My complete guide to Prague’s 4 Botanical Gardens - Opening Times, Tickets & Directions

This is my ultimate guide to Prague’s four main botanical gardens – Troja, Na Slupy, Malesice and Pruhonice, including opening times, tickets, directions, facilities, history and updates for 2026.

I love that Prague has a lot of green spaces, gardens and parks and also official botanical gardens to escape the busy centre.

Most people are aware of the large botanical garden in Troja, but there is also a smaller botanical garden close to the Charles Square in the centre of Prague, which I really like, but for some reason is often overlooked.

On top of that, you also have not so well known botanical gardens in Malesice and Pruhonice, which I think are definitely worth the trip (and one of them is completely free!)

If you want to stay within the Prague centre, then I think, that the Charles University Botanical Garden is the best one to start with.

The main botanical garden in Troja and Malesice are more suited for a day trip (or at least 1/2 day) and the botanical garden at Pruhonice is best linked to Pruhonice Chateau and Park visit and it’s a whole day trip, as there is so much to see there.

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Over the years I’ve visited all of the botanical gardens many times, but I keep coming back to the Charles University garden regularly, mainly because it’s close to the centre and because they put on regular exhibitions throughout the year.

Here is my quick summary for ‘best in’ because every botanical garden is different, but perfect in its own way!

Best botanical garden for facilities – Troja
Best to visit in winter – Fata Morgana Greenhouse (Troja)
Best for (flat level) walks – Pruhonice
Hidden Gem & No Crowds – Malesice
Best for exhibitions (small, but in depth) – Charles University
Closest to the centre – Charles University
Best for free entrance – Malesice – all year round, Troja – outdoor part – only in the winter season, Charles University (outdoor areas only)

MY FAVOURITE GARDENS AND PARKS TO VISIT IN PRAGUE

1. Botanical Garden of Charles University

This botanical garden is a little hidden gem right in the centre of Prague, very close to Charles Square. It’s either a very short walk from the Karlovo Namesti (Charles Square) underground station or you can also take a tram.

This botanical garden is (in comparison to the main botanical garden in Troja) very small, but it will keep you entertained for 1-2 hours, and the entrance fee is only 120 Kcz (adults) and 60 KCZ children.

The botanical garden is run by the Charles University Natural Department and it’s surrounded by various old buildings that still form part of Charles University and also a local hospital.

This botanical garden was originally founded in 1775, but at that time it was located at Smichov (Prague 5). By 1840 the garden was already well established with more than 13 000 types of plants.

The botanical garden was built quite close to the Vltava river, and because it was flooded several times, it had to be moved. By the end of 19 century, Smichov was a prosperous manufacturing quarter (now part of Prague 5 district) which was expanding fast and it needed more buildings, factories and houses for the workers, which is why the botanical garden had to move again.

This time the garden was moved to its current location between the streets Benatska and Vinicna to other side of Vltava river. All the existing plants have been carefully lifted from their original location and replanted in the new botanical garden.

During this time Charles University had both Czech and German faculties and the botanical garden was equally divided between the two.

It’s quite ironic, that when Prague was attacked in the controversial bombing by American Forces on 14 February 1945, it was the German part of the botanical garden that was damaged, not the Czech one.

Today, the Charles University Garden has a large outdoor garden and a few interconnecting greenhouses, that have not only rare plants, but also birds.

The botanical garden organises several exhibitions throughout the year. These usually include cacti, succulents, orchids, citrus plants and meat-eating plants exhibitions. My favourite exhibition includes the annual Christmas decorations exhibition, but you can also see the rare birds and budgies exhibition and also the small aquarium fish exhibition.

The facilities in the garden are very basic – there are toilets (payable), but no refreshments. There are, however, a few cafes on the main street outside the garden.

Opening Times – open all year round, every day 10-3 pm

Entry Fee – 120 KCZ adults, 60 KCZ children or 250 KCZ family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children)

Location – Na Slupi 433 /16, 128 00 New Town, Prague 1

How to get there – Trams no 1, 2, 14, 18, 24, 25 stop just outside the Botanical Garden (stop is called ‘Na Slupy’. The nearest underground station is Charles Square (Karlovo Namesti) and then it’s about 10 – 15 minute walk.

