How to get to Petrin Hill when the funicular is closed + local sightseeing tips

If you’re planning to visit Prague, you might be disappointed to hear that the Petřín Funicular is closed for refurbishments until 2026.

Unfortunately, there are no other direct public transport connections to take you up to the top of Petrin Hill. But don’t worry! There are still plenty of cool ways to get to Petřín Hill and enjoy the awesome views from the Petřín Lookout Tower.

There are several ways you can get to the top of Petrin Hill during the closure of the funicular. If you don’t mind walking up a fairly steep hill, just start walking from the funicular station at Ujezd taking any path that goes up.

You can still access Petrin Hill either by walking up (fairly steep) or taking the 22 tram to Pohorelec (a couple of stops after Prague Castle) walking towards the Strahov Monastery and then carrying on walking from there through the park (a reasonably level walk, but longer).

In this blog post, I’ll share seven of my favourite routes you can take to reach the top, including walking paths, tram and bus options.

Use the Petrin Funicular – closed for refurbishment from September 2024 to 2026

Following very rainy weeks in the middle of September 2024, the ground under the Petrin Funicular tracks started to move and it became unsafe to carry on operating the funicular. Because the funicular was due for a complete upgrade (with new tracks, train carriages etc.) in March 2025, the Prague Public Transport decided to start with the upgrade earlier.

The Petrin Funicular will be closed to the general public during the complete upgrade which is planned to be completed sometime in 2026.

Alternative ways to get to the top of Petrin Hill during the closure of the Petrin Funicular

Tram 22 & Walk via Strahov Monastery

Difficulty: tram to Pohorelec – slight walk uphill 20 min

This is probably the most popular way to get to Petrin Hill since a lot of people take the same tram to Prague Castle.

You can also use the tram 22, 23 (or the Prague historic tram 42) to take you above the Prague Castle to the Pohorelec tram stop and walk from there. You can take the tram from the centre or if you happen to be at Ujezd, where the funicular starts, the tram also stops there.

When you get off the Pohorelec tram stop walk towards the Strahov Monastery, walk in the main gate and carry on walking up hill keeping to your right.

You’ll pass the monastery owned restaurant and beer garden (Peklo & v Raji) – great for a cold beer or homemade lemonade at reasonable prices and then continue walking through the park following the Hunger Wall on your right.

As you reach the top, you should be able to see the little cafe at the beginning of the Petrin Hill area and the Petrin Lookout Tower will be just behind it.

Bus 191 from Andel – Smichov & Short walk

Difficulty: bus to Strahov Stadium – level walk 15 min (best access & shortest walk)

If you happen to be around Smichov – Prague 5 – Andel (Underground B line) you can also take bus 191 from the front of the former Jewish Synagogue at Andel tram station and take the 20 minutes ride to Strahov Stadium.

From there walk towards the student’s accommodation blocks and in about 5 minutes you’ll reach the Rose Gardens at Petrin Hill and also the beautiful sunken gardens called ‘Kvetnice’ – The Flower Gardens below.

Keep walking and you’ll see the Štefánik Observatory, the entrance to the Petrin Funicular and more gardens. Once you see the Hunger Wall, walk through a gate to get to the Petrin Lookout Tower.

My local tip: If you fancy stopping for a quick lunch or light meal, I’d recommend the student’s canteen on the way to Petrin Hill. It’s one of my favourite traditional Czech self-service canteens in Prague, which has a large capacity, long opening hours, great prices and a picture menu with English descriptions. The canteen is open for the general public, so you don’t need to feel like you are intruding.

Extra detour tip: If you like modern and unusual art, follow the street on the side of the Strahov Stadium until you see a pink tractor with a large hanging keypadlock. This is one of the most recent art statues by David Cerny and it’s here because it marks the spot where the Czech band ‘Vysaci Zamek’ – Hanging Padlock’ used to play in a local pub.

Walk up from Ujezd tram stop

Difficulty: tram to Ujezd – steep uphill walk 20-30 min (shortest distance, steepest climb)

If you feeling up for it, you can also walk up straight from the Ujezd tram stop. There are several paths that take you up to the top – basically, just take any path that goes up! The paths are a bit winding, so it might take you up to 20-30 minutes to reach the top, depending on how fast you walk.

There are great views of Prague Castle and the Lesser Town below as you climb and beautiful cherry blossom trees in the spring at the Ujezd tram stop.

Walk from Kinsky Square via Kinsky Garden

Difficulty: tram to Svandovo Divadlo – initially steep uphill walk, but then longer level walking on the side of the hill about 30-40 min

This is how I normally walk to Petrin Hill and then on to Strahov Monastery and Prague Castle. I start at Kinsky Summer Chateau, which is now a folk museum and then walk up sideways towards the Hunger Wall.

You get some amazing views of Smichov and Vysehrad on this side and once you are through the opening in the wall, you see Prague Castle beautifully framed by trees.

My grandmother had a picture taken here and I love the idea that I’m walking on the same path and seeing the same view as her, all those years ago. Keep following the uphill paths, and soon you’ll reach the Petřín Lookout Tower, which looks like a small Eiffel Tower.

Walk from Lesser Town Square via Vlasska Street

Difficulty: Tram to Malostranske Namesti (Lesser Town Square) stop and then walk up the hill about 30-40 minutes

Take tram lines 12, 15, 20, 22 or 42 to Malostranské náměstí (Lesser Town Square) tram stop. From there, walk towards Helichova Street and then turn straight up to Trziste which leads into Vlašská Street.

There are a few independent pubs and cafes on Trziste and at the end you will walk past a beautiful house, which is now the American Embassy. This is where Franz Kafka once lived, when he rented a large apartment here with his fiance.

You’ll also walk past the Lobkowitz Palace (now a German Embassy) with very decorative doors and The Hospital and Church of the Merciful Sisters of Saint Karla Boromejský in Prague, which has a hidden garden at the back.

Continue walking until you reach the top and then turn slightly left to carry on walking towards the Petrin Tower.

My local tip for a slight detour: Behind the Lobkowitz Palace is another sculpture by David Cerny, this time, it’s a Trabant car on high legs. You can see it through the garden gates, but you need to walk through a little alleyway next to the children’s playground to get there. The alleyway entrance is opposite the hospital.

Bus 194 from Lesser Town Square, Marianske Square or Florenc to Hospital & Walk

Difficulty: Bus to hospital at Vlasska Street – walk up 20 min

You can also make the walk above much shorter by taking the little public transport bus no. 194 from Florenc, Mariánské Square or Lesser Town Square and get off at the Nemocnice Pod Petřínem stop (the final stop). From there, walk along Vlašská Street as above.

You can buy ticket on the bus (self-service ticket machine) or if you have still valid Prague public transport ticket, you can use that too. The journey is about 10-15 minutes depending on where you get on.

Walk up from Helichova Tram Stop

Difficulty: Tram to Helichova Tram Stop – walk uphill – 30-35 minutes

This might seem like a fairly same route as walking straight up from Ujezd tram stop, but I like to walk from the Helichova tram stop to walk through the Seminary Garden (with lovely almond trees) and great views of the church towers from the Lesser Town, pass the Jaroslav Vrchlicky Statue and then climb up to Petrin.

This blog post was originally written on 23 October 2024 and last updated on 23 October 2024

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