27 top gardens, parks and green spaces in Prague – Complete Guide for 2024
My favourite 27 top gardens, parks, and green spaces in Prague (as recommended by a local), including Stromovka, Letna, Kinsky Garden, Grebovka, Petrin and many more.
Are you planning a trip to Prague and looking for some green spaces to escape the hustle and bustle of the city?
Prague has some truly beautiful gardens and parks. From the historic Vojan Park or Vrtba Garden to the picturesque Letna Park, there is no shortage of stunning outdoor spaces to explore. In this blog post, I want to take you on a tour of the 27 top gardens, parks, and green spaces in Prague. These gardens and parks are also my favourite ones and the ones I often go to when I want to escape the crowds in Prague.
Whether you’re looking for a quiet spot to relax, go for a long walk, have a picnic or a place to take in some breathtaking views, I’ve got something for everyone!
Parks, Gardens & Green Spaces in the centre of Prague & Prague Castle Areas
Wallenstein Garden
Did you know that right next to the Wallenstein Palace, which is where the Czech Parliament meets, you can find the stunning Wallenstein Garden? This garden is truly hidden and you can’t see it until you step in through a small wooden gate.
This early Baroque garden was built way back in the 17th century and boasts a strictly geometric garden design which is surrounded by high walls on one side and palaces on the other side.
You’ll be blown away by the numerous sculptures scattered throughout the garden, as well as the grotto, aviary, large pond with an island (and fish!), and a sala terrena with beautifully decorated ceilings that connect the palace and the gardens. Plus, the view of Prague Castle up ahead is absolutely breathtaking!
This garden is free to enter and it’s usually open every day during the main season (spring – late autumn) until about 7 pm. There are no refreshments in the garden area, but you will find public toilets there (payable).
Vojan Garden (Vojanovy Sady)
This is another beautiful and very quiet garden tucked away in Lesser Town as you walk from the Charles Bridge to Malostranska Underground Station (or towards Prague Castle).
It dates back to the 1600s and was originally the garden of the Convent of Barefooted Carmelites.
Two chapels also survive among the park’s lawns and fruit trees, including the Chapel of Elijah, which is in the form of a stalagmite and stalactite cave.
You can sit on a park bench and admire the park’s beautiful flower beds, blossoming fruit trees, magnolias, and rhododendrons. If you walk to the far end of the gardens, you can see several peacocks that live in the garden. The Vojan Garden is free to enter and it’s open all year round (and usually closes with sunset). There is a little cafe places, toilets and a children’s play area.
Vrtba Garden
Vrtba Garden is considered to be one of the most important Baroque gardens in Europe and quite rightly so!
Although there is a small entry fee to visit the Vrtba Garden, I think it’s well worth it. The garden is open every day during the main season (spring – mid-autumn) and it’s the best example of baroque gardens in Prague.
It was originally designed by František Maxmilián Kaňka in the early 18th century, and it’s laid out in several different terraces decorated with a large fountain, beautiful stairs and sculptures. It’s fun to linger a while on each terrace and take in the different views as you slowly ascend to the very top,
From the top of the garden you get the most amazing views of Prague Castle complex and St. Vitus Cathedral.
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Kampa Island & surrounding islands
Kampa Island is directly next to Charles Bridge, so it’s the perfect place to relax after all that walking on the cobblestones! Kampa Island is part of a cluster of Vltava River islands which are all accessible and perfect to cool off, especially in the summer heat wave.
Shooters Island has a great views of Prague Castle and you can also take great photoes of Charles Bridge from there, at the Slavic Island you can borrow the pedal boats to cruise the river and the Children’s Island has one of the largest children’s playgrounds. Each island had some refreshment stalls and also toilets.
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Francis Garden
If you’re looking for a peaceful retreat, then this is the place to be! You can relax on one of the many benches in the shade of the beautiful rose garden.
Come here in the summer and practically every other person will be eating ice-cream! This is because nearby is my favourite (and clearly other people’s too!) ice-cream in Prague -Svetozor (in the shopping passage just behind the garden). Any time I pass by, I always try new flavours and enjoy them sitting on the bench in the garden.
Francis Garden is quite small (only about 1/2 hectare), but because it’s surrounded by buildings on all sides, it makes the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
If you are travelling with children, there is even a lovely playground on one side of the garden.
