9 of the Best Gardens and Parks to visit in Prague

9 of the Best Gardens and Parks to visit in Prague

Break those shorts out of your closet and get ready to explore the 200+ parks in Prague.

Summertime is officially here. You have been waiting for some warm weather and sunshine for months, and the sun has just peeked through the clouds, and the temperatures are steadily rising. It’s finally time to get outside. You have some vacation days left at your work, and you decide to make the most of it and visit the city you’ve always dreamed of going to – Prague.

A place with beautiful architecture, friendly locals, great food, cheap beer, and unlimited activities, this city comes alive in the summer. Fortunately, there’s numerous outdoor activities to do around the city, so you can take advantage of the perfect weather. A common hangout spot in the city during the warmer months is in one of the hundreds of green spaces, parks, and gardens scattered throughout the city.

What better afternoon activity than a picnic on a green hillside, with a panoramic view of the city? That’s right, nothing. We’ve compiled a list of the top parks and gardens in the city of Prague that you should definitely check out on your next holiday.

1. Franciscan Gardens

First up on our list, we have the Franciscan Gardens nestled between Wenceslas Square and Jungmannovo Square in the center of New Town. Built on the site of an old Franciscan monastery, this public garden is a common spot for visitors and locals to chill out and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

With numerous benches, you can choose where you want to sit, by the red roses or the artistic sculptures. There are various lawn areas separated by hedges, and the gardens also feature multiple fountains, a playground for the kids, and a gazebo to escape the sun.

Open from 7 am to 10 pm in the summertime, this is a perfect spot to sit and enjoy the gardens, beautiful surrounding buildings, and the cloudless sky.

2. Vrtba Garden

Secondly, another peaceful garden is the Vrtba Garden, a UNESCO site located in Mala Strana. Designed in the 18th century, this Baroque-style garden is one of the most famous and recognizable in Central Europe. It captures the elements of Baroque with grand staircases, colorful flower beds, opulent banisters, and sculptures.

The location is also something that sets this garden apart – it is situated on a slant, letting the garden has various levels and differing viewpoints. The top-level gives you a spectacular view of the surrounding neighborhood and St. Nicholas church. Before planning a visit, double check the opening times as these gardens sometimes close for maintenance.

3. Castle and Palace Gardens

For number three on this important list, we have the Castle and Palace Gardens. We guarantee that if you have heard of Prague, you have heard of the Prague Castle. This gargantuan structure is surrounded by high walls, and is more reminiscent of a small town than just a singular building.

The castle walls contain a beautiful church, a colorful row of historical houses, and various other important places surrounding the castle – like the Castle Gardens. Formerly the Royal Vineyards and five other palace gardens, these gardens are now a wonderfully-kept and lavish attraction that provides the perfect setting for a romantic afternoon.

The views over the red-roofed neighborhood of Mala Strana offers a great location for live music concerts that are sometimes held here at night. We recommend checking out these gardens when you’re already visiting the Castle – you can’t miss ‘em.

4. Stromovka Park

For a more wild feel, head to Stromovka Park – the largest green space in the city. You won’t find any manicured gardens here, but the numerous ponds, thousands of ancient trees, and ample green space make this a great spot to go for a walk, go for a run, read a book, or picnic under the shade.

You will find a nice mix of locals and tourists here, with locals enjoying incorporating this beautiful space into their daily routine. This 95-hectare park is the “Central Park” of Prague, and you’ll see why with the never-ending open space. The ability of this space to attract people from all walks of life, from hipsters to dog-moms, is what makes this park so special.

With new renovations in recent years, like adding several playgrounds, creating footbridges and piers, renovating paved pathways, and renovating the concrete sculptures made more than 50 years ago. Open every day, it’s not surprising this park gets more than 4 million visitors every year.

5. Riegrovy Sady

Another park that consistently enjoys visitors, Riegrovy Sady is a space known for its unbeatable views of the city. We recommend coming here for an unforgettable sunset, looking at the sun going down behind the numerous spires, red-roofed houses, and the Vltava river.

