Hradcany Prague – My favourite 14 hidden gems & things to do

I always thought of Hradcany as ‘just the castle’ until, as I student I started to work at Golden Lane souvenir shop and realised that this area is pretty fascinating in it’s own right. Every day I would walk up the Old Castle Stairs in the morning and after work I explored a different area before heading down again.

Hradcany is only about 1.5 square kilometres (about 0.6 square miles) large, stretching all the way from Prague Castle and the Old Castle Stairs at the top of Malá Strana, westward past Hradčanské Square, Loretánské náměstí, and the peaceful lanes of Nový Svět, before tapering off near Pohořelec and the walls of Strahov Monastery at the edge of Břevnov.

Hradcany was founded around 1320 as a humble, dependent settlement outside the castle walls for the castle’s staff, servants, stonemasons, and craftsmen.

Unlike the grand, planned royal towns of Old Town and Lesser Town down below, early Hradčany developed haphazardly and suffered devastating fires over the centuries. The catastrophic fire of 1541 burned practically everything down. The area was cleared and wealthy nobles and aristocrats scrambled to build lavish Renaissance and Baroque palaces as close to the royal court as humanly possible.

Emperor Rudolf II gave Hradčany the status of a “Royal Town” in 1598, and it remained an independent town for nearly two centuries until 1784, when Emperor Joseph II joined Hradčany, Malá Strana, Staré Město, and Nové Město together to form the unified city of Prague.

If you’re keen to step away from the busy crowds and discover the quieter side of the castle district, you’re in for a real treat. I’ve put together a collection of my 14 favourite hidden gems in Hradčany, that most people miss, but you can easy see in one afternoon.

1. The Historic Gas Light on Loretánská Street

As you walk along Loretánská Street connecting Hradčanské Square to the Loreto, make sure you look out for the grand, eight-armed cast-iron candelabra standing outside the old town hall. Back in the mid-19th century, sixteen of these monumental gas lamps lit the main avenues of Prague, but today, this is one of only three surviving in the entire city! The other two are on Hradčanské Square (just further down from the first one) and at the Malá Strana foot of Charles Bridge).

The lamp has a fascinating story. Designed by architect Alexius Linsbauer and sculptor Eduard Veselý, its ornate components were cast between 1865 and 1868 at the famous Komárov Ironworks in central Bohemia. If you look closely at the base, you’ll see four beautifully sculpted Classical figures, with the date 1867 proudly displayed on the coat of arms.

Interestingly, this specific lamp is a bit of a historical puzzle! When gas lighting was phased out in the mid-20th century, municipal restorers actually pieced this lamp together using salvaged cast-iron parts from several retired lamps across the city. It was converted to electricity in 1985, but during the recent revival of Prague’s historic gas lighting, it was restored back to authentic natural gas.

My Local Tip: If you visit Prague during December, keep an eye out for the lamplighter dressed in an authentic 19th-century black wool coat and top hat. He walks across Charles Bridge manually lighting the gas lamps with a long bamboo pole. He starts at the Old Town Bridge Tower just after 4 pm. It’s a great sight and although it’s always quite crowded it really feels like being in a Charles Dickens novel!

• Location: Loretánská street (near Loretánské náměstí), 118 00 Prague 1
• Opening Times: 24 hours (Best viewed at dusk and after dark!)
• Ticket Cost: Free

2. Great South Tower of St. Vitus Cathedral

Rising nearly 90 metres above the Third Courtyard of Prague Castle, the Great South Tower is the cathedral’s imposing bell tower. Construction began in the late 14th century under Peter Parler and inside you can find the largest church bell in the entire Czech Republic called Zikmund, weighing a whopping 15 tonnes!

But the main reason why I think it’s a hidden gem, is because it is the only official indoor Prague Castle attraction where you can buy a standalone ticket for 200 CZK without having to purchase the full Prague Castle Main ticket!

To reach the top, you’ll need to conquer 287 spiral stone steps and sorry, there is no lift. Along the way up, you can pause to peek at the intricate 16th-century mechanical clockwork mechanism. Once you reach the open-air gallery at the top, the reward is an jaw-dropping 360-degree panorama over the red roofs of Hradčany, the Vltava River and the entire city skyline.

My Local Tip: Make sure to hold on to your ticket stub as you climb! The staircase is narrow and the climb is a solid leg workout, but going on a clear, sunny day gives you what is easily the best high-altitude view in the entire Castle area.

• Location: III. nádvoří 48/2 (Third Courtyard), Prague Castle, 119 00 Prague 1
• Opening Times: Daily 10:00 – 18:00 (Last entry 17:30)
• Ticket Cost: Adults 200 CZK; Seniors & Students 150 CZK (Can be purchased as a separate standalone ticket)

3. Lobkowicz Palace Museum, Restaurant & Cafe

Perched at the eastern entrance of Prague Castle right near the top of the Old Castle Stairs, Lobkowicz Palace is the only privately owned building in the entire Castle complex!

