Prague's parks and gardens

The tour starts at the Malostranska tram and metro station.

(S/E) Cross the green space towards Kosárkovo nábř Street, which runs along the Vltava River on the right. Then continue straight on U Plovarny Street.

(1) Cross Nábř. E. Beneše Boulevard at the pedestrian crossing, then take the stairs opposite up to Letna Park. In the park, stroll through the many paths, but don't miss the various points of interest, keeping a general eastward direction (the route is for orientation purposes only and is merely a suggestion). Continue to the Expo 58 pavilion (Bruselský pavilon): its esplanade offers a view of the Karlin district on the left. Go past the pavilion, going around it on the right.

(2) Turn sharply left and retrace your steps, following a path that is roughly parallel to the previous one. Walk along the tennis courts on your right, pass a bar and toilets, then cross a children's playground (U Hrocha) to reach a large path. Take it on the left, turn left diagonally at the first intersection to reach the Metronome platform (Prazsky metronom) with its giant metronome sculpture and panoramic view of the city.

(3) Continue for about a hundred metres, then turn left to go around a small lake and reach the Hanavsky Pavilon: enjoy the view of the series of bridges (including Charles Bridge) spanning the Vltava River.

(4) Continue back towards the lake and turn left.

(5) Head left towards the footbridge that leads directly to the Chotkovy sady garden. Once you have crossed the footbridge, take the path on the left and head towards Queen Anne's Summer Palace (Letohrádek královny Anny).

(6) The passage just to the left of the palace is not always open; in this case (see map), take the path on the right to go around the palace, exit the garden and turn left to enter the Royal Garden (Královská zahrada). Then head right to cross the garden, pass in front of the Orangery, another viewpoint, and exit onto U Prašného mostu Street.

(7) Turn left onto this street.

(8) Go under the archway to enter the main courtyard of the castle and cross it.

(9) Pass under the archway on the left to exit the castle through the main entrance: the castle and cathedral are well worth a separate visit. Walk up Hradčanská náměstí, continue along Loretánská Street and finally Pohorelec Street, keeping to the left along the path overlooking the street.

(10) Pass under the archway on the left: opposite is the library (Strahovská knihovna), a former monastery. Continue straight ahead and then descend, taking the path to the left of the monastery that starts at the Monastery Hotel.

(11) Take Promenáda Raoula Wallenberga on the right. As you pass, admire the magnificent view of the old town and the cathedral, as well as Petrin Hill (Petrinské sady). The Petrin Tower has a silhouette reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower.

(12) Turn left, continue to the right at the chapel (Kaple Kalvárie) and walk about a hundred metres. Turn right again to enter the beautiful Ruzovy sad Gardens, cross them and exit on the right to quickly reach a small car park.

(13) Go down the paved path on the left, then at the end of it, take the path that winds to the left to the small lake (Petřínské jezírko). Walk all the way around it on the left, then follow the north-east-facing path, which winds down towards the Vltava River, to reach the Stairway of Broken Lives, six bronze statues descending oversized steps. This is a memorial to the victims of communism, created by sculptor Abraham Zoubek.

(14) Leave Petrin, cross the boulevard using the protected crossing on the left, then follow Vítězná Boulevard, which faces the statues.

(15) Leave Vítězná Avenue just before crossing the Legii Bridge (most Legii) and take the street on the left, walk along the Vltava River and enter Kampa Park. Immediately turn left to walk along one of the branches of the Vltava River, called the Certovka, literally Devil's Creek, also known as Prague's Little Venice. Leave Kampa Park and cross Na Kampě Square.

(16) Pass under one of the arches of Charles Bridge, then take U Lužického semináře Street on the right and stay on the right-hand pavement.

(17) Don't miss the courtyard of the Franz Kafka Museum by making a short detour to the right, then take Cihelná Street and turn right to reach the park of the same name. Leave the park, cross the avenue to reach Malostranská station (S/E).

The parks and gardens you pass through have numerous paths: the route helps you find your way around but is not compulsory. You can also wander around as you please.

(2) The Expo 58 Pavilion (Bruselský pavilon) boasts highly original and avant-garde architecture. Built in 1958, it regularly hosts exhibitions.

(4) The Hanavsky Pavilon: this magnificent little Baroque-style pavilion is a café-restaurant, offering one of the most picturesque views of the series of bridges (including the Charles Bridge) that cross the Vltava River.

(6) Queen Anne's Summer Palace (Letohrádek královny Anny). This palace , built between 1515 and 1565, supposedly for Anne Jagiellon, Queen of Bohemia and wife of Ferdinand ^I of Habsburg, is one of the most important Italian Renaissance monuments in Prague .

(12) Petrin Tower, a reproduction of the Eiffel Tower? Not quite, as Petrin Tower is octagonal in shape, while the Eiffel Tower has only four sides. It is possible to climb up to its 63-metre-high platform, if you have the courage to climb the 299 steps. From there, you can see the whole city and its surroundings: there is an entrance fee.

(14) The Staircase of Broken Lives: six bronze statues descending oversized steps (Memorial to the Victims of Communism by sculptor Abraham Zoubek).

(16) Charles Bridge seen from Na Kampé Square.

(17) Don't miss the courtyard of the Franz Kafka Museum and its unusual work by surrealist sculptor David Černý.