A Praguer through and through, playwright Vaclav Havel was one of the driving forces of Charter 77, the group of dissidents who sought to bring about the end of the repressive regime and ultimately succeeded in November 1989 in what was dubbed the Velvet Revolution.

You can walk in the footsteps of this national hero and see Prague as he did.

Home sweet home

During his dissident years, when not imprisoned for his unharmonious views, Havel called the top floor of Gorazdova 19 home (map marker A). Located next to the Dancing Building.

The local

Just next door is the pub & restaurant Na Rybarne (map marker B), where he took celebrities such as Mick Jagger and Bill Clinton.

Nosy neighbours

In the background of that picture you’ll notice a tower (map marker C). It was from here that the StB, the Communist Secret Police, would observe Havel’s comings and goings.

School Days

Havel studied at the Theatre faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts (map marker D) – why not take in a show by the school’s current students at the nearby DISK Theatre.

Cafe society

Head north along the river and you’ll soon pass the National Theatre and opposite it, on Narodni street, you’ll see Café Slavia (map marker E), with its plate glass windows overlooking the river. The coffee’s not up to much (see our post about Prague cafés for some suggestions) but you can’t go wrong with a beer.

To the Castle and Back

Havel’s memoirs, titled To the Castle and Back, tell it all in more detail but by all accounts he was reluctant to put himself forward but there was a groundswell of opinion and he relented. As The Economist puts it:

Havel confounded those who thought he was too dilettantish to be a proper president. He rollerskated through the corridors of Prague castle, exorcising the ghosts of the communist usurpers with his humanity and humour.

You can’t rollerskate there yourself but you can take a tour (map marker F).

Showing famous friends a good time

Havel was pretty well connected, pals with rockstars and world leaders from the Dalai Lama and Bill Clinton to Lou Reed and the Rolling Stones. Drop by  Reduta Jazz Club (map marker G) in the evening to catch a performance and see where Clinton played his sax for Havel.

Havel’s apartment image credit: Furman University Education Department

Vaclav Havel image credit: Wikipedia Commons

As the crow flies, the two capitals are 280km apart and you can travel the distance a number of ways:

Plane

There are regular direct flights between Prague and Berlin operated twice daily by Czech Airlines (CSA), all other airlines (German Wings and Lufthansa) require a change somewhere else in Germany. As the only airline operating the route directly CSA are somewhat pricey (even out of peak season, expect to pay at least $450). If you’re travelling in a group, this gets expensive fast, with no discounts for multiple passengers! Flights with changes are cheaper but take at least an hour longer. The flight time is one hour, though you’ll need to factor in the time to get to and from the airports at either end, as well as getting to the airport at least an hour before check-in. Total journey time is close to four hours for a direct flight.

Train

For city-centre to city-centre convenience the train is hard to beat, though if you’ve got lots of luggage, you’ll need to factor in the hassle of getting to and from the train station. Trains start at Berlin’s Hauptbahnhof and arrive at Prague’s Hlavni Nadrazi (main station). Journey time isn’t much worse than taking a plane, all told, at 5 minutes short of 5 hours, and you get to stretch out and watch the scenery. You can buy tickets online or we can take care of buying them for you. Buying in advance is usually cheaper than buying on the day.

Automobile (rental)

You could hire a car and drive yourself, though dropping a rental off in another country usually incurs a fairly hefty fee. If you’re round-tripping and returning the car where you picked it up, you avoid this charge but pay attention to mileage allowances as driving across Europe can eat those up, unless it’s unlimited. Fuel is also a lot more expensive than you might be used to if you’re visiting from the US ($7 a gallon!). Don’t forget to add in the cost of parking too.

Door-to-door Transfer

Alternatively we can arrange a private transfer service, with an appropriately sized car or minivan, between the two cities. You get the convenience of door-to-door service as well as save money when you’re in a group. As well as being hassle free we can also give you the option of a stop en route in Dresden, a beautiful city in South East Germany, for a bonus bit of sightseeing. On a good run the journey time is around 4 hours.

