9 Best Prague River Boat Trips for 2026 (as recommended by a local)

Walking around Prague can be quite tiring, so if you want to take a little break, why not try a short boat trip and see the centre of Prague from a different angle?

I’ve done quite a few trips with the original Prague Steamboat Company and always found them a great value and the trips were great too. It’s the only company that operates the historic steamboat Vltava and Vysehrad, but they also have a modern boats that are used for the shorter trips and boat dining experiences.

In my opinion, the Certovka boat trips never really feel like a good value for money, but they do start directly from the centre, so you don’t need to worry about trying to find the right boat stand slightly off the centre of Prague.

1. Certovka Boat Trips

The first boat trip offer you’ll probably come across when you visit Prague are the Certovka boat trips promoted by the staff, who are dressed up as traditional sailors. You will see them at the beginning of Charles Bridge on the Old Town side and then when you come down from the bridge towards Kampa Island and the Certovka water stream.

The boats run all year round and depart about every 10-15 minutes from the Charles Bridge Museum at the beginning of Charles Bridge on the Old Town Square.

Unfortunately, not everyone finds it a good value, as sometimes you need to wait until there are enough people on the boat, which is longer than the advertised 15 minutes. Not everyone is also happy about the actual trip route as you only go under one bridge and spend most of the time around Charles Bridge and the Certovka canal, which is quite short.

My local tip: This boat trip is probably worth it if you want to take photos of Charles Bridge from the Vltava River and visit the Charles Bridge Museum afterwards. The museum tells a story of the bridge and you can also see the foundations of the previous bridge on the site of the current bridge, Judith’s Bridge.

Tickets – 550 CZK (adults), 350 CZK (children) and include the boat trip, drink (beer or soft drink) and snack on board (gingerbread biscuit or ice-cream) and free entry to the Charles Bridge Museum.
Departure – Charles Bridge Museum, Krizovnicke Square 3, Prague 1

Nearest Tram Stop: Staroměstská (Trams 2, 17, 18). It is a 3-minute walk to the museum.
Alternative: Karlovy lázně (Trams 2, 17, 18) if you are coming from the National Theatre side.
Metro: Staroměstská (Line A – Green).

2. Alternative boat trip around Certovka canal & Charles Bridge

If you want to do much longer trip and don’t want to see the Charles Bridge Museum, do the Certovka trip with the traditional Prague Steamboat Company.

Their boats start from the Cechuv Most (stand no.3), which is the bridge that’s opposite the large metronome monument at Letna Park.

This trip cost 480 CZK (adults) or 330 CZK (children), but you will have a fantastic view of Prague Castle, Charles Bridge and the historic centre of Prague.

My local tip: You can buy the tickets directly at the stand 3 or online with 10% discount (www.paroplavba.cz).

The minus is that the boats run only at the weekends on Saturday and Sunday every 2 hrs from 10.15 am until 20.15.

Prices – 480 CZK (adults) or 330 CZK (children)
Departures – Cechuv Most (stand no.3), Prague 1

Nearest Tram Stop: Právnická fakulta (Tram 17). This stop is almost directly above the docks.
Alternative: Čechův most (Trams 15, 17) located on the bridge itself.
Metro: Staroměstská (Line A), then a 10-minute walk or 1 stop on Tram 17.

3. One hour sightseeing boat trip in the centre of Prague

This one hour boat trip tour will take you under four different bridges (twice) and also through locks. You will be able to see the Smichovska Naplavka, Shooter’s Island, National Theatre, Prague Water Towers at Manes and Children’s Island, great view of Prague Castle, Vysehrad Castle and Charles Bridge from the distance (but you won’t go under the bridge).

The boats run during the main tourist season from the end of March to the end of September – daily from 10 am – 7 pm (boat leaves every hour) and in autumn 30. 9 – 31. 10 Saturday + Sunday only – 11 am – 5 pm (boat leaves every hour).

My local tip: Arrive early to visit the farmer’s market at Smichovska Naplavka on Saturdays or have a drink at the many cafes tucked inside the newly re-developed embankment storage spaces.

Tickets: 390 CZK Adults, 230 CZK Child or family ticket (2 adults + 2 children 1010 CZK
Departures: Rasinovo Embankment, Prague 1

Nearest Tram Stop: Palackého náměstí (Trams 2, 3, 7, 17). The docks are just down the stone stairs from the tram stop.
Alternative: Výtoň (Trams 2, 3, 7, 17) if your boat is docked further south toward the Railway Bridge.
Metro: Karlovo náměstí (Line B – Yellow). Crucial Tip: Use the exit marked “Palackého náměstí” to come out right by the river.

4. Two hours sightseeing boat trip in the centre of Prague

This two-hour tour is an extended trip based on the one hour trip. You will be able to see the Smichovska Naplavka, Shooter’s Island, National Theatre, Rudolfinum, the modern Dancing House, Prague Water Towers at Manes and Children’s Island, great view of Prague Castle, Vysehrad Castle Podoli Watertreatments Plant and you will also cruise under the Charles Bridge.

