Prague Parks and Gardens
There are a number of free public parks in and around Prague. Landscaped gardens and parks will have an entry charge. Currently the most expensive is Prague Castle at 100kc but, most entry charges are less than 50kc.
Prague Parks – Kampa
Kampa is the area immediately under Mala Strana and bordering the river on both sides of the Charles Bridge. As one of the public Prague Parks it is free to enter. The park extends south to the Legie Bridge and is largely a walk-through park on the way to somewhere else. During the summer it appears to be hosting a continual open air party. It’s also a venue for Witches Night.
Prague Gardens – Prague Castle Landscaped Gardens
The landscaped gardens (there are 4 joined gardens) are on the south side of the castle and were opened in 2000. There’s a lot of steps. You can enter from the bottom at Valdstejnska (next to the Palffy Palac). 100kc entry.
Prague Gardens – Prague Castle Imperial Gardens
Usually open April to October but may still be open in November if there is an exhibition at the Belvedere. The most common way to get here is to take tram 22 or 23 and get off at the stop called Kralovstvi Letohradek (1 stop before Prague Castle). You then pass through a formal renaissance-style giardino before entering the dendrological part of the gardens. You exit into the castle complex on the far side of any security checks.
Prague Parks – Stromovka
This is a short walk from the Holesovice Metro station or else take the number 5 tram from Revolucni (or the no.17 from the National Theatre) and get off at the T-Mobile Arena (exhibition area). The park is behind the Prumyslovy Palac over to the left of the main exhibition entry. The park dates from 1268 when it was a hunting reserve but, several remakes have turned this 250 acre park into a very pleasant habitat for people and animals alike. A very pleasant walk if you have time is to go through Stromovka and cross the river into Troja (follow signs first for Troja and then the Prague Zoo). You can get the bus or boat (April-October) back to town. The last boat back is at 1700. There are pay toilets, two food areas and you can hire in-line skates for 40kc per hour plus 3000kc deposit. Look out for the “plane tree” and see how high the water was back in the flood of 2002.
Prague Parks – Petrin
From many points in Prague you can look across at the park on the Mala Strana side of the river and see the Little Eiffel Tower. This is Petrin and the location is also known as the Petrin Belvedere which encompasses a total of eight different parks and gardens. The tower was made for the 1891 exhibition and moved to it’s present location in 1932. It stands 314 metres above sea level (the tower itself is 60m) and has 299 steps. The escalator at Ujezd is in use from 0900 to 2330 all year round (when it is not being repaired) and you will need a standard single ticket to ride. Park Free.
Prague Gardens – Wallenstein Gardens
Wallenstein Gardens are connected to the Czech Senate building. A great place to visit during summer months with it’s free classical concerts, ornate pond and of course, the peacocks. Read more on the Wallenstein Palace and Gardens post.
Prague Gardens – Franciscan Garden
This is the area in central Prague between Wenceslas Square and Jungmannova. Walk up the Square until you get to the tram track. Turn right and after 20 metres turn right into the Svetozor shopping passage. The entry to the Franciscan Garden is at the end of the passage at the bottom of the steps. Free. Visit after May to see the roses.
Prague Gardens – Vrtbovska
Landscaped stepped garden located in Mala Strana. Entry in Karmelitska (about 10 metres from U Maleho Glena). Adult 65kc (family ticket for 180Kc). If you are staying at the Aria Hotel then you have your own private entry to the Garden. Avoid it at the weekend in summer because it gets taken over by wedding parties. The Vrtbovska Garden webpage is at http://www.vrtbovska.cz.
Prague Parks – Brevnov
Take a trip on the number 18 tram to the end of the line at Petriny (or the No.10 to Bila Hora) and visit the park at Brevnov. Unlike any other Prague parks, this is a densely wooded area criss-crossed with riding/cycling paths and tracks. Contained within the park is the “Star Summer Palace” which contains a permanent exhibition about the battle of the White Mountain as well as works by Czech painter Mikolas Ales and writer Jiri Jirasek. Alternatively take the number 10 tram towards Bila Hora and get off when you get to the big crossroads with the park visible on your right. Park Free.
Prague Parks – Letna
This is the area to the right of the castle as you look up and another of the free Prague Parks. The first part of the park has many paths that eventually end up at the Imperial Gardens. The second part of the park is open and has football pitches. This area also has a couple of Petanque pitches, the Metronome and is well known for the Letensky Zamecek beer garden which overlooks the city.
Prague Parks (out of the centre) – Pruhonice
At junction 6 of the motorway D1 which goes towards Brno, about 9km outside of central Prague, is the town of Pruhonice. Actually it is a large village that will shortly be swallowed up by Prague but the Pruhonice Chateau contains one of the finest examples of man made landscaped gardens in the country. Their webpage is at Park Pruhonice http://www.pruhonickypark.cz/en/. From the Opatov metro station take the bus 363 or 385. CZK50 for adults or a 2+2 Family ticket for CZK130 (off season) or CZK80 for Adults and CZK210 Family in high season). Kids under 6 are free.
Prague Parks (Out of the Centre) – Dendrologicka Zahrada
This is also at Junction 6 of D1 on the junction of the roundabout in the direction of Cestlice (that’s the opposite side of the highway from Pruhonice). It’s a large experimental area and you’ll struggle to walk round it all in one day. They grow things to see how they live together and so their are many specialised areas in the park for different types of trees, fauna and flora. Personally I prefer a Spring visit. 50kc Adult or 150kc Family. Kids under 6 are free and there’s a playground.
Prague Gardens – Troja
This castle/chateau at Troja is well known (it is opposite the zoo) but, it has also a large landscaped garden and maze. Free. Take the number 112 bus from Holesovice metro station.
Prague Parks – Botanical Garden Troja
Again close to the zoo, at the top of the hill in Troja is the Prague Botanical Garden. Large open outside area (50Kc) or 150Kc if you want to include the Fata Morgana (tropical and butterfly conservatory). Family ticket for 300kc. The Prague Botanical Garden webpage is at www.botanicka.cz.
Prague Zoological Gardens
It was badly damaged during the flood of 2002 and again in 2010 but has been reopening sections of the zoo as they are repaired. There’s still a lot to see and do for adults and children alike. Read about a Trip to Prague Zoo.
My Own Guided Tours – Cheaper Than You Think!
