The pros and cons of living in Dejvice

PROS

• Proximity to Airport, Transport Lines & Suburbs – Dejvická is a major transport hub for numerous tram and bus routes run. Metro line A and bus routes to the airport service the district and it takes just 6 minutes to reach Wenceslas Square (Můstek) from Dejvická metro. Suburbs such as Roztoky are easily accessible by bus from Dejvická metro station, or by train via the Praha-Podbaba station.
• Fine Modern Architecture – The development of much of Dejvice coincided with the early years of Czechoslovakia, resulting in avenues lined by roomy detached dwellings. Adolf Loos’ modernist Villa Müller lies on the edge of garden suburb Ořechovka, which looks as if it has been teleported from the English Home Counties. Baba, a small housing estate comprising simple box-like interwar villas, and at the other end of the district, Bubeneč, a leafy enclave of eclectic ambassadors’ residences are architectural high points.

• Thriving Pub Culture – Na Urale pub and Dei-Witze on Puškinovo náměstí, are local favorites. A few blocks away, near Stromovka Park, local institution Na Slamníku has been refurbished, but its traditional atmosphere lives on.
• Prague’s Most Beloved Green Spaces – Although, strictly speaking, most of it lies in adjacent Prague 7, Stromovka is within walking distance of Dejvice. In contrast, the impressively winding Šárka Valley has a rus in urbe feel. Don’t overlook the café-lined park at Puškinovo náměstí.

• Proximity to International Schools – With an abundance of secluded detached villas, the quality of the housing stock is consistently high; whether you opt for an interwar tenement or a Hanspaulka villa, you can expect plenty of living space. A garden often comes with the latter, thus making Prague 6 perennially popular with families. Proximity to international schools (International School of Prague, Riverside School, Prague British School) adds to its appeal.
• Revitalization of Vitězné náměstí – The focal point of Dejvice is the vibrant yet ill-defined space around the junction of Evropská, Jugoslavských Partyzánů, and Svatovítská (aka Kulaťák) which, it was recently announced, could see a major overhaul in the future. In the meantime, a large farmers’ market takes place here from March to December, an urban beach and main stage, Šesták,  is set up in the summer and, in winter, a skating rink.

CONS

• Skyrocketing Housing Prices – In 2017, prices per square meter for new and old flats hit CZK 93,699 and CZK 88,236 respectively. In 2017, prices for a three-room apartment could fetch up to 10,000,000  CZK and a four-room apartment 15,000,000 CZK. For renting, larger properties are common among tenements in Dejvice: you could easily pay around CZK 30,000 for a 3+1 and approximately CZK 40,000 for a 4+1 property.
• Pollution and Noise – Poor air quality and noise pollution due to traffic are an issue near the thoroughfares of Evropská, Svatovítská, or Jugoslavských Partyzánů. Expats we spoke to who lived in Bubeneč cited pollution as an issue too. The problem is balanced to some extent by the quieter streets north and south of Evropská.

• Demographic Skews Older – Several young professionals we spoke to said that they felt the area was popular with families or senior citizens but had far less to offer the age groups in between. They noted for example, that several new shops opening in the area catered to older people, e.g. new clothes shops aimed at pensioners, but no new stores for a younger age profile.
• Limited Grocery Shopping – Kaufland, located just off Jugoslavských partyzánů, offers the largest choice. Otherwise, you’ll find a cramped Albert supermarket just off Vítězné náměstí. A handful of smaller shops survive in Dejvice; Šestka mall can be reached by bus.

• Lack of Parking – As in Vinohrady, the lack of space for parking causes headaches, particularly in the tenement streets of Bubeneč or around Vítězné náměstí. However, if you manage to find a property in Hanspaulka or elsewhere around Evropská, a garage is more likely.
• Little Britain & Little America – Like Vinohrady, Prague 6 has a large English-speaking (and international) community. Families with school-age kids make up a high percentage of the Anglophone community; adjoining Nebušice is home to a large American population. A move here is ideal if you want to connect with local Brits or North Americans, though not so if you wish to escape the expat bubble.
  
  This article was originally published in 2018. Read the original version here.