes into the glorious gay club it now is! In fact, Heaven club is more than a club – in just one roof it houses a gay club, an excellent gay shop, a bar, video booths, and infamous darkroom!
Heaven is open daily until around 1am. On weekends, the parties go on till 3am, sometimes later. It is located at Gorazdova 11 12000 Prague.
Club Termax
Club Termax is the largest gay club in Prague and the place we like to go to party on weekends. They have a range of themed nights like “80s 90s Pop Party”, old school nights, drag shows, and the Fever Party, which gets really busy with a cool crowd. There are two different bars serving some delicious cocktails and other drinks, along with a very modern, colorful interior.
Club Termax is located at Vinohradská 40 and is only open on Fridays/Saturdays from 10pm to 7am the next morning.
Club TerMIX
Club Termix is the sister club to Termax, which attracts a much younger crowd. There’s just one small dance floor, so the vibe is quite intimate and it gets quite crowded, particularly on weekends. We do love the decor here, especially the car coming out of the wall over the bar! They have disco nights on Wednesdays and karaoke nights on Thursdays, so there's something for everyone.
Club Termix is located at Třebízského 4a and is open Wednesdays to Saturdays from 10pm to 6am the following day.
Friends
A club which we really enjoy going to… it's called “Friends” for good reason! As well as having big club nights with live DJs, they also do fun karaoke nights, drag shows, and even a ‘Sunday Club Quiz' where you can win bar money for drinks. The bartenders here are very friendly (of course!) and they also speak excellent English. We loved coming here for a fun night when we didn't just want to dance to loud music.
Friends is located at Bartolomějská 11 in the Old Town and is open daily until “the last guest leaves”, but officially at 6am.
OMG Party at Mecca
The OMG Party is one of the largest and best gay parties in Prague which takes place at the stylish Mecca club. Mecca Club has three different floors, five easily accessible bars, two dancing areas, and very friendly, handsome staff! The OMG Parties start late and go on into the early hours of the next morning, making them perfect for gay partygoers who literally just want to dance the night away.
Mecca is located at U Průhonu 3 in the Holešovice neighborhood towards the north of the city, which is a short taxi ride away. The OMG parties usually take place on a Saturday or Sunday, but check their Facebook page for details of the next event.
IP Club
The IP gay club hosts some of the most exciting themed parties in Prague. Some of our favorites include the Latino nights and the Tea parties – all of them complete with drag shows. In fact, drag shows feature in pretty much all of the parties we went to at IP Club and we are LIVING for them!
The IP Club is located at Mikovcova 12, 120 00 Vinohrady. It is open every day (except Mondays) until around 5am.
The gay clubs of Prague are mainly located in Vinohrady with the exception of “Friends”, which is in the Old Town, and the OMG party in the Holešovice neighborhood. Be warned, the Czech boys like to party late, so most clubs usually don't get busy until after 1 am.
Badboy House
The latest addition to the gay scene of Prague is Badboy House which opened in March 2024 and has been going strong since. It also doubles up as a cafe, lounge, spa, and hotel. It is located in the heart of the city at ečná 548/7, Prague, and is open daily with parties going on till late.
Gay cruising clubs in Prague
The gay scene of Prague is frivolous! My goodness, you've plenty to keep you busy during your trip here wink wink nudge nudge! There's an abundance of gay cruising clubs in Prague. We've highlighted the main ones right here:
Factory
Factory is one of the best fetish gay clubs in Prague. It's massive, set over three floors, complete with cruising dungeons, a dressing room, large cabins with video, cages, slings, a bar,gay shop and of course, free WiFi access! The music is usually deep house and they host regular parties during events like New Year and Prague Pride. If you're looking for something a little (or a lot!) kinky, then you will love Factory…
Factory is located at Vinohradská 63 and open almost all hours of the day. Check their Facebook page for details of their specific opening hours.
