What better to do on your first full day in Prague than get a bird’s-eye view of the city? There are a few places where you can do that, but we made our first trek up Petrin Hill. You can walk, but I recommend the funicular, an easy transfer from the Ujezd stop and included in your transport pass.
The first funicular stop is at the Nebozizek Restaurant, a good place to grab a cocktail and see the city. If you go all the way to the top, you actually don’t have a view…unless you replicate our insanity and climb to the top of Petrin Tower, Prague’s miniature take on the Eiffel Tower.
It’s 299 steps to the top, though you can pay more for the lift if you aren’t with super athletically inclined friends like I was. The middle view is actually the best though, with open spaces above the railings, rather than the sliding windows at the very top. There are also lookout points and resting benches after every couple flights, bless them. Once you’re up, you get a beautiful view of the city:
And if you time it right, you can get a spectacular sunset vista:
Aside from the tower, there are lovely gardens scattered over the hill, a cathedral, a historic wall, and, if you’re inclined towards the cheesy/creepy, a mirror maze and a “magical grotto,” i.e. a house full of weird paintings. We opted just to stroll down the hill towards the lower funicular stop and watch the light on the castle change as the sun disappeared and the lights of Prague came on.
I’ve decided at least 75% of travel to foreign cities is just climbing to the top of things for the view.
What was your best view ever?