Returned to the noble Lobkowicz family through post-Communist restitution after 1989, this 16th-century Renaissance palace has one of the oldest and finest private art collections in Central Europe.

Inside the museum, the museum audio guide—narrated brilliantly by members of the family themselves—walks you past original, hand-annotated musical manuscripts by Beethoven (including his 4th and 5th symphonies!) and Mozart, along with masterpiece paintings by Canaletto and Bruegel the Elder.

But what I really love about this place, though, is the Lobkowicz Palace Cafe & Restaurant. You can step out onto their panoramic outdoor balcony, order a glass of wine from the family’s own local vineyards in Roudnice nad Labem, and enjoy what is easily one of the most stunning views across the city.

My Local Tip: You don’t need to purchase a ticket for the museum gallery to visit the cafe terrace! Pop in around lunchtime for a bowl of traditional Czech goulash or a slice of cake while soaking in the magnificent views over the Vltava River without the usual Castle crowds.

• Location: Jiřská 3, Prague Castle, 119 00 Prague 1
• Opening Times: Daily 10:00 – 18:00
• Ticket Cost: Museum entry: Adults 320 CZK; Seniors & Students 220 CZK (Cafe and terrace entry is free)

4. Prague Castle Riding School, Terraces & Cafe

Located directly across from the Powder Bridge entrance to the Castle, the Riding School is a large 17th-century Baroque hall originally built for training horses and holding indoor equestrian events. Today, it’s been transformed into one of Prague’s exhibition spaces with regular art or history exhibitions and cultural shows.

What I really love about this place, though, is its roof terrace. Built in the 1950s on the site of the former open-air summer riding school, this elevated garden terrace sits on top of the Castle garages. It offers a sweeping, elevated viewpoint looking straight back at the northern fortifications of the Castle and down into the Deer Moat.

Right inside the Riding School, you’ll also find a lovely, airy cafe with tables set up outside. It’s a wonderful, civilized place to sit down with a cappuccino and a slice of cake!

My Local Tip: You don’t need a ticket for an art exhibition just to visit the cafe or step onto the Riding School terrace. It’s a fantastic, low-key place to take a quick break right before crossing the Powder Bridge into the main Castle grounds.

• Location: U Prašného mostu 55/6, 118 00 Prague 1
• Opening Times: Daily 10:00 – 18:00 (Matches exhibition and cafe hours)
• Ticket Cost: Terrace and cafe access free; Exhibition entry prices vary by show

5. Fürstenberg Garden

Clinging to the steep hillside right below the Castle walls, Fürstenberg Garden is right next to the magnificent Palácové zahrady (Gardens under Prague Castle). Built in the 18th century for the noble Fürstenberg family, it has ten tiers of manicured terraces connected by grand stone staircases, climbing arbours and delicate pavilions.

I really like visiting this garden, because it always feels quiet compared to the busy main Castle courtyards just above it. As you make your way up through the terraces, you’re surrounded by rows of roses, fruit trees and clipped hedges. When you reach the upper lookout pavilion, the viewpoint across the spires of the city is just spectacular, you almost feel as though you’re floating right above the rooftops!

My Local Tip: The garden can be accessed either from the bottom near Valdštejnská street or from the top entrance near the Old Castle Stairs. I recommend entering from the top and winding your way downhill, it’s much gentler on the knees and lets you enjoy the incredible views the entire way down!

• Location: Valdštejnská 15, 118 00 Prague 1
• Opening Times: April to October, daily 10:00 – 18:00 (Closed in winter)
• Ticket Cost: Adults 50 CZK; Seniors & Students 30 CZK

6. Bílek Villa

Standing on a little hilly area just past the Chotkovy Sady gardens, this extraordinary villa is one of Hradčany’s most amazing architectural gems. Built in 1911 by the famous Czech Symbolist sculptor and architect František Bílek, it was designed as his personal home and working studio.

What I really love about Bílek Villa is how the building itself is a piece of art representing a field of wheat. The floor plan is shaped like the sweep of a scythe, while the dark red brick pillars surrounding the exterior resemble sheafs of grain! Inside, Bílek designed every single detail, from the door handles and light fittings to the large carved wooden furniture and atmospheric sculptures.

Inside you can see Bilek’s studio with his large scale timber carvings and the rooms as they were used by him and his family.

My Local Tip: The villa is always very quiet compared to the main Castle area just a few minutes away. Take time to browse the small reading room and browse his original sketches, it’s easily one of the best hidden gallery places in the area!

