Prague 1 Guide 2026: Neighbourhoods, Sights, Parking and Rents
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Prague 1 (Praha 1) is Prague's historic centre and the city district of the same name, covering about 550 hectares. It takes in all of the Old Town (Staré Město) and Josefov, parts of the New Town (Nové Město), the Lesser Town (Malá Strana) and Hradčany, and small slivers of Vinohrady and Holešovice. Prague Castle, Charles Bridge and Old Town Square are all here. On 1 January 2026 the district had 28,850 registered residents, about 2% of the city's population, and its rents are among the highest in Prague. Around Prague checked the district boundaries, population figures, parking rules and town hall details against praha1.cz, the Czech Statistical Office (ČSÚ) and parking.praha.eu on 30 October 2026.
What is Prague 1?
Prague 1 is a self-governing municipal district with its own town hall and elected council. It became independent in 1990, and its boundaries have not changed since 1960. Its 550 hectares, about 1% of the city, include 225 ha on the left bank, 270 ha on the right bank and 55 ha of river and islands.
| Neighbourhood | Area in Prague 1 | Best known for |
|---|---|---|
| Staré Město (Old Town) | 129 ha, all of it | Old Town Square and the Astronomical Clock |
| Josefov (Jewish Quarter) | 9 ha, all of it; Prague's smallest cadastral area | synagogues and the Old Jewish Cemetery |
| Nové Město (New Town) | 174 ha, part | Wenceslas Square, the National Theatre |
| Malá Strana (Lesser Town) | 130 ha, part | Malostranské náměstí, Kampa, Petřín |
| Hradčany (Castle District) | 105 ha, part | Prague Castle |
| Vinohrady | 2 ha | the area above the National Museum and around the State Opera |
| Holešovice | 1 ha | a strip beyond U Plovárny street |
The district office (Úřad městské části Praha 1) is at Vodičkova 681/18; public hours are Monday and Wednesday, 8:00 to 18:00.
How many people live in Prague 1?
According to ČSÚ, 28,850 people lived in Prague 1 on 1 January 2026 and 28,862 on 30 June 2026 (preliminary), including foreigners with long-term or permanent residence. That is about 2% of Prague's 1,407,084 residents. The centre is slowly emptying: the district counted 30,343 residents in 2009 and blames commercialisation.
Main sights in Prague 1
The Historic Centre of Prague has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992, and almost all of the city's headline sights are in Prague 1:
- Prague Castle: 9 must-see spots inside the walls.
- Charles Bridge and the Charles Bridge Museum.
- Old Town Square with the Astronomical Clock, and the hidden courtyards of the Old Town.
- Josefov: synagogues and the Old Jewish Cemetery.
- Wenceslas Square, the National Theatre, Kampa and Petřín hill.
For a short trip, use our 1-, 2- and 3-day Prague itinerary.
Staying in Prague 1: noise, Airbnb and the rules
In a PAQ Research and NMS Market survey cited by the district, 62% of Prague 1 residents said the number of Airbnb flats bothers them; together with noise, it is one of the main complaints about life in the centre.
In a local referendum on 3 and 4 October 2025, 6,850 voters, or 72.26% of those taking part, backed limiting short-term rentals in flats meant for housing; 9,480 of 20,997 eligible voters took part, so the result was valid. In July 2026 the district council asked that the planned amendment to the tourism act (No. 159/1999 Coll.) and the national eTurista registration system check who lets a flat and whether it is fit for that use; at that point the amendment was still being prepared. Under current rules, as Prague 1 explains them, regular short-term letting is a business: hosts need a trade licence, keep a guest register, report foreign guests to the police, pay local fees and share responsibility for night-time quiet.
Parking in Prague 1
All streets in the centre are paid parking zones. Blue zones are for permit holders; visitors may park there for at most one hour in the centre and can pay only online, as there are no meters. Purple zones are mixed: visitors pay at a meter or online and may stay up to 24 hours. According to the Prague 1 website, the blue zone runs daily from 8:00 to 6:00 at CZK 80 an hour and the purple zone daily from 8:00 to midnight at CZK 40 an hour. The city's price list caps visitor rates at CZK 80 an hour; signs and meters show the exact hours and price.
Driving in for the day? A Park and Ride car park by a metro station costs CZK 50 or CZK 100 per 24 hours. Residents pay CZK 1,200 a year for a permit for their first car. More in our guide to Prague parking zones.
Getting around: metro, trams and the airport
Metro line A stops at Malostranská, Staroměstská and Můstek, line B at Národní třída, Můstek and Náměstí Republiky; Muzeum, at the top of Wenceslas Square, links lines A and C. Trams 22 and 23 climb to Prague Castle via Pražský hrad, Královský letohrádek and Pohořelec. At night, all night tram lines, 91 to 99, pass through the Lazarská stop. From the airport, take the AE bus to Hlavní nádraží, the main station (CZK 200), or trolleybus 59 to Nádraží Veleslavín and change to metro line A.
Living in Prague 1
In the Around Prague Rent Index, based on the Ministry of Finance rent map for Q2 2026, an older unfurnished 2+kk of 53 m² costs about CZK 23,100 a month in Josefov and Malá Strana, CZK 22,800 in Staré Město and CZK 21,000 in Hradčany, without utilities; the Prague median is CZK 19,300. Deloitte puts average rent in Prague 1 at CZK 490 per m² in Q2 2026, second only to Prague 7 (CZK 493). See all 112 neighbourhoods in our Prague rent index.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Which areas are in Prague 1?
All of Staré Město and Josefov, parts of Nové Město, Malá Strana and Hradčany, and small parts of Vinohrady and Holešovice.
Is Prague 1 the same as the Old Town?
No. The Old Town is one of several neighbourhoods in Prague 1, which also includes Prague Castle, the Lesser Town and much of the New Town.
How much does parking cost in Prague 1?
According to the district, CZK 80 an hour in blue zones, for one hour at most, and CZK 40 an hour in purple zones, for up to 24 hours.
How many people live in Prague 1?
28,850 residents on 1 January 2026, according to ČSÚ.
Is Airbnb legal in Prague 1?
Yes, but regular short-term letting is a business that needs a trade licence, a guest register and local fees. Stricter national rules were still being prepared in July 2026.
Sources: Prague 1: district territory, Prague 1: town hall contacts, ČSÚ: population of Prague districts, H1 2026, Kudy z nudy: Prague on the UNESCO list, Prague 1 on eTurista, 17 July 2026, Prague 1: Airbnb guidance, Prague 1: paid parking zone, parking.praha.eu: blue zone, parking.praha.eu: purple zone, parking permit price list, P+R, Ministry of Finance rent map, Deloitte Rent Index, Q2 2026, PID open data, PID: getting to the airport. Checked on 30 October 2026.
See also: 10 must-see attractions in Prague, Prague transport: a complete newcomer's guide, From Prague airport to the city centre, Best neighbourhoods to live in Prague.
Photo: Prague Castle and Malá Strana from the Vltava. Chris Caines, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
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