Already seen Prague Castle, Charles Bridge and the Jewish Quarter? That's all well and good, but it's time to broaden your Prague horizons! Discover some places that "regular" tourists don't know about. We present a few tips on the hidden gems of Prague, where not only can you find peace, but you can also enjoy some things found nowhere else in the world.
The House at the Golden Ring: A glimpse into mediaeval Prague
Want to know what the Czech capital looked like during the High Gothic and Renaissance eras? Check out the interactive exhibitions Prague of Charles IV (the emperor and king, thanks to whom we can walk on Charles Bridge) and Prague 1606 at the House at the Golden Ring. You’ll find this branch of Prague City Museum right in the heart of the Old Town behind the Týn Church, just a few steps from Old Town Square.Clam-Gallas Palace: A Baroque gem, which played host to Mozart and Beethoven
One of the best-preserved aristocratic city palaces in the world and the only fully accessible Baroque palace in Prague stands near Charles Bridge. The spectacular Glam-Gallas Palace was the centre of culture and social life in the 18th century, with prominent figures such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven appearing there. You can take a leisurely stroll through the lavishly ornate interiors of this impressive building at your own pace with an audio guide.
Ctěnice Château complex: What life used to be like in rural Czechia
Want to know how people used to live in rural communities in centuries gone by? Visit the Empire-style Ctěnice Château with its extensive park area. The buildings that make up what was originally a Gothic fortress, located on the north-eastern outskirts of Prague, give you an insight into the rich history of Czech rural life, crafts and the village of Vinoř, where the palace is situated. You can also stay overnight in this romantic setting in cosy little rooms in the historical granary.
The Klementinum and the Astronomical Tower: The oldest weather records in Europe
The Klementinum, one of the largest complexes of buildings in Europe, is a place where time has stood still, despite its proximity to the thousands of tourists crossing Charles Bridge every day. Take a tour and you’ll be able to admire the Mirror Chapel with its lavish interior set with mirrors, which cannot be matched anywhere else in Czechia, the breathtaking Baroque Library Hall and the historical Astronomical Tower, which offers breathtaking views of Prague. It is here where the oldest weather records in Europe are kept. After all, this is the only place in the world where regular meteorological readings have been taken for over 250 years! And if that weren’t enough, the complex also includes one of the world's most important libraries.
National Memorial on Vítkov Hill: A breathtaking view of Prague and a place of Czech history
Where to go to enjoy the most beautiful views of Prague? One place you’re guaranteed to find them is on Vítkov Hill. However, its top is much more than “just” a viewpoint. This hill holds an important place in Czech history, and you’ll find out why as soon as you arrive. That’s because the hill is topped by the impressive National Memorial, packed with marble and brass, dominated by the biggest equestrian sculpture in Central Europe, the statue of Jan Žižka (you might know this famous historical figure from the 2022 Netflix movie Jan Žižka). Inside the Memorial, which will reopen to the public on 1 April 2024, you can see exhibitions dedicated to the Czech state's fight for freedom and democracy, and learn that the embalmed body of the first Czechoslovak communist president was once exhibited here. You can enjoy a coffee in the café with its panoramic viewing terrace on the roof of the Memorial.
The Palace Gardens below Prague Castle and Vrtba Garden
The Palace Gardens are a haven of peace and quiet in the middle of the bustling city. They offer an amazing blend of architecture and nature and are the ideal place to relax from the busiest tourist attraction in the capital – Prague Castle. The gardens are accessible from Valdštejnská ulice from the Malostranská metro station. The Vrtba Garden a little further on is one of Czechia’s most beautiful Baroque gardens. The best time to visit is late April and May, but the gardens are charming all year round.
New World in Hradčany: Little wooden houses in the centre of Prague?! You bet!
Just a few steps from Prague Castle you’ll discover another world, a New World, in fact. In this hidden-away corner of Prague, untouched for centuries, you’ll find it hard to believe you’re in the centre of the Czech capital. Quaint fairy-tale houses, some made from wood, and the narrow little streets make for a uniquely quiet atmosphere, which is really worth savouring in what is otherwise a busy part of the city.
Strahov: The most beautiful library, the oldest monastery and a brewery
There are several reasons why you absolutely must visit Strahov Monastery, between Prague Castle and Petřín! It’s interesting merely for the fact that it’s the oldest still working Premonstratensian abbey in Czechia. Most of all, however, this unique complex has several treasures to offer. It’s home to one of the most beautiful and best-preserved historical libraries in Europe, while the Strahov picture gallery holds the most valuable monastery collection of works of art in Central Europe; when you start to feel peckish during the tour, head for the abbey brewery and taste a traditional and local Czech beer – few places in Czechia have such a long tradition of brewing as Strahov!
Summer Palace and Hvězda Forest Park: Prague’s “glacier”
Enjoy a touch of nature in Prague! Visit Hvězda, which you can easily get to on the metro! In the middle of the forest park, which is perfect for a stroll, you’ll find the charming Renaissance Summer Palace with its unique star-shaped architecture. However, the forest park is interesting in itself. Not only do people go cross-country skiing there in winter, as the snow lasts longer here than anywhere else in Prague, but it’s also the last place in the city where you can see what the local nature looked like before man took over. That’s because the forest park has never been completely cut down or developed.
Grébovka Park: A grotto, vineyard and views of Prague
Grébovka Park, also known as Havlíčkovy sady, is one of Prague’s most beautiful parks. Right in the very heart of it you’ll find a real spectacle - a man-made cave, or so called grotto, which you can clamber through. The viewpoint in the park offers stunning viewsof the city, while the recently renovated vineyard adds a touch of unique magic to the place. You can sample the local wine in the picturesque wooden Vineyard Garden right above the vineyard. Or take a seat in the Pavilon Grébovka café in the garden, with its unique replica of the original historical skittles alley from the 1870s.
The Lost Garden at Albertov: An oasis of green nestled amidst the Czech capital
An indoor green paradise in the middle of the capital, that’s the little-known Lost Garden (Ztracenka) at Albertov. This quiet park near Vyšehrad is the ideal place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and you can enjoy some non-traditional views of Prague while you’re at it.
The narrowest pedestrian street in Prague with traffic lights
You simply have to see this unusual attraction in Malá Strana. The street’s so narrow that it needs traffic lights to control the flow of people. Otherwise, it could easily get jam packed with tourists! The little streets links U Lužického semináře with the Vltava embankment.