• Location: Mickiewiczova 233/1, 160 00 Prague 6
• Opening Times: Tue–Sun 10:00 – 18:00 (Closed Mondays)
• Ticket Cost: Adults 150 CZK; Seniors & Students 60 CZK

7. Czernin Palace Garden

Directly across from the Loreto on Loretánské náměstí is the large Czernin Palace, which is currently the headquarters of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs. While most people stop to admire the sheer length of its monumentally long facade, very few realise that hidden right next to it is a breathtaking Baroque garden!

Laid out in the late 17th century by Count Humprecht Jan Czernin, the Czernin Palace Garden is a classic example of formal French-Baroque design. It’s filled with manicured lawns, tall hedges, geometric gravel paths, a large central fountain pool and a gorgeous garden pavilion at the far end.

Because it belongs to a government ministry, it was kept off-limits for decades. It’s still a total secret to most tourists, which means whenever you visit, you’ll likely share this huge, serene space with only a couple of locals reading on the benches!

My Local Tip: The garden is only open to the public during weekends in the warmer summer months (usually May to October on weekends and public holidays), so if you happen to be exploring Hradčany on a summer weekend, don’t miss the chance to pop inside this hidden sanctuary.

• Location: Loretánské nám. 5, 118 00 Prague 1
• Opening Times: May to October, Weekends & Holidays 10:00 – 17:00 (Closed in winter)
• Ticket Cost: Free

8. The Fig House & Fig Garden

Right next next to Queen Anne’s Summer Palace inside the Royal Garden, the newly restored Fig House (Figovna) is one of Hradčany’s most charming and historic botanical treasures. Originally built in the 1560s under Emperor Maximilian II, this specialized brick structure was designed to cultivate delicate, warmth-loving fig trees in the cold Central European climate!

Historically, the building had a clever removable wooden roof that gardeners would dismantle in the warm summer months to let the trees bask in the sun, then rebuild during the harsh Bohemian winters to protect the delicate fruits with indoor stoves.

After decades of disuse, the space has undergone a beautiful restoration was recently re-opened to public.

My Local Tip: Since the Fig Garden is right near the eastern end of the Royal Garden close to the Singing Fountain, it makes a wonderfully peaceful stop after exploring the summer palace. Combine your visit with a quiet walk along the northern edge of the Deer Moat.

• Location: Royal Garden (near Queen Anne’s Summer Palace), Prague Castle, 119 08 Prague 1
• Opening Times: Open daily April to October 10:00 – 18:00 (Matches Royal Garden hours; closed in winter)
• Ticket Cost: Free

9. Písek Gate (Písecká brána)

Písek Gate is a fascinating piece of living military history. Built in 1721 by architect Giovanni Battista Alliprandi, it is the very last surviving city gate from the Baroque fortifications that once completely enclosed the Castle hill and Lesser Town!

Despite its heavy stone walls, grand arched passage, and coat of arms, the gate has a wonderfully welcoming feel today. Rather than housing soldiers, the inside has been beautifully converted into a cultural space and local community cafe.

I often walk through the gate to Chotkovy Sady and noticed, that there is always something happening there, including regular festivals, food events and a very popular vine tasting weekends.

My Local Tip: This is a fantastic place to break up your walk if you are heading between the Royal Garden and the Bílek Villa or Letná Park. Grab a table outside on the sunny terrace during summer, it’s a favourite local pitstop that barely any foreign tourists know about.

• Location: K Brusce 5/208, 160 00 Prague 6
• Opening Times: Mon–Sun 10:00 – 20:00 (Cafe hours may extend slightly for evening events)
• Ticket Cost: Free to walk through and explore the interior (Cafe purchases extra)

10. The New Orangery Greenhouse

Hidden away inside the Royal Garden on the northern side of the Castle complex, the New Orangery is a lovely example of blending high-tech modern architecture with historic landscapes. Commissioned in the late 1990s by Olga Havlová (the wife of President Václav Havel), this sleek glass structure was designed by world-renowned Czech architect Eva Jiřičná.

The building replaced a run-down greenhouse from the 1950s, continuing a tradition that goes all the way back to Emperor Rudolf II in the 16th century, who used to grow citrus fruits and exotic plants here!

Jiřičná designed a striking 90-metre-long tube made of stainless steel mesh, glass, and steel arches. It’s split into three climate zones for sprouting, growing, and displaying tropical plants. What I really love about it is how the light glints off the glass cylinder, it almost looks like a glass caterpillar resting against the stone walls of the Royal Garden!

My Local Tip: The interior is usually only opened up on special occasions, but you can see the whole structure from the outside and walk around any time during the garden opening hours.

