Best Views of Prague: 10 Iconic Photography Locations (+ Map & Photos)

Best Views of Prague

In no particular order, here is our list of the best views of Prague. At the end of this guide, you can see all of them on a map.

Note: We have visited Prague several times. Some of these photos were taken in May and some were taken in December.

1. Old Town Hall Tower

Let’s start with one of the easiest towers to visit (an elevator takes you right to the top!) and iconic views of Prague.

The Old Town Hall sits next to Staroměstské náměstí, Prague’s most famous square. Sitting on the outside of the Old Town Hall is Pražský orloj, the Prague Astronomical Clock, a famous landmark to photograph in the city.

On a visit to the Old Town Hall, you can visit the exhibits in the various rooms of the building, get a behind the scenes look at the figurines of the Astronomical Clock, and the best part, enjoy the view from the tower.

To get to the top of the tower, you will ride an elevator most of the way to the top. From this point, it is another short elevator ride or a 5-minute walk up a large, spiraling ramp. Finally, it is one final climb up a narrow, metal spiral staircase, so you will have to climb a few steps, but that’s nothing compared to the other tower climbs on this list.

So, if you want an elevated view of Prague without a massive stair climb, this is the best tower to visit.

The elevator and ramp in the Old Town Hall tower

From the top of the Old Town Hall tower you get 360° views of Prague. It’s one of the best views of Prague and you can snap the iconic photo of the Týn Church and Staroměstské náměstí square.

Old Town Square

A view across the snowy rooftops in December

2. Old Town Bridge Tower

For another classic view of Prague, climb the steps of the Old Town Bridge Tower (Staroměstská mostecká věž). This tower sits at the eastern end of the Charles Bridge and from here you get the iconic view of Charles Bridge with the backdrop of Prague Castle. It’s not to be missed.

Construction on this tower began in 1357. Imagine the events that took place during this tower’s lifetime.

Old Town Bridge Tower

The view in December

The view in May

3. Lesser Town Bridge Tower

This tower is located on the western end of the Charles Bridge, opposite from the Old Town Bridge Tower (Malostranské mostecké věže). It doesn’t get quite the same number of visitors as the Old Town Bridge Tower but in our opinion, the views from here are some of the best in Prague. Not only do you get a unique view of the Charles Bridge but you also get wonderful views of Mala Strana, Prague Castle, and the dome of St. Nicholas Church.

On a visit here, you’ll climb the taller of the two towers. The smaller tower is Judith’s Tower.

4. Powder Tower (Prašná brána)

The Powder Tower is a gothic tower located to the east of Staroměstské náměstí and the heart of the old town. It doesn’t have the same iconic views as the towers already mentioned, but you still get a very nice view of Prague’s old town. It also tends to be less visited than many other places on this list.

The Powder Tower is one of the original 13 city gates in the Old Town. Construction began in 1475. In the 17th century it was used to store gunpowder, giving it the name it still has today.

5. Charles Bridge

No steps to climb this time, just a leisurely stroll across one of Europe’s most famous pedestrian bridges.

The Charles Bridge (Karlov Most) runs from the Old Town to Mala Strana. Walking across this bridge is one of Prague’ top experiences.

It is an extremely photogenic walk, with views of the Prague Castle, Vltava River, Old Town Tower Bridge, and Lesser Town Tower Bridge. Thirty statues line the bridge, each with an important history.

The view of the Lesser Town Tower Bridge, St. Nicholas Church, and St. Vitus Cathedral from Charles Bridge

Mala Strana and Prague Castle

6. Prague Castle

Prague Castle is the largest castle in the world. There is a long list of things to see and do in the castle, including a few viewpoints where you can get a great view of Prague.

From the Lobkowicz Palace Restaurant and Café, there is an outdoor terrace with a panoramic view of the city. Here’s the view.

The view from Lobkowicz Palace

For an even better view (and no need to purchase a ticket to visit the castle), there is a terrace with a similar but slightly better view of Prague. It is called Vyhlídka Na Opyši and is located just outside of the castle. Here’s the view.

The view from Vyhlídka Na Opyši

A third place to get a great view from Prague Castle is from the tower of the St. Vitus Cathedral, mentioned next.

