Parks and Gardens to Visit in Prague

I’m a fan of parks and gardens, especially because I think they are great places to witness the local way of life. Additionally, Prague is quite a green city, with large green spaces stretching out on the opposite side of the river. I started my tour with Letna Park, which stretches along the riverside. Actually, the goal was not to visit the park, but let’s just say the road led me there.

Letna Park

It’s probably one of the largest parks in Prague, or at least one of the largest. Being right next to the river and up on a hill, it’s strongly recommended to visit for the best views of Prague, especially at sunset. When the weather is nice, the whole of Prague seems to be here at these hours. From people sitting at the Metronome with the view, to young athletes, skateboarders, dog walkers, and people entertaining children—basically all of Prague’s residents. The only downside is the numerous steps you have to climb if you’re walking up from the riverside, which can be quite exhausting. So, be aware of that in hot weather.
I wandered around the park quite a bit, visited the pond where people were swimming and sunbathing. There’s also a café with stalls selling ice cream and other snacks.

Chotek Gardens

You can visit this park right next to Letna if you’re going to Letna. Even the path connecting the two parks is lined with trees in bloom that I couldn’t identify with my limited botanical knowledge, creating a very beautiful view. This park is relatively quieter compared to Letna. From here, you can also see the Queen Anne’s Summer Palace right in front of you; I’m not sure if it’s open for visitors.

Kampa

This park, which also houses the Kampa Museum, is smaller compared to Letna and Chotek but is popular with both tourists and locals due to the museum. It’s also located right by the river. Besides the museum, the park features David Černý’s Crawling Babies sculpture. Whether it’s a must-see, you can decide by looking at photos.

Next to Kampa, there’s a small island on the river called Střelecký Ostrov. People were having a great time there. The island had food and drink stalls set up like bars. On the river, people were riding pedal boats and kayaks, and there was even a floating bar for those who wanted to have a drink.

Riegrovy Park

This is a park where you’re less likely to encounter tourists and can watch lovers enjoying the view of Prague. It’s ideal for lying on the grass and watching the sunset, but it doesn’t offer a touristy Prague view. It has casual bars and is frequented by dog walkers and families with babies. Close by, Svatopluka Čecha Park is a local gathering spot. It can be thought of as the neighborhood park, but it’s not small; it’s still quite spacious.

Waldstein Garden

Waldstein Garden is entirely touristy, beautifully arranged, and surrounded by lovely buildings such as the Czech Senate, the National Gallery’s building, and a theater. Also, peacocks roam freely. They had written that the Dripping Stone section might haunt your dreams at night. It’s not that dramatic; we’re people who have visited the Damlataş Cave after all. Informational signs about Karlovy Vary were placed in front of the Dripping Stone.

If you’re heading to the castle from the Old Town, I recommend stopping by here first before continuing.

Vyšehradské Sady

We climbed this park during our 2010 visit, but it didn’t leave a lasting impression; it seems there wasn’t much to make a mark:) The location offers nice views. The park also includes a cemetery and a cathedral. You might want to check it out on Maps and decide for yourself.

You can also visit my posts on Museums in Prague and Things to Do in Prague.