Hidden gems of Prague

While we may all bemoan the hordes of tourists who descend on Prague year-round, not least the stag and hen parties and the sports tours, once you land in the capital of the Czech Republic, it's all too easy to go with the flow.

Everyone wants to get off the tourist trail and see a different side to a place, but when it comes to Prague, that would mean forsaking some of the jewels of Europe, such as the iconic Charles Bridge, the Astronomical Clock in Wenceslas Square or St Vitus Cathedral and Prague Castle across the river.

Even the most rowdy group of tourists would be unlikely to tear me away from the beaten path of the historic centre, though my best experiences in the city have been when I have mixed the typical tourist routines with seeking out some of the hidden treasures known only to natives.

SoNa, that is the south bank of the Narodi and equivalent to the Sohos of New York and Paris has long been talked up as being Prague's hippest quarter, though any visitor heading there now will feel that they have arrived just a few years too late after all the developers and global brands have moved in for their piece.

There is, though, still a real charm about this district and pottering among the alternative shops of the long and thin Karoliny Svelte, however much the prices have gone up, still represents a real contrast with the site-seeing going on north of the river.

This still being a bohemian part of town it's also the best spot for vegetarians to head to in an effort to escape the stodgy, meat-centred local cuisine, while the numerous Latin bars and jazz clubs give this area of Prague a real cosmopolitan feel not seen elsewhere in the city.

Trying to find a decent bar at night south of the river remains a lottery, though this doesn't necessarily mean that the only alternative to a night in an Irish pub with a drunken stag party for company needs to be an early night.

As with so many other cities, the best alternative nightlife is to be found in the booming gay quarter and, with a decent travel insurance policy in place, it pays to be a little adventurous and head off into the night.

Gay Vinohrady may not be the largest of districts, but it certainly knows how to throw a party.

Well into the early hours dozens of pubs and clubs, including the legendary three-storey high Termix and the super-club Valentino pump out Europop and serve up cheap beer to locals and the more adventurous visitors alike.

Strolling home in the early hours through the old town, it's clear that the real attraction of Prague will always be its architectural beauty.

However, with a little research and a spirit of adventure, it's possible to mix the tourism with seeing the modern city and there's no doubt this makes for a far more rewarding break.