Getting to the garden is easy – you can enter through the Světozor passage from the main Prague square – the Wenceslas Square or through Jungmanov Square.
Petrin Hill
Petrin Hill Park, also known as Petřínské sady, is very close to the centre of Prague in the Lesser Town area. The park covers an area of approximately 200 hectares and it’s set mainly in the hilly area opposite the Prague Castle (or next to it, it depends on how you look at it).
The history of Petrin Hill Park dates back to the 12th century when the hill was used for defensive purposes. In the 14th century, a castle was built on the hill, which was later destroyed during the Hussite Wars.
There is plenty to see and do at Petrin Hill, including the Hunger Wall, which was built in the 14th century to protect the city from invasion and was later expanded in the 19th century to provide work for the poor.
In the 20th century, the park was further expanded, and several new landmarks were added, including the famous Petrin Tower, which was built in 1891 and was inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and the Mirror Maze.
Climbing the 299 steps up to the Petrin Lookout Tower is a great exercise and you can also take a great photo of Charles Bridge from the top.
Gardens around the Prague Castle
Prague Castle, located in the Hradčany district of Prague, has some beautiful gardens and parks which used to belong to the different palaces around the castle. Most of them are open for free, but they are usually closed during the wintertime. The gardens are also closed in the evening – usually just before sunset, but check the exact closing time on the gate as you enter any of the gardens.
The two payable gardens (The Gardens under the Castle and the Furnsterberg Garden) are accessible from Valdstejska Ulice (Wallenstein Street) close to the Malostranska Station (either underground or tram stop) at the bottom of the Prague castle.
Royal Garden
The Royal Garden is a beautiful French-style garden that was established in the 16th century by Ferdinand I. The garden features several fountains, sculptures, and walking paths and you can find the Queen Anne’s Summer Palace, Ball Room Pavilion, and the Orangery Pavilion there.
Chotkov Gardens – Chodkovy Sady
This park is directly next to the Royal Garden and it’s open all year round. You get some lovely views of Prague from the top and the nearby Pisecka Gate has been recently re-opened and you can have a good cup of coffee inside the gate. The Pisecka Gate has a lovely community feel and several times a year you can join the local markets, festivals and concerts.
Czernin Garden – Cerninska Zahrada
This garden is next to the Czernin Chateau at the top end of the Prague Castle complex area, opposite the Loretta Church. The garden is free to enter, but it’s usually open only at the weekends during the summer season.
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The Deer Moat Park
This is the woodland and green park area under the castle, which is usually open during the main tourist season in the summer. You can walk under the ‘Daliborka’ tower (once a prison) and the Golden Lane houses and all the way to Malostranska Metro station. The deer moat park is also one of my favourite ways to get to Prague Castle without the crowds.
Prague Castle Gardens – Pod Vally
These gardens are accessible from the top of the Prague Castle area and have amazing views of the rooftops and palaces below the castle.
Gardens Below the Prague Castle
These gardens include Ledeburg, Pálffyov, Kolowrat and the Small Fürstenberg Garden. The gardens are built into the terraces of the castle hill and form many smaller gardens, secluded areas with different plants and decorated with statues.
These gardens are one of my favourite ones (together with the Furstenberg Garden next door) and I always find a part that I’ve not seen before. There is also a beautiful view of the houses and palaces below the castle and Petrin Hil.
These gardens have an entry fee of 140 CZK and are open daily until late during the main tourist season.
Fürstenberg Garden
This garden is right next to the group of small gardens below the castle area. It’s a privately owned garden, so there is a small fee payable (50 CZK), but the garden is beautiful and peaceful most of the time. The views are breathtaking and if you go in the afternoon or evening the gardens are full of light and warm sun.
I really like to get a hot chocolate at the ticket office at the bottom of the garden and then walk up and sit to enjoy the views. You can walk all the way to the top of the garden, where you can exit through a cafe in the garden and you end up at the Old Castle Stairs. You can either walk down to Staromestka Metro Station or up the hill to Prague Castle.
