Tickets, opening hours, funicular timetable, the best views, Mirror Maze, Strahov Monastery & everything else on the hill — all in one honest guide
Petřín Hill is one of Prague’s great underused pleasures — a forested hilltop park rising 327 metres above the city, holding a miniature Eiffel Tower with the best panoramic view in Prague, a disorienting mirror maze, rose gardens, baroque walls and one of the finest monastery libraries in Central Europe. Most visitors take the funicular up and the tower lift to the top. The ones who linger for two hours and walk back down through the gardens have a significantly better afternoon.
Jump to Any Section
Petřín Tower — What to Expect at the Top
The Petřín Lookout Tower (Petřínská rozhledna) is Prague’s best elevated viewpoint — and the argument for that is straightforward. From the top