There’s one main tent, with a small amount of outdoor seating, and a second tent (act off to the side. The main tent has drawn criticism for its smaller choice of beers and the fact that you can only order them in 1 litre steins. Local commentators wouldn’t be surprised if that changes however, especially if the second hall proves more popular, which seemed to be the case on Saturday (though that may have been due to the ice hockey world championships on the projector screen). In the second hall the choice of beers is wider with various microbreweries putting in an appearance. The second hall doesn’t have table service – you have to go to the counter. There’s live music in the main tent every evening from 6pm.

Tolars and sense

The festival has it’s own currency, Tolars, which cost 45Kc (about $2.25) and all beers are 1 Tolar per half-litre (so the steins in the big tent will set you back 2 Tolars). You can change Tolars at booths located by the entrance to each tent. If you’re into beer at all and want to try something different to the usual Pilsner Urquell, Staropramen, Budvar then the beer fest is hard to beat for convenience but there are other year-round venues in the city such as Pivovarsky Klub (Brewery Club) and the Prague Beer Museum which serve a selection of beers from the smaller breweries, should your visit not coincide with this year’s beer festival.

Related posts:

1. The Best Beaches in Croatia, Part 5: Rovinj
2. Top 10 ideas for your 2012 Croatia Vacation
3. Video: The sights of Croatia with JayWay Travel

Jadka

Wroclaw will be host to several matches in the upcoming Euro 2012 Soccer Championship and it was home for me for a while too. If you’re coming to town for the football or passing through on a tour of Central & Eastern Europe, here’s my personal top ten places to eat in Wroclaw. You’ll find a mix of local and international cuisines represented here.

1. Mosaiq
If you want to splurge this is the place do it, excellent creative dishes and the only true fine dining experience you’ll find in Wroclaw, for now at least.
ul. Świętego Mikołaja 12

2. Jadka
Polish cuisine with an international flair in a beautiful classic and authentic setting all comes together to create a great local experience.

Pod Papugami

3. Pod Papugami
Wide variety of tasty world cuisine dishes in a fun and happening setting, right in the middle of the main market square. Th
ul. Sukiennice 9a

4. Cantina
The best Italian food hands down in Wroclaw, very fresh and authentic along with great wine list.
ul. Nożownicza 4

5. Darea
The top Asian option in Wroclaw, mainly Korean food but also a sushi bar. (turn down your speakers before clicking on the link – the site autoplays music!)
Ul. Kuznicza 43/45

Przystan

6. Pryzstan
The ideal summertime spot, beautiful terrace right on the Odra river and good Mediterranean food to boot.
ul. Księcia Witolda 2

7. Bernard
Very good American type food, think an upscale TGI Friday’s so this is the place if you’re craving steaks and other meat dishes. It’s named after the beer that’s served there, from the family-owned Bernard brewery in neighbouring Czech Republic. You’ll find a few Czech specialities on the menu there too, a handy way to try some Czech cuisine if you’re not making a stop there on your tour.
Rynek 35

8. The Mexican
Good for a fun night out and atmosphere. Mexican food has a long way to go in Poland but they make a respectable effort
ul. Szewska 61/62

Piwnica Swidnicka

9. Piwnica Swidnicka
Chunky wooden tables and vaulted ceilings so a true medieval experience. Main reason to go is for the Golonka (pork knee).
Rynek Ratusz 1

10. Pierogarnia Stary Mlyn
You are in Poland so you have to try piergoies and this the place to do with a wide selection
Rynek 26

Bonus late night eats

Sometimes you forget to have dinner and it gets too late for a restaurant. When that happens, head to Setka - they’re open 24 hours and are definitely the best thing in town for after midnight eats, located at ul. Leszczyńskiego 4

Related posts:

1. Our 8 Favourite Restaurants in Hvar
2. Our 9 Favorite Restaurants in Dubrovnik

Related posts:

1. Easter Market in Prague’s Old Town Square
2. Getting to Prague from Berlin

1. Hvar, Croatia – relax with the jetset

Europe’s sunniest island is popular with the stars of Hollywood and the sporting world – Hvar‘s guest book reads like the guest list for the Oscars: Clooney, Paltrow, Malkovich, Nicholson, Beckham, Agassi.

