Hotel U Krale Karla

The hotel stands at the foot of the castle at the top of the pretty little paved Neruda street, home to a great many shops, with plenty of typical Czech restaurants and bars in the vicinity. The nearest public transport links can be found at the end of the street, with the tramway and metro both respectively 7 and 20 minutes away. If you're tired of being on your feet and fancy a spot of relaxation after the endless sightseeing, head over to the shade of the trees in the park on the neighbouring hill, where you can enjoy some fresh air and some stunning views of the city at the same time.

The hotel belongs to the same group as the U Pava hotel, which offers the same Baroque ambience.

The so-called 'King Charles' hotel opened in 1994 and is housed in a pretty 3 storey building with a revamped façade. Originally a Gothic-style building that belonged to the Benedictine religious order, it was later reconstructed as a Baroque house. The lobby quickly sets the tone for the rest of the establishment, particularly as the owners are keen collectors of antiques and religious art. You'll find plenty of angels, saintly figures, stained glass windows, and gilding here to grab your attention, though the frescoes painted in the breakfast room are somewhat less convincing. The place abounds with antique solid wooden furniture, tapestries, and stained-glass windows, giving guests the feeling that they've been invited to a party! This is just the start of things to come as there are even more surprises in store as you head off to your room. You'll feel as if you're entering a medieval village, complete with little alleyways and bridges, not to mention the superb illuminated stained glass ceiling several metres in length. You'll also find many pictures and paintings portraying old Prague and other places around the world, dating back as far as the 13th century. One thing is for sure, this place certainly has a few surprises in store!

Its limited number of guest rooms means you're guaranteed a certain degree of peace and quiet here. The 19 rooms come in several categories, namely Standard, Deluxe, and Suite, all of which are spacious and in keeping with the rest of the building: chunky wooden furniture, stained-glass windows, canvas drapes, dried flowers, frames, and painted ceilings. They don't do anything by halves here, which you really have to love as it's what gives this place its charm. It is worth pointing out, though, that the windows are small and the amenities somewhat mediocre, with little more than a flat-screen television broadcasting a wide selection of channels, a stocked minibar, and a free safe. Only the rooms on the 4th floor and the Suites have air-conditioning, there is a charge for using the Wi-Fi, and there is no room service. The bathrooms are large and perfectly pleasant, with a cosy decor and marble floors. They come complete with a hair-dryer and a shower (in 13 of the rooms) or a bathtub (in the remainder). The walls are nice and thick, too, so you needn't worry about getting a peaceful night's sleep.

The tidy breakfast room is located on the ground floor and boasts some pretty busy decor. Will you be able to handle the frescoes on the walls depicting scenes of chivalrous gentlemen from the Middle Ages? Breakfast, a pretty comprehensive offering of fruit juices, cereals, various breads, pastries, etc., along with a selection of hot dishes, is served from 7:30am to 10:00am.