Old Town is the historic core of Prague — the Astronomical Clock, Týn Church, Charles Bridge, the Jewish Quarter and most of the city’s landmark sights are all here or within ten minutes’ walk. Staying in Old Town means waking up inside the postcard rather than travelling to it, which is a genuine advantage for a short visit.

The trade-offs are real. Old Town is the most expensive area in Prague, the noisiest (medieval streets carry sound efficiently, and tourist groups begin early), and the most crowded. The streets around Old Town Square in high season are difficult to move through at peak times. However, from 9pm until 8am, even in July, the neighbourhood is genuinely quiet — the tourists disperse and the stone streets empty out.

Malá Strana is the baroque quarter between Charles Bridge and the castle hill — the most architecturally intact neighbourhood in Prague, and the one that most resembles what the city looked like before the 20th century. The streets are quieter than Old Town, the buildings are grander, and the castle is visible from almost everywhere. It is also the neighbourhood where the best views, the best boutique hotels and the most genuinely romantic accommodation in Prague are concentrated.

The practical consideration is topography. Malá Strana sits on a hill — the castle is above it, the river is below it, and walking anywhere involves inclines. That is fine on foot but can be tiring after a few days of sightseeing. The tram connections from Malostranské náměstí are good, however, and most central attractions are 15–20 minutes on foot.

New Town is the commercial heart of Prague — laid out by Charles IV in 1348, it surrounds Old Town and contains Wenceslas Square, the National Theatre, the Municipal House and some of the city’s most interesting early 20th-century architecture. It is also where the best hotel pools in central Prague are located and where you get equivalent hotel quality to Old Town at 20–30% lower prices.

Old Town Square is 5–15 minutes on foot from most New Town hotels, depending on exact location. The metro connections — Můstek and Náměstí Republiky — make the rest of the city easily accessible. For families particularly, New Town makes more practical sense than Old Town: more space, better pools, children-free policies at several hotels, and streets that are considerably easier to navigate with luggage or a pushchair.

Vinohrady is the Art Nouveau residential district immediately east of Wenceslas Square — a neighbourhood of broad tree-lined streets, good restaurants, neighbourhood cafés, and almost no tourist infrastructure. It is where a large proportion of Prague’s professional population lives, and where the best-value hotels in the central area are found. Old Town Square is 20 minutes on foot or two metro stops away.

The honest case for Vinohrady: you get a Prague that looks and feels like a real city rather than a theme park. The restaurants on Mánesova and the side streets are better and cheaper than most in Old Town. The Riegrovy sady park has a beer garden with one of the best city views in Prague. If you have been to Prague before and want something different from the standard tourist circuit, Vinohrady is the right answer.

Hradčany — the castle district at the top of the hill above Malá Strana — is the quietest and most exclusive place to stay in Prague. There are very few hotels here; the area is dominated by the castle complex, embassies and private residences. If you want to wake up with the castle literally outside your window and the city spread below you, Hradčany is the answer — but options are limited and prices reflect the exclusivity.