It’s not hard to see what draws them here. Hvar is steeped in history with an impressive fortress and the Franciscan monastery and has some great beaches with crystal blue waters. Hvar is an ideally located departure point from which to visit the nearby Pakleni archipelago – rent a small-engined boat and circumnavigate the islands on your own or take a water taxi. Our guests usually visit Hvar as part of a tour of Croatia that includes other popular destinations like Dubrovnik, Plitvice Lakes and Trogir.

2. Berlin, Germany – the city with something for everyone

Berlin‘s relatively northerly location means summers there are quite mild (a few degrees cooler than Prague for example) making it an ideal time to check out one of Europe’s hippest capitals. Plenty for the history buff to see as well as a thriving local arts scene and a packed line-up of big name concerts and the summer events season kicks off at the end of May with the Carnival of Cultures, a 4 day multicultural celebration.

Just because Berlin’s not on the coast doesn’t mean you can’t soak up the sun – there are man made beaches on the banks of the Spree with open air bars and even beach volleyball courts. If beach bars aren’t your thing there’s always one of the city’s excellent beer gardens such as Prater, the city’s oldest beer garden on Kastanienalle in trendy Prenzlaurberg.

3. Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic – fairy-tale setting

This fairy-tale town in south Bohemia, not far from Austria, will make you feel like you’re on a medieval-era movie set. The center of Cesky Krumlov with the Vltava river running through it is a labyrinth of cobblestone alleyways with cosy accommodations and delightful shops. No matter where you are all the town’s highlights are no more than five minute walk away. Get a bird’s eye view of the place from the ornate castle tower or for a different perspective you can take a raft or canoe on the river (watch out for the weirs!).

4. Budapest, Hungary – for a real ‘hot in the city’ experience

Budapest can be pretty hot in the summer but it’s also a great time to see the city with plenty of cafés along the Danube and outdoor thermal spring-fed pools, like the Széchenyi baths pictured here (photo courtesy of Flickr user Vlastula). There’s plenty of nightlife too with open-air clubs where you can dance till dawn.

Take a break from the city with a day trip or overnight stay at Lake Balaton, the top summertime retreat for Hungarians.

5. Salzburg, Austria – Alpine summer break

New to our destination line-up this year Salzburg is already proving to be a very popular addition with out guests. With its well preserved UNESCO World Heritage listed old town and an alpine backdrop Salzburg is a great place to immerse yourself in some culture and explore Mozart’s birthplace on a Mozart-themed city tour. If you tire of the city you can enjoy some breathtaking local scenery on one of our day trips from Salzburg.

6. Ljubljana, Slovenia

The Slovenian capital is a very popular destination on our multi-city tours and its location means it is a real cultural crossroads between Mediterranean, Balkan, Austrian and Slavic influences. The architecture is Central European but the attitude is more laid back than you would find in the neighbours to the north. There’s a deeply ingrained café culture in Ljubljana that means you’re never short of a venue for some people watching. After a couple of days seeing the city we suggest getting out into Ljubljana’s picturesque countryside with one of our day trips or maybe an overnight stay in the mountain resort of Bled, with its famous lake.

7. Krakow, Poland – one for the fans

If you’re into watching sporting events on big screens in UNESCO World Heritage listed town squares then you’ll love Krakow this summer. Poland and Ukraine are co-hosting the Euro 2012 Soccer Championship (8 June – 1 July) and whilst Krakow is not one of the host cities (two other JayWay destinations: Wroclaw and Warsaw are though) you can expect a big deal to be made of it. A great place to soak up the atmosphere of a big crowd watching the beautiful game. Aside from the football Krakow’s got a lot more going for it too – once the capital of Poland it is still the country’s cultural, artistic and scientific center.

Still not sure where you’re headed? Get in touch and tell us what kind of vacation you’re looking for and we’ll build you the perfect custom itinerary.

