Mark Baker
@markbakerprague.bsky.social
Prague-based travel writer and author. Lonely Planet, Nat Geo Expeditions, Kinfolk Mag. www.markbakerprague.com
For the past three weeks, I’ve been taking readers of my blog around early post-Velvet Revolution Czechoslovakia as I tell the story of writing Fodor’s Czechoslovakia. This week, we go to Prague and the former Nazi-run Jewish ghetto at Terezín. Click here to read: markbakerprague.com/part-3-xxxx/
Part 3: A Visit to Prague and Terezín | Mark Baker | Travel Writer in Prague
markbakerprague.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:49 AM
For the past three weeks, I’ve been taking readers of my blog around early post-Velvet Revolution Czechoslovakia as I tell the story of writing Fodor’s Czechoslovakia. This week, we go to Prague and the former Nazi-run Jewish ghetto at Terezín. Click here to read: markbakerprague.com/part-3-xxxx/
Thirty five years ago, I (along with my girlfriend back then) got a commission from Fodor’s to write a travel guidebook on Czechoslovakia. The book would be the first big English guide on the country since the Velvet Revolution. Here's how it came together: markbakerprague.com/part-1-a-pos...
Part 1: A Post-Velvet Travel Guide | Mark Baker | Travel Writer in Prague
markbakerprague.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Thirty five years ago, I (along with my girlfriend back then) got a commission from Fodor’s to write a travel guidebook on Czechoslovakia. The book would be the first big English guide on the country since the Velvet Revolution. Here's how it came together: markbakerprague.com/part-1-a-pos...
I finally got the chance to tour the newly re-opened Fairmont Golden Prague Hotel (aka the former Intercontinental) a couple weeks ago. I have some history with the hotel going back to the 1980s. I think they nailed it with the renovation. Here are my impressions: markbakerprague.com/brutalist-ic...
Brutalist Icon Gets a Fresh Look | Mark Baker | Travel Writer in Prague
markbakerprague.com
July 1, 2025 at 7:12 AM
I finally got the chance to tour the newly re-opened Fairmont Golden Prague Hotel (aka the former Intercontinental) a couple weeks ago. I have some history with the hotel going back to the 1980s. I think they nailed it with the renovation. Here are my impressions: markbakerprague.com/brutalist-ic...
Being a travel writer in Prague comes with heavy responsibilities. Once a week or so, I’ll get an email from a friend or acquaintance telling me they’re coming to Prague and could I recommend a good hotel? It’s a fraught situation. Here’s a handy link to save: markbakerprague.com/ten-great-ho...
Ten Great Hotels in Prague | Mark Baker | Travel Writer in Prague
markbakerprague.com
June 21, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Being a travel writer in Prague comes with heavy responsibilities. Once a week or so, I’ll get an email from a friend or acquaintance telling me they’re coming to Prague and could I recommend a good hotel? It’s a fraught situation. Here’s a handy link to save: markbakerprague.com/ten-great-ho...
I finished writing the second part of the story of how I ended up in Bucharest the same week -- 35 years ago -- that angry miners were ordered onto the street to bash in the heads of pro-democracy demonstrators, and how the episode still has relevance today: markbakerprague.com/part-2-bucha...
Part 2: Bucharest’s Bloody ‘Mineriada’ | Mark Baker | Travel Writer in Prague
markbakerprague.com
June 16, 2025 at 11:07 AM
I finished writing the second part of the story of how I ended up in Bucharest the same week -- 35 years ago -- that angry miners were ordered onto the street to bash in the heads of pro-democracy demonstrators, and how the episode still has relevance today: markbakerprague.com/part-2-bucha...
35 years ago this week miners were called out onto the streets of Bucharest to violently suppress pro-democracy protests. It was chaos. This disgraceful event still has relevance in our modern political moment, when democracy itself still feels endangered. markbakerprague.com/bucharests-b...
Bucharest’s Bloody ‘Mineriada’ | Mark Baker | Travel Writer in Prague
markbakerprague.com
June 14, 2025 at 12:19 PM
35 years ago this week miners were called out onto the streets of Bucharest to violently suppress pro-democracy protests. It was chaos. This disgraceful event still has relevance in our modern political moment, when democracy itself still feels endangered. markbakerprague.com/bucharests-b...
I've been getting a few emails about Romania lately, so I figured it was a good time to publish this 'first time' guide to the country. With lots of popular spots in Western Europe increasingly 'overtouristed', Romania is still very happy to welcome tourists. markbakerprague.com/first-time-g...