Parks & green spaces short ride by tram from the Prague centre
Botanical Garden at Ke Karlovu
Although this is listed as a ‘botanical garden’ its outdoor park area is open to the public for free (you still need to pay a small entry fee if you want to visit the greenhouses). The large park has rare trees, shrubs and flowers.
There is a ‘stone geological garden’ which has stones from different parts of Czech Republic and you can learn about them. There is also a large part of the park that is used as a herb garden and plants that have other uses.
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Grebovka Park (Havlickovy Sady)
Grebovka Park, also known as Havlickovy Sady, is a beautiful park located in the Vinohrady district of Prague 2. The park covers an area of nearly 11 acres (mainly set on a side of a hill) and is home to several famous landmarks, including the Gröbe Villa and the vineyard.
The history of Grebovka Park dates back to the late 19th century when local businessman Moritz Gröbe purchased the land and built a beautiful villa on the property. Gröbe was a successful businessman who was involved in several industries, including railways and engineering.
After Gröbe’s death, the villa and the surrounding park were sold to the city of Prague, and the park was opened to the public in 1906. The park was designed by landscape architect Antonín Engel and features several walking paths, fountains, and sculptures, including a large grotto.
My favourite thing is to drink a glass of Grebovka Vineyard vine on the terrace of the Vineyard restaurant, whilst watching the view of distant Prague below.
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Stromovka Park
Stromovka Park is the largest park in central Prague and it’s laid out on an impressive area of 105 hectares. The park dates back to 1266 when it was originally used for breeding and hunting deer and was owned by the Bohemian King.
Today, it is a popular destination for anyone who likes cycling, rollerblading, sports games, and walking dogs. You will also find several ponds and plenty of benches to sit on and admire the views. My favourite place is the wooden bookcase, where you can borrow a book and enjoy reading it sitting on a swirling bench.
In one corner of the park, you’ll also find a planetarium and there are several places where you can get refreshments (make sure you don’t miss the little take-out window place that sells really good hot chocolate and coffee).
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Letna Park
Letna Park, situated in the Prague 7 district, is a true gem among Prague’s parks and one of the largest parks in the city. The park was founded in 1860 on the site of a former vineyard, and it has since become a popular destination for locals and tourists alike.
While the park is most famous for its ticking metronome, it also has a fascinating history – from 1955 to 1962, it was home to the world’s largest monument of Joseph Stalin.
For those who enjoy biking or roller skating, special paths have been built here, making it the perfect place to enjoy some outdoor exercise. Families with children will also love the many playgrounds scattered throughout the park.
And for beer lovers, there’s no better place to be than under the shade of the park’s beautiful chestnut trees, where you can enjoy a cold Czech beer while taking in the stunning views of Prague.
From here you a get a great view of all the bridges in the centre of Prague, Vltava River and the the Vitkov Hill on the other side.
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Riegrovy Orchards (Riegrovy Sady)
Riegrovy Sady is a beautiful park located in the Vinohrady district of Prague 2. It’s a large park of about 11 hectares most of which are quite hilly, although there are few flat parts too, mainly close to the flower beds garden on the top.
My favourite thing in the summer is to buy ice cream from the ice-cream van in the park and enjoy the view of Prague. If you like to watch the sunset, this is the best place to see a beautiful sunset behind Prague Castle.
Riegrovy Sady is also home to several sports facilities, including tennis courts, a football pitch, and a basketball court, so if you are feeling energetic you can join in.
There are a couple of places where you can buy good beer and food, including a beer garden where they often host various music concerts.
Kinsky Garden
Kinsky Garden is on the side of Petrin Hill and most people think it’s part of Petrin Hill Park. It’s divided by the Hunger Wall, but these days you can walk through the gates and openings in the wall.
I often start my walk at the Ethnological Museum (which was the summer house of Kinsky family who owned the garden until the beginning of the 20th century) and then walk through the park to Petrin Hill Park and continue all the way to Prague Castle.
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Vysehrad Park
Vysehrad as a castle and a park might be overlooked as it’s not in the centre of Prague, but because of that, it’s actually much more peaceful and quiet there. You also get some lovely views of Prague and Prague Castle in the distance as the park is set on the top of a hill.
The park is interesting to visit any time of the year and even in the cold winter, as you can see, is very peaceful, especially if you get the snow.