• Location: Royal Garden, Prague Castle, 119 08 Prague 1
• Opening Times: Open daily April to October 10:00 – 18:00 (Matches Royal Garden hours; closed in winter)
• Ticket Cost: Free

11. Sternberg Palace & National Gallery (Šternberský palác)

It might not look it from the Hradčanské Square, but Sternberg Palace is one of the grandest High Baroque buildings in the country. Built around 1700, its entrance is set back from the main street behind an arched passageway and a quiet cobblestone courtyard, which means thousands of tourists walk right past without ever realising it’s there!

The palace is being used as one of the main venues for the National Gallery Prague’s Old Masters collection. Inside, you can wander past rooms filled with European masterpieces from the 14th to 18th centuries, including works by Dürer, Cranach, Rubens and Rembrandt.

My Local Tip: Don’t miss Albrecht Dürer’s famous painting Feast of the Rosary (1506) on the upper floor, it was bought by Emperor Rudolf II himself, who was so obsessed with it that he had it carried on foot all the way from Venice across the Alps to Hradčany!

• Location: Hradčanské náměstí 15, 118 00 Prague 1
• Opening Times: Tue–Sun 10:00 – 18:00 (Closed Mondays)
• Ticket Cost: Adults 220 CZK; Seniors & Students 120 CZK

12. Sternberg Garden & Cafe (Café Šternberk)

Even if you aren’t in the mood to browse three floors of fine art, you absolutely must pop through the passageway of Sternberg Palace to visit its secret courtyard garden. Perched right on the edge of the Deer Moat, this delightful garden is enclosed by the elegant walls of the palace.

As you walk into the garden, I’d also recommend stopping for a light lunch at Café Šternberk (run by a company called Mezi řádky). It’s a wonderful social enterprise cafe that employs people with disabilities, serving fantastic coffee roasted in South Bohemia along with fresh, handmade cakes and pastries from their own artisan bakery! It is, without a doubt, one of the best-kept cafe secrets in the entire Hradčany area.

My Local Tip: Both the garden and the cafe are completely free to enter, you do not need a museum ticket to come inside! Just walk straight through the main palace gateway from Hradčanské Square, follow the signs across the inner courtyard.

• Location: Hradčanské náměstí 15, 118 00 Prague 1
• Opening Times: Tue–Sun 10:00 – 18:00 (Closed Mondays)
• Ticket Cost: Free to enter the garden and cafe

13. Church of St. Benedict & Monastery

Standing quietly on the southern side of Hradčanské Square, the Church of St. Benedict is often completely overlooked by tourists rushing toward the Castle gates. Originally built in the 14th century and later handed over to the Discalced Carmelites, this historic church and monastery complex had quite a turbulent history.

In 1950, during the Communist regime’s brutal “Operation K” initiative targeting religious orders across Czechoslovakia, the Carmelite nuns were forcibly evicted from their home in the dead of night. To completely erase their presence and cut the monastery off from the public square, the Communist authorities walled up and blocked off the historic entrance to the church entirely.

When the Carmelites finally returned to their monastery after the Velvet Revolution in 1989, a new entrance had to be created. Rather than building a seamless historical replica to disguise the past, the entrance was deliberately fitted with a modern door set into the historic stone facade as a reminder of past and the resilience of the monastery order.

Inside the church, you can also view the body of Saint Electa, a Carmelite prioress preserved since the 17th century.

My Local Tip: The church is a place of active prayer and quiet contemplation, so it remains much quieter than the grand palaces on the rest of the square.

• Location: Hradčanské náměstí 184/3, 118 00 Prague 1
• Opening Times: Open for public mass and daily visits during regular opening hours (typically 10:00 – 17:00)
• Ticket Cost: Free (Donations welcome)

14. Park Maxe van der Stoela

You can find this fairly large park behind Kepler High School on the western edge of Hradčany. Park Maxe van der Stoela is a fantastic, modern green space that almost no tourists know about! Opened in 2014, it was named after the Dutch diplomat who became the first Western politician to meet with Czech Chartist 77 dissidents during the Communist era.

Built along the line of the city’s historic Baroque fortifications, the park centres around the natural valley of the Brusnice stream. Landscape architects did a brilliant job converting the watercourse into a winding stone play channel, complete with small wooden bridges, water gates and hand-operated pumps.

It’s a wonderfully peaceful, leafy sanctuary filled with smooth gravel walking paths, lush lawns and timber loungers.

My Local Tip: If you’re walking between Strahov Monastery or Nový Svět and the nearby Hradčanská metro station, cut right through this park instead of sticking to the main road. It’s a quiet, scenic shortcut away from traffic with plenty of shaded benches to rest your feet!

• Location: Between Keplerova and U Brusnice streets, 160 00 Prague 6
• Opening Times: 24 hours (Public park)
• Ticket Cost: Free

This blog post was originally written on 26 July 2026 and last updated on 26 July 2026