Related posts:

1. Cities of Central & Eastern Europe Grand Tour
2. Top 10 ideas for your 2012 Croatia Vacation

1. Avoid Hefty Roaming Charges 1 – by roaming smart

If you’re packing your smartphone, make sure you switch off data roaming or your pocket-sized computer will bleed you dry with background tasks like checking email. Check with your mobile provider to see if they have any data roaming packages that might help. Or if your phone is unlocked, consider getting a local sim and enabling data on it.

2. Avoid Hefty Roaming Charges 2 – by being offline-ready

Lonely Planet’s guidebook apps function without an internet connection (and you can still take advantage of your phone’s GPS capability in the guide’s built-in city map). If you want a more detailed map, then OffMaps for iPhone/iPad/iPod touch is a good solution, and works out cheaper if you just wanted a map rather than a whole guidebook.

3. Keep an eye on the pennies (and kunas and crowns and forints)

Download a currency app for your phone, my favourite for the iPhone is Currency (free – ad supported, $4.99 without ads). It caches the data it gets when its online so update it when you’ve got wifi and you’re good to go.

4. Send useful files to your Kindle (or Kindle app)

With ‘Send to Kindle’ utilities available for Mac & Windows, there’s no excuse. Send Word, Text, PDF or image files to your Kindle or Kindle app (and make sure to download them to the device) and you’ve got a handy place to store things like flight information or the JayWay Destination Info PDFs we send to all our guests.

5. Stay in touch with the folks back home

There are plenty of ways to stay in touch and let folks back home keep up with you on your travels these days, from checking in to places with the Facebook app and posting a pic to go with it or having a Skype video chat using your smartphone or tablet.

and an obvious but oft-overlooked one:

6. Don’t forget to pack a plug adapter (or two)

Most electronic devices these days have 110-240v auto-switching power supplies (it’s 220v in Europe) but you’ll need a plug adapter to connect them to the grid.

7. Make sure your gadgets are insured

In all the destinations we cover crime is lower than most US cities, but there’s always a risk from pickpockets or petty theft. Make sure your travel insurance policy (or possibly even your home contents insurance) covers your gadgets and that the excess isn’t too, um, excessive.

Related posts:

1. Ten Taxi Tips for Prague
2. Internet access for the smartphone addict in Venice

Donna and husband Dale enjoying dinner at Luna in Hvar

Croatia, September 3-13, 2011

Less than 2 decades ago Croatia and Slovenia were two of Europe’s youngest nations which previously belonged to the union called Yugoslavia. Many Americans shy away from visiting because of their memories of wartime but today it is very peaceful and stable. The coast was barely touched by the war, except Dubrovnik, which has been restored. The early history included Hungarians, Venetians, Ottomans, Habsburgs and Yugoslavs. Today Croatia has a Mediterranean flair and more in common with Venice and Rome than Vienna or Budapest. They declared their independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. In 2003 they applied for membership in the European Union and will become a member of the EU in 2 years.

Split

September 4,2011
We arrived at Split airport around 11:00 am after traveling all night. Our driver took us to a street near our room entitled Vuko Rooms which is the name of the owner. The reason we were dropped off at a street away from our room is because no cars are allowed within the old town city-limits. We met the owner and were escorted to our room called the Diocletian Room. We chose to stay in sobes (the Croatian word for private accommodations) which offer travelers a characteristic alternative to hotels and give you an opportunity to speak with the owner and learn more about their way of life. We had a good room but it was at the very top of the building which meant walking up a narrow hallway with many steps. There were well over 50 to get there. We were traveling light (learned later we could have taken less) so we were ok. The room was small but clean and quiet. Later we walked the streets around old town and got lost in the many alley ways.

Split is Croatia’s second biggest city after Zagreb but has a more urban feel. Its history goes way back to the Roman Empire. In the 4th century the Roman Emperor Diocletian wanted to retire in his native Dalmatia so he built a huge palace here. Eventually it was abandoned. In the 7th century, locals fleeing Slavic invaders moved in and built a medieval town from the rubble of the palace. Today 2,000 people live or work inside the former palace walls.

