Best Views in Prague | 8 Viewpoints for the Perfect Photo

Prague is a city that looks different from every angle. The skyline changes depending on which bank of the Vltava you're standing on, which hill you've climbed, and what time of day you chose to look. Most visitors see Prague from the Charles Bridge and the castle terrace — both excellent — but neither gives you the full picture.

We've spent 17 years walking this city with guests, and the viewpoints that get the strongest reactions are almost never the famous ones. Here are the spots we return to week after week — with exactly when to go, what you'll see, and how to get the photograph you came for.

Letná Park Beer Garden

Letenské sady sits on a bluff above the Vltava, directly north of the Old Town. The terrace at the Letná beer garden offers the widest panorama of central Prague — you see the river, at least six bridges lined up in sequence, the Old Town skyline, and Prague Castle rising to the west.

What you see: the full sweep of the Vltava's bend through the city centre. Charles Bridge is directly below, and the bridges fan out north and south — Mánesův, Čechův, Most Legií, Jiráskův. The cluster of Old Town spires (Týn Church, Old Town Hall, Klementinum) sits in the middle distance.

Best time: late afternoon into golden hour. The park faces south, so the setting sun behind you lights the Old Town facades and the castle in warm orange. The sky colours reflect off the river.

How to get there: from Čechův most, walk up the staircase on the north bank — about 8 minutes. The beer garden serves Pilsner Urquell on tap. Grab a beer, find a bench at the terrace railing, and stay.

Insider tip: the famous metronome is nearby, but the best photo angle is 100 metres east of it, where a gap in the trees opens a clean sightline to the bridge sequence. Most photographers stand at the metronome and shoot slightly off-axis. Move east.

Petřín Tower

Petřínská rozhledna is Prague's miniature Eiffel Tower — a 63.5-metre steel lookout tower on Petřín Hill, built in 1891. The 299-step climb (or elevator) puts you above the treeline with a 360-degree view.

What you see: Prague's red-tile roofscape in every direction. On a clear day, you can see Říp Mountain to the north — the legendary mountain where Forefather Čech first surveyed the Bohemian lands. The castle is almost at eye level from the top, a perspective you cannot get anywhere else.

Best time: morning, shortly after opening. The light is clean, the haze hasn't built up, and the queue is short. By early afternoon, the wait can reach 30 minutes in peak season.

How to get there: the Petřín funicular from Újezd takes 4 minutes and is covered by a standard transit ticket. From the upper station, a 10-minute walk through the park reaches the tower.

Insider tip: if the tower queue is long, walk 50 metres south to the Hunger Wall (Hladová zeď). The path along this 14th-century fortification wall offers a similar rooftop panorama without the climb. The wall was built under Charles IV as a public works project to feed the poor — hence the name.

Old Town Bridge Tower

Staroměstská mostecká věž stands at the Old Town end of Charles Bridge — a Gothic tower from 1380 with a tight spiral staircase and arguably the single best photograph available in Prague at the top.

What you see: the full length of Charles Bridge toward the Lesser Town towers and Prague Castle above. The bridge's 30 baroque statues line both sides below you, the Vltava stretches north and south, and the dome of St. Nicholas fills the middle ground.

Best time: late afternoon. The tower faces west, so the light illuminates the castle and Lesser Town in golden tones. Early morning offers empty bridge views — by 9 AM, the bridge below is packed. Admission is around 150 CZK.

Insider tip: the distance to the castle from the tower top is perfect for telephoto compression — the bridge statues, the Lesser Town towers, and the castle stack into a single dense frame. Smartphone panoramas work too, but the telephoto shot is the one you'll print.

Prague Castle South Gardens

The Jižní zahrady (South Gardens) run along the southern edge of Prague Castle, overlooking Malá Strana. Surprisingly few visitors find them — most follow the main route through the courtyards and miss the garden entrance entirely.

What you see: a direct downward view over Malá Strana's red rooftops, the dome of St. Nicholas Church, and the river beyond. You're close enough to see chimney pots, dormer windows, and garden terraces tucked behind baroque facades. It feels like looking into a model village.

Best time: midday to early afternoon. The south-facing gardens are in full sun, and the light below is direct and even. Open seasonally, typically April through October.

Insider tip: at the western end, near the Hartig Garden section, there's a small terrace with a direct sightline to Charles Bridge and the Old Town. Most visitors turn back before reaching it. We always bring guests here on our Prague Castle and Lesser Town tour.

Vyšehrad

Vyšehrad is the ancient fortress on the rocky promontory south of the centre, offering something no other viewpoint does: distance. From the ramparts, you see the entire city spread north — all the spires, all the bridges, the castle on its hill — but from far enough that the whole composition fits into a single glance.

What you see: the full Prague skyline from the south. The river curves below, and the city extends from Smíchov on the left to Karlín on the right. The fortress grounds are free to enter at all times. Metro C to Vyšehrad station, then a 10-minute walk.

Best time: sunset, without question. The fortress faces north, so the setting sun behind you paints the city. Arrive 45 minutes before sunset and walk the ramparts. The western bastion near the Táborská gate has the cleanest angle.

Insider tip: the Vyšehrad cemetery (Slavín) is just inside the walls — graves of Dvořák, Smetana, Mucha, and Čapek. Visit before sunset, then walk to the ramparts for the golden hour. We include Vyšehrad on our All Prague in One Day tour when guests are interested.