Travel Tips for Newcomers to Romania | Mark Baker | Travel Writer in Prague
markbakerprague.com
June 13, 2025 at 1:12 PM
I've been getting a few emails about Romania lately, so I figured it was a good time to publish this 'first time' guide to the country. With lots of popular spots in Western Europe increasingly 'overtouristed', Romania is still very happy to welcome tourists. markbakerprague.com/first-time-g...
Last year, Kinfolk magazine asked me to write about the Vila Volman, a restored functionalist villa near Prague. The edition is now out. Here’s a link to my blog story: markbakerprague.com/touring-the-... Link directly to Kinfolk to for the published version: www.kinfolk.com/stories/home...
Touring the Vila Volman | Mark Baker | Travel Writer in Prague
markbakerprague.com
March 14, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Last year, Kinfolk magazine asked me to write about the Vila Volman, a restored functionalist villa near Prague. The edition is now out. Here’s a link to my blog story: markbakerprague.com/touring-the-... Link directly to Kinfolk to for the published version: www.kinfolk.com/stories/home...
@coldwarpod.bsky.social it’s about time! 😄😄
February 8, 2025 at 9:31 AM
@coldwarpod.bsky.social it’s about time! 😄😄
A tease for a feature story on the Vila Volman, near Prague, for Kinfolk Magazine. The photographer, Marina Denisova, did an incredible job. The whole edition looks good. The magazine will be on newsstands in March or pre-order on Amazon: www.amazon.com/Kinfolk-55/d...
February 8, 2025 at 8:42 AM
A tease for a feature story on the Vila Volman, near Prague, for Kinfolk Magazine. The photographer, Marina Denisova, did an incredible job. The whole edition looks good. The magazine will be on newsstands in March or pre-order on Amazon: www.amazon.com/Kinfolk-55/d...
The biggest hotel news in Prague the past year has been the reopening of the Hotel Evropa on Wenceslas Square. The hotel had been closed for years. I loved the old Evropa and was a café regular in the ‘90s. I was dying to see the new place: markbakerprague.com/a-peek-insid... (Live link in bio)
January 29, 2025 at 10:14 AM
The biggest hotel news in Prague the past year has been the reopening of the Hotel Evropa on Wenceslas Square. The hotel had been closed for years. I loved the old Evropa and was a café regular in the ‘90s. I was dying to see the new place: markbakerprague.com/a-peek-insid... (Live link in bio)
A sneak peek into what will become Prague's second Mucha museum in February. The setting is the restored baroque Savarin Palace. The interiors are beautiful and the collections thoughtfully curated, but the exhibition is relatively small. In 2028, the Slav Epic may find a permanent home here.
January 25, 2025 at 8:25 AM
A sneak peek into what will become Prague's second Mucha museum in February. The setting is the restored baroque Savarin Palace. The interiors are beautiful and the collections thoughtfully curated, but the exhibition is relatively small. In 2028, the Slav Epic may find a permanent home here.
For my first blog post of 2025, I will pull the blog back into a travel-writing direction. This story was originally commissioned by Lonely Planet and is aimed at readers who are new to the Czech Republic and want to see the highlights or best-known spots. markbakerprague.com/best-places-...
Best Places to Visit in Czechia | Mark Baker | Travel Writer in Prague
markbakerprague.com
January 15, 2025 at 2:50 PM
For my first blog post of 2025, I will pull the blog back into a travel-writing direction. This story was originally commissioned by Lonely Planet and is aimed at readers who are new to the Czech Republic and want to see the highlights or best-known spots. markbakerprague.com/best-places-...
The air is so clean and the light so clear tonight. Prague‘s Old Town twinkling in the darkness.
January 10, 2025 at 6:33 PM
The air is so clean and the light so clear tonight. Prague‘s Old Town twinkling in the darkness.
Finally got my hands on this latest edition of Lonely Planet guide to Romania & Bulgaria (they sent the copies to my Ohio address and not to Prague). This was a monster update. If you're planning a trip this year to either RO or BG (both highly recommended), this guide will help to see you through.
January 8, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Finally got my hands on this latest edition of Lonely Planet guide to Romania & Bulgaria (they sent the copies to my Ohio address and not to Prague). This was a monster update. If you're planning a trip this year to either RO or BG (both highly recommended), this guide will help to see you through.
As an author, I try not to read my reviews. And when I do succumb to the temptation, I read with a little trepidation. I was really happy to see this review of 'Čas proměn' on Goodreads from a reviewer named 'Kent'. Thank you.
www.goodreads.com/book/show/58...
www.goodreads.com/book/show/58...