Drakes
Drakes is Prague's oldest gay bar where the gay boys come to play – open all hours of the day! Located underground, going down those stairs felt like we were descending into the pits of hell in Lil Nas' “Call Me By Your Name” video, ready to pole dance with the Dark Lord himself… There are dark rooms, dark passageways, video cabins, lots of glory holes – oh, and free WiFi! In short, the Drakes is the ultimate playground for the lascivious gay lad looking for a bit of Oh La La! during his holiday in Prague.
Drakes is located at Zborovská 50 15000 Prague. It is officially open all the time, though it may close on unannounced occasions for cleaning or public holidays. Keep an eye on its socials for the latest info on opening hours.
Garage
Popular gay cruising club in Prague for playtime for over 18 gay boys! It's got a very cool, relaxed vibe inside with plenty of Tom of Finland-type decor everywhere. It's also very clean. Lots of cabins, slings, dark spaces…. Garage is owned by the same team behind Clubs TerMIX and Termax.
Garage is open only Wednesday to Sunday from 9pm until around 5-7am the following morning. It is located at Balbínova 224/3, 120 00 Vinohrady.
Gay saunas in Prague
If it's cold and raining outside and you want somewhere cozy to hang out for a few hours, maybe some local friends at the same time embellished with a bit of fun, then Prague's got you covered! These are some of the more popular gay saunas in Prague to check out:
Sauna Babylonia
Sauna Babylonia is one of Prague's most popular gay saunas, largely due to it being located in the Old Town. There are lots of amenities to enjoy, like the 2 different steam baths, a dry sauna, maze, bar, and private cabins. You can also book a relaxing massage or sports massage if you need some help with sore muscles. They host regular events, their foam parties, in particular, are notorious and lots of fun!
Sauna Babylonia is open daily from 2pm to 3am, and is located at Martinská 6.
Sauna Bonbon
Sauna Bonbon is technically a “private men's club” but is open to the public (men only obviously) and has all the sauna amenities you would expect. There's a Finnish dry sauna, steam bath, jacuzzi, private relaxation cabins with TV, and a large relaxation area where you can socialize. They host a mix of themed parties like “Swingers Party”, days for under 25s called “Junior Party” and “Nude Party”.
Sauna Bonbon is located at Černomořská 6, and is open Tuesday – Sunday from 3pm until midnight.
Sauna David
Sauna David is not the largest gay sauna in Prague, but a more homely one, which they pride themselves on. There's a bar, sauna, steam room, and whirlpool to enjoy in a more intimate atmosphere than some of the other saunas in Prague. We definitely felt like everyone we met here was friendly and the whole place was very cozy. They host events like Bear Weekends and the sauna tends to attract a more mature clientele.
Sauna David is located at Sokolovská 107/44, and is open daily from 9am until 8pm.
Gay cruising in Prague
These are some of the more popular outdoor gay cruising areas in Prague, although they're not ‘official' so remember to be discrete and careful if you visit any of them:
Park Letna: large park on Letna Hill. The area near the “Metronom” on the top and next to the Belvedere Palace is the place to check out. Also check out the bushes on either side of the pavilion, near the Hanovsky Pavillion Restaurant.
Šeberák Lake: the eastern side of the lake is popular on summer days with nudists and gay men who come to swim. Cruising generally takes place in the woods surrounding the lake.
Podoli Baths: an outdoor swimming pool located next to the Moldau river, which is another popular cruising spot. There's actually a nude sunbathing terrace in the pool complex and the pool is popular with LGBTQ locals.
Gay events in Prague
As Prague becomes more of a gay-friendly destination, the number of LGBTQ events taking place throughout the year has also increased. These are the main gay events in Prague to look out for:
Queer Ball in March
This is a fun queer-themed ballroom event that started in 2013 and takes place every March. The ball is for gays, lesbians, queer people, and their friends. It includes live music, a raffle competition, and lots of dance performances. The ball starts at night and goes until 5am the next morning, so you're definitely in for an unforgettable experience! Check their website for the latest details about the next ball, including what the themed dress code will be as it changes each year.
