What are the most beautiful free parks in Prague?

Find out the top 10 best free parks in Prague, with tips on how to visit and how to get there!

Prague is constantly rated as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and in the world. Its old and historical old town gets lots of attention, with the famous Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, and astronomical clock.

Nonetheless, there is something that Prague has a lot of: parks. Hidden and mixed in the old and cluttered streets, Prague has plenty of public green spaces. Of all the parks in Prague, almost all of them are free to access. This article covers 10 of the best free parks in Prague, plus one extra one that requires a small entry free. These are the best free parks in Prague!

Cihelna Park

Even if you are not interested in visiting parks in Prague, you will be visiting Cihelna Park. This small riverside park offers some of the best views over the Charles Bridge. You might end up there without even intending to, as it is at the heart of the old town and tourist area. Besides the beautiful views, it is quite common to find swans and other wildlife. Moreover, it is a perfect sunrise and blue hour photography spot.

Petrin Gardens

If you look at the Prague map, you will notice a huge green area on the west side of the Vltava river, just next to the Mala Strana area. The Petrin Gardens cover a huge area, and it is a fantastic place to get lost and forget all the noises of the city. It is well known among locals and tourists, but due to its size, it won’t feel crowded. The park is easily recognizable from distance thanks to its tall Eiffel-looking tower.

There are multiple accesses to the Petrin Gardens. You will most likely get close to it when visiting the Strahovski monastery, or when crossing the river to the opposite side of the National Theater. It is there where there is a moving artwork of bronze human figures; a memorial to the political prisoners of Communism.

Waldstein Garden

The Waldstein Garden is one of the hidden at plain sight Prague gardens. I stumbled upon it when I was going to one of the other parks listed in this list, the Letna Park. Despite being a sunny summer day, it was not crowded at all. It is located just next to the Malostranska metro and tram stop. Although it is not clearly indicated (depending on the entry you take), it is very easy to find.

These gardens are part of the Senate palace and contain a beautiful pond and plenty of baroque statues. Moreover, the symmetry of the garden is very pleasant to the eye. Despite not being the most beautiful park in Prague, it is worth visiting.

Vítkov

Although you won’t find it listed as a garden or park, Vítkov is one of the most important green areas of Prague. It is famous for the enormous equestrian statue that dominates its highest point. It is one of the ten largest equestrian statues in the world! The statue depicts Jan Zizka, the warriors that defeated the Crusaders in Prague. In fact, the area where the park is is known as Zizkov because of him.

Vítkov is not the most well-located garden in Prague, but it is one of the highest elevation points of the city (and a fantastic viewpoint). I recommend walking there, as it will offer a different view of the city. You can get closer to the “real” Prague, with huge apartment buildings (a clear communist heritage). Don’t limit yourself to the old town, and give a chance to fewer know areas of the city!

Letna Park

In my opinion, this is one of the two best free parks in Prague. It has all you can ask from a park: beautiful paths to get lost, one of the best views over Prague, the beautiful Hanavsky Pavillion, and the metronome statue. Oh, and during summer, one of the most popular beer gardens. A beer garden is exactly what its name promises: a chance to get a cold Czech beer in a fantastic and quiet garden.

It is not right in the heart of the old town, but it is not as far away as Víktov, which means that you will find a great mix of locals and tourists. Don’t miss the view of the multiple Prague bridges one after the other from the Vyhlídka na Letné viewpoint.

Kampa Park

If you are after beautiful views over the Charles Bridge, a medium-sized riverside park, and some modern art and statues, Kampa Park should be a must for you. Kampa is the area next to the Vltava river. At less than a 5-minute walk from Charles Bridge, there is the park. Besides the great views, Kampa Park is famous for its crawling babies statues. This is one of the many David Cerny statues you can find in Prague. The same babies are also climbing the tallest tower in Prague, the Zizkov Tower. Besides seeing giant crawling babies with barcodes on their faces, you can also enjoy a stroll in a centric but quiet park.