My local tip: You will go through the Smichov locks on this boat, which can take around 15-20 minutes. I’m a bit of a industrial heritage nerd, so I absolutely loved that experience, but I completely understand that some people might find it a bit of a wasted time. Still the whole trip takes 2 hours, so there is still plenty of time to look around the river and take plenty of amazing photos.

Daily (all year round) 12 noon (with lunch) and 3 pm
Tickets: 600 CZK Adults, 380 CZK, Children or 1130 CZK for lunch trip with live music (the 12 o’clock boat trip always include lunch and it’s not optional).
Departures: Cechuv Most, stand no. 3

5. The day trips by Prague Steamboat Company

The Prague Steamboat Company (PPS) was founded in 1865 by Prague Mayor František Dittrich, it is one of the oldest purely Czech companies still in operation.

There are two historic paddle steamers, Vltava and Vyšehrad, are also been listed as cultural monuments since 2013. The steamers usually do the longer excursion cruises to Slapy and Mělník and you can get the modern boats for the 1 hr Prague viewing trips or Prague ZOO trips.

I’ve taken the trip to Prague ZOO with them as well as the trip on the historic paddle steamer to Slapy Water Dam and it was a great experience. It was a perfect way to travel and see Prague from a different angle.

My local tip: Apart from the circular boat trips, I found that one way ticket to Slapy or Melnik is usually enough to see everything and allows me greater flexibility to return back when I want on a local bus.

For example the trip to Prague ZOO took 75 minutes, which would have been about the same as public transport, but the Slapy Dam trip is 4 hrs one way. Rather than going back the same way, I decided to follow a beautiful country walk next to the river and then got back from Stechovice on a local bus that took about 20 minutes.

Tickets: Prices start from 290 CZK (trip to ZOO), 390 CZK (Prague centre sightseeing) or 650 CZ (Slapy Dam).
Departures: Rasinovo Nabrezi (Embankment), Stand 3, Prague 1

6. Prague ZOO trip by boat

Another fun way to get to Prague ZOO (and one I’ve done myself) is to take the boat trip from the Naplavka at Palackeho Namesti (Rasinovo Nabrezi). The journey takes a good 75 minutes.

Family tickets are also available. You can also buy a reduced ticket to the ZOO with your boat ticket, which is actually a good value (at this year’s ZOO prices, the one-way boat trip would only cost 70 CZK).

The only thing is that you need to play your day to make sure you have enough time to see the ZOO. I took the 12 o’clock boat and bought only one-way ticket, knowing that I wanted to go back after ZOO closing time by the local bus.

The bus no 112 starts directly from the entrance to ZOO and takes you back to Nadrazi Holesovice, where you need to change to underground to get back to centre of Prague (regular 50 CZK ticket valid for 90 minutes is valid on this journey).

But there were also people on the boat who had the return tickets for 5 o’clock and that definitely wasn’t enough time to see the ZOO properly. There is at least a 20-25-minute walk (one way) from where the boat stops, as you need to walk across one island and cross the Vltava river, so you need to factor that all in. The path to the ZOO is well-signposted, so you don’t need to worry about getting lost.

The boats leave at 9, 12 and 15.30 pm from Prague and return at 10.30, 13.30 and 17,15 back to Prague. The boats are running only during the main tourist season from the beginning of April till the end of October.

Tickets: One one-way ticket is 250 CZK (children 150CZK) or a return ticket is 390 CZK (children 200 CZK).
Departures: Rasinovo Nabrezi (Embankment), Stand 3, Prague 1

7. Evening at the Jazz boat

The Jazz Boat is definitely a tourist venue, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. If you want to listen to a nice jazz, whilst eating a sophisticated dinner and admiring the views of Prague, then the Jazz boat is a perfect place to spend an evening.

The cruise lasts two and a half hours and the jazz band will play through with only a few breaks. Each night is slightly different, but you can always expect traditional to slightly modern jazz, blues, bossa nova, and other related musical styles.

You can board the Jazz Boat every evening from 8:00 pm, and it sets sail at 8:30 and returns back by 11 pm in the summer. In the winter the boat leaves 30 minutes earlier and also comes back earlier too.

Jazz Boat restaurant offers a three-course gourmet menu and there is a vegetarian option too. The bar has a good selection of wines from around the world, cocktails, beer and soft drinks.

The boat will cruise up and down the Vltava River and you’ll get the chance to see the Charles Bridge, Prague Castle on the top of the hill, National Theatre, the modern Dancing House aka Ginger & Rodgers and the yellow-lit penguins in front of the Kampa Museum in Sovovy Mills and well as seeing the lesser-known residential areas of Prague.

Insider Tip: If you prefer to do more Prague sightseeing and taking photos, whilst listening to the music choose the basic ticket as you’ll be able to move around the boat and stay on the top deck if you like. If you prefer to sit, eat and listen and see the jazz band, opt for the ticket & food option and you’ll be seated downstairs inside the boat.

Also this boat sells out weeks in advance for weekends, so make sure that you book at least 14 days early if you want a particular seat, such as a window seat.

