'''Pilsen''' (Czech: ''Plze?'') (German: ''Pilsen'') [http://www.plzen.eu] is in Bohemia, in the Czech Republic in Central Europe. It is the home and birthplace of the Pilsener (or pilsner) beer variety which is derived from the city's German name.

It is the 4th largest city in the country and the largest city in West Bohemia, being a convenient base for exploring this region of the Czech Republic.

Get in

From Prague, bus and train are the easy options of getting there. Trains leave from Prague's main train station (''Praha - Hlavni nadra?i ?D'') on an hourly basis during daytime. Buses leave frequently from Prague's main bus station at '''Florenc''' or from the bus station at '''Zli?in''' (Prague's Metro B end station). The trip takes approximately an hour and 40 minutes by both train and bus (about an hour from ''Zli?in'').

From Germany, Pilsen is easily accessible by train, being located on the Prague - Munich track.

The Pilsen's main train station (''Plze? - Hlavni nadra?i ?D'') as well as the main bus station (''Plze? - Centralni autobusove nadra?i'') are both located within walking distance of the very center of the city.

For information on schedules and rates, visit the official transport website [http://www.jizdnirady.cz/JRCis.asp?tt=c&cl=E5].

Get around

To get around the compact city center, it is best to walk. To get around the whole city, the services of the '''public transport operator PMDP''' are recommened. The PMDP operate trams, buses and trolley-buses in Pilsen.

For information on lines, schedules and rates, visit the PMDP's official website [http://www.pmdp.cz/index.php?lang=en].

See

Sights

  • '''St. Bartholomew's Cathedral''' - the Gothic St. Bartholomew's Cathedral was founded in the late 13th century, its tower (102.26 m / 335 ft) being the highest in the Czech Republic.
  • '''The Town Hall''' - this Renaissance masterwork was built in 1554-1559, based on the designs of an Italian architect, Giovanni de Statia.
  • '''Historical underground network''' - a sophisticated system of cellars and tunnels of up to three levels under the whole Old Town area. It is accessible from the house in the street Perlova 4.
  • '''The Great Synagogue''' - the second largest synagogue in Europe and third largest in the world (after synagogues in Jerusalem and Budapest).
  • '''The Pilsner Urquell brewery''' - founded in 1842, home to the Pilsner Urquell, the original Pilsener.
  • '''Pilsen Zoo''' - home to over one thousand species of animals in natural conditions without bars.
  • Museums

  • '''West Bohemian Museum''' (Kopeckeho sady 2) - regular exhibitions
  • '''Ethnography Museum of the Pilsen Region''' (nam. Republiky 13) - regular exhibitions
  • '''Brewery Museum''' (Veleslavinova 6) - history of brewing in Pilsen
  • Galleries

  • '''Pilsen City Art Gallery''' (Dominikanska 2)
  • '''West Bohemian Art Gallery "Masne kramy"''' (Pra?ska 18)
  • '''Ji?i Trnka Art Gallery''' (nam. Republiky 40)
  • Events

    There are several events during the year that are even more suitable for visiting the city than others.
  • The '''Liberation Festival''' [http://www.liberationfestival.com/] - around May 6th, when the city of Pilsen was liberated from Nazi Germany by the George Patton's 3rd Army in 1945. The city is full of music and other culture.
  • The '''In The Streets Festival''' - generally in the first half of August. Small stages around the city center, a big stage on the Square of Republic. Music, theater and street performances.
  • Do

  • Walk in the city parks, circumfusing the historical city center from two sides
  • Enjoy the view of the city and its surrounding from the church tower of the St. Bartholomew's Cathedral
  • Enjoy a drink of the Pilsner Urquell in the city that gave name to all the Pilseners of the world
  • Eat

  • '''Potrefena Husa''' (Martinska 1) - a big restaurant, good selection of meals and drinks
  • '''Plze?ska ba?ta''' (Riegrova 5) - a stylish Czech restaurant, good meals
  • '''U Salzmann?''' (Pra?ska 8) - the oldest beer restaurant in Pilsen serving Czech traditional cuisine
  • '''Jadran''' (Bezru?ova 9) - both Czech and international (especially Mediterranean) cuisine
  • '''Slune?nice''' (Jungmannova 4) - healthy bio cuisine including vegetarian and vegan cuisine
  • '''Vegetka''' (Americka 13) ? vegetarian dishes, vegetable salads and soups
  • '''And?l Vegetarian Restaurant''' (Bezru?ova 5) - a creative and stylish vegetarian :)restaurant
  • '''La Tartelette''' (nam. Republiky 18) - French fast food (soups, salads, quiche ...)
  • '''Stara sladovna''' (Mala 3) - Middle-Age-style restaurant
  • '''Na Parkane''' (Veleslavinova 4) - the pub to get unfiltered Urquell
  • A detailed '''list of places to eat and drink''' in Pilsen is available on the Pilsen's website [http://plzen.eu/article.asp?sec=325&lang=1033].

