Petrin Hill in Prague: what to see and how to get up

Petřín Hill rises above the left bank of the Vltava, next to Prague Castle. People come here for the Petřín Lookout Tower, the rose gardens, and views over all of Prague. The funicular that carried visitors uphill for over a century is running again after two years of reconstruction: according to the official DPP website, service resumed on September 22, 2026.

The hill is small but packed. An observatory, a mirror maze, a church, and a dozen gardens all sit within a few minutes of each other. We have put together everything worth seeing, with prices, opening hours, and distances.

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What to see on Petřín

💡 In short:

• Three funicular stations lead uphill: Újezd, Nebozízek, and Petřín; the route is 509 m long (according to the funicular operator).
• Main highlights: the Petřín Lookout Tower, the Mirror Maze, the Štefánik Observatory, and the Rose Garden.
• A tower ticket costs 250 Kč, reduced 170 Kč (as of 09/2026, Prague City Tourism).
• Prices and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the official website.

The hill stretches from Újezd to Strahov. Allow half a day to walk through all the gardens and attractions. Early in the morning the ticket offices are less crowded, and in the evening the light is best for photos.

History of Petřín Hill

The hill did not get its name right away. At different times it was called Hora (mountain), Kopec (hill), and St. Lawrence Hill after the church on top. The word "Petřín" is derived from the Latin petrae, meaning stone. For a long time, building stone called opuka was quarried here, and it was later used to build most of Prague's houses (according to the Wikipedia article on Petřín).

Before the quarries, the slopes were covered with forest. Local pagans worshipped gods here, including Perun, and later the hill served as an execution site. In 995, after the massacre of the Slavník family in Libice, several prisoners were hanged right on Petřín. Executions stopped under Charles IV, when the Hunger Wall was built here. It was constructed to give work and rations to the poor, hence the name.

In the Renaissance, the nobility took a liking to the hill. By order of Emperor Rudolf II, its grounds were improved, and ornamental trees and shrubs were planted. Petřín was not always peaceful. In 1611, the Passau troops of Archduke Leopold camped here, and military camps and fortifications replaced parks and paths. The parks with statues by Czech artists were laid out later.

Today Petřín is among Prague's main attractions. A legend is tied to it: Princess Libuše supposedly predicted the birth of Prague from this very summit.

Funicular to Petřín

The funicular connects Újezd with the top of the hill and runs through Nebozízek and Petřín. The route is 509 m long, with a 126 m climb and a speed of 4 m/s (according to DPP). From the lower car you can see the whole slope, and from the upper one the city opens up.

© DXR · CC BY-SAPhoto: DXR, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The funicular was under reconstruction for two years and now runs with new panoramic cars. According to DPP, service resumed on September 22, 2026. A single ride costs 100 Kč, or 90 Kč in the PID Lítačka app. Regular short-term tickets are not valid, while 24-hour and 72-hour tickets are accepted (according to PID).

• The catch: the funicular requires a separate 100 Kč ticket, and regular short-term tickets are not valid.

Strahov Stadium: from Spartakiads to rock

Strahov Stadium was built in 1926 to a design by architect Alois Dryák (according to the Wikipedia article on Strahov Stadium). At first it was wooden, then it was rebuilt: the work took place from 1948 to 1975. In the 1960s, the stadium hosted Spartakiads, with hundreds of thousands of gymnasts on the field at the same time.

Here is what the same source says about the scale: in 1960, about 750,000 gymnasts and roughly two million spectators took part in the event. In the 1990s, after the fall of the communist regime, the stadium became a venue for large concerts. The Rolling Stones, U2, Pink Floyd, and AC/DC played here. Today it is one of the largest arenas of its kind in the world, and there is no open access for tourists.

• The catch: it is an active concert venue, not a museum, and you can only get inside during an event.

Strahov Dormitory and the Silicon Hill club

© ŠJů ( cs:ŠJů ) · CC BY-SAPhoto: ŠJů ( cs:ŠJů ), CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

The Strahov dormitory was built in 1964-1965. It consists of twelve blocks and houses about 4,500 students of the Czech Technical University (ČVUT). During the Spartakiads, its rooms served as changing rooms, and later it repeatedly sheltered people during floods and landslides.

The largest student club, Silicon Hill, operates inside. For tourists, it is a landmark along the route, not a museum.