Tickets & Prices: 980 CZK standard ticket or 1650 CZK with food menu option (3 course dinner included but drinks are extra). Snacks or salads are from 130 CZK. Drinks from 65 CZK for beer, soft drinks or coffee to 160 CZK for cocktails.
Departures: Jazzboat, Boat stand number 18, Náplavka Na Františku, Prague 1.

Nearest Tram Stop: Dlouhá třída (Trams 6, 8, 15, 26). From here, it’s a 5-minute walk toward the river.
Alternative: Nemocnice Na Františku (Bus 207) stops right at the embankment.
Metro: Náměstí Republiky (Line B – Yellow), then a 10-minute walk through Revoluční street.

8. Take a paddle boat trip on Vltava river

This is another fun way to get closer to the water and one that I’ve tried during the last summer Prague heatwave. Although I initially thought this was something ‘just for tourists’, I really enjoyed the experience and it was definitely cooler on the water than in the town’s streets.

Most rental places are on the ‘ Slovansky Island’ or Zofin Island just outside the National Theatre (access to the island is via a bridge from Masarykovo Nabrezi street as you go from the National Theatre towards the famous Dancing House.

There are several different places to rent your paddle boat from. Prices are about the same in each place, but it depends on what type of boat you want to rent and for how many people you needed for. As an example a basic boat for 2 people is 350 KCZ for 60 minutes. You can also rent boats for 4 people, which at around 500 KCZ work out a little cheaper per person.

The cute looking old-fashioned cars are of course the most expensive ones (as well as the large svans), but they do look pretty cool moving on the water and make great backdrops for photos.

The staff will explain where you are allowed to go and what you should avoid (you are not allowed to go close to the weir towards the Charles Bridge as it’s too dangerous). Vltava River is fairly quiet and slow around this area, so you don’t need to worry about being overturned in.

You also need to watch out for large powered boats and give them plenty of space to pass. Depending on how far you are from them, you might feel the water moving underneath your paddle boat, but that’s just a fun part of being on the water!

The standard rental is for 60 minutes, which is plenty of time to work your way around Shooters Island with the views of Charles Bridge, Kampa Island and Park with the art gallery at Nove Mlyny (New Mills), the row of yellow penguins, the underneath of Legionnaires Bridge (with the perfect shade) and the edge of Children Island with the statue of a dancing girl representing Vltava River.

I’ve also noticed that recently some rentals started to offer LED-lit boats for evening rentals – these look really lovely on the river and also make a great idea for a romantic evening date.

My local tip: Once you are on the river, there is no shade (unless you hide under the Legionares Bridge), so bring a hat, sunglasses and long shirt to cover your arms or legs. Clothes-wise you are better off with shorts or a longer skirt (or you can leave the pedalling to your friend!).

Tickets: from 350 – 400 KCZ for 60 minutes for regular boats and 500 CZK for 60 min for swans or ‘vintage car’ boats.
Departures: Slavic Island, Rasinovo Nabrezi (Embankment), opposite National Theatre

Nearest Tram Stop: Národní divadlo (Trams 2, 9, 17, 18, 22). The bridge to the island is just a few meters from the tram stop on the river side.
Metro: Národní třída (Line B – Yellow), then a 5-minute walk down Národní street toward the river.

9. Three-hours sightseeing boat trip with dinner

This three-hour tour will take you under four different bridges (twice) and also through locks. You will be able to see the Smichovska Naplavka, Shooter’s Island, Slavic Island, National Theatre, Rudolfinum, the modern Dancing House, Prague Water Towers at Manes and Children’s Island, great view of Prague Castle, Vysehrad Castle Podoli Watertreatments Plant and you will also cruise under the Charles Bridge.

Whilst dinner on a boat, whilst having a dinner sounds idyllic, I should mention a couple of things, having been around the Vltava river and the centre at that time and on another boats – especially if you are thinking of taking photos of Prague.

In the winter the day light is gone by 4 pm, so you won’t be able to do much sightseeing. I’ve also noticed that since the electricity went up few years ago, the main sights, like the Prague Castle are switched off during weekdays (no always, but I’ve been surprised many times by this). In the summer, you will get a daylight until nearly 9 – 9.30 pm, so for the duration of your boat dinner cruise.

But the problem is that the sun will be setting behind the Prague Castle and since Vltava is sheltered by hills, everything gets dark fairly quickly or gets a very deep shade. It’s perfect for a romantic dinner, but if you want to take photos, I’d recommend taking the daytime boat trip (the earlier in the morning the better).

My local tip: There are a couple of super modern glass-top boats like the Bohemia Rhapsody or Grand Bohemia, which have retractable glass roofs. When the weather is good, the roof is open, which gives you unobstructed view from the boat and chance to take good photos.

Daily (all year round) 7 pm
Tickets: from 1480 CZK Adults, 980 CZK including all meals, drinks and live music
Departures: Cechuv Most, stand no. 3, Prague 1

This blog post was originally written on 2 June 2024 and last updated on 22 January 2026

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