The Ten Most Beautiful Places in Prague

royal game reserve – stromovka

A green oasis in the middle of a busy metropolis and Prague’s largest city park – the Royal Game Reserve, popularly called Stromovka. Dominating the park is the Governor’s Summer Palace, whose history dates back to the Middle Ages. Another unmissable building is the Šlechta’s Restaurant, originally a royal hall dating back to the 1690s, which will soon reopen to its first visitors after a complete renovation. From the outside, you can look into the Rudolph’s Adit, the water reservoir for the Royal Game Reserve that dates back to the 17th century and a unique technical work for its time. A popular attraction are the wooden walkways connecting the water areas, where visitors like to stop and feed flocks of ducks, swans, and other local birds. The educational and entertaining “Get to Know Stromovka” trail provides interesting information about the fauna, flora and history of the park. The park also features a plethora of opportunities for recreation: playgrounds, fitness stations, picnic areas with grills, paved trails for in-line skating and running, horse trails, benches for sitting, a dog park…in short, there’s something for everyone at Stromovka!

letná park

If you are looking for a lively park, head for Letná. The second largest park in Prague and one of the first public “promenade-style” city parks, is located in Holešovice. There’s no doubt that its exceptional location, with its completely unique view of the Prague skyline and the flowing river, is part of what makes it so popular. You can recognize it from the riverfront by its giant metronome (Time Machine by sculptor Vratislav Novák), the base of which is a popular place for skateboarders due to its smooth surface. The extensive network of paved paths is great for online skating and cycling, and also popular with mothers with prams and scooters. Walking through the western part of the park, you’ll notice a building with a cast iron structure – the Hanavský Pavilion, which was built for the Provincial Jubilee Exhibition in 1891. After its completion, it was disassembled down to the last bolt and transported to Letná, where it was rebuilt in 1898 as a restaurant with a view. Similarly, the Brussels Pavilion from the Expo 58 exhibition in Brussels in 1960 found its way to the eastern part of the park. The beer garden and pétanque court at the neo-Renaissance Letná Chateau are also popular destinations.

petřín

Petřín Gardens simply cannot be left off our list, because it is synonymous with love and romance. The seven interconnected parks and gardens, which rise steeply above the Lesser Town and Smíchov, intersect at the only funicular in Prague, the lower station of which is located on Újezd Street. If you choose to walk up the hill instead, you’ll be rewarded not only with charming nooks and endless views, but there will certainly be photos in your camera featuring the statue of the poet Karel Hynek Mácha, located just under Nebozízek Restaurant. The Petřín Lookout Tower, one of the essential landmarks of Prague, is smaller than its Parisian sister, but its top is actually higher than the top of the original Eiffel Tower and the view from it is no less beautiful. Once you reach the top of the hill, you can relax in the Perennial Flower Garden or the Rose Garden. And our tip for the way back? Down through the adjacent Kinský Garden.

find nature on the vltava islands

Have you overdone the sightseeing and need to sit somewhere quiet and relax for a while? Someplace right in the center, preferably in the shade of trees, and yet with the pulse of the city within reach? Prague’s islands are exactly the oasis that will recharge your batteries for further explorations. Listen to rhythmic sound of the mill wheel on Kampa Island at the Lesser Town end of Charles Bridge, sit on the shore of Střelecký Island, which you can reach my taking the stairs (or the elevator) from the middle of the Legionnaires’ Bridge at the National Theater, or take in the atmosphere of nearby Slavonic Island, where you’ll find Žofín Palace, the center of Prague’s cultural and social scene since the mid-19th century.

vyšehrad

It’s an undeniable fact that you’ll find one of the most beautiful views of Prague from the walls of Prague’s second castle. It’s a place connected with the mythical Princess Libuše and Horymír’s horse Šemík, and a place entwined with history, genius loci, and romance. Vyšehrad is surrounded by three interconnected parks and in each of them you will be impressed by the secrets of history and art. Whether you choose to arrive from the Vyšehrad metro station or from the Vltava River via Vratislavova Street, take a winding walk through the Karlach, Vyšehrad and Štulc Parks. Stop and take a look at the mysterious Devil’s Stones and the four sculptures by Josef Václav Myslbek, check out the walls of the Rotunda of St Martinand the embedded cannonballs, admire the Baroque fortifications and casemates, peek into the Basilica of St Peter and Paul, and explore the adjacent cemetery, where many greats from Czech history are interred. And once you’ve had your fill of history, the view from the walls down over the Podoli Maternity Hospital will draw you back to our (tiny) future.