And back again?

Getting to Berlin from Prague is exactly the same in reverse. Whichever direction or mode you want to travel, we can include it as part of a tailored JayWay Travel tour package.

Berlin, Germany

JFK was a Berliner and you can be too, for a few days at least. This renewed, reunited, vibrant capital city is a can’t miss stop on a tour of Central Europe. With plentiful flight connections Berlin is a great place to start or end your trip. A direct train or a private transfer gets you to Prague in four to five hours. There’s plenty to see in Berlin too, from world-class museums, the rebuilt Bundestag building and a plethora of Berlin city tours and day trips. There’s a thriving arts scene too, with galleries, outdoor installations and performances aplenty.

Munich, Germany

The beating heart of German industry, home to BMW and Siemens. Though Munich was largely rebuilt after the destruction of WWII there’s still an old-world charm to the Bavarian capital. If your visit coincides with OktoberFest (book ahead! The dates are September 17th to October 3rd this year.) you’re in for a once-in-a-lifetime party. Even when the world-famous beer festival isn’t taking place there’s no excuse not to sample one of the local brews. As a major aviation hub in Germany, Munich makes a lot of sense as a starting or finishing point for a tour of Central Europe.

Venice, Italy

The quintessential city-museum, Venice has been popular with JayWay guests visiting nearby Croatia for several years and was a shoo-in for this round of additions to our line-up. We had our all-hands meeting there in November and loved it. You can get lost in the maze of streets here, happen across picturesque squares, turn a corner and you’re at the Grand Canal, crossing on a flat-bottomed traghetto. For first time visitors we’ve found the perfect way to get to know Venice with a walking tour designed to show you all the major sites along with the story of Venice’s impressive history.

Salzburg, Austria

Our second destination in Austria (after Vienna), Salzburg is a baroque jewel surrounded by the Alps. Its Old Town was added to the UNESCO world heritage list in 1997. It’s not far from new destination Munich, or an old favorite, Cesky Krumlov in south Bohemia (Czech Republic).

Go West!

This westward expansion of our destinations allows us to offer our renowned level of trip planning and in-destination care to some destinations that many of our guests have been asking for or have previously had to make arrangements in independently. If you’re considering a tour of Central and Eastern Europe in 2012 we’ve covered even more bases for you, get in touch and we’ll prepare a tailor-made itinerary for you.

Related posts:

1. Getting to Prague from Berlin
2. Views of Venice

We’ve broken this article down into Restaurants, Clubs and Bars, with a little advice at the end on where to go if you plan on partying in the streets.

Restaurants

Hard Rock Cafe
From 871Kc to 2000Kc depending on when and how long you have a table reservation for. See the New Year in, Hard Rock style, close to the action on Old Town Square.

Kampa Group
The high-end restaurant group Kampa is as usual putting on some up-scale party menus at their three restaurants in Mala Strana. Top-end Kampa Park, situated almost under Charles Bridge, has a Black Tie party with live music, a DJ and a disco after midnight and a fine dining menu for between 4,500kc and 5,500kc. The more approachable Hergetova Cihelna’s Black & White party with either a sit-down menu or a buffet of tasty treats, both at 3,900Kc, with the same kind of entertainment line-up. Cihelna’s location, with a terrace right on the river, should be excellent for watching the midnight fireworks.

Cowboys, on the hill up to the castle, with a rooftop terrace to watch the fireworks from, gives you a similar choice of sit-down or buffet style menu, for 3,500Kc or 3,600Kc respectively. Cowboys entertainment offering differs in that there’s no live music but there is a magician.

