The Brooklyn
of Prague is
Holešovice.

The case for Holešovice

Holešovice is a former meatpacking district where industrial halls now hold galleries, clubs, and weekend markets. The river bends around it like a moat, keeping the tourist hordes on the other side. Nobody here is looking for the Charles Bridge. They're drinking natural wine on Letohradská and arguing about contemporary art at DOX.

DOX alone covers 3,000 square metres of exhibition space, and that's just one of more than a dozen independent galleries that have colonised Holešovice's former factories and slaughterhouses.
Close contenders

Other cool neighborhoods in Prague.

Karlín

Karlín got flattened by floods in 2002 and rebuilt itself into Prague's sleekest neighborhood. Beautiful architecture, excellent restaurants, and the kind of calm that comes from starting over.

Žižkov

Žižkov is Prague's dive bar district. More pubs per capita than anywhere in Europe, they say. The giant TV tower with crawling baby sculptures tells you everything about the attitude here.

Vinohrady

Vinohrady is where you move when you want good coffee, leafy streets, and a farmers market on Saturday. Prague's most livable neighborhood, full stop.

Three sides of the neighborhood

Where to go in Holešovice.

All 23 spots mapped out

Holešovice, corner to corner.

Open in Maps →
Our 23 top picks

The Holešovice guide.

Practical info

Good to know.

The boring numbers that decide whether you stay three days or four.

CurrencyCZK
LanguageCzech
Cost level $$Moderate
Best monthsMay to June and September
Local time UTC+2
Plug type EU plug · 230V/50Hz
Emergency112
Local tip
Take tram 12 along the river to Holešovice instead of the metro. The ride past Letná Park is the best free view in Prague.
Europe · Czech Republic

If you like Prague, try one of these.

Head to head

How does Prague stack up?

All comparisons →
Common questions

Things to know about Holešovice.

What is the Brooklyn of Prague?
The Brooklyn of Prague is Holešovice. Holešovice is a former meatpacking district where industrial halls now hold galleries, clubs, and weekend markets. DOX alone covers 3,000 square metres of exhibition space, and that's just one of more than a dozen independent galleries that have colonised Holešovice's former factories and slaughterhouses.
What is the coolest neighborhood in Prague?
Holešovice is widely considered the coolest neighborhood in Prague. Holešovice is a former meatpacking district where industrial halls now hold galleries, clubs, and weekend markets. The river bends around it like a moat, keeping the tourist hordes on the other side. Nobody here is looking for the Charles Bridge. They're drinking natural wine on Letohradská and arguing about contemporary art at DOX.
What is the hippest neighborhood in Prague?
Holešovice is the hippest neighborhood in Prague. Galleries and clubs occupy old meatpacking halls, the river acts as a moat against tourists, and Letohradská pours natural wine to people who'd rather argue about DOX than see Charles Bridge.
What is the trendiest neighborhood in Prague?
Holešovice is Prague's trendiest neighborhood right now. The industrial bones are filling in fast with weekend markets, contemporary art spaces, and wine bars run by people who clearly moved here three years ago and never left.
Where do creatives live in Prague?
Holešovice. Creatives took over the former factories and slaughterhouses of this old meatpacking district, where more than a dozen independent galleries now fill the industrial halls. They work in the converted slaughterhouses, show contemporary art across thousands of square metres, and stage new circus in old market halls.
What is the most bohemian neighborhood in Prague?
Holešovice is the most bohemian part of Prague. The Vltava bends around it like a moat, keeping the tourist crowds on the far side. Here people drink natural wine on Letohradská and argue about contemporary art. Gritty, emerging, built from scrap metal and weekend markets. Nobody is looking for the Charles Bridge.
Where should I stay in Holešovice, Prague?
The best boutique hotels in Holešovice are Plaza Prague Hotel and Absolutum Wellness Hotel. A 4-star boutique hotel on Ortenovo náměstí with 73 soundproofed rooms and an on-site Italian restaurant, Bistrot Puglia, inspired by southern Italy.
Is Holešovice in Prague safe at night?
Holešovice is a lived-in creative neighborhood, not a tourist compound. Bars and restaurants here stay busy late, which keeps streets active. Use normal city awareness.
Is Prague expensive?
Prague rates $$ on a global travel scale. Affordable, with good value for food and drink.
When is the best time to visit Prague?
Visit Prague in May, June, or September, when temperatures range from 15 to 25C, rain stays moderate, and midsummer daylight lingers past 21:00. The riverside and the large park north of the district fill with open-air bars and weekend markets from late April through September. July and August turn hot and crowded, and April swings unpredictably.

Last updated

The dispatch

Want more cities like Prague?

New cities and updated guides. Nothing else.