havlíček gardens (havlíčkovy sady or grebovka)

This Vinohrady park, inspired by the Italian Renaissance, provides visitors with enchanting views of the capital. In addition to the fountain with a water cascade, pavilions, the Neo-Renaissance Gröbe Villa, and statues, you will also find a remarkable artificial grotto. The charming Altán Grébovka wine bar, set in the middle of extensive vineyards, and the Pavilon Grébovka garden café, with a unique replica of the original historical bowling alley from the 1970s, are inviting spots to take a break. In both locations, service is currently limited to window service because of the current situation. There is also a children’s playground, a basketball court, and an area for seniors with exercise equipment for stretching and strengthening. The park hosts a popular wine festival every year.

kunratice forest

Visitors to the Krč, Michle, Kunratice and Chodov districts have easy access to the Kunratice Forest. Dominated by oak and spruce trees, the forest is interlaced with countless trails and footpaths, and also features gazebos, a mini zoo, and a playground for children. We recommend a beautiful route along the Kunratický brook, which you can reach from the Kunratická škola public transport station, then pass the Dolnomlýnský pond, and soon you’ll reach the remains of the Nový Hrádek castle, which Wenceslas IV built here in 1411 to stay in when he wanted to enjoy nature and go hunting. Don’t be discouraged by the short steep switchback- all you’ll find here are the modest remnants of the walls of the rectangular palace and tower. From the crossroads at the garden restaurant U Krále Václava IV, you can continue towards the Chodov or Roztyly metro stations or Labuť pond, which is only one bus stop from the Kačerov metro station.

dalej and prokop valleys nature park

The southwestern part of Prague offers some of the most beautiful scenery – the Dalej and the adjoining Prokop Valleys, stretching along the Dalej stream. The nature trail starts at Řeporyjské náměstí and takes you through a canyon in places up to 70 meters deep, where you’ll see the remains of mills, caves, and abandoned limestone quarries, a monument featuring a wooden cross on top of a rock to commemorate the demolished church of St. Prokop, and even a small zoo. The most romantic place is a picturesque rocky lake under a steep limestone cliff. As you near the end of the road, you’ll walk under a unique technical monument – the “Prague Semmering” viaduct, a section of the railway line between Smíchovské nádraží and Jinonice. The track crosses the Prokop Valley twice in a large arc, so it was necessary to build two massive viaducts with 5 and 7 bridge arches respectively, at a height of over 20 meters. The 6.5 km long trail ends at the viaduct in Hlubočepy near the public transport station.

divoká šárka park

This valley in the northwest of the capital is one of the most variegated and picturesque localities in Prague. It is hard to believe that the steep rocks, vast forests, meadows and groves still lie within the city limits. The valley is crossed by marked trails, the most beautiful of which leads along the red tourist sign through the valley of the Litovicko-Šárecký stream. In summer, the reservation becomes a popular destination for cyclists and climbers. In the forest there are gazebos, benches, several playgrounds and a picnic area with a public firepit.  On hot days, the Džbán and Divoká Šárka swimming pools are open; in winter it is possible to go cross-country skiing or ice skating on the frozen reservoir. Due to its easy accessibility by public transport, Divoká Šárka is one of the most visited natural sites in Prague and is a popular excursion destination not only for Praguers. 

hvězda game reserve (obora hvězda)

Pleasant walks, running, cycling, walking four-legged friends, and even cross-country skiing in winter – you can enjoy all this and more at the Hvězda Game Reserve. A large forest park with three majestic avenues that converge in front of a Renaissance summer house built on an atypical six-pointed star floor plan was originally used by the cream of society in 16th century Prague for entertainment and hunting. An educational trail passes through the reserve, providing information about local natural and historical attractions. Did you know that this is where the famous Battle of White Mountain took place? There are also playgrounds, fitness equipment, and two picnic areas with firepits. During the summer season, there is a café with refreshments in the summer house, and exhibitions and concerts are also held here. It’s no wonder that the park is one of the most visited places in all of Prague.

Prague City Tourism