Prague Rainbow Spring in May
Historically, queer people have faced a lot of prejudice and obstacles in sporting leagues but the Prague Rainbow Spring aims to change all that. It's an international sports tournament for LGBTQ athletes and their supporters. The Rainbow Spring has been going strong for over 20 years, with 100s of athletes participating from all around the world. It usually features volleyball, beach volleyball, swimming, and badminton tournaments.
Prague Pride Festival in August
Prague Pride is the largest and best gay pride event in East Europe, which has been going strong since 2011. The week-long festival takes place in early August, featuring exhibitions, live shows, and entertainment. The Pride Parade is, of course, the crowning event, taking place on the Saturday at the end of the week and attracting tens of thousands of spectators. Since 2015 the parade had been led by the Mayor of Prague and notable figures from around Europe often attend. Previous attendees include LGBT activist Omar Sharif Jr., the singer Conchita Wurst and the former Icelandic PM Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir.
Mezipatra Queer Film Festival in November
Mezipetra is Prague’s LGBTQ film festival which takes place in early November. It screens no fewer than 100 films, from both local Czech and international filmmakers, so timing your trip for this is event is ideal for film buffs! Even if you visit at other times of the year they put on regular screenings of films from previous festivals and they also organize accompanying events for the Pride Festival like an outdoor cinema, so you won't be missing out.
Our favorite gay friendly restaurants in Prague
While drinking Czech beer is all well and good, you will definitely also need some substantial meals while you're visiting Prague. There are lots of cute cafes where you can grab a coffee and something yummy, as well as traditional pubs where you can try local favorites such as goulash with dumplings, and even fancy restaurants with modern cuisine and stunning views. We've rounded up our five favorite restaurants in Prague that will give you a chance to ‘taste' a little bit of everything!
Celebrity Cafe
Gay visitors to Prague often comment that Celebrity Cafe is the best gay-friendly restaurant in Prague, and we couldn't agree more. The staff are super friendly and added bonus, it's dog-friendly! They have an extensive menu including breakfast until midday (or 2 pm on weekends), and you can even have a French-style breakfast with freshly baked croissants. The dinner menu is extensive, as are the drinks on offer, from Czech beer and coffee to champagne and cocktails. They also have a lovely terrace to sit outside in summer and enjoy people-watching in the sun.
Cafe~Cafe
Cafe~Cafe is another gay friendly spot open till late (around 11 pm) each night. It was one of our favorite places for brunch, mainly for celebrity spotting. While you should try their yummy cakes don't miss out on the savory dishes like chicken Caesar salad, beef goulash with dumplings, and chicken schnitzels. The decor is very cool too, with bright red features and groovy artwork hanging on the exposed brick walls. The staff are lovely, and go all out for events like Halloween!
Ginger and Fred (in the Dancing House)
For something a little bit different, did you know there is a restaurant inside the famous Dancing House of Prague? Ginger & Fred Restaurant is, of course, named after the famous dancers Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire, and offers an international menu with a French touch. Not only can you say you've eaten inside the ‘Dancing House' but the food is exquisite, the interior is beautiful and you have lovely views across the Hradčany district of Prague. This is a great place for a romantic dinner for a special occasion, plus it's also open for breakfast, lunch, and brunch.
Restaurace MINCOVNA (traditional Czech)
Even though it's in a very central location on Wenceslas Square in the Old Town area of Prague, Mincovna restaurant is not your typical touristy eatery. Here you can sample some of the finest traditional Czech dishes such as goulash, pork knuckle, deer, duck, schnitzel, and more; along with Pilsner beer from the tank or the best Moravian and Czech wines. This place is loved by locals and visitors alike and we can see why with such delicious food and friendly staff! It also looks really cool, with ornate wooden doors, a long white bar, a domed ceiling, and shiny steel beer barrels above the bar.