With wide-open green areas, wooded spots, and unique vistas, this park’s diversity shows why it remains so popular and frequented over the years – after all, it’s over a century old. If you’re a history buff, you can check out some of the parts of the original buildings that were once here, like the lookout from the 1920s, a three-sided obelisk from 1840.

With paved pathways and numerous benches, this is a great spot for anyone who wants to grab a great view of the country’s capital.

6. Wallenstein Garden

Heading back down to the city, we come across the Wallenstein Garden located in Mala Strana. Walking through this garden you’ll feel as if you’re royalty, with perfectly shaped hedges, sculptures from Greek mythology, and tall-arched entryways to the Wallenstein Palace – the seat of the Czech Senate.

Built in the early Baroque style, the architecture is beautiful and opulent, perfectly complementing the large pond, aviary, and lush greenery in the garden. You’ll want to look for the formal room called Sala Terrena, where there are frescoes depicting the Trojan Wars.

This space is often used for concerts, performances, and theatre. For those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, and especially for those interested in architecture and sculpture, this garden is the perfect escape.

7. Troja Botanic Garden

If you’re planning a half-day trip to the zoo, you can’t miss the Troja Botanic Garden nearby. Leaving the zoo, which was voted among the top 10 zoos in the world, you can wander through the beautiful neighborhood of Troja, with green hills, a perfect view of the Vltava, and Troja Chateau, a Baroque palace containing 19th-century Czech art.

After exploring the neighborhood, head to the expansive botanic garden. This garden includes a Japanese garden with cherry trees, irises, various small ponds, and a tropical greenhouse. The greenhouse’s construction and unique shape make it incomparable to others in Europe, and makes it stand out to all the visitors who witness this architectural phenomenon.

The greenhouse is split into three sections, all featuring different plants and categories, making for a full day of exploring and learning. With a great location, a greenhouse to warm you up on a cold day, and a zoo right next to you, this garden is one of the best in the city.

8. Havlíčkovy Sady

For a larger park in Prague, check out Havlíčkovy Sady, the second-largest park in the city. With a beautiful villa called Grébovka, you can sit back, have a cup of tea, and enjoy the views. There are vineyards surrounding the area, lush foliage, and hundreds of trees to enjoy some shade.

We recommend heading to the old grotto to catch a panoramic view of the park, located in the Havlíček Gardens, inspired by the Italian Renaissance era. Featuring lakes, pavilions, water fountains, and amazing views, this garden offers plenty of places to sit and take in the ambiance.

A unique feature of this garden is a replica of the historic bowling alley from the 1870s located near the Grébovka garden cafe. Open every day from 6 am – 12 am, this park is a great spot for any time of day to catch some views, enjoy the cafe, or wander around the gardens.

9. Letná Park

Another park with a stellar location for seeing the city, Letná Park and the beer garden are standouts in terms of best views of the city. The views of Old Town attract both tourists and locals alike – and so does the beer. There’s nothing better than sitting at one of the communal picnic tables on a hot day, ordering a cold Pilsner, and looking out over the red-roofed city.

Your kids can enjoy numerous activities here due to the wide-open spaces, and you’ll find people skateboarding, playing frisbee, or playing volleyball in the sandpits.

Featuring a strange metronome on top of the hill, this park has a unique charm, with certain parts being manicured and pristine, and others being a bit more wild – but that’s what we like about it. Without trying too hard, it’s one of the best parks in Prague.

With green spaces and gardens spread throughout the city limits, Prague is home to many places to relax, enjoy nature, and escape the everyday life of the city below…

Prague is home to over 200 green spaces within the city limits, giving a space for anyone and everyone to go relax, grab a beer, read a book, go for a run, or just lay and enjoy the lush greenery and warm weather. Due to the numerous green spots, you won’t ever be too crowded and feel as if you’re still in a busy city.

Many of these parks have hidden nooks and untouched spaces that you can discover and make your own – for the afternoon at least. For a city that is constantly busy, with a buzzing energy and tourists consistently visiting all-year-round, the parks and gardens give a great escape to the craziness.