Ambiente Group
Many of Ambiente’s places are sticking with their standard a la carte menu or offering a new years menu but not having a specific party event, so if you want good food at regular prices and don’t plan on staying all night (say if you want to go outside for the fireworks, then home) this is a good option. Only Brasileiro on U Radnice is putting on a special party event. Tickets will set you back 2495kc each and gets you the normal all-you-can-eat salad, sushi and meat buffer, a caipirinha, live music from the Tam-Tam orchestra, samba school and midnight champagne.

La Casa Argentina
Argentinian steak house La Casa has a couple of fixed price menus to choose from (at 1,890Kc and 2350Kc). Whichever one you go for you’ll have Latin-American rhythms to dance the night away to and fireworks at midnight.

La Bodeguita Del Medio
A Havana style NYE party awaits at this Cuban joint close to Old Town Square and even closer to the Rudolfinum. Here your options are an 800Kc Tapas-at-bar-tables menu, a couple of 4-course menus at 1,680Kc or 1,900Kc, or a vegetarian menu at 1,680Kc.

Hilton Prague
If you really want to push the boat out for New Years then head to the Hilton. The hotel’s restaurants and the cocktail bar on the 9th floor have New Years parties scheduled. A choice of venues and menus: from 4,400kc for the Atrium Gala Dinner to 7,900Kc for the Starlit SkyBar Gala Dinner in Cloud 9 cocktail bar. All of the options include drinks, with the more expensive options (6,400Kc plus) including unlimited champagne. If you want the Hilton party experience on the (relative) cheap then their Musicology After Party, with tickets for 1,790Kc, gets you into the atrium or Cloud 9 from 11pm and includes a bottle of Taittinger.

Celeste
With one of the best views of the Prague-by-night, from atop the Dancing House (also called the Fred & Ginger Building), Celeste have an exclusive and exquisite meni on offer for 3900Kc per person (drinks extra).

La Gare
This French brasserie  a short walk from Namesti Republiky is seeing in the New Year, Moulin Rouge style. The fixed price menu at 1590Kc gets you five courses and can-can dancers.

Clubbing it

Sasazu
This Prague super-club offers a choice of regular and VIP tickets for their NYE Party, Ride On Time, which features a heavyweight DJ lineup who will take you on a musical ride through the years, from the 1920s and into the future. Advance tickets start at 550Kc for the first 400, after which 990kc, then 1390kc on the door. A limited number of VIP tickets are 2800Kc in advance after which it’ll set you back 4,000Kc. VIP entry gets you access to the gallery level and an unlimited open bar.

Industrial Palace
The main hall of the Industrial Palace, usually an exhibition/trade show venue, will be transformed into one big party. A star-studded DJ line-up and their mission of providing a kick-ass party to people tired of paying through the nose just because it’s New Years should add up to a good night for all. Tickets from 899Kc (it was as low as 399Kc for people so together as to have booked before the 15th of September).

Lucerna
It’s always the 80s (and 90s) in Lucerna and NYE is no different. Tickets are 450Kc in advance at the club box office with no booking fee, or can be bought from ticket websites, where booking fee is payable. Situated just off Wenceslas Square this would be a good venue for anyone planning to see the fireworks there at midnight.

Karlovy Lazne
The ‘Biggest Music Club in Central Europe’ always puts on a big bash for New Years. No details confirmed at the time of writing but expect 5 floors of differing musical styles and a whole load of locals and tourists in the 18-25 age range.

Theatro Music Club
A stone’s throw from the edge of Prague 1, this music club in the basement of the Karlin Musical Theatre is putting on a beach party. The price is pretty low at 300Kc including a welcome drink and nibbles, as well as free shots served by ‘sexy gogo dancing waitresses’ (no prizes for political correctness at this party it seems).

Retro Music Hall
This year Retro’s theme for their New Years Eve Party is Comic Books. The DJs will be dressed like characters from comics and you can join in to – go as Spiderman or Cat Woman if you like! Costumes aren’t obligatory however and their policy on presales is this: party starts at 9, presold tickets (250Kc) get you in before 11, then it’s general admission (300Kc) – last year lots of people with tickets didn’t turn up till 2am, leaving loads of people queueing up outside in the cold, due to the venue’s limited capacity. On that basis it could be a good option for a last minute party spot. Retro is located very close to Namesti Miru metro station and tram stops, just outside the very centre.