7. The South Tower of St. Vitus Cathedral

St. Vitus Cathedral forms the centerpiece of Prague Castle. From throughout the city, you can see the church spires rising up from the castle. Climbing the South Tower of St. Vitus Cathedral puts you at one of the highest points in the city so it may come as no surprise that the view from the tower is pretty awesome.

However, it takes some work to get here.

To get to the top of the tower, you will climb a tight spiral stone staircase most of the way. It is 287 steps in total, according to the official website.

Your reward is 360° views of Prague. From this elevated position, you can see just about every landmark in this beautiful city.

8. St. Nicholas Church Bell Tower

St. Nicholas Church is located in Mala Strana, a short walk from Prague Castle.

This Baroque Church was constructed between 1704 and 1755 and was dedicated to St. Nicholas. Climbing the tower of the church gives you a very nice view of the Lesser Town of Prague.

This is one of the most interesting towers to climb. Instead of a monotonous climb up a spiral stone staircase, this tower has wooden steps that are broken up into various sections and always changing direction, which really helps to keep things interesting.

When you climb the tower, there are two different viewpoints to visit. As you get near the top, look for a door to the right that opens up to an outdoor terrace. This is best viewing option from the tower, with unobstructed 360° views of the city.

Back inside, continue up the stairs to the very top. You’ll end up in a small room with windows offering partial views of the city.

9. The Dancing House

The Dancing House, also called Ginger and Fred, is a unique looking building famous for its deconstructivist architecture. Photographing the outside of this building is a popular thing to do in Prague but you can also visit the upper terrace for panoramic views of Prague. This is also a hotel and restaurant.

Dancing House

10. Petrin Tower

This tower, designed to resemble the Eiffel Tower, just on a smaller scale, offers another breathtaking view of Prague. It was built in 1891. The Petrin Tower sits on Petrin Hill, in a gardenlike setting west of the Vltava River.

This is the highest viewpoint of the city and from here you get a sweeping view of Prague.

Best Views of Prague: On a Map

Our Favorite Views of Prague

All of the viewpoints listed above are well worth the time and effort, but here are our favorite views of Prague.

The Old Town Hall Tower offers one of the best views in Prague (a bird’s eye view of the Týn Church and Staroměstské náměstí). An elevator takes you most of the way to the top, so it is a great option for all ages and ability levels.

For the iconic view of Charles Bridge and Prague Castle, climb the Old Town Bridge Tower.

The Lesser Town Bridge Tower is underrated. You’ll climb fewer steps than the Old Town Bridge Tower and get a very nice view of Charles Bridge and Mala Strana.

If you don’t mind rolling out of bed early, strolling across Charles Bridge at sunrise is an unforgettable experience.

It’s also worth visiting the South Tower of St. Vitus’ Cathedral or Petrin Tower if you want elevated, sweeping views of Prague.

Photo taken from the Old Town Hall Tower

9 Objects in 365 Days

This multi-ticket costs CZK 990 and includes 9 attractions in Prague: Lesser Town Bridge Tower, Old Town Bridge Tower, Old Town Hall Tower, St. Nicholas Bell Tower, Powder Tower, Petrin Tower, The Clementium, the Mirror Maze, and the New Mill Water Tower.

If you plan to climb a lot of towers in Prague, it could be worth it to purchase this pass.

Learn more here.

If you have any questions about the best views of Prague, or if you want to share your favorite views, let us know in the comment section below.

More Information for Your Trip to Prague

PRAGUE: Get started with our article Best Things to Do in Prague. Plan your time with our One Day Prague Itinerary and 2 Days in Prague Itinerary. Take a look at our Guide to Prague Castle for lots of helpful tips for your visit. And here are the best restaurants and bars in Prague.

CHRISTMAS IN PRAGUE: If you will be visiting Prague in December, don’t miss our guide to the best Christmas markets in Prague, which also includes other festive things to do in the city.

CESKY KRUMLOV: In our Guide to Cesky Krumlov, learn how to plan your day trip from Prague.

CENTRAL EUROPE ITINERARY: Learn how to put together Budapest, Vienna, and Prague together in our 10 day Central Europe Itinerary.

GERMANY: The Bastei Bridge is a beautiful place to visit in Saxony, Germany. Learn about the best things to do in Berlin, how to day trip to Rakotzbrücke, and how to spend 10 days in Bavaria.

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