Things to do in Prague
Prague is a stunning city to explore, particularly the UNESCO-listed Old Town. For a more local experience in Prague beyond the obvious tourist hotspots, we recommend checking out some of the Withlocals tours, which we tried and loved. Here are a few of our favorite sites to explore and activities to do in Prague:
Explore the Old Town
Prague's Old Town is the touristic beating heart of Prague. This historical piece of the city dates back to the 10th century and is always busy with tourists, but for good reason. Other than the astounding, unique architecture, the Old Town has many bustling restaurants, cafes, and street performers every day of the week. The cobblestoned streets add to the charm, plus this is where you'll get to see the most famous sights like the medieval Astronomical Clock and the Gothic Church of Our Lady Before Týn. You can even go inside the Old Town Hall and see views of the city from inside the clock tower itself!
Visit Prague Castle
Today, this magnificent UNESCO-listed building is the official office of the President of the Czech Republic. Its history dates back to the 9th century when it was a seat of power for the Kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman Emperors, and subsequent presidents of former Czechoslovakia. It's also famous for being the largest ancient castle in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records. It's located on the other side of the river from Prague's Old Town, which you can reach via the Charles Bridge. Bonus tip: free entry is included as part of the Prague Card.
Walk across Charles Bridge
What Tower Bridge is to London, Charles Bridge is to Prague. It's one of the city's most iconic structures, touristy, but for good reason. It dates back to 1357 when it was built by King Charles IV and until 1841 it was the only way to cross the Vltava River to reach the castle from the Old Town. Particularly stunning at sunrise and sunset, make sure you spend some time admiring the 30 different replica Baroque-style statues of saints lining the bridge. There's also a small museum to visit if you want to learn more about the bridge, and entry is free if you have the Prague City card.
Take a romantic river cruise
The Vltava is the longest river in the Czech Republic and divides Prague into two parts: the labyrinthine Old Town from Hradcany on one side, and Prague Castle on the other. Whilst a river cruise may sound super touristy, we recommend it because it's one of the best ways to get beautiful city views of the Old Town, the famous castle and Charles Bridge. If you have the Prague Card, a free riverboat cruise is included, but if you want something extra romantic you could also book a night-time dinner cruise to see the city lights from the river while enjoying a delicious meal!
See cute animals at the Prague Zoo
We don't always like to visit animal attractions but the Prague Zoo is renowned for being a good one; it was rated as the 7th best zoo in the world by Forbes Travel Guide in 2007 and is currently the 5th best according to TripAdvisor. It also has a strong conservation focus, being instrumental in helping endangered species like the binturong and Przewalski's horse. The zoo is located a bit out of the city to the north, but you can book a zoo entrance ticket which includes a boat tour to get there which is really fun as well! The ticket also includes a bus transfer to get back to the city center.
Visit the Jewish Museum
The Jewish area of the Old Town is not only beautiful but an important slice of Czech history, which we think everyone needs to learn about. To give you an idea, we weren't even aware that there was a large concentration camp for Jews in the Czech Republic during WW2: the Terezin Concentration Camp. If you want to visit it, which you can as part of a tour, it is located around 30 miles north of Prague (around 1 hour's bus ride). You can also explore the Jewish Quarter in Prague on a walking tour, which includes admission to the Jewish Museum which is located in four historical synagogues.
Climb up Petrin Hill
Petrin Hill is the summit of a hillside park (327m/1,073ft) with a 19th-century tower resembling the Eiffel Tower overlooking the big city below. The hill is also home to a mirror maze, beautiful rose gardens, an ethnographic museum and a monastery with one of the most beautiful Baroque libraries in the world. Petrin Hill is a great place to come and enjoy the views of Prague, especially on a clear day at sunset. You can either climb up the 299 steps or take the funicular railway. Luckily, if you've got the Prague Card you'll also be able to get a discount on the funicular.
Have a medieval dinner!
As foodies, we jumped at the chance of getting a taste of Medieval Prague's culinary delights. We discovered this three or five-course dinner, which is set in a Medieval tavern and also includes live entertainment such as jesters, swordsmen, jugglers, belly dancers, battles between knights and even fire dancers! The tavern where the dinner is hosted is incredible, giving off real Game of Thrones vibes with furs to keep warm on the wooden chairs, candlelight and flagons of mead. The meal includes medieval-style delicacies like grilled trout, beef goulash and honeycakes for dessert.