The main leisure activity in Split is to stroll the Riva, the seaside pedestrian promenade. After dinner, Split residents collect their families and friends to stroll here. We ate dinner at a very popular restaurant where you grab a bench seat at a picnic table with other people. We had whole pan-fried fish, olives, grilled vegetables and stuffed peppers with meat. It was delicious.

True to what we heard, all the residents that evening were strolling the Riva. It was incredible how many people were out and about. We got our gelato and joined them.

Hvar

September 5,2011

View from our room in Hvar

We woke up to a cloudy sky. We learned how to manage breakfast. You buy what you want at a pastry shop, it is put in a bag, then you go outside to a table and order your coffee. The coffee was wonderful with foamy milk swirling on the top. Afterwards we gathered our luggage and headed to the ferry to Hvar. It started to rain on our trek there. Fortunately we had packed rain gear, which we only needed this once. We boarded the ferry (a catamaran) with a lot of rain drenched people and headed to Hvar Island, one of the most popular island destinations on the Dalmatian coast.

In the Middle Ages, Hvar achieved renown and power as an important port and part of the Venetian marine empire. Today, it is considered the “Croatian Riviera”. Hvar is attracting the jet-set crowd so I was desperately looking for Prince Harry or George (you know who I mean). We were met at the dock (alas, not by George or Brad) and escorted to our sobe, Villa Petricic Rooms which were high on the edge of the cliff overlooking the Adriatic Sea and the town of Hvar. The view was to die for and one I hope to remember always.

Once we settled in we went to town to get lunch. It was very hot and the walk to town took about 15 minutes. If you are not in shape it could be intense. We got our bearings and went back to our room, changed into our swim suits and found a beach to soak our hot bodies. The water is the perfect temperature and the clearest I have ever seen. We headed to our room for cocktails overlooking the water. That night we ate at The Luca and had mussels, red snapper with potatoes and onions served in one pot, a local popular dish. We walked to our room, had wine overlooking the sea and did not think about the U.S. and our troubles.

September 6, 2011
We wanted to rent a boat so we walked to town, had breakfast and found a 50 hp boat to rent. Fortunately we owned a boat once and Dale taught in the auxiliary Coast Guard so I felt comfortable. Most people only get 10 hp boats so we were very lucky. Off we set to explore the Pakleni islands, which is a chain of 21 islands. The Adriatic is huge. Dale recalled that he read where the astronauts said it was the bluest of all the seas they could see from space. Sailing is also very popular. We found a nice cove and went swimming.

We found a small dock and walked to a small restaurant up the hill. If we got bumped off there, no one would have found us! We ordered a chicken dish which was cooked over a wood burning stove. After a few beers we headed out to enjoy another round of swimming. I did not expect the water to draw me to it like it did.

We spent the day on the water which was a highlight of our trip. That night we ate at Lavonia and had pasta di mar and a grilled fish called Breamie.

Korcula

September 7, 2011

View from our room in Korcula

We rented a car and decided to tour Hvar island which took a few hours. We brought our bathing suits and of course had to stop for a swim. That afternoon we took a ferry to the island of Korcula which is simpler and humbler than Hvar. It is located on a fjord-like mountain backdrop. It was founded by the ancient Greeks, then became part of the Roman Empire and later, in 1264, Marco Polo was born here. It also has an old town poking into the sea.

We were met at the dock and walked to our sobe, owned by Rezi & Andro Depolo, a distant relative of Marco. Our room overlooked the water and had a wonderful balcony. The area reminded me of southern Italy.

We had a late dinner at Restaurant Kanavelic on the edge of the city walls. We sat on our balcony afterwards and watched the owners serve dinner outside to their friends for Andro’s birthday. It again reminded me of Italy.

September 8, 2011

View from Marco Polo's house

Today we explored Korcula. Its claim to fame is the birthplace of Marco Polo so we climbed the stairs of his house and reached the top which provides great views of Korcula’s Old Town rooftops and the sea. It is always interesting to see that people still live in many of these old buildings. I would have loved to see the inside of one.