Riegrovy Sady (Rieger Gardens)

Riegrovy sady is the local's viewpoint — a park on a hill in Vinohrady with a beer garden facing directly toward Prague Castle. This is where Prague residents go on summer evenings. Tourists rarely find it.

What you see: Prague Castle and the cathedral silhouetted against the western sky, framed by trees on both sides. Below the castle, the full sweep of Malá Strana and the green slopes of Petřín Hill. Metro A to Jiřího z Poděbrad and walk south for 5 minutes.

Best time: sunset. The castle sits due west, and the sun drops directly behind it. On clear evenings, the sky turns pink and orange behind the St. Vitus spires.

Insider tip: bring your own picnic if the beer garden is full (it often is on warm evenings). The grassy slope below the garden has the same view and more space. A blanket, a bottle of Moravian wine, and that castle silhouette — one of the best free evenings in Prague.

Hanavský Pavilon

The Hanavský pavilon is a cast-iron Art Nouveau pavilion on the Letná escarpment, just west of the metronome. Built in 1891, it's now a restaurant — but the terrace is free to access without a reservation.

What you see: a framed, intimate view of Charles Bridge, the Vltava, and the Old Town waterfront. The perspective is tighter than the Letná beer garden — you're lower and closer, and the bridge fills more of the frame. The Art Nouveau railing adds a foreground element that photographers love.

Best time: late morning to early afternoon for photography (sun behind you). Evening for atmosphere, when the bridge lights up and reflections sharpen on the river. From Čechův most, walk up the staircase and turn left along the Letná promenade — about 5 minutes.

Insider tip: the view straight down to the river includes a boat dock that adds movement to photographs. Early morning is empty; evenings draw locals and visitors who know the spot.

Strahov Monastery Viewpoint

The terrace near Strahovský klášter (Strahov Monastery) sits at one of the highest points in central Prague, above the castle district. It's the viewpoint you reach after visiting the monastery library — or the one you discover by continuing west past the castle.

What you see: a panorama from an elevation that puts even the castle below you. The red rooftops of Malá Strana cascade down the hillside, the river and bridges extend to the right, and the Old Town spires fill the horizon. From Prague Castle, walk west along Úvoz or Pohořelec — about 10 minutes.

Best time: morning for crisp light and clean air. The terrace faces east and south, so morning sun illuminates the city directly.

Insider tip: the Strahov Monastery brewery (Klášterní pivovar Strahov) is right there, serving its own St. Norbert beers. A post-view beer on the monastery terrace, with that panorama behind you, is one of the most satisfying pauses in a day of walking. We often end our Prague Castle tour here for exactly that reason.

Practical Photography Tips

Golden hour shifts by season. In June, sunset is after 9 PM. In December, it's before 4 PM. The best light is always in the 45 minutes before sunset.
Blue hour matters. The 20 minutes after sunset, when the sky turns deep blue and city lights come on, often produce the most dramatic photographs.
Polarizing filters cut glare from the river, glass, and gilded domes — and deepen the sky noticeably.
Tripod rules vary. Petřín Tower and the Old Town Bridge Tower don't allow tripods. Parks and ramparts have no restrictions.

See These Viewpoints With a Private Guide

Every viewpoint on this list is free and publicly accessible. You can visit them all on your own. But timing, routing, and knowing exactly where to stand make the difference between a good photo and the one that captures Prague the way it feels in person.

On our All Prague in One Day private tour, we build the route around the light — hitting viewpoints when they're at their best and adjusting on the fly if the weather shifts. Just your group, no strangers. We know which bench, which gap in the trees, which corner of which terrace gives you the shot.

Our Prague Castle and Lesser Town tour covers the South Gardens viewpoint, Strahov terrace, and the Letná approach — three of the best elevated perspectives in a single walk. And for an evening that ends with atmosphere rather than altitude, a medieval dinner at U Pavouka puts you inside 15th-century vaulted cellars — a different kind of Prague view entirely.

Browse all our private tours in Prague.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best viewpoint in Prague?

It depends on what you want to photograph. Letna Park gives the widest panorama with all the bridges. The Old Town Bridge Tower offers the classic Charles Bridge composition. Vysehrad provides the most complete skyline from a distance. For sunset, Riegrovy sady is hard to beat.

Are Prague's viewpoints free?

Most are free. Letna Park, Vysehrad, Riegrovy sady, Hanavsky Pavilon terrace, and the Strahov viewpoint cost nothing. Petrin Tower charges around 150 CZK. The Old Town Bridge Tower charges around 150 CZK. Prague Castle South Gardens are included with castle grounds access (free or ticketed depending on the area).

When is the best time to photograph Prague?

Golden hour — the 45 minutes before sunset — produces the warmest light. Blue hour, 20 minutes after sunset, gives dramatic contrast between the dark blue sky and warm city lights. Early morning (before 8 AM) offers empty streets and clean light without crowds.

Can I reach Prague's viewpoints by public transport?

Yes, all of them. Letna Park and Hanavsky Pavilon are a short walk from Cechuv most tram stop. Petrin has a funicular from Ujezd. Vysehrad has its own metro station. Riegrovy sady is walkable from Jiriho z Podebrad metro. Only the Prague Castle South Gardens require walking uphill with no direct transit to the entrance.

Prague's Best Viewpoints — Where to Go for the Perfect Photo