Bars

Cloud 9
As mentioned in the restaurants section, this cocktail bar atop the Hilton is either very expensive if you go for the whole evening or somewhat more reasonable (1,790Kc, including a bottle of champagne) if you get there after 11.

Bugsy’s Bar
This Old Town favourite is holding a French Countryside themed NYE party with cocktails, champagne, traditional French drinks and food. Tickets are available at the bar.

Papa’s Bar/Lounge
Party in the style of 60s Rock’n'Roll from 8pm to 7am and choose from an open bar (1,999Kc) or open bar with a 3 course menu (2,899Kc). On Bethlehem Square, a short walk from Old Town Square.

Staying Outdoors

Keeping costs down or just prefer to enjoy New Year’s Eve outdoors? Prague’s streets are generally safe, but beware of the usual hazards such as pickpockets in crowds as well as the unforeseen dangers of crazy people packing their own bangers and fireworks. Charles Bridge, Wenceslas Square and Old Town Square are the top locations. My favourite less-crowded but very central vantage point to watch the various private and DIY fireworks displays you’ll see is in front of the Rudolfinum concert hall, right by the river. Other popular viewpoints are Vitkov Hill in Zizkov, by the Czech National Monument and statue of George of Podebrady or Riegrovy Sady in Vinohrady.

More parties will be added as details are announced. If you represent an establishment in Prague and would like your NYE Party listed here, please leave us a comment.

Fireworks Display

In many previous years (up until 2009) the City of Prague has put on a fireworks display around dusk on the 1st of January. Last year there was no display, citing lack of funds. This year the city has decided to have a display, but at midnight. So if you’re able to get a decent view (the fireworks are being set off from a pontoon between Strelecky Ostrov and Charles Bridge) then you’re in for a treat as 1.5m CZK of explosives will be set off over 15 minutes. The city recommends Smetanovo Nabrezi (Smetana Embankment), Most Legii (Legionaires Bridge), Manesuv Most (Manes Bridge) and Cechuv Most (Cech Bridge) as offering the best viewing locations. If you’ve stumped up the cash for dinner at Celeste, then you’ve got a prime position. The display will also be broadcast on TV nationwide. For further info, read Google Translate’s attempt at the article on the Prague City website.

Related posts:

1. New Years Eve in Prague 2010-2011
2. Halloween Parties in Prague
3. New Years in Prague

For the 2012 season we are adding Venice to the JayWay destination line-up and yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many of our guests who come to Croatia start or finish their vacation in this breathtaking city and ask us if we can help them arrange their accommodation and tours there. On this visit we tried a variety of tours, sampled plenty of eateries and checked out numerous hotels.

We took quite a few pictures whilst we were there:

And this panorama of St. Mark’s Square too, featuring several JayWay team members…

(you’ll need Microsoft Silverlight installed to view it)

Venice is a truly magical place, beautiful in a way that you can’t quite get from watching TV programs or looking at pictures. Definitely a must-see and we’re proud to be adding it to the JayWay line-up. Keep an eye on the JayWay website for details of all the accommodation and tours we will be offering in Venice.

Related posts:

1. New Year, New Destinations

What to expect

In all the markets you can expect to find stalls or huts selling souvenirs, gifts and Christmas decorations, running the gamut from hand-made pieces down to commercially produced imported tchotchkes. Pay attention to where items are produced if you’re looking for something authentic for the folks back home.

Refreshments come in the form of warm alcohol – mulled wine (svařák) and honey wine or mead (medovina). Savoury eats include sausage and smoked hams while the sweet-toothed will enjoy pancakes (palačinky) and Czech gingerbread (perník).