    Drink

    Pilsen is the city where the pilsner beer was invented. '''Pilsner Urquell''' is the famous beer brand of Pilsen. At the brewery itself and in few pubs (Senk Na Parkanu), you can get the '''unfiltered''' and unpasteurized version of Pilsner Urquell, which is even better that the common filtered version. Another beer brand, made in the same brewery, is '''Gambrinus'''. Gambrinus light (desitka) is probably the most common beer in the Czech republic, it is cheaper and weaker than Pilsner Urquell.

    Cafes

  • '''M???anska beseda''' (Kopeckeho sady 13) - a luxurious Art Noveau style cafe
  • '''CrossCafe''' (Jungmannova 5) - good coffee and some small stuff to eat (sandwiches, salads, yogurts ...)
  • '''Sky Bar Cafe''' (Anglicke nab?e?i 1) - coffee and something to eat as well
  • '''Kajetanka''' (Sedla?kova 2) - a winehouse
  • '''And?l Cafe''' (Bezru?ova 7) - coffee and chocolate house with music
  • '''Ka?aba''' (Prokopova 17) - cafe and teahouse employing people with disabilities as part of a therapy
  • '''Nebeska ?ajovna''' (Sady P?tat?icatnik? 2) - a stylish New Age-like teahouse
  • Clubs

  • '''Zach_fs Pub''' (Palackeho nam. 2) - Irish pub with music club, regular music production
  • '''House of Blues''' (?ernicka 10) - regular live concerts, nice millieu
  • '''Buena Vista Club''' (Kollarova 20) - regular live music, movie projections, theater performances
  • '''Jazz Rock Cafe''' (Sedla?kova 18) - a place to chill, live music, groovy-jazzy-funky
  • '''And?l Music Bar''' (Bezru?ova 7) - good music, projections
  • Sleep

    Budget

  • Ubytovna Zahradni. ahradni 21. lovany neighborhood, southeast of city center. 420 377 443 262. ttp://www.ubytovnaplzen.cz/.

    Mid-range

  • City. ady 5. Kv?tna 52. ity center. 420 377 326 069.
  • Stara Plze?. a Roudne 12. uter city center. 420 377 259 901. ttp://www.pension-sp.cz/. ension.sp@centrum.cz.
  • Morrison. hamova 9. uter city center. 420 377 370 952. ttp://www.morrison.cz/.

    Splurge

  • U Zvonu. ra?ska 27. ity center. 420 378 011 855. ecepce@hotel-uzvonu.cz. ttp://www.hotel-uzvonu.cz/. plurge.
  • Parkhotel Plze?. Borskeho parku 31. ory neighborhood, south of city center. 420 378 772 977. ttp://www.parkhotel-plzen.cz/. plurge.
  • Central . am. Republiky 33. ain square. 420 377 226 757. otel-central@zkdplzen.cz. ttp://www.central-hotel.cz/. plurge.
  • Primavera . epomucka 128. 420 377 237 049. nfo@primaverahotel.cz. ttp://www.primaverahotel.cz/. plurge.
  • Marriot. ady 5. kvetna 57 . 420 373 370 100. ttp://www.marriott.com/. plurge.

    A detailed '''list of accommodation''' in Pilsen is available on the Pilsen's website [http://plzen.eu/article.asp?sec=324&lang=1033]. You can also compare and book hotels on *'''Plzen Hotels Directory''' [http://www.a-plzen.com/].

    Tourist information

    There are two official '''tourist information offices''' in Pilsen. Start your visit of Pilsen by visiting them (choose the main one on the ''nam?sti Republiky'', if possible), finding out about the current events and collecting a free map of the city. Both offices are '''open daily''' from 9.00 to 18.00 (until 19.00 between April and September).

  • <listing name="Informa?ni centrum m?sta Plzn?" alt="the main city tourist office" directions="to the left of the Rennaisance city hall" address="nam?sti Republiky 41, 301 16 Plze?" phone="+420 378 035 330" email="info@icpilsen.cz" fax="" url="" hours="" price=""></listing>
  • <listing name="Informa?ni centrum m?sta Plzn? Hlavni nadra?i ?D" alt="the smaller city tourist office" directions="at the main train station" address="Nadra?ni 102, 301 10 Plze?" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price=""></listing>
  • Contact

    You may find Internet connection in many hotels, so better ask at the reception first. In case of needing an '''Internet cafe''', there are several options in Pilsen.
  • '''Arena''' - Internet Cafe - Franti?kanska 10
  • '''Nico''' - Internet Cafe - Kopernikova 25