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2. Botanical Garden in Troja

I have a fond memories of Troja botanical garden. The first time I visited it was as a teenager with my mum for a day workshop about making handmade paper with dried flowers.

Next time I visited it was probably more than 30 years later on a very hot summer’s day and everything looked very different – the garden was considerably bigger, the greenhouse was built and I was pleasantly surprised at the different areas of the garden with explanation panels and plenty of space to walk around.

There are modern sculptures, a bee keeping corner, native America plants with a large teepee tent and large rope hammocks to rest in.

One thing you need to be prepared for, is that this botanical garden is very hilly and it’s not great for walks with pushchairs, baby prams or anyone with mobility issues.

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Whilst this botanical garden is probably the best known one from the Prague botanical gardens it is the youngest one – officially founded in 1969.

During the next 20 years the garden was slowly developed and planted with various trees, plants and rare flowers, but sadly stayed closed to the general public for most of that time.

Apart from a few open days, the garden was never properly opened. The garden was finally opened to the public in 1992 although the area opened wasn’t that big. Over the next few years, more areas become opened to the public such as the Japanese Garden, the plants of Turkey and Mediterian and a large collection of flowering irises.

The Fata Morgana greenhouse is a relatively new addition, opened in 2004.

The vineyard of St. Clara was incorporated into the garden in 1995 and over the years more exhibitions about wine growing were added. It’s great that you can now taste the local wine in a small wine bar next to the vineyard, where you can see all the different types of grapes.

I recommend to leave the vineyard as the last stop, because I always stay for a glass or two (and the beautiful views) and then head down to the nearest bus stop (2 min) back to centre of Prague.

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Fata Morgana Greenhouse (part of the Troja Botanical Garden)

If you want to see a tropical forest in Prague, you will need to visit the Fata Morgana Greenhouse in Troja. It’s been now incorporated fully into the main Botanical Garden, the main entrance is very close to the greenhouse and the main Botanical Garden ticket is valid there too.

You will need about 60 – 90 minutes to visit the greenhouse which is organised in three different sections. You will walk through a jungle, desert and tropical rainforest and can take as long as you want to admire the different plants on the way.

If you fancy a longer trip, you can visit the Fata Morgana in the morning and then walk around Troja or visit the Troja Zoo or go to Troja Castle (it’s more like an art gallery).

Facilities – restaurant, wine bar, coffee stands, toilets, info centre, shop etc.

Opening Times – The outdoor part of the botanical garden is open all year round and every day. The Fata Morgana Greenhouse is open all year round too, but only Tuesday – Sunday (closed on Mondays).

Tickets – Adults 180 CZK, Seniors 90 CZK, Students/Children 120 CZK, Family ticket 540 CZK (buy online to get 10% discount – even if you just buy the ticket in front of the entrance).

Location: Nádvorní 2, 171 00 Praha-Troja, Bus 234 from Holesovice underground station

To get to the garden and the greenhouse, it’s quite a bit of a hike up the steep streets from the bus stop.

3. Botanical Garden in Malesice

If you want to escape the crowds, this botanical garden is the place to be!

This botanical garden started its life as a garden of a large private villa owned by a local businessman Jirasko. During the beginning of 20th century the main villa was re-built as a neo renaissance chateau. During the second world war the German army used the chateau as a hospital. After 1945 the chateau was re-requisitioned by the state and in 1948 gardening school (originally from Vinohrady where it was founded in 1909) was moved in.

The garden now belongs to a local gardening school and it’s looked after by the students.

The whole area is about 11 acres, which includes some areas that are not open to the public.

The whole area has more feel of a park with unusual trees and beautifully landscaped areas and paths weaving around the lake. I like that because this is a practical learning environment for the students, all trees and plants are labelled with Czech and Latin names, so that I can learn the tree names as I walk around.

I visited in the early autumn and the trees had the most amazing colours ranging from yellow, dark green, red, orange and anything in between. It was pretty magical!

You can walk around the park and visit the large greenhouses, which are definitely worth seeing. The greenhouses are large than the more known botanical garden in Troja or Charles University botanical garden.

