Kinský Garden — A Hidden Retreat Below Petřín Hill
There is a park on the southern slope of Petřín Hill that most guidebooks either skip or mention in a single sentence. Kinský Garden (Kinského zahrada) covers roughly eight hectares of wooded hillside between Štefánikova street and the upper slopes of Petřín, and on a weekday afternoon you will share it with joggers, parents with strollers, and not much else. It is one of the most pleasant parks below Petřín, and it feels nothing like a tourist attraction.
We sometimes route our All Prague in One Day private tour through here when guests want a quieter alternative to the crowded Petřín paths. The garden rewards an unhurried pace — there are viewpoints, old trees, and a small palace that most visitors never find.
How the Garden Got Its Name
The land originally belonged to the Kinský family, one of Bohemia's oldest noble houses. Count Rudolf Kinský purchased the hillside estate in the early 19th century and commissioned a landscape garden in the English style — naturalistic paths winding through mature trees, with deliberate sight lines framing views of the city below.
The garden was redesigned and opened to the public in the mid-19th century. Unlike the formal geometry of Baroque gardens like Wallenstein or Vrtba, Kinský Garden was meant to feel like a walk through curated nature. Paths curve around rock outcroppings and descend through groves of oak and beech. In autumn, the leaf colour here rivals anything in the city.
The family name is pronounced roughly "KIN-skee" — you will see it spelled Kinský with the háček on the y, which is standard Czech orthography. Locals call the park "Kinského zahrada" or simply "Kinskeho."
The Kinský Summer Palace
Near the lower entrance on Štefánikova street stands the Kinský Summer Palace (Letohrádek Kinských), a neoclassical villa built in the 1820s. The building housed the National Museum's ethnographic collection for decades, displaying Czech and Slovak folk art, traditional costumes, and rural crafts. [VERIFY if the ethnographic museum exhibition is currently open — the building has undergone renovation periods.]
The palace itself is worth a look from the outside even if the exhibition is closed. The facade is restrained neoclassical — white columns, a triangular pediment, clean symmetry — set against the hillside greenery. In front of the building, a small pond and open lawn create a calm gathering point that feels miles from the city centre, even though tram lines pass within two hundred metres.
Walking Through the Park
The garden has two practical entrances. The lower entrance is on Štefánikova street (tram stop Švandovo divadlo), which brings you in at the level of the Summer Palace. The upper routes connect to the Petřín hillside trails — you can climb through Kinský Garden and emerge near the Petřín Lookout Tower or the Rose Garden without ever touching the main tourist paths.
The terrain is hilly. This is a park below Petřín, built on the actual slope of the hill, so expect inclines. Paved paths handle the main routes, but several side trails are packed earth and can get muddy after rain. Comfortable shoes are a good idea.
Three things to notice as you walk:
The wooden church. Near the centre of the garden stands a small wooden church — the Church of St. Michael — originally from Carpathian Ruthenia (today's Ukraine). It was transported to Prague and reassembled here in 1929 as part of the ethnographic collection. The shingle-roofed structure looks like it belongs in a mountain village, not in the middle of a Prague park. It is one of only a handful of such wooden churches preserved in Bohemia.
The viewpoints. The middle sections of the garden offer partial views south and east over Smíchov and toward the Vltava. These are not the dramatic panoramic vistas you get from the top of Petřín, but they have a quieter, more intimate quality — framed by tree branches rather than open sky.
The old trees. Several specimen trees in the garden are well over a century old, including oaks and beeches that predate the public park. In spring, the undergrowth fills with wild garlic and early wildflowers. Birdwatching is surprisingly good here — the park's mix of mature canopy and open glades supports woodpeckers, nuthatches, and several warbler species during migration season.
When to Visit
Kinský Garden is open year-round and admission is free. There are no gates or restricted hours — the park is accessible at all times, like most Prague parks.
Spring (April-May) is when the garden is at its greenest, with wildflowers on the slopes and fresh leaf cover. Autumn (October) brings colour that competes with Petřín's more famous slopes. Summer mornings are pleasant, but midday heat makes the exposed upper paths less comfortable. Winter is quiet and bare, but the paths remain passable and the views through leafless trees actually improve.
The garden is busiest on weekend afternoons in spring and summer, when local families spread out on the lawns near the Summer Palace. Even then, the upper slopes stay peaceful.
Practical Information
Getting there: Tram to Švandovo divadlo (lines 6, 9, 12, 20) for the lower entrance on Štefánikova. Or approach from the Petřín side if you are already on the hill.
Nearby: The garden connects to Petřín Hill's trail network — read our complete guide to Petřín Hill and the Lookout Tower for the full picture. It is also a short walk from Malá Strana and the Újezd tram hub.
Facilities: Minimal. There are benches throughout the park but no cafes or kiosks inside the garden. Bring water and a snack if you plan to linger. The nearest coffee and food options are on Štefánikova street near the lower entrance.
Duration: A walk through the garden takes 30 to 45 minutes at a comfortable pace. If you combine it with a climb up to Petřín Tower, allow 90 minutes to two hours for the full circuit.
Planning Your Visit to Prague
Kinský Garden is the kind of place you find once you have the main sights sorted and start looking for the Prague that locals actually use. It pairs naturally with a morning on Petřín Hill or an afternoon exploring Smíchov and Malá Strana.
If you are still in the planning stage, our guide to free things to do in Prague covers parks, viewpoints, and experiences that cost nothing. For couples looking for quieter corners of the city, our Prague for couples guide includes places like this one.
For the parts of Prague where a local guide makes the real difference — the castle interiors, the Jewish Quarter, the stories behind the facades — that is where our private walking tours come in. Just your group, no strangers, and a day shaped around what you want to see.
And if you are looking for an evening worth remembering, descend from the hill and head to a medieval dinner at a historic Prague tavern — candlelight, period food, and live entertainment in a vaulted cellar.
Browse all our private tours in Prague.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kinský Garden free to enter?
Yes — completely free, open year-round, no tickets or reservations needed. The park has no gates or restricted hours.
How do I get to Kinský Garden?
The easiest approach is by tram to Švandovo divadlo (lines 6, 9, 12, 20). The lower entrance is on Štefánikova street. You can also enter from the Petřín hillside trails if you are already on the hill.
Can I walk from Kinský Garden to Petřín Tower?
Yes. The upper paths in the garden connect to the Petřín hillside trail network. From the lower entrance, allow about 30 to 40 minutes of uphill walking to reach the Lookout Tower area.
Is the Kinský Summer Palace open to visitors?
The neoclassical villa has housed the National Museum's ethnographic collection, but opening hours and exhibition availability vary. Check locally before planning a visit specifically for the museum.
You May Also Like
Want to see Prague for yourself?
Explore Our Tours