The park is free to enter and you can stroll through the park admiring the large Basilica of St. Peter and Paul, which is a stunning example of Gothic architecture. The park is also home to the rotunda of St. Martin, which is one of the few remaining Roman rotundas in Prague.
My favourite statue in the park has to be the original St Wenceslas Statue from the Wenceslas Square which in comparison to the new one is much smaller and Wenceslas looks a bit older and sort of like a normal person. The story goes, that when Wenceslas Square was being re-modelled the old statue was deemed not to be in keeping with the new look and a much bigger (and younger more masculine) version of Wenceslas was commissioned!
I also love the story behind the other four large, more modern statues in the park. These were removed from the entrances to Palacky Bridge because they were too big and motorists couldn’t see when they were turning from the bridge! The bridge was built when there were very few cars around, but by the middle of the 20th century it was starting to cause serious problems. After the Second world war, the statues were damaged a bit too, so it was decided to remove them altogether.
You can also visit the Vysehrad cemetery, where many historical figures and famous Czech people are buried.
There are a couple of restaurants and coffee places on the top of the hill.
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Vitkov Hill
Vitkov Hill is a historic hill located in the Žižkov district of Prague 3. The hill is approximately 328 meters high and is one of the highest points in the city.
Vitkov Hill is where one of the most important battles took place during the Hussite Wars -known as the Battle of Vitkov in 1420. The battle was fought between the Hussites, led by Jan Žižka, and the Catholic forces led by King Sigismund. So who won? Let’s just say that they don’t build statues to losers!
You can recognise Vitkov Hill easily because it has a huge statue of Jan Žižka on a horse. There are some great views from the top of the hill and plenty of paths to explore the hill on both sides.
The access to the hill is best from the Zizkov side and if you don’t fancy climbing up the steep hill, you can take tram number 9 to stop called Ohrada and then walk to the Vitkov monument from the back on a fairly level path (no climbing here!). I discovered this tram stop recently when I was travelling to the Cherry Orchard at the end of the number 9 tram line and it was a much more civilised walk than walking up the steep steps from Zizkov.
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- National Memorial at Vitkov Hill Guide >>
- Guide to Zizkov district >>
- Zizkov TV Tower Guide – Info, ticket, prices >>
Longer tram or bus ride into the Prague suburbs
Sarka Valley
Sarka Valley, also known as Divoka Sarka, is a beautiful natural park located in Prague 6 district, and it covers an area of over 90 hectares.
Sarka Valley is a popular park for locals, but because it’s so big, it never really feels too crowded. There are water streams, hilly rock formations, dense woodland areas and plenty of hiking trails, and recreational activities. The main paths are well maintained and most are fairly flat making them suitable for all ages including children’s buggies.
My favourite way to walk the whole length of Sarka Valley is to start at Baba Ruins (Prague 6 – closest tram stop is Nadrazi Podbaba and it’s the end of 8, 18, 26 Prague tram lines) and then walk through the forest all the way to the Divoka Sarka tram stop on lines 20, 26, which is where most people start.
This way you get the most out of the park to yourself and only meet people right at the end. But, that’s just me, you can of course get to the park from many different points and if you want to get to the most popular part of the park straightaway you should start at Divoka Sarka bus or tram stop.
To get to Sarka Valley from the centre of Prague, you can take the metro line A to Dejvicka station, and then transfer to bus number 119 to Divoka Sarka. Alternatively, you can take tram number 20 or 26 to the Divoka Sarka stop. Both the bus and tram stops are located just a short walk from the entrance to the park.
Botanical Garden at Troja
The botanical garden in Troja is another great place to spend the day – there are several types of gardens including an ornamental garden, sahara garden and a large greenhouse with rainforest and tropical plants.
The Troja Botanical Garden is set on a fairly steep hill, so it’s not as easy to walk around as in Pruhonice or Stromovka, but it’s still worth the visit as you can combine it with the Prague ZOO and visit the Troja Chateau Garden (and the art gallery that’s now in the chateau).
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Pruhonice
Pruhonice Park, also known as Pruhonicky park, is a beautiful park located in the Prague 4 district of Prague, Czech Republic. The park covers an area of approximately 250 hectares and the park is beautifully designed with the Pruhonice Chateau in the centre.