Čas proměn
Vzpomínky Američana na jedinečný „čas proměn“ v Praze, …
www.goodreads.com
January 6, 2025 at 10:21 AM
As an author, I try not to read my reviews. And when I do succumb to the temptation, I read with a little trepidation. I was really happy to see this review of 'Čas proměn' on Goodreads from a reviewer named 'Kent'. Thank you.
www.goodreads.com/book/show/58...
www.goodreads.com/book/show/58...
@drichterova.bsky.social I was wondering as I was listening to your interviews if you'd gotten into the Charles Jordan disappearance/killing in your research? I'd like to write about it sometime for the blog.
January 5, 2025 at 7:22 AM
@drichterova.bsky.social I was wondering as I was listening to your interviews if you'd gotten into the Charles Jordan disappearance/killing in your research? I'd like to write about it sometime for the blog.
1) My first post for 2025 will be a podcast/book recommendation. I really enjoyed the discussions with Daniela Richterová on Prague’s clandestine role during the Cold War as a haven for Middle Eastern and international terrorists. Find a link to Cold War Conversations here: coldwarconversations.com
Cold War Conversations Podcast
coldwarconversations.com
January 4, 2025 at 6:05 PM
1) My first post for 2025 will be a podcast/book recommendation. I really enjoyed the discussions with Daniela Richterová on Prague’s clandestine role during the Cold War as a haven for Middle Eastern and international terrorists. Find a link to Cold War Conversations here: coldwarconversations.com
@drichterova.bsky.social Well done! I really enjoyed your interviews with Ian Sanders and Ian Willoughby. Looking forward now to reading your book.
January 4, 2025 at 5:48 PM
@drichterova.bsky.social Well done! I really enjoyed your interviews with Ian Sanders and Ian Willoughby. Looking forward now to reading your book.
In September, I spent two weeks at a Czech medical spa - the ‘Beethoven’ in Teplice - to help recover from an muscle illness. It was fun and weird in equal measure. If you’ve thought about a spa stay or think this might someday be in your future, give this a read: markbakerprague.com/beethoven-an...
Beethoven and Me | Mark Baker | Travel Writer in Prague
markbakerprague.com
December 3, 2024 at 2:05 AM
In September, I spent two weeks at a Czech medical spa - the ‘Beethoven’ in Teplice - to help recover from an muscle illness. It was fun and weird in equal measure. If you’ve thought about a spa stay or think this might someday be in your future, give this a read: markbakerprague.com/beethoven-an...
Happy National Day to my Romanian friends. I like this map because the regions correspond almost to what we call them in our Lonely Planet guide. 🙂 💙 💛❤️
December 1, 2024 at 2:09 PM
Happy National Day to my Romanian friends. I like this map because the regions correspond almost to what we call them in our Lonely Planet guide. 🙂 💙 💛❤️
A few weeks ago, Lonely Planet asked me to sketch out a list of Czech towns and cities that would appeal to first time visitors. If you were thinking of going, this is a good place to start: www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/bes...
Czechia: best places to visit
Architecture, history, natural beauty, urban life and more.
www.lonelyplanet.com
November 30, 2024 at 1:41 AM
A few weeks ago, Lonely Planet asked me to sketch out a list of Czech towns and cities that would appeal to first time visitors. If you were thinking of going, this is a good place to start: www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/bes...
This is going to be good.
Very much looking forward to chatting with @drichterova.bsky.social on @coldwarpod.bsky.social. Episode coming in January! More info here uk.bookshop.org/a/1549/97816...
November 29, 2024 at 12:02 PM
This is going to be good.
Just when I vowed to keep this Blue Sky account non-political, Romania has the craziest (scariest) first round of presidential elections since the fall of communism: www.politico.eu/article/coul...
Romania’s far-right, pro-Russian lurch spells big trouble for EU and NATO
The victory of ultranationalist Călin Georgescu is sparking fear that Romania could slide into the growing pro-Moscow camp.
www.politico.eu
November 26, 2024 at 11:25 AM
Just when I vowed to keep this Blue Sky account non-political, Romania has the craziest (scariest) first round of presidential elections since the fall of communism: www.politico.eu/article/coul...
Some context on my trdelnik post a little earlier. I'm fascinated by the growth in popularity of these chimney cakes in Prague and even wrote my own parody history. Turns out maybe the parody isn't total BS (and maybe there's a glimmer of Czech 'tradition' here): markbakerprague.com/the-history-...
The History of the ‘Trdelník*‘ | Mark Baker | Travel Writer in Prague
markbakerprague.com
November 25, 2024 at 3:54 PM
Some context on my trdelnik post a little earlier. I'm fascinated by the growth in popularity of these chimney cakes in Prague and even wrote my own parody history. Turns out maybe the parody isn't total BS (and maybe there's a glimmer of Czech 'tradition' here): markbakerprague.com/the-history-...