Try not to shriek on a ghost tour
Joining a ghost tour is a very unique and quirky way to visit the Old Town, which we recommend checking out. On this tour, we explored some of the eeriest parts of Prague that are not only off-the-beaten-track but showed us a deeper insight into the city's dark past. Our tour guide was really funny, which helped to offset the times when Stefan was shrieking and trying to hide behind Seby because he thought he saw a ghost! If you don't like crowds this is also a good way to explore the city when it's a bit quieter, and don't worry, we didn't actually see any vengeful ghosts…
Check out the local farmer's market
If you're looking for a local foodie experience, we recommend checking out one of the many local Farmer's Markets. They usually take place all over the city on a Saturday morning throughout the year. Some of the best include the Naplavka market underneath the Vysehrad fortress, the Jirak market in the Jiriho z Podebrad square in Vinohrady, and Hall 22 of the Holesovice neighbourhood market, which is also the largest one. The markets aren't just for grocery shopping either, you can get all sorts of yummy treats like coffee or hot chocolate, local cheeses, crepes and Czech pastries.
Feel like a child at the Lego museum
Lego may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Prague, but the city has the largest Lego museum in the entire world, which made our geeky Seby ecstatic! With over 3,000 lego models, a lego store and even a Lego restaurant, anyone who finds Lego interesting will be in heaven visiting this museum. There are 20 different themed areas in the museum, with Lego displays of Harry Potter, Star Wars, old trains and medieval knights. The museum is dedicated to the history of Lego, so you'll even get to see plenty of models that aren't available to buy anymore.
Take a moment to reflect at the Memorial to the Victims of Communism
The Memorial to the Victims of Communism is a series of seven bronze figure statues descending a flight of stairs, commemorating the many victims who suffered during the Communist era from 1948 to 1989. The statues appear more “decayed” the further away they are from you, losing limbs and their bodies breaking open. It symbolises how political prisoners were affected by Communism. You can find the memorial at the base of Petrin Hill, there's a strip of bronze running between the statues that shows the numbers of people who were impacted by communism and how.
Things to know before you visit Prague
We've put together some handy hints and tips to help you plan your own trip to Prague. Read on to find out everything the gay traveller should know before they go.
Travel insurance: make sure you get travel insurance for your trip to Prague so that you're protected in case of injury, illness, theft or cancellations beyond your control. We've been using Heymondo Travel Insurance for years and can't recommend them highly enough. They offer comprehensive coverage and it's very easy to make a claim online if you need to.
How to get there: most visitors will reach Prague either by plane at the Vaclav Havel Airport, which is around 10.5 miles (17km) north from the centre or by train at the city's main train station, Hlavní Nádraží, conveniently located in Vinohrady. For more information, be sure to check out our article about how to get from Prague airport to the city centre.
Visa requirements: most European and North American citizens don't need a visa to enter the Czech Republic and visit Prague. Always make sure you check your personal visa requirements before making travel plans though.
Getting around: Prague has an integrated metro, tram and bus network, which makes it quite easy to navigate around the city. If you purchase a Prague Welcome Card you'll get free public transport access for 72-hours as well as lots of discounts and free entrance to many of the city's best attractions.
Vaccinations: all travellers to the Czech Republic should be up to date with routine vaccinations like measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox. Most travellers should also be vaccinated against hepatitis A while some travellers (depending on what you will be doing) may also need hepatitis B and rabies vaccines.
Currency: the currency in Prague and the rest of the Czech Republic is the koruna. The formal name in Czech is koruna česká, which is why it is abbreviated to Kč. Useful conversions: €1 is worth around 25 Kč and $1 USD is around 23 Kč.