Pruhonice Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered to be one of the most important examples of landscape architecture in Europe. The park was added to the World Heritage List in 2010 and is the only outlying attraction in Prague to be included on the list.
Pruhonice Park is also home to a beautiful Dendrological Garden, which features over 8,000 species of plants, including 1,600 different kinds of trees and shrubs. The garden is one of the largest collections of plants in Europe and is a must-see destination for botany enthusiasts.
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Prokopske & Dalejske Valley
Prokopske Valley, also known as Prokopské údolí in Czech, is a beautiful recreational area located in the southwestern part of Prague 5. The valley covers an area of approximately 250 hectares and is surrounded by the districts of Barrandov, Holyně, Řeporyje, Stodůlky, and Hlubočepy.
What makes Prokopske Valley so special is its stunning natural beauty and unique geological features. The valley is home to two streams, Dalejský potok and Prokopský potok, as well as several rock formations and cliffs. The valley is also home to a variety of flora and fauna, including several rare and endangered species.
Prokopske Valley is a popular destination for outdoor activities, including hiking, cycling, and picnicking. The valley features several hiking trails that offer stunning views of the surrounding landscape, as well as a designated cycling path that runs through the valley.
In addition to its natural beauty, Prokopske Valley is also home to several historical landmarks, including the ruins of the medieval castle of Šance, which was built in the 17th century to protect Prague from Swedish invasion.
To get to the start of the valley, take the 4, 5, 12, 20 tram from anywhere in the centre of Prague and get of at the ‘Hlubocepy’ stop. You’ll see a green tourist marked trail that will take you under the flyover bridge and in about another 500 metres straight into the park.
You can follow the paths in any direction and no matter where you end up there are buses, underground stops or trams to take you back to the centre of Prague. The integrated Prague public transport system ticket is valid anywhere and if you buy 90 minute basic ticket, you’ll get back to the centre easily in that time.
No 5 tram line has recently been extended to Holyne, which is about in the middle of the park. The last stop is currently in the middle of the fields and if you get off there you can follow the trail through the Holyne village down to the valley and then carry on whichever way you like.
The Star Enclosure (Obora Hvezda)
The Star Enclosure, also known as Obora Hvezda, is a unique and historic park located in Prague 6 and covers an area of approximately 85 hectares.
The Star Enclosure was originally established as a royal game reserve in 1530 by Ferdinand I, and it was used for hunting and other recreational activities by the royal family and their guests. In the 16th century, the park was transformed into a Renaissance-style summer palace, which was designed to resemble a six-pointed star. The palace was used as a residence for the royal family and was also used for various cultural and social events.
Today, the Star Enclosure is a protected natural monument and is open to the public and the park is free to enter with small entry fee to the actual Star Chateau, which now hosts art exhibitions.
The park has quite a few walking trails and the main paths around the Star Chateau are suitable for cycling, children’s buggies and wheelchairs.
My favourite thing to do here in the summer is to have a iced coffee from the coffee place at the Star Chateau and sit in the colourful reclining chairs which are provided by the art gallery.
If you are in Prague in September you can also watch the re-enactment of the White Mountain Battle of 1620, which takes place just outside the park walls. I go most years and it’s a really well-put-together event with many professional re-enactors groups taking part. There is also a medieval village with food stalls, tents and things to keep the kids occupied.
Ladronka Park
Ladronka Park is a beautiful and spacious park located in the Brevnov district of Prague. It covers an area of approximately 22 hectares and is a popular destination for both locals and tourists alike.
The park offers a wide range of activities for visitors to enjoy, including a 4.6 km illuminated inline track, which is the longest in Prague. There are also volleyball and beach volleyball courts, a sports equipment rental centre, and a restaurant where you can enjoy a meal or a drink.
The history of Ladronka dates back to the 17th century when it was originally a farmstead and you can still see the original buildings in the park (they are now part of a restaurant and Inline skating shop and rental place).
Ladronka is very close to the Star enclosure – you can cross the streets at the far top end of the park and walk to the next park. At the lower part of the park it also links to the top part of Kinsky Garden, so if you want to you get have a good hike without leaving the city!
This blog post was originally written on 21 May 2023 and last updated on 21 May 2023
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