• The catch: it is an active dormitory, so a tourist can only see the exterior and the view of the city.

Flower garden at the summit

© Sergey Ashmarin · CC BY-SAPhoto: Sergey Ashmarin, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

The flower garden lies at the very top of the hill, by the Hunger Wall. It covers less than a hectare, and the first plants were put in in 1932. You can enter through a gate that locals have nicknamed the secret gate: it is easy to walk past and miss the entrance.

The garden is made up of perennials with different flowering times, so it is alive from spring to autumn. It is quiet here, and people rest on the benches after the climb. The style is closer to a British landscape park than to a formal parterre.

• The catch: the garden is small, less than a hectare, and the entrance is through an inconspicuous gate.

Rose garden on Petřín

© Peter Stehlik PS-2507 · CC BYPhoto: Peter Stehlik PS-2507, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

The rose garden covers six hectares between the observatory and the upper funicular station. It sits at an elevation of 320-328 meters above sea level. Inside there are dozens of flower beds and up to twelve thousand rose bushes (according to the Wikipedia article on Petřín). Benches are placed throughout the garden, and in summer the whole hilltop smells of roses.

The site's history has changed over time: first a forest, then vineyards and fruit trees, then a military camp. The rose garden was laid out in 1932-1934, with the design by Josef Kumpán. From the garden you come out directly onto the observation deck with a panorama of the city.

Štefánik Observatory on Petřín

© Xosema · CC BY-SAPhoto: Xosema, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The Štefánik Observatory opened in 1928, and a year later it became accessible to everyone. It was named after Milan Rastislav Štefánik, a general in the French army and one of the founders of Czechoslovakia. His statue stands next to the sundial.

Inside there are several telescopes. The main one is a refractor astrograph from Zeiss under the main dome, along with a 1967 Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope and a modern MEADE LX200. Comet observations are carried out here, and some of the equipment still works to this day. Visitors can see a museum exhibition on astronomy and attend lectures. Today the observatory is managed by Planetum; check with them for session times and evening observation hours.

Petřín Tower: a copy of the Eiffel

© Bradley Weber · CC BYPhoto: Bradley Weber, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

Petřín Tower was built for the 1891 Jubilee Exhibition as a free copy of the Eiffel Tower at a 1:5 scale. The metal frame was assembled in four weeks to a design by engineers František Plašil and Julius Souček, and it opened on August 20, 1891. It stands 58.7 m tall and weighs 74 tons (as of 09/2026, Prague City Tourism).

The observation cabin is reached by 299 steps. From the top you can see all of Prague, and on a clear day almost all of Czechia. There is a restaurant on the ground floor, and the basement houses an exhibition by the Czech Tourist Club.

• Admission: 250 Kč adult, 170 Kč reduced, 500 Kč family (as of 09/2026, official tower website).
• Hours: April-August 9:00-19:00, September 9:00-18:00, October-December 10:00-18:00 (as of 09/2026, opening hours on the official website).
• The catch: 299 steps on foot; the elevator only goes up to the cabin and costs 150 Kč.

Mirror maze by the tower

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The mirror maze stands at the foot of the tower in a building that looks like a medieval castle. It was built by Prague master Matěj Bílek in 1891, and two years later 31 mirrors were installed here (according to the Wikipedia article on Petřín). The route begins in a room with a painting of the 1648 battle between the Czechs and the Swedes on Charles Bridge, then continues into a hall of laughter with distorting mirrors.

The place suits both children and adults: the whole loop is quick to walk, done in one go. There is a local urban tale about students who went in and never came out.

• The catch: the maze is small, 31 mirrors, enough for a short visit.

Church of St. Lawrence

© Ricardalovesmonuments · CC BY-SAPhoto: Ricardalovesmonuments, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The Church of St. Lawrence was originally wooden, then it was rebuilt from local opuka stone. After almost five hundred years, its appearance was changed to Baroque based on a design by Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer, but the church was closed and brought back to life only in 1840. In 1994 it was returned to the Catholic Church (according to the Wikipedia article on Petřín).

Inside hang paintings by Jan Klaudius Monn and Václav Markovský, and there is a statue of St. Lawrence by Lederer from 1756. An old city legend about Prince Boleslaus II and the pagan fire of Perun is tied to the church, after which Petřín was renamed the Hill of St. Lawrence.

Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre

© Jeremiae · CC BY-SAPhoto: Jeremiae, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre is one of the sacred buildings on Petřín. It was erected in 1737, modeled on the chapel in Jerusalem. The main detail inside: the window is positioned so that a sunbeam falls exactly on the sacrificial stone in the center.

The facade faces west. On it is a depiction of the Resurrection of Christ, painted by J. Rejdlen in 1936. Next to the chapel begins the Stations of the Cross with stops, which leads up the slope.

Vrtba garden in Malá Strana

© VitVit · CC BY-SAPhoto: VitVit, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Vrtba Garden (Vrtbovská zahrada) was laid out by František Maxmilián Kaňka for Count Jan Josef Vrtba in 1715-1720. The garden is done in the Baroque style and decorated with sculptures by Matiáš Bernard Braun, while in the pavilion guests are greeted by frescoes by Václav Vavřinec Reiner. It sits at an elevation of 212 meters and covers 0.31 hectares (according to the Wikipedia article on Petřín).

The garden rests on three terraces connected by wide staircases. Each step offers its own view of Malá Strana. The 1990-1998 reconstruction returned the garden to an almost original appearance. Today conferences and even weddings are held here.

Tickets and opening hours

Prices and schedules vary by site, and they change in high season. Below is what is confirmed as of 09/2026.

Tower data verified on the city tourism office website, funicular data on DPP and PID. Tower tickets are sold only by the official city operator; from other sellers a ticket may turn out to be invalid.

If you want to sort out tickets in advance, check out time slots and tours on Tiqets.

Where it is and how to get there

Address: Petřín, 169 00 Prague 1.

The fastest way up is the funicular: it runs daily from 7:00 to 22:15 every 10 minutes. On foot, the walk from the Újezd stop up through the Petřín Gardens takes about 30 minutes (on the map, about 1.5 km). You can also get there from Prague Castle; the descent down the Strahov slope takes less time.

Trams 9, 12, 15, 20, 22, and 23 go to Újezd (according to the DPP schedule). Get off at the Újezd stop and look for signs to lanová dráha. The funicular ride takes about four minutes, and you get views right from the cabin.

Petřín on the Prague map

Petřín lies on the left bank of the Vltava, between Malá Strana and Strahov. Below is a map with the hill marked, which makes it easy to plan a walking route.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

Do I need to buy a tower ticket in advance?

A ticket costs 250 Kč, and in high season there can be a line at the ticket office. The official seller is Prague City Tourism, and you can buy a ticket online (as of 09/2026, Prague City Tourism website). The first hour after opening gives a 50% discount. Come at opening time if you want to skip the line and photograph the city from above.

Is the funicular running now?

Yes. According to DPP, service resumed on September 22, 2026. The funicular runs daily from 7:00 to 22:15 every 10 minutes, and the ride takes about four minutes.

How much time do I need for the whole hill?

Set aside half a day. The walk up alone takes about 30 minutes, and exploring the gardens and attractions takes a few more hours. The tower, mirror maze, observatory, and church are all close to each other. With kids, plan extra time and bring water.

What can I see on Petřín for free?

The Rose Garden, the Flower Garden, and the park paths are open without a ticket, as are the views from the lookout points. You pay to go up the tower, enter the mirror maze, and attend observatory sessions. The funicular requires a separate 100 Kč ticket, and a 24-hour ticket is also valid.

Can I go up the tower with kids?

Yes, but keep in mind the 299 steps and the paid elevator to the observation cabin. Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult; under 5 is free. A family ticket for two adults and up to four children costs 500 Kč. You cannot take a stroller up; leave it at the bottom.

In short: what is worth booking

Petřín is best explored in parts. If you have a couple of hours, do the tower and the mirror maze. With kids, add the observatory and the Rose Garden. If you have half a day, walk the whole hill and finish at Strahov.

• If you are short on time: the tower and the maze.
• If you are with kids: the Rose Garden, the maze, the observatory.
• If you like history: the Church of St. Lawrence and the Hunger Wall.
• If you want a view: the tower observation cabin at sunset.

For the walk up, wear comfortable shoes. For a guided trip, Prague tours on GetYourGuide are a good option.