Prague is one of Europe's most beautiful capitals and, despite the crowds, remains great value for students. Charles University, the oldest in Central Europe, plus half a dozen other institutions fill the city with young people, and the international community is huge. Add superb public transport, cheap beer and a central location for weekend travel, and it is an easy place to love.

• Charles University, founded in 1348, is the oldest in Central Europe
• One of the biggest Erasmus destinations in Europe, so the international scene is instant
• Dresden, Vienna and Berlin are all reachable for a weekend

The scene sprawls from Zizkov, said to have the most pubs per square metre in Europe, to the riverside Naplavka in summer and the clubs of Holesovice and the legendary five-floor Karlovy Lazne. ESN chapters at each university run pub crawls, trips and buddy programmes, and the sheer number of exchange students means you are never short of plans.

• Pub-crawl Zizkov, then move to riverside drinks at Naplavka in warmer months
• Follow ESN Prague (VSE, CUNI, CVUT) for trips and welcome events
• Catch cheap live music and clubs around Holesovice and Cross Club

As the priciest Czech city, Prague still undercuts Western Europe: plan on roughly 700 to 1,000 euros a month, with rent the main driver. Beer famously costs less than water, often 1.50 euros a half-litre, and menza lunches stay cheap. Living outside the very centre and cooking at home keeps you comfortably in budget.

• A student Litacka transport pass is about 1,280 Kc (around 52 euros) for three months
• A pint of Pilsner or Kozel runs 40 to 60 Kc (1.60 to 2.40 euros) outside tourist zones
• Cook using the Vietnamese-run vecerka shops and the Sapa market for cheap groceries

Charles University and CVUT run big dorm complexes, from Strahov (the largest, near the CVUT campus) to Kajetanka and Hostivar, which are cheap but basic. Private shared flats are pricier and go fast, with Vinohrady, Zizkov and Holesovice the sweet spots. Start searching weeks ahead and beware deposit scams.

• Apply for a Strahov or Hostivar dorm through your university's accommodation office
• Search flats on Sreality, Bezrealitky and the Flatshare Prague Facebook group
• Ask the Studcasa Prague group to vet a listing before you pay any deposit

Prague's transport is excellent: three metro lines (A green, B yellow, C red), a dense tram network with night trams numbered 91 to 99, and buses to the edges. Everything runs on one ticket, loaded onto a Litacka card or bought in the PID Litacka app. The centre is also very walkable.

• Buy a 90-minute, monthly or student-rate long-term pass in the PID Litacka app
• Night trams (91 to 99) and night buses run all night from Lazarska
• The funicular to Petrin and the metro are all covered by the same ticket

Charles University spans law, medicine, arts and sciences across the city, while CVUT (engineering) and VSE (economics) run the largest English-taught exchange catalogues. FAMU is a world-renowned film school, and Anglo-American University teaches fully in English. The international offices are well drilled for Erasmus.

• VSE (University of Economics) and CVUT offer the broadest English-taught courses
• FAMU is a top pick if you are into film and photography

It depends entirely on your passport. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens need no visa at all; if you are staying a while you simply register your address with the Foreign Police within 30 days of arriving, and your university or landlord usually walks you through it. No permit, no drama.

Everyone else on an exchange longer than 90 days needs a long-term study visa, applied for at a Czech embassy before you travel. Expect to show your acceptance letter, proof of accommodation, proof of funds (around 3,000 euros in the bank), travel health insurance, and to give biometrics. Processing can run up to 60 days, so start the paperwork the moment you are accepted.

• EU/EEA/Swiss, no visa; register with the Foreign Police within 30 days
• Non-EU, over 90 days, long-term study visa from a Czech embassy
• Bring, acceptance letter, accommodation proof, funds, health insurance
• Timeline, apply early; processing can take up to 60 days

Czech classics rule, from svickova and gulas to roast pork with bread dumplings, but Prague's best-value secret is its Vietnamese food, thanks to a large community and the Sapa market. Skip the touristy trdelnik and instead try chlebicky (open sandwiches) and proper pub food. Farmers markets pop up along the river.

• Hit the Saturday Naplavka farmers market by the river
• Eat cheap, excellent pho and bun at the Sapa market in Libus
• Try svickova and a Pilsner in a proper hospoda, away from Old Town Square

Vinohrady is the leafy, cafe-filled favourite for students and expats, while Zizkov next door is scruffier, cheaper and pub-heavy. Holesovice mixes galleries and warehouse clubs, Karlin is the polished up-and-comer, and Dejvice holds the CVUT campus. The historic Mala Strana and Old Town are gorgeous but touristy and pricey.

• Vinohrady: cafes, parks and a sociable but liveable, central feel
• Zizkov: the cheapest fun, with wall-to-wall pubs
• Holesovice and Karlin: arts, clubs and the trendiest new spots

Prague is a hub for cheap weekends. Kutna Hora and its bone church are an hour by train, the fairy-tale town of Cesky Krumlov about three, and Karlstejn castle 40 minutes. Cross-border, Dresden is a stunning two-hour trip and Vienna or Berlin around four, all on cheap RegioJet and FlixBus routes.

• Kutna Hora (the bone ossuary): about 1 hour by train
• Dresden in Germany: a scenic 2 hours up the Elbe by train
• Cesky Krumlov or Bohemian Switzerland national park for a proper weekend

Avoid the Old Town Square restaurants and the exchange booths with 0% commission signs, which both fleece tourists. Always validate paper transport tickets, never get into an unmarked taxi (use Bolt or Uber), and carry your student card for menza and museum discounts. Tap water is safe and free.

• Never change money at street exchange booths, and use an ATM or Revolut instead
• Use Bolt rather than hailing taxis to avoid overcharging
• Ask the Studcasa Prague group for current no-tourist-trap restaurant picks