Old Town Square

The market opens on the 26th of November and runs till the 1st of January. All the stalls are open from 9am to 7pm weekdays and to 8pm on weekends. Stalls serving food and drink can be open till midnight. By far Prague’s largest Christmas market, there’s also a stage where folk music and dancing performance take place. This year’s tree will be 29 meters tall and is gifted to Prague by the town of Malé Kyšice.

Wenceslas Square

The pedestrian area at the bottom of Wenceslas Square is where you’ll find another small Christmas market from November 26th to January 8th.

Namesti Republiky

In front of the Celnice building there will be a small market with the usual array of stalls. The market will run from November 25th to December 24th. There’s a

Out of the centre

Prague 2 and 3 aren’t left out of the action, Náměstí Míru (Prague 2)’s market starts earlier than most, on the the 20th of November and runs to the 24th of December. Náměstí Jiřího z Poděbrad in Prague 3 usually also has a market too.

What to watch out for

As with anywhere there are large crowds and lots of tourists, be aware of your valuables. Check your change at stalls, and make sure you understand in your own currency how much you’re paying for anything you buy. One more thing – if you’re visiting one of these markets just a few days before Christmas, don’t be alarmed by the large tubs full of icy water and live carp. That’s the traditional Czech christmas dinner. People can choose to take the fish home dead or alive, where it will likely be kept in the bathtub till it’s time to prepare it.

Where to stay?

Most of our selection of apartments and hotels in Prague are in or very close to the center but if you want Old Town Square right on your doorstep, the Old Town Flats apartments or either of the Old Town Residence or Tyn Church hotels are the best choices.

Related posts:

1. Prague Christmas Markets
2. French Market 14th-17th July in Prague

Its geography means there is abundant coastline and more than 1000 islands in the Adriatic, so there’s plenty of beaches to go around. If the sea isn’t your thing, then head inland to Plitvice Lakes or soak up some culture or history in one of the ancient cities.

For beaches/water activities

1. Hvar

Hvar’s one of our most popular destinations in the whole of Croatia. Our regional manager, Ana wrote this report on the best beaches in Hvar a few months ago.

2. Brač

From Hvar you can take a day trip by boat to the island of Brač where you will visit the town of Bol, the oldest settlement on the island. Take a walk along the shore to one of the most beautiful beaches in Croatia, Zlatni Rat, covered with tiny round white pebbles. Relax, swim and soak up the sun or visit the wine cellars, the Dominican monastery or have a delicious lunch in one of the many restaurants.

3. Vis and the Blue Cave

A short sail from Hvar you’ll find Vis, the most remote all the islands in the Adriatic, and on the other side of the island is the islet of Bisevo, where you will visit the Blue Cave, a truly unforgettable experience. After the cave, it’s on to Komiza, hometown of the reputed best fishermen in the Adriatic.

For history/culture

4. Dubrovnik

Hands down our top destination this year and set to be next year too. Polished marble streets, a labyrinth of alleyways and breathtaking architecture characterize the Old Town of Dubrovnik. In summer the city is buzzing with cultural options – concerts performed daily and throughout most of July and August the Dubrovnik Summer Festival keeps you entertained with music, theater and dance.

5. Split

Whilst much of Split is now an industrial port (and it’s for this reason that we suggest accommodation for our guests in picturesque Trogir nearby) there’s plenty of history to go round in this city that grew up around a 4th century palace built by the Roman Emperor Diocletian.

6. Trogir

Just a few minutes drive from Split Airport, this is often the first stop on a tour of Croatia. Trogir is a “city-museum” in every sense of the word. More than 2300 years in existence, the city provides lovers of cultural and historical monuments, art, original architecture and cozy alleyway streets an unforgettable setting. The old core of Trogir is an island surrounded by city walls which has been influenced by the Romans, Greeks and Venetians.

