Where in Prague or Beautiful and less known places of the capital
Do you want to make your visit to Prague more pleasant with a walk in the countryside, to remember old Czech legends and at the same time to relax from the crowds? It’s not impossible in the big city either.
1. Place on the Castle in the castle grounds
In summer, the castle courtyard is full of tourists, in addition, there is nowhere to hide from the sharp sun. Therefore, accept the invitation to the numerous gardens below the Castle. One of the most beautiful is the Wallenstein Garden, where you can admire peacock aviaries, fountains and a romantic pickpocket wall – free of charge, admission is not paid here. The nearby Vojanovy sady also invites you to relax in the shade of fruit trees without a ticket, children will enjoy the large playground and the free-moving peacocks. The large Pálffy Garden is a beautiful terraced area full of flora, you will also find a fountain and a sundial. Admission is paid here, but as part of the ticket you will also see other gardens belonging to the Prague Castle complex. In the Vrtbovská Garden you can enjoy ornamental flower beds and statues of Matyáš Bernard Braun, you will pay CZK 80 for children, CZK 60 for children.
2. New world
If you want to roam Prague like in the time of Jan Neruda, head to the New World northwest of Prague Castle. The picturesque corners of the winding streets (in addition to Nový svět Street, you can also walk through Černínská, Kapucínská, Kanovnická and Na nápis) and the cute little houses, it seems as if time stopped here a hundred years ago. The district of the Malvazinka colony in Prague’s Smíchov has a similar effect, where you can admire the former working-class colony of small houses (Přímá, Xaveriova, Malá Xaveriova and Pravoúhlá streets).
3. Letna Tower
If you are going for a walk or sports on the Letna Plain, go all the way to Sparta and enjoy the view from the recently renovated Letna Water Tower. It is open by appointment on Wednesday afternoon and Friday morning, and in addition to the view, you can enjoy talking about the history of this building. In the tower you will also find a gallery, until June 28 there is an interesting exhibition of photographs called Duchové Stromovky.
4. Doubravka Lookout Tower
The newest Prague lookout tower was opened last summer. It can be easily reached from the Black Bridge and the train from Kyjí. It is accessible for free, measuring 20 meters and reaching the top by 98 steps. Not only the view of the surroundings is interesting, but also the view of the atypical, three-legged lookout tower.
5. Albertov Botanical Garden
You probably know the botanical garden next to the Prague Zoo, but it is not the only one you can admire in the capital. In the center in Na Slupi Street you can visit the Botanical Garden of the Faculty of Science of Charles University. It is accessible free of charge, it only pays for entry to the greenhouses, but the blooming outdoor parts of the garden will also be interesting. Another of the school gardens open to the public is the Botanical Garden of the Secondary Vocational School of Civil Engineering and Horticulture in Prague 9, Pod Táborem Street. You can walk here on the heathland or alpine, enjoy the view from the gazebo or settle and meditate by the large pond.
6. Malešický park
Combine relaxation with fun and knowledge and head to Malešický Park in Prague 10. Here you can go skating and cycling, work out in the senior park, play pétanque.
Children will enjoy the playgrounds, including the rope cobweb. But what makes them different from the others are the various sound and water elements, which not only entertain for a long time, but also help them understand the various laws of physics.
7. Girls’ castles
Remember the legend of Alois Jirásek (about the treacherous Šárka and the girls’ war) and combine a peaceful nature walk with breathtaking views of the city. All this is offered by Dívčí hrady, which can be easily reached by bus from the Na Knížecí stops. You must not miss the Ctirad viewpoint, the remains of the Děvín fort or the Hlubočepská platna rock formation, you can also start looking for fossils that Joachim Barrande once found here. And if you don’t have a short walk, you can continue on the nature trail to the Prokop Valley.
8. Minizoo in Chuchle
Head to the Prague Zoo for elephants and monkeys, but if you only need to see a lynx, raccoon, deer, talking raven or wild pig, Zookoutek Malá Chuchle is looking forward to seeing you (how to build a zoo with toilet paper rolls with children). It is freely accessible all year round, you can also buy something to eat here, you can comfortably get here on forest paths and by bike.