[.ca] Prague (ISBN 1740597583)

From Amazon.co.uk:
Where Paris once led the way as the centre of Europe's bohemian lifestyle, Prague now comes out on top. The fourth edition of Lonely Planet: Prague manages to be both compact and comprehensive and is generally a good introduction to this city where European and North American wannabe poets now hang out. Although the guide's structure follows the layout used by most books in the Lonely Planet series, there is more of a concentration on cultural issues than is often the case. As well as an illustrated colour guide to the city's memorable architecture, there are detailed sections on themes such as the history of the 1969 student rebellion against the Communists, the famous Karlos Most bridge, Franz Kafka and the vicissitudes of Prague's Jewish community. The sections on history and modern politics are perhaps a little weaker though, with no acknowledgement of the sizeable minority in the Czech Republic who have become disillusioned with Vaclav Havel. The cultural side of the guide goes together with some hard-nosed advice on how to avoid scams in Prague's restaurants and foreign exchange bureaux. Only occasionally does the imperative of cost become a handicap, as when the authors make the inaccurate assertion that, when visiting Prague's "old-new synagogue", there is no need to rent the cheap yamulkahs as a bandanna will do. Still, this will be a very useful practical guide for anyone visiting Prague, with thorough accommodation and eating tips, colour photographs and some detailed and very well-researched maps. --Toby Green

Chronique amazon.fr:
Du randonneur au surfeur, en passant par l'amoureux de la nature ou des coutumes locales, ce guide traduit de l'anglais, c'est la découverte du Monde hors des sentiers battus. Fidèle à son ton franc et décontracté, l'équipe de baroudeurs Lonely Planet vous fait découvrir les recoins et beautés d'une destination : pas une région n'est oubliée, comment traverser un village du bout du monde le guide à la main ou apprendre en détails l'histoire du pays et de sa population, tout y est ! Partisan du voyage économique, ce guide regorge de bonnes adresses pour tous les goûts, du bel hôtel victorien à la bicoque en pleine savane. Et, si vous désirez savoir comment manger tel ou tel produit régional ou apprécier un coucher de soleil, l'étendue d'un paysage, vous y trouverez de nombreux petits conseils originaux et vécus. Peu de photos mais un format pratique et solide, qui s'emmène partout. Voilà un guide de référence qui couvre une grande partie de notre planète et permet de ne rien manquer des beautés du voyage. --Florent Lamontagne

essential guide book:
I studied in Prague for the last four months, and I took this book with me everywhere. It is the only guidebook that has the hours that everything is open and how to get there. All of the information in it is highly reliable. I highly recommend it if you plan on spending more than a few weeks in Prague, although I supplemented it with the Eyewitness Guide to Prague and the Rough Guide to Prague. However, it offered little advice on which the best places to eat and stay and visit are. It also has very few pictures, which is unfortunate, because out of the thousands of beautiful places to visit in Prague, it is helpful to be able to see which buildings appeal to oneself the most before choosing to visit them. If you plan to stay in Prague for longer than a week, this is an essential book to buy. However, for quick trips to Prague, I would suggest buying the Rough Guide to Prague (it offers good advice about where to go) and the Eyewitness Guide to Prague (it has tons of pictures). Also, if you plan on spending more than a few days in Prague, buy the Lonely Planet Guide to the Czech and Slovak Republic - there is so much more to the Czech Republic than Prague, and taking a day trip or two outside of the city is time well spent.

Great, but check out LP's "Czech Republic", too:
I have an uncanny nack for picking up free guides, which is the only reason I took this book with me to Prague over the summer. I ended up using it for a month, though, so it was well worth taking along. It's got everything you'd expect in a good travel guide -- what makes it better than most is that it lists some unusual and out-of-the-way places instead of just the typical run-of-the-mill museums and churches. It's also got a strong nightlife and eating/drinking section, ideal for college bums and happy Pilsener-chuggers with a dose of wanderlust! The only bone I would pick with this guide is that it's identical to the Prague section of LP's general "Czech and Slovak Republic" guide -- it just weighs less. So there's absolutely no reason to buy both guides. While the book includes a short section on some sights within about an hour of Prague (like Kutna Hora and Theresienstadt concentration camp), the Czech Republic is a gorgeous country and you'd be crazy not to blow out of Prague for a few days and see something else. Still, if you just can't get enough of Prague (and "this little mother has claws", as Kafka said), you can't go wrong here. (If you're a Kafka fan, check out at Klaus Wagenbach's nifty guide to "Kafka's Prague", reviewed by me.)

Great guide book!!:
Just returned from a 7 day visit to Prague. This book went with us everywhere!! We did 2 of the suggested "walks." Loved that it told you what to see if you had an hour or if you had an afternoon. Everyone of the restaurants we visited based on LP's recommedation was amazing. (We're thinking of buying the LP guide to NYC so we know where to grab a bite after work). We also took along the Eye Witness guide when we went to major spots -- Prague Castle, Charles Bridge -- because it had more pictures. Will buy a LP guide for next overseas travel!!

Great guide book!!:
Just returned from a 7 day visit to Prague ( not long enough!!). We took this book everywhere. We went on two of the "walks" suggested, and loved that it told you what to see if you had an hour or an afternoon. Every resturant we visited based on LP's recommendation was amazing. We're considering getting the LP NYC guide so we know where to grab a bite after work!! We also had the Eye Witness Guide that we brought along when we went to Prague Castle and Charles Bridge (better pictures). We will definately buy LP Guide for next trip.

Definitive:
In the past year I have had the chance to travel to Prague, Paris, and London, and for each trip I brought along a Lonely Planet city guide. These books are simply the best. In previous travels I have tried books by other groups, but Lonely Planet has never steered me wrong. The books are accurate and up-to-date, and offer advice for all modes of travel (economic, social, time constraints, interests, and so on). The history and culture sections are useful but not too long, and the same is true of the descriptions of the various sites and sights. Don't travel without one!