That afternoon we walked across the street and went swimming. What a life! That evening we ate at Konoba Adio Mare, which is located next to Marco Polo’s house. We dined on the upstairs garden patio and had mussels, octopus salad, white fish grilled with vegetables. We had heard so much about the octopus salad so I decided to give it a try. We ended up ordering it for most every meal thereafter but it was hard to beat this one. The octopus is grilled and served with onions, capers and tomatoes.

Afterwards we went to the Moreska Dance, which is a medieval folk dance. The plot reminds Korculans to remember their hard-fought past: A bad king takes the good king’s bride, the dancing forces of good and evil battle and there is a happy ending. We sat behind the orchestra and I could not take my eyes off the conductor. He was fun to watch. We went back to our room to sit on the balcony and enjoyed the night air and the serenity of the sea across the street.

Dubrovnik

September 9, 2011

Dubrovnik from the cable car

500 years ago Dubrovnik was a major maritime power with the third-biggest navy in the Mediterranean. It is referred to as The Pearl of the Adriatic. Busy merchants, the salt trade and shipbuilding made Dubrovnik rich: It was destroyed by an earthquake in 1667. Yes, the thought entered my mind! As Croatia violently separated from Yugoslavia in 1991 Dubrovnik became the only coastal city to be pulled into the fighting. The city was devastated but has been repaired. The only physical reminders of the war are lots of new bright-orange roof tiles.

We crossed by boat from Korcula to the mainland and took a shuttle bus which lasted around 2 hours. The scenery was spectacular. The shuttle dropped us at our apartment which was located hanging over old town and the sea. It was the largest of the places we stayed. We had lunch and headed to the beach which we accessed by walking down narrow steps along a wall from the street. It is amazing how much the people here love the beaches and the water. If I lived here, I would be the same.

Afterwards we cleaned up and went to the Mount Srd cable car which was right down the street. Mount Srd is the highest point above Dubrovnik. A giant white cross surrounded by battle wreckage along with a historical museum is a chilling reminder of the recent war. Napoleon built a fortress atop the hill in 1810.

We walked to old town and tried to find the Buza Bar, which is a hole in the city wall overlooking the sea and a great place to watch the sunset. After many, many steps we found it but decided not to stay. We walked the streets inside the wall and ate at the Kamenice, which is family owned and run and considered a local institution. We had mussels, octopus salad and scampi. We stopped at the market, bought some wine and headed to our apartment which was 115 steps above old town.

Day trip to Mostar

September 10,2011

The bridge at Mostar

The early 1990′s were not kind to Bosnia. There is a unique mix of cultures and faiths. It has fewer than four million people but has 3 faiths, 3 languages and 2 alphabets. The two biggest attractions are Mostar and the Catholic pilgrimage site of Medugorje. Mostar, still scarred by war, has restored its famous 16th century Old Bridge. Mostar is now safe for tourists but it can be unsettling because of the in your face war damage.

During the Tito years, there was a calm mingling of Catholic Croats, Orthodox Serbs and Muslin Bosniaks; all living in harmony. But with the war in the early 1990′s, Mostar was gripped in a three-way war among those same people and the famous Old Bridge crumbled into the Neretva River.

In 1993 the Croats began shelling the bridge from the mountaintop. Several direct hits caused the Old Bridge to lurch and tumble into the river. After the war, the city leaders decided to rebuild the Old Bridge and tried using chunks of the original bridge but the stone had been compromised by soaking in the water for so long. Staying true to be authentic, the restorers quarried new stone from the original quarry and each stone was hand-carved. It took longer to rebuild the bridge in the 21st century than it did to build it in the 16th century and cost over $13 million.

We walked down Coppersmiths Street. We bought our first souvenir here from a man whose family has been coppersmithing for 45 years. The piece I bought is made from tombstone made in the 14th century. It depicts life of the people at thattime. There are 3 tiles, one depicting dancers, one grapes, and one of a shield and sword. We spent a few hours here and left in time to make it back so we could GO SWIMMING!

We cleaned up and had dinner at Komardo, which was situated on the edge of the sea overlooking the old town harbor. We had octopus salad, caprese salad and red snapper. Afterwards we enjoyed a glass of wine on our patio. The moon was full. It was amazing.

