Discover The Beauty Of Petrin Hill In Prague

Discover The Beauty Of Petrin Hill In Prague
Jana
Jana 
Published
| 4 min read

Prague is a wonderful city. Even if it’s rather small, it hides an enormous number of things to do and to see. It is a city full of architectural masterpieces, such as the Saint Vitus Cathedral or the old Charles Bridge, and it offers delicious food and drink. You can’t visit Prague without trying the classical Czech beer with pickled cheese. Besides the tiny streets that are full of bars and cosy cafes, you should not forget to visit Petrin Hill, situated in the Mala Strana District and famous mainly for Petrin Tower – a small imitation of the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Let's go uphill!

View of Prague from Petrin Hill observation tower in Prague, Czech Republic
Source: Photo by user Tim Adams used under CC BY 2.0

Petrin is accessible from the tramway stations Ujezd, Hellichova or Malostranke Namesti. Even if it is up to you which one of the stations you choose, the best way is to start at Ujezd. This is because there is a funicular station that can lift you straight to the top of the hill. If you’re not motivated, or you don’t have time to climb Petrin on foot, this funicular is the best option for you. The ticket costs only 24 CZK (1 USD). Even if the lift seems attractive, the best way to discover all the beauty of Petrin is surely to do a small walking tour around. If you decide on this option, begin your hike just behind the funicular station. There is a small playground for children, with a panorama of Prague Castle in the background. From there, go uphill, following the funicular trails. Don’t forget to look at an old statue on your left, representing the Czech writer from the 19th century – Jan Neruda. This is also the name of the most famous street that goes down to the Prague Castle. Also, during the late spring and summer, you’ll see a lot of people having picnics underneath the blooming trees. It is difficult to not to want to stop right here at the beginning and join them. But resist and continue your journey, as there are so many things to see and to do on the top!

Nebozizek restaurant: delicious food and a stunning view

discover the beauty of petrin hill in prague | nebozizek restaurant: delicious food and a stunning view

Even if the paths are full of turns, try not to lose the trails because there is a nice restaurant next to them. It is called Nebozizek and it is well-reputed both for the quality of dishes and the breath-taking view of Prague that you can admire from its terrace. As it is situated in the middle of your journey, why not to take a small break here? A pint of good Czech beer or some coffee will restore your forces. You should also try some of their many desserts on offer – the cakes and the custards are really tasty and are difficult to resist. Have one of them and you won’t be disappointed. Then continue the path behind Nebozizek to reach the top of the hill. Enjoy the panoramic views to the old Prague centre while walking. You’ll feel like you are in a fairytale.

Have fun in the Mirror Maze

discover the beauty of petrin hill in prague | have fun in the mirror maze

Soon, you’ll reach the top. First thing that you’ll meet there is a mirror maze built in the beginning of the 20th century for one of the World Expositions (Expositions Universelles) similarly to the one that was in Paris in 1885. Buy a ticket for 75 CZK (3 USD) and have fun watching yourself in the deviated mirrors that’ll make you short or big-headed. When done with this attraction, enter the mirror hall and try to find the right way out. It is not easy, but it is really funny. There is another reason why you should do it – the path leads to another special room that hides a famous “panorama” image representing an important part of Czech history called the Lipany Fight. Actually, “panorama image” at the beginning of the century meant a large painting complemented by real objects to make an impression of a three dimensional space. It was a real attraction for people all over the world before the 3D cinema came. A good reason to find your way through mirrors, isn’t it? The labyrinth opens every day, from 10 am to 10 pm between April and September, from 10 am to 8 pm during October and March and from 10 am to 6 pm from November to February.

Petrin Observation Tower: the smaller Eiffel Tower

discover the beauty of petrin hill in prague | petrin observation tower: the smaller eiffel tower

If you’re not done with the end-of-the-century attractions, you can’t miss the top sight on the hill, Petrin Tower that was built in 1891 as a small imitation of the famous Eiffel tower in Paris. This enchanted the Czech tourist’s club visiting the Universal Exposition. Even if it is much smaller than the Eiffel tower, its location on the top of the hill made it for a while the “higher placed tower in the world” with its top reaching 378 meters above the sea level. Even if it lost this title during the 30s, the view from the top to the whole Prague city remains stunning. From there, you see all – the beautiful Prague castle, the Charles Bridge, the National Theatre as well as the baroque jewel – Saint Nicolas Church. All the sights are there and you can enjoy them as long as you want. You can hardly find a better view than this one … So ask yourself, was the climb uphill worth it? The answer is clear – surely it was! The tower is open everyday, from 10 am to 10 pm between April and September, from 10 am to 8 pm during October and March and from 10 am to 6 pm from November to February. The entrance fee is 120 CZK (4.80 USD).

After the visit, there is no other choice but to descend the hill. Take the path on the other side of the hill – you’ll come out directly in front of the famous Prague Castle. And another great visit can start!

The attraction of Petrin Hill in Prague

While in Prague, you can’t miss a visit to the famous Petrin Hill, situated in the Mala Strana District. This article will give you the best tips of what you should see and try there. So, let’s have fun!

Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Hi, my name is Jana and I am a Czech girl currently living in Paris. Student of cinema and dance, I love to meet new people all over the world, to speak with them in different languages and to...Read more

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