Rising above Malá Strana is verdant Petrin Hill, capped by a Eiffel-esque tower. Since it looked to be a nice area to explore, and the tower was recommended for its views in our guidebook, we headed south from Malá Strana to the station for the funny funicular that takes one to the top. Alternately you can walk up, but we were not lacking for walking opportunities and wanted to take the funicular.
Petrin Tower & Hill
A parallelogram in shape, the funicular soon filled up with schoolchildren and rumbled its way up the hill.
Petrin Funicular
Being on the same cable, the downhill funicular approached, then passed us on a short sweep-out, and we continued up slowly.
Funicular passing tracks
From the station at the top of the hill, a short walk through a little garden brought us to the tower. Sarah’s no friend to high places, so I went on my own, paying the equivalent of a few dollars to enter the tower.
Petrin Tower
Around and up, around and up it went for quite some time, the views of central Prague opening up all the while.
Central Prague
The views to the northwest (above) were clear, although it was fairly hazy looking toward Old Town (below).
Charles Bridge
Once at the top, I enjoyed the view for a bit, then wound my way back down amid throngs of young ‘uns trying to race each other down the tower.
Prague Castle
Rejoining Sarah we walked along the top of the hill and picked up a path leading down to Malá Strana.
Great Tit / Parus major
Although this seemed like a good place to find urban birds, there were few to be seen other than a few Great Tits (LIFER!).
Hungry Wall
We followed the “Hunger Wall” (1360-1362), rumored to be a public-works program by Charles IV that provided little or no defensive value to medieval Prague.
Strahov monastery’s tower
We walked past Strahov Monastery (the subject of a future post) and enjoyed more lovely views of Prague Castle and Malá Strana from this lovely green vantage point.
Prague Castle & Malá Strana district
It was un-crowded, and a nice mix of locals and tourists as we strolled downward.
Steps leading down to Malá Strana
We eventually came to the top of a flight of stairs leading down to the residences and embassies of Malá Strana, and soon found our way to our nearby hotel.
Like Kampa Island, Petrin Hill is worth a detour, and provided a welcome break from the more heavily-touristed sights in Malá Strana and Prague Castle.
Prague index:
- Part 1: Vysehrad
- Part 2: Vysehradsky hrbitov (Vysehrad cemetery)
- Part 3: Karluv Most (Charles Bridge)
- Part 4: Vaclavske namesti (Wenceslas Square)
- Part 5: Letecke Muzeum Kbely (Czech Air Force Museum)
- Part 6: Stare Mesto (Old Town)
- Part 7: Staromestske namesti (Old Town Square)
- Part 8: Prazsky orloj (Astronomical Clock)
- Part 9: Josefov (Jewish Quarter)
- Part 10: Vltava River
- Part 11: St. Nicholas Cathedral (Chram sv. Mikulase)
- Part 12: Wallenstein Palace (Valdstejnsky palac)
- Part 13: Kampa Island
- Part 14: Mala Strana street art
- Part 15: Petrin Hill <– You are here
- Part 16: Mala Strana
- Part 17: Mala Strana house signs
- Part 18: Strahovský klášter (Strahov Monastery)
- Part 19: Schwarzenberský palác (Schwarzenberg Palace)
- Part 20: Toy Musuem
- Part 21: St. Vitus Cathedral gargoyles
- Part 22: St. Vitus Cathedral (exterior)
- Part 23: St. Vitus Cathedral (interior)
- Part 24: Prazky Hrad (Prague Castle), I
- Part 25: Prazky Hrad (Prague Castle), II
Adam Paul 
This is a gorgeous photo tour of a beautiful city!! I really felt like I was there. Thank you so much for sharing. The rust-orange roofs are just stunning. You don’t see that in the US.
Thanks, nduff! I agree – the orange roofs are a striking feature of Prague (and other medieval European cities).