For active travelers

7. Plitvice

We offer Plitvice as a destination for overnight stays, or a day trip from from Trogir or from Zagreb, Plitvice is the first and most popular national park in all of Croatia and was described by famous guidebook writer Rick Steve’s as “Niagara Falls diced and sprinkled over a heavily forested Grand Canyon”. Enjoy a boat tour of the lakes, a tourist train or a walk. It was tough for us to pick a category for this one – it could go in the ‘outstanding natural beauty’ section too!

8. Krka

A whole day trip to Krka from Trogir takes you first to Šibenik and a visit to one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Croatia. Then it’s on to Krka National Park and the opportunity to enjoy the untouched nature, crystal clear water, waterfalls, creeks and small lake.

For breathtaking scenery/outstanding natural beauty

9. Rovinj & Istrian Peninsula

Istria is often called ‘Croatia’s Tuscany’ and Rovinj is its star attraction. Its also an idea base from which to explore the whole region. For nature lovers staying in Rovinj we offer whole day tours of Brijuni Island National Park or the Istrian countryside.

10. Korcula & Mljet

Marco Polo’s hometown is one of the best preserved medevial towns in all of the Mediterranean with red roofed houses, beautiful architecture and city walls surrounding its narrow streets. Known also for its marvelous nature, Korcula is one of the greenest islands in the Adriatic. The nearby island of Mljet is a paradise for those who enjoy untouched nature and absolute tranquility. We offer Korcula as an overnight destination or as a day trip for guests staying in Hvar or Dubrovnik.

Whatever you’re looking for from your 2012 vacation in Croatia, one of tailor-made tours of Croatia can piece it together for you.

Related posts:

1. Visit Croatia’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites with JayWay
2. Video: The sights of Croatia with JayWay Travel
3. The Best Beaches in Croatia, Part 4: Trogir

With the sun coming up on a glorious, if slightly bracing October Saturday morning, we bundled into the rented car and headed West, to Plzeň (Pilsen in German).

Getting there

By road the journey takes between 80 and 90 minutes. We went by car because I’d rented one for the whole weekend but I’d recommend travelling by train or coach instead. Trains are every 2 hours from Prague’s main station and take around an hour and three quarters. Coaches from Florenc international coach station take roughly the same time.

A little history

If you’ve ever drunk a Pilsner style beer, you’ll have already tasted the town’s greatest legacy. They’ve been making beer here for centuries but the famous Plzensky Prazdroj brewery, formed with the coming-together of most of the town’s independent brewers and now a flagship of SAB Miller’s global empire, turned out its first batch in 1842.

Plzen is particularly fond of Americans too. The city celebrates its Liberation Day two days before the rest of the Czech Republic. It was liberated by General Patton’s army on May 6th 1945. Since 1990 an annual Liberation Festival http://www.liberationfestival.com/ takes place, with re-enactments, memorial services and events honouring veterans.

Bird’s Eye Plzeň

The Gothic St Bartholomew’s Cathedral in the main square, Namesti Republiky, has the highest church tower in the country, at 102m/335ft. For a small fee, the nimble and sure of foot can climb the increasingly narrow staircases to the top and enjoy a view over the whole region. A large area of the city os taken up by the Skoda Engineering Works (not the car company), where the hub of London’s Millenium Eye was cast.

European Capital of Culture 2015

Announced last year as the European Capital of Culture 2015 http://www.plzen2015.net/ alongside Mons in Belgium, you can expect fervent activity in the area of visual and performing arts. To commemorate this, impressive golden fountains have been installed on the corners of Namesti Republiky.

The Brewery Museum

If you want to know more about the origins of brewing in the city then the Brewery Museum is an essential stop. One of the neatest things in the museum is a working miniature steam brewery, capable of producing thirty litres of beer in one batch.