Opening times – The garden and green houses are free to enter, but the whole area is open to the public only during school hours during the low season. During the main season (May – October) the garden is open every day.

Facilities – There is a small shop where the students sell plants, but apart from that there are no shops or refreshments on site, so bring a packed lunch and snacks with you. There are several portaloos in the park.

Location: Pod Taborem 17, Malesice, Prague 9

How to get there – This botanical garden is about 50 minutes from the centre by underground and bus. The buses leave the Vysocanska Underground station. Bus no. 195 take about 10 minutes to get there.(6 stops and get of at Botanicka zahrada Malesice).

Alternatively, there is also bus 177 from Chodov Underground Station – travel 2 stops (about 3 minutes) to the same bus stop – Botanicka zahrada Malesice.

The standard 90 minutes public transport ticket will cover your journey there, but make sure that you also buy a return (spare) ticket (paper one) or have a way to buy your ticket via app on your smart phone.

4. Dendrological Garden in Pruhonice

What I really like about this one is that it’s much more focused on specific flower displays and designed garden rooms. It’s where you go to see the large tulip fields or the rhododendron collections in the spring.

The whole area is naturally part of the Black stream valley, which the garden shares with Pruhonice Park and you can also visit in one day.

The history here is quite special. It all started back in 1922 when Count Arnošt Silva-Tarouca, who owned the Průhonice Chateau, offered up a large area of his land to the Czech Dendrological Society. They wanted a place to study and collect every type of tree and shrub imaginable. It’s been a proper scientific hub for decades, but it only actually opened its gates to us—the public—in 1990.

The botanical garden covers over 80 acres, which are mainly landscaped as a park with various trees and shrubs.

But, the garden also organises annual spring tulips exhibitions as well as summer flowering plants, which are always beautiful and definitely worth seeing.

I really like that depending on which season you visit, the garden paths are marked out so that you walk through the best parts of the garden for that particular season.

If you’re here in the spring, you’ll find the most spectacular tulip and rhododendron displays, while the summer brings these gorgeous flowering meadows. I find the medium-length walks are just perfect—they’re mostly flat and barrier-free, so they’re absolutely fine if you’ve got a pushchair or just want an easy stroll.

My local tip: The Dentrological Garden in Pruhonice is different place to the Průhonice Chateau & Park, which is the historical site, that you see in all the postcards with the stunning Neo-Renaissance castle reflecting in the lake. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site and it’s certainly worth seeing too.

You can visit both in one day, but you cannot walk internally from one to the other. You’ll need to exit one, walk about 10–15 minutes through the village (or take a very short bus hop), and pay for a separate ticket at the other entrance.

Location – Za Dalnici, Pruhonice, 252 43

How to get there – The best way to get to Pruhonice is to take the underground to Opatov (Line C) and then take the 385, 363 (or the 328) bus. From the underground, you’ll need to walk up to the road level. There are plenty of buses during weekdays, but only about 2 buses an hour at the weekends and late evenings.

It takes 20 minutes to get to Pruhonice from Opatov, but because Pruhonice is in the outer ring (1 zone), you’ll either need to get a ticket for 2 consecutive zones (the cheapest one for 20 CZK) if you have a day or three or monthly day Prague transport pass.

Your Prague pass is valid until about 3 stops before Pruhonice, so the cheapest ticket will pay for the difference between these zones.

If you don’t have a ticket, you can buy a longer ticket valid for at least 4 consecutive zones.

Alternatively, you can buy a ticket from the driver or online via the Litacka app or a website.

The nearest bus stop is called ‘Cestlice, V Oblouku’ for buses 385, 363 or Cestlice – Kika – Aquapalace for bus 328 and it’s about 3 minutes walk from the entrance to the garden.

Tickets – An adult ticket is 150 CZK and children, students and senior tickets are 100 CZK. Family ticket (2 adults + up to 3 children 350 CZK).

Opening times – The garden is open from the beginning of March to the end of October. Tuesday to Sunday (closed on Mondays) 9 am – 6 pm (or 9 pm in the summer).

Facilities – Coffee place, toilets, plant sales.

Bring a packed lunch and drinks with you just in case the cafe has a limited menu or is closed.

This blog post was originally written on 24 January 2023 and last updated on 26 March 2026