Day trip to Montenegro

September 11, 2011

Montenegro

Montenegro is considered to be the next Croatia and is a very young nation. It is trying to cultivate an image as a high roller but is struggling to upgrade an old infrastructure. It took about an hour to get there. We started our drive around the Bay of Kotor. Its unique bottleneck shape makes the Bay the single best natural harbor between Greece and Venice. The town of Kotor is butted against a steep cliff, surrounded by a calm sea and sheltered by its position deep in the fjord. It has been protected by the Verige Strait which is a tight bottleneck at the mouth of the bay only 1/4 mile wide so could be easily protected by whoever controlled it. It is 130 feet deep.

There has been a settlement in Kotor since the time of Christ. It came under the control of Illyrians, Romans, Serbs, Venetians, Napoleonic soldiers, Austrians, Tito’s Yugoslavia and now finally Montenegrins. Kotor has avoided destruction by warfare over the years but was damaged in the 1667 earthquake that hit Dubrovnik as well as a devastating 1979 earthquake. Yes, the thought entered my mind, again.

We walked around Old Town and then headed for the Lepetani-Kamenari ferry shortcut which cuts across the narrow part of the fjord to return back.

On our drive back, we stopped at a sleepy resort town called Cavtat, 12 miles south of Dubrovnik. It has some beautiful beaches so we decided to go for a swim. We found a wonderful beach and enjoyed the water. There were a lot of Germans there who come for their holiday. We arrived back in Dubrovnik, got cleaned up and headed to Old Town for dinner. Tonight we decided to go Italian and found a little alleyway eatery and had spaghetti. There was a children’s orchestra from Hungary playing in the square which made for a nice ambience. No octopus salad tonight.

Last day in Dubrovnik

September 12,2011
This was our last day in Dubrovnik so we spent it inside the Old Town walls. One of the best attractions is strolling the scenic mile and a qumier around and on top of the city walls. Around the perimeter are several forts, with walls rounded so cannonballs would glance off them harmlessly. These forts intimidated would-be invaders during the Republic of Dubrovnik’s Golden Age and protected local residents during the 1991-92 siege. It took about an hour to walk since we stopped to take pictures. It is amazing to see that locals still live perched atop and around the wall.

Afterwards, we strolled The Stradun, the main marble-stoned promenade. It is the heartbeat of the city. When Dubrovnik was just getting its start in the 7th century this street was a canal. In the 11th century the canal was filled in and the town merged with a Slavic Roman culture.

We took a walking tour to learn more about the 1991-92 war. The underlying history of Yugoslavia is too long to explain here but in June 1991 Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia. Within weeks, the nations were at war in the Croatian interior; nobody expected that bloodshed would reach Dubrovnik. At 6:00 am October 1, 1991 Dubrovnik residents awoke to explosions on nearby hillsides. The first attacks were focused on Mt Srd. The giant cross was destroyed along with a communication tower.

The newly formed Croatian army dug into the Napoleonic-era fortress at the top of Mt. Srd where 30 soldiers fended off a Yugoslav takeover of this highly strategic position. The Yugoslav army started shelling Old Town and the defenseless townspeople took shelter in their cellars. The Yugoslavs were hoping the residents would flee but they didn’t. The defenders managed to hold the fort atop Mt Srd. All supplies had to be carried up to the fort by foot or donkey. After 8 months of bombing, Dubrovnik was liberated by the Croatian army. Dubrovnik it turns out was dragged into the conflict because Yugoslavia wanted to catch the city off-guard so they could gain a stronghold on the southern coast so they could push north to Split. They also wanted to ignite pro-Serb passions in Bosnia and Montenegro as well as wanting to hit Croatia where it hurt… its proudest, most historic and most beautiful city. But it seems their plan backfired.

Beach in Dubrovnik

Locals now say, when Yugoslavia attacked Dubrovnik, they lost the war because images of the historic city under siege swayed international public opinion against Yugoslavia. The city for the most part has been repaired but the locals are forever changed. The local people still have disdain for the Serbs

After our tour it was hot, so what do people do when it is hot? They go swimming. We changed and headed to the beach to soak in the most fabulous body of water I have ever seen. It was hard to pull ourselves away. Some may wonder why we spent so much time swimming but it is very hot in the afternoon. It is almost too hot to do anything else. We did not spend time sun bathing; we mostly went to enjoy the water and cool off.