Plzeň Underground

Years ago asked an old security guard at the brewery for directions to the Plzen Underground. He spoke excellent English and recognised that I was from London so he explained to me in great detail that Plzen does not have a subway system. The Plzen Underground refers to a network of tunnels, cellars and wells under the centre of the city that connected houses, formed a part of the city’s defences and provided temperature controlled storage for food throughout the year. There is one tour a day in English, at 1pm but you can join any of the 5 other tours a day and rent an audio guide. Having missed the English tour, this is what we did and the audio guide was more detailed than the human one, so you definitely don’t miss anything by doing this.

The Pilsner Urquell Brewery

In all honesty this is why you’re in Plzeň isn’t it? The tour takes you around the brewery, where you’ll see Europe’s most advanced canning and bottling plant (occasionally this is closed for cleaning so if you’re unlucky you won’t get to see it fully operational), the historical brewhouse (not used for production since 2004), get a look at the new brewhouse and experience the “sensory exhibit” where you can taste and smell the raw ingredients. The tour ends with a visit to the catacomb-like cellars beneath the brewery where small batches of beer produced in the old way are fermented in oak barrels, unpasteurised and unfiltered, specially for tour visitors (over 18!). If you happen to able to visit on the last weekend in August, that’s usually when the Pilsner Fest takes place, starting on Friday afternoon and carrying on to Saturday evening.

The Gambrinus Brewery

The younger (since 1869) Gambrinus brewery is next door, also owned by SAB Miller. If you’ve not seen enough brewery for one day then you could join once of the less frequent Czech language only tours of the home of the country’s most popular beer (which is rarely exported).

Where to eat?

Plzeň’s dining options have expanded a fair bit since I first went there a decade ago but it’s a good town to enjoy some traditional Czech grub. Na Spilce, the large (550 seat) beer cellar/restaurant at the brewery serves Czech classic with aplomb, washed down with a Pilsner Urquell, of course!

Getting back to Prague

Trains and buses are fast and frequent. If you’ve been enjoying the products of the city’s breweries then driving’s out of the question as the Czech Republic has a zero tolerance approach to drink driving.

Related posts:

1. Get out of town: A trip to Karlovy Vary
2. Thinking Small with Czech Beers

October

Morcheeba 7 October 2011 @ Kulturní Centrum Vltavská, Praha 7

November

Elvis Costello 4 November 2011 @ Kongresové centrum Praha, Praha 4

Kosheen 8 November 2011 @ Sasazu

George Michael, Symphonica: The Orchestral Tour 14 November 2011 @ O2 arena

Lenny Kravitz 15 November 2011 @ O2 arena

Erasure 15 November 2011 @ Mala Sportovni Hala, Incheba Arena, Prague 7

December

Rihanna, The Loud Tour 7 December 2011 @ O2 arena

José Carreras, Christmas concert 10 December 2011 @ O2 arena

If you’re headed to the city for one of these gigs and you need a place to stay, we have a great selection of hotels and apartments in Prague, and plenty of excursions and day trips for you to choose from, for the rest of your time here.

Related posts:

1. Prague Concert Lineup for Fall 2010
2. Prague Spring Festival 2011
3. Upcoming concerts in Prague for spring & early summer 2011

Here’s what you can expect from the show:

Alegría is a Cirque du Soleil classic and an internationally acclaimed production that has entertained more than 10 million people worldwide. Alegría is a Spanish word that means happiness, joy and jubilation and features an international cast of 55 performers and musicians from 17 countries and showcases breathtaking acrobatics. Acts include the Synchro Trapeze and the intense and high-energy Aerial High Bars in which daring aerialists fly to catchers swinging more than 40 feet above the stage. The vibrancy of youth is alive in Power Track, a brilliant display of synchronized choreography and tumbling on a trampoline system hidden under the stage floor. In Russian Bars, artists fly through the air and perform spectacular somersaults and mid-air turns, landing on bars perched on the sturdy shoulders of catchers.

And the video trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB8kSKyeIz4

Tickets are available from TicketPro Hungary, starting at 9,900 Forints (around $45)

Need somewhere to stay in Budapest or looking for some other things to do and see while you’re in town?