Best Dog-Friendly Hotels in Prague

Before you go

What happens when you get there

Metro, trams and buses

A dog on a short lead and wearing a muzzle travels free across Prague on your own PID ticket. Without a muzzle it has to be in a closed carrier with a solid base, and a carrier bigger than 25 x 45 x 70 cm needs a CZK 25 ticket. One dog per tram, bus or ferry, one per metro door, and never on a seat. The fine for a dog without a muzzle is up to CZK 1,000.

Prague Castle

Dogs are allowed in the castle courtyards on a lead and muzzled. They aren't allowed inside the buildings or in the gardens, so St Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, Golden Lane and the Royal Garden are off the list. Walk through the courtyards and take in the view from the ramparts instead.

Other sights

Charles Bridge, Old Town Square and the riverside are public streets, so the dog comes too. Vyšehrad admits dogs on a lead across the whole fortress park. Prague Zoo admits dogs on a short lead but not into the pavilions or the exhibits. The Petřín funicular takes one dog per car, muzzled and on a lead, on a normal ticket.

Parks and off-lead

City bylaw 6/2001 keeps dogs on a lead in all public greenery, including the parks, with marked off-lead areas set aside inside most of the big ones. Look for the sign at the park entrance rather than assuming, because the marked zone is a section of the park, not the whole thing. Wildlife rescues in the city cite dog attacks as a main cause of injury, which is why the rule is enforced.

Restaurants and cafes

There's no law keeping dogs out of Czech restaurants, it's the owner's call, and in Prague most pubs, cafes and casual restaurants say yes indoors, not just on the terrace. The exception is inside the hotels: Fairmont Golden Prague and Four Seasons keep dogs out of their restaurants, and W Prague and Andaz let them in.

Weight limits

Occidental Praha takes dogs to 8 kg, Occidental Praha Five to 9 kg, Four Seasons 7 to 10 kg, The Emblem 10 kg, W Prague 18 kg, and Augustine and Buddha-Bar 20 kg. The Grand Mark says small only without a figure. Hotel Josef takes any size and Falkensteiner publishes no limit. Andaz, Fairmont, Mandarin Oriental and the Marriott don't publish a cap.

Fees

Free at Four Seasons. CZK 550 a night at Hotel Josef. EUR 25 at Andaz and Falkensteiner, EUR 35 at Fairmont and both Occidentals, EUR 40 at Buddha-Bar with a bed and treat included, EUR 45 at Mandarin Oriental, EUR 50 at The Grand Mark, which also holds a EUR 125 deposit. Per stay, CZK 1,500 at the Marriott, CZK 1,620 or EUR 60 at The Emblem, CZK 3,000 at Augustine. W Prague quotes on request.

Vets

AA-Vet at Chmelová 6b in Prague 10 runs a 24-hour emergency line on +420 604 242 789 and has an English site. Vetcentrum Duchek at K Hájům 8 in Prague 5 covers evenings until midnight and weekends with an emergency surcharge of CZK 1,500.

Best walks

The Vltava embankments from Charles Bridge south to the Dancing House, up through Kampa island and the Malá Strana lanes. Petřín hill for the orchards and the funicular down, Letná park along the plateau above the river with the beer garden at the end, and Stromovka behind it for long flat paths. Vyšehrad for the ramparts and the river view, on a lead throughout. Divoká Šárka on the western edge if the dog needs a proper hill.

When to go

April to June and September to October. The cobbles hold heat in July and August, when the centre regularly passes 30 degrees and the crowds on Charles Bridge are a lot for a dog underfoot. December is cold, often below freezing, with grit on the pavements and the Christmas markets packing Old Town Square, so go early in the day or stay on the Malá Strana side. The Petřín funicular closes for a few weeks of maintenance in spring and autumn.