That evening, under the full moon, we ate in another alleyway. We decided to go Italian again since we enjoyed it so much the night before. Afterwards we got our last gelato and headed up the 115 steps for the last time. Alas, we are headed for the airport in the morning.

Related posts:

1. Top 10 ideas for your 2012 Croatia Vacation
2. Video: The sights of Croatia with JayWay Travel
3. Visit Croatia’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites with JayWay

Easter Markets, 24th March – 15th April 2012

Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square are home to stalls selling handcrafted products: toys, painted eggs, traditional Czech switches for whipping girls with at Eastertime (in the interests of fertility). Traditional food stands and plenty of kinds of alcohol are available too.

Prague Writer’s Festival, 14th April – 18th April 2012

If you’re of a literary bent, the Prague Writer’s Festival offers the chance to attend talks by world-renowned authors, held at the New Stage of the National Theatre.

Prague Spring Classical Musical Festival, 12th May – 3rd June 2012

Venues all over the city, from concert halls and churches to the National Technical Museum will resound to the sounds of some of the best classical performers in the world.

Czech Beer Festival, 17th May – 2nd June 2012

For two weeks from mid-May to early June the exhibition grounds at Holesovice in Prague 7 are once again home to the largest, and longest, beer festival in the country. This year marks a welcome return to the festival’s original location, no longer exiled at the far end of the C Metro line. Beer is served in glassware not plastic, by ‘girls and boys in Czech national costumes’. While not quite a rival to Munich’s Oktoberfest, you will get the chance to try over 70 different Czech beers from many small breweries that are rarely on tap in the city. The festival currency, Tolars, cost 45Kc each (€1.80/$2.70). One liter of beer will cost 2 Tolars. Food between 1 and 6 Tolars. As opposed to earlier years there is no entrance fee either.

Prague Food Festival, 25th – 27th May 2012

The city’s pre-eminent food festival promises to have learnt from last years logistical problems that left advance ticket-buyers queueing for longer than those buying at the entrance and had people wandering the pathways of the royal gardens looking for somewhere to sit and eat their tasting portions. Much more seating is promised, though you’ll still be ushered off the grass should you dare to tread on it. If you have a limited time in Prague this is a neat way to try the signature dishes of many of the city’s top restaurants in one place.

Dance Prague, 29th May – 28th June 2012

An international festival of contemporary dance and movement, programme still being prepared.

Prague Fringe Theatre Festival, 1st June – 9th June 2012

The Prague Fringe, now in its 11th year, comprises short plays, monologues, dance and comedy, performed in small venues in Mala Strana, by the river. Everything is either in English or without language, so you don’t need to worry about not understanding Czech. Tickets are inexpensive and usually available in advance, to guarantee a seat, or at the door of each venue. Check our blog for more details as the festival organisers release them.

Museum Night, 9th June 2012

Many of the city’s museums open till 1am and have free entry. The public transport company puts on special buses to facilitate getting between the museums too. The Museum Night website should be updated with more details in due course.

If you’ve traveled with JayWay (or you’ve got a vacation booked with us) then pay close attention:

We want your trip reports!

All qualifying(1) submissions will be rewarded with a $50 JayWay Travel Gift Certificate and every six months, the most popular(2) trip report that we publish on the blog will be rewarded with a donation of $250 to charity in your name, to the charity of your choice from our shortlist of local and international charities, to be announced soon.

1. What do we mean by “qualifying”?

Length – minimum 500 words, but feel free to write as much as you need.
Photographs – at least 1, but the more the better

Trip reports work best be in the form of a journal, breaking your trip up into its various sections, and sharing with fellow travellers your favourite places.

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The most popular post will be measured by the total number of social votes (such as Facebook Likes, Twitter mentions, Google +1s, StumbleUpon and Reddit shares) that a report has received at 30 days after publication.

Legal-type-stuff

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