Prague or Copenhagen

[SocialistSally]

Planning a trip in early/mid-December and narrowed it down to Prague or Copenhagen. This is due to flight availability from our local area (so please don't suggest alternatives!).

I was worried that Prague might be stag do central, but perhaps that isn't the case anymore. On the other hand that Copenhagen is very expensive to eat and drink.

It is just me and DP, we tend to like walking around a lot, looking at architecture, and we do love food and drink :)

Anyone been to either recently and have a preference.

@TizerorFizz forgot to mention Torvehalle (the big indoor food market) a favourite of mine was the stall doing hot fresh made fishcakes with remoulade-about £7 or £8 for 2 ginormous ones- makes a great lunch - I can just taste them now!!!

Been to both- both great but Copenhagen hands down the winner. Stunning food, areas and architecture fascinating, locals are incredibly friendly and speak perfect English and happy to do so, lovely wine bars, amazing coziness...hygge... no stag do's in sight, need I go on?!

I have visited Prague at Christmas and it was stunning. I went to Copenhagen over summer and it was nice but I definitely preferred Prague. However if I had to compare Scandinavian cities. I thought Stockholm was much better than Copenhagen. Is that an option?

I’ve been to both in Winter and enjoyed them. I thought Prague was slightly better for sightseeing and Copenhagen much better for food.

@LadyLapsang having lived in Copenhagen I would agree- I think CPH is better for food, retail and lovely Tivoli at Xmas- I think Prague is good for historical stuff, the castle etc- i do like it in a different way but I thought hotels were a bit middling and food cheap but un memorable.

@Crikeyalmighty Thanks for further tips. Hopefully not quite so heavy on the wallet as we feared.

I have read about so many places in Copenhagen I want to see! We must go to David Samling and the Design museum. I can never resist Crown Jewels and a palace or two and there’s plenty of art galleries. Looks good to me.

DD says to go to Lund in Sweden so we might have a day trip there via the Oresund bridge (DH is a civil engineer) and need to see Louisiana too! We are staying quite close to the station.

Christmas markets have some appeal but the other things matter more to us.

I probably prefer Prague, have been to both (Prague 3 times, including winter twice, Copenhagen once in the summer) I didn't have the money in Copenhagen to do it justice. The cost is very different. If you go to Prague, go to the Casemate at Vysehrad. It is a bit of a bugger to get to, and even when you get to it, you are not quite sure where the entrance is, but it is bloody amazing. It has the original statues from Charles Bridge inside it, underground. I know both are probably cold in winter, so stating the obvious, but Prague is definitely very cold. It is touristy though, and the castle is (sorry) boring.

@TizerorFizz I love Lund- it's a very lovely town, Malmo too in Eve centre- Also it's a really lovely drive up the Copenhagen coast northwards to Helsinor -

@sjpkgp1 I agree - if budget is very tight copenhagens not the best bet - to get the best you need a good budget- I did like Prague too - but I actually preferred Budapest for that type of city.

@Crikeyalmighty DD says Lund is better than Malmo for a day trip so Lund it is. The church there looks amazing.

I also love both cities and I'm sure you will have a great trip whichever you choose - but architecture wise, Copenhagen for me - and everything seems so effortlessly stylish. I didn't do the furniture shops this time but when I was there without children that was probably my favourite activity!

However - I was there earlier this year and I easily spent twice what I had budgeted, even though we ate at some of the cheaper options (children loved the Tivoli food hall). We had some very nice food though.

The might just be me - for a short trip I found Prague easier to get my bearings and get around.

I love Prague. If you stay away from the stag do's it's fine. I was a bit bored in Copenhagen and it's insanely expensive.

@lastminutewednesday Why were you bored in Copenhagen? Did you not have any interest in the galleries and museums? Im looking forward to the design shops and looking at a wider selection of Danish clothing brands. I like Danish designed clothes a lot. The modern architecture there looks first class and we can see there’s a lot to see. I’m actually overwhelmed with choice!

We went to Prague for the Christmas Market pre Covid and had a great time. We were away from the centre but on a tram route.

I just didn't find it to be that great/didn't like the vibe for whatever reason. Be boring if we all liked the same places I suppose! I hate Paris which has loads going on,but I love Rome, Berlin, Sarajevo-different strokes for different folks I guess 🤷🏽‍♀️

@Crikeyalmighty I am planning to go to Copenhagen in the future so your information was very useful. Thank you .

@sandgrown a pleasure- to really get the most out of it you do need a decent /quite high budget. I always suspect if people find it boring it's because they spend a large part of the day grazing and drinking and eating- that's not an easy option in Copenhagen unless you adore hot dogs!! It's incredibly good for retail, green spaces , architecture, lovely riverside walks and the coastline up to Helsingor is a must- white sand beaches and dunes with regular ice cream stops (Danish soft ice is the best) - lots of art deco architecture , it's like Miami without the guaranteeed sun!! If I can recommend Bakken too- fun fair in the woods on that coast- oldest in the world, The bridge over to Sweden is great- you can do on train too. My own personal view was I enjoyed Prague, attractive place , but far too many people sat around getting pissed, much cheaper than uk) and I thought the food was quite poor (but cheap) I liked Budapest and krakow more and food way better. I think it comes down to what you like doing and budget too. If you are with a bloke for instance who just wants to sit for hours in bars- Copenhagen won't float your boat

@Crikeyalmighty I think we are in tune with you.

Just been reading another thread where a poster went to Macdonalds in Reykjavik and stayed in their hotel a lot. I can see the idea of “what floats your boat” but I’m amazed at the lack of adventure. Most we know who have been to Prague won’t spend the money on anything else but cheap eats and beer. Everywhere has somewhere to offer beyond that.

If anyone is going to Paris, the new LV Foundation galleries and exhibitions are stunning. DD tells me! Paris is always great.

Tivoli is beautiful at Christmas. Cheaper sandwiches than £15 are available!

@StrictlyAFemaleFemale and at the local 7/11 you can get really great sandwiches for about £ 4.50 - lovely overnight oats pots too (much better than you get here) for around the same. Had a really fab burger (with fries) in Tivoli food hall for £11 several times

@TizerorFizz I think that was the thing in Prague- an awful lot of it seemed based on that. - but I do get that for some that's the main focus of a break and for them I don't think any of the Scandinavian cities will hit the mark. You would spend all your time saying 'how much'

If anyone wants tips in Stockholm too, I know that pretty well as well - that's another lovely place. A bit less funky I think but very scenic - been at all times of year

Prague is still worth a visit in my opinion. We drank wine in busy Prague squares but also did some great sightseeing and classical music at really affordable prices, I recall one particularly lovely church venue. Prague is beautiful to wonder around.

Haven't been to Prague for decades but just back from Copenhagen with the DC and we loved it. Spent masses of money but had a fab time. DD1 said it was 'like the UK but better'. We spent a week there and could have easily spent another week, there is loads to see and do.

According to my kids the best things were:
Tivoli
Den Blå Planet
Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde (this was my favourite as well)

I thought of 7/11 and Tivoli Food Hall too!

7/11 look like take away shops to me. Not our thing. We want to sit down somewhere appealing. It’s not really about cost. It’s about finding an attractive cafe for us and no doubt DD!