Tipping culture: traditionally, tipping is not expected amongst the older generations. But now it is more common to tip 10-15%, particularly if the service was good and you were really satisfied with your meal. Unlike in the US, the waiters have their own salary independent of tips but it is nonetheless quite low so tipping is a way for them to earn more than their base salary. You can read more about tipping in the Czech Republic here.
Internet access: most public places will have free WiFi in Prague including the tourist attractions and even at one of the many libraries. Otherwise, consider buying a local SIM card when you arrive or bringing a portable WiFi device with you so you can connect multiple devices at faster speeds.
Online privacy: the Czech Republic (like many European countries) has little to no internet censorship in place, so you won't have any problems using gay dating apps like Grindr or Scruff while you're visiting Prague. If you simply prefer to keep your internet usage anonymous and secure, then we recommend ExpressVPN. They provide a reliable and affordable way to get online with complete privacy.
Accommodation: for even more accommodation options in Prague, make sure you check out Booking.com. We love using their website when planning our travels as they offer the best prices and many listings have free cancellation as well. Their 24/7 online customer support is also excellent.
Sightseeing and adventure: if you're looking for more fun activities to do during your time in Prague then we recommend the GetYourGuide website for all the best choices. The website is easy to use to book activities and their 24/7 customer support service is always fantastic.
When to visit: the Czech Republic has four distinct seasons, so the best time to visit Prague will depend on what you want to experience. The shoulder seasons of early spring and late autumn are perfect for low prices coupled with either pretty flowers or colourful leaves. If you want snow and magical Christmas markets then head there in winter!
Gay map of Prague
We've made a gay map of Prague for you to help you plan your own visit. Here we've included all of our favourite gay friendly places to stay, eat, party, sightsee and more!
Read more travel adventures like this in our book!
We've published our very own gay travel book called, ‘Out in the World'. It has all our practical safety tips, first-hand advice, and travel stories from some of our favorite destinations.
We hope it inspires you to have a fun and safe trip!
Click on the book to order:
For more inspiration:
- As well as Prague, these are the most gay friendly cities in East Europe
- If you're travelling on a budget, check out these awesome gay hostels in Europe
- Read about why we love attending London Pride
- As well as these ideas for fabulous pride outfits
- And don't forget to pack these must-have pride accessories
- These are the best gay pride events in Spain
- While these are the biggest gay pride events in the world!
- If you're heading to Spain, check out the best gay cities in Spain for partying
Like this post? Pin it
Happy travels are safe travels
We recommend you always take out reputable travel insurance before your next vacation. What happens if you suffer from illness, injury, theft, or a cancellation? Many gay travelers forget about it and regret it when something happens. Better to pay a small price and have peace of mind and not worry.
Rich
Monday 15th of April 2024
this is amazingly thorough, thanks! Tiny thing: One of your headers reads: "Is Prague safe for safe travelers?" Might want to correct that for your SEO ;)
Stefan Arestis
Tuesday 16th of April 2024
Thank you!
Mat
Wednesday 24th of March 2021
You have done an excellent Prague critique. Very informative. I've visited Prague about 4 years ago and had a wonderful time. Your blog has given me insights into many additional places for my next visit. Looking forward to checking out other cities you've posted on. Thank you.
Stefan Arestis
Thursday 25th of March 2021
Thankas Mat :)
Sam
Sunday 13th of October 2019
Came to cafe cafe, which is now an Irish pub 😩
Stefan Arestis
Tuesday 15th of October 2019
Did you mean McCarthy's? That's a few blocks down the road no? Cafe Cafe seems to be up and running according to their Facebook page and Google Maps listing?
Alvaro Restrepo
Sunday 25th of August 2019
I am traveling very soon to Prague & Vienna and I found this page in Google. Very good info Gay related and fabulous general info about Prague. I pick the hotel Josef based on this website and thank you very much for provide all this info to us. I saw other countries info and is just fantastic.
Stefan Arestis
Sunday 25th of August 2019
Awesome - so pleased :)
jessy
Saturday 11th of May 2019
great list...
Nomadic Boys
Saturday 11th of May 2019
Thank you