Intercontinental Hotel Prague

A Luxury Prague Hotel in Old Town

The Intercontinental Hotel Prague is a popular central hotel located a short walk from Old Town Square. It seems to have something for everyone - a great location, lots of amenities and quality rooms for a wide variety of guests.

Honestly, we generally prefer to visit small hotels in Prague that get less attention than something like the Intercontinental Prague, but all hotels deserve an equal chance, so we thought we'd stop by.

After all, the Intercontinental Hotel Prague is a local landmark - an icon amongst hotels in Prague and generally gets very good guest reviews on Trip Advisor.

So, let's take a closer look at what you get for your money and what you can expect from the Intercontinental, because you might be a bit surprised.

Overview

Let's get the sensitive news out of the way first. The Intercontinental is probably not the prettiest hotel from the outside. It certainly does not fit the common pictures of Prague that many people equate with our city.

Instead its facade is more indicative of the recent communist era. For some people this kind of architecture is a bad hangover  - while for others it's completely refreshing and different - in a good way. To each his own!

So, you may consider other central Prague hotels if this style is a turn off.

Of course, on the inside, it's all good. The hotel's interior is modern and stylish, yet simple and elegant without going overboard on stuff.

Upon entering you immediately feel that the hotel is of a higher standard, clean and even luxurious. We were even a bit surprised. There's nothing here that's too cold or uneasy on the eyes - just a good mix of details and furniture.

The Intercontinental Hotel Prague also has plenty of other talking points. Consider their great amenities and just general goodness that allows us to recommend it. Here are a few highlights:

• Business travel. The hotel is quite large and makes for a perfect choice for business travelers, corporate clientele and conferences. The Intercontinental brand comes through here with a very able concierge team to help with all your organization needs.

• Spa and Fitness Centre. The workout and relaxation options at the hotel are ridiculously large. An array of massage options and 1000 m2 of cardio and workout facilities are available.


• Swimming and Sun Bathing. The hotel has an indoor saltwater pool. Yes, you read that right. And, there's a lovely courtyard with lounge chairs for getting a few rays or just reading a book after a day of sightseeing in Prague.
  


• Dining. We all enjoy a fine restaurant, especially one with a view. Well the Zlata Praha restaurant on the rooftop of the Intercontinental Hotel Prague combines both things perfectly - superb tastes and a wonderful view. Even if you don't book a room here, we suggest stopping by for dinner and a look from the picture window at the top. Super.
  


• Rooms. All the rooms are well equipped with at least the following: king sized beds, minibar, safe, coffee/tea makers, 42" TVs, iPod docking stations and high-speed internet.
  


• Specials. For a luxury Prague hotel, the Intercontinental is generous with their special offers. This ability to package different offers sets the hotel apart from others in their class. It's creative and helpful whether you're visiting Prague on business or on a weekend break.
  

Click here to check availability.

The covered sidewalk and entrance to the Intercontinental Hotel Prague. Once inside it's a world of a difference.
 

Location

For such a large hotel, it's surprising that the Intercontinental Hotel Prague is so well located. You can easily walk to the hotel from Old Town Square in a minute or two. Really, it's that close!

What does all this mean to you? Well, it means you won't have to walk far to get to the best sights in Prague including: Old Town Square, Obecni Dum, Powder Tower, the famous astronomical Prague clock, Charles Bridge and more.

The hotel actually sits above the banks of the Vltava River on a corner of Prague's old Jewish Quarter (Josefov). In fact, the main entrance to the hotel is just across from the Old New Synagogue and other significant parts of this historic area.

This area is basically an extension of Old Town, just with a different sort of history. This area was razed at one time with newer buildings and residences being rebuilt here in a different style than Old Town. Here you will find more art nouveau influences with the exception being parts of the original Jewish Quarter.

The extra value of the hotel's location is its proximity to the river and Letna park just across the nearby bridge.

We highly recommend strolling along the river for picture-perfect views of Mala Strana and Prague Castle. We love to take this walk especially in the evening as the sun sets beyond the castle.

Here's a view from under Cechuv bridge that's just adjacent to the hotel...

And here is a view of the Intercontinental Hotel Prague from the opposite side of the river - near Letna Park.

If you don't mind relaxing a bit, you might consider one of the many Prague river cruises that disembark near the hotel. They offer exceptional viewpoints of Prague and you can choose from a variety of durations, some include lunch or dinner and music as well.

Summary

Aside from our hesitation due to the looks of the place from the outside, the Intercontinental Hotel Prague is a perfectly well-balanced and pleasant place to stay.

There's so much to like here that it's hard to hold the dated facade against the hotel for very long. Just consider the details... king sized beds, wonderful rooftop restaurant, a kingdom of fitness and amenities, and the ideal location.

We would like to see two minor things changed in your favor. One, the internet in the common lounge should be free and the parking doesn't a have to be nearly $60/day. That's just a bit extreme if you ask us.

Okay, that about wraps things up for the Intercontinental. Feel free to to check rates and availability here or browse other Old Town Hotels in Prague.