Vojanovy sady

This is probably the park that I spent more time visiting. It is not due to its beauty but because it is really quiet. I visited Prague in early September, and I was exhausted after many days of exploring the city. Out of nowhere, I found Vojanovy Sady, or as I saved it on Google Maps, the peacock’s park. An oasis with mostly locals and not many tourists, the perfect place to take a break. It can also be a very interesting park for families with children due to the huge peacock population it has.

Historically speaking, this is quite an important garden. In fact, it is the oldest partially preserved garden in Prague, with its oldest parts dating back to the 13th century. It is very centric and close to the Cihelná Garden (see above). Look on the internet (google maps will do the trick) for the opening hours, as this park is closed at night. CLosing time changes depending on the season, from 4 pm during winter to 7 pm during summer.

Stromovka Park

If you look at the official Prague webpage, they describe this park as Prague’s Central Park. Truth is, it is the largest park in the city, with around 100 hectares of green. It has many ponds, fountains, Prague’s planetarium, restaurants, and even some wildlife! It really didn’t feel like being close to the heart of a big city like Prague. Nonetheless, it is not as close to the city center as other parks listed here.

To get to Stromovka Park take any tram that goes to the Výstaviště station, and hop out there. Beware, there is no way to buy a ticket for the way back (at least as of September 2021), so make sure you have a valid ticket for the way back.

Stromovka is the perfect plan for a quiet morning if you have already seen most of Prague’s touristic attractions and you want to further explore the city. Near the Stromovka park, there is the Prague Zoo. However, to get there you will need to take a bus or walk a bit, crossing the Vltava river.

Vyšehrad Park

One of the most visited Prague Parks, and without any doubt, one of the best ones is Vyšehrad Park. Vyšehrad is an old fortress, with a nice basilica, a historical cemetery, and a museum, all hidden in my favorite park in Prague. Within the gardens of the fortress, you can also find multiple cafés and some of the best viewpoints over the city of Prague.

Vyšehrad has the perfect mix of historical attractions, views, and enough space so that it doesn’t feel like a massified tourist attraction. The best moment of the day to visit is sunrise or sunset. The golden sun beams give a magical touch to the gardens.

If visiting Vyšehrad, don’t miss the Cemetery attached to the Basilica, as it is where the Antonin Dvorak, one of the most famous composers ever resting place is. Many other artists and scientists can be found in the Vyšehrad cemetery.

Vyšehrad is a bit distant from the center of Prague, but it is very well connected via public transportation. The best way to get to Vyšehrad though is to take the promenade by the Vltava river until reaching the foot of the fortress.

Prague Castle Gardens

The Prague Castle is by itself a notorious touristic attraction. Besides the historical and cultural heritage, though, it is surrounded by a set of parks. What is remarkable is that some of them are constructed at different levels. Due to the location of the castle, in an elevated area, the gardens are terraced.

A great way to include them in your itinerary is to visit them before or after visiting the Prague castle.

Extra: Vrtba Garden

All the abovementioned sites on this list are the best free parks in Prague. However, among the best parks in Prague, there is a name that has to be mentioned, although it has a small entry fee. The Vrtba Garden is a Baroque-inspired garden, and one of the smallest in the city. Nonetheless, it is also one of the most beautiful ones.

The symmetry of its compositions, the different terraces, and the beautiful views over the city… make it worth paying the 5€ fee (120CZ) that is required to visit the park. The park is divided into three terraces, the lowest one, with a circular fountain, the middle one, with an imponent staircase, and the top terrace, with fantastic views of the Prague Castle, St Nicholas Cathedral, and Prague’s Old Town.

Getting to Vrtba Gardens can be a bit tricky. Although it is in the heart of the Old town, its entrance is a bit hidden. At this exact location, you will see a small alley. Take it and you will reach the entrance of the gardens.

These are the best free parks and gardens to visit in Prague. Nearly all of them are within the Old Town or nearby, and will eventually pop up on your route. Don’t miss Vyšehrad and Letna Parks, you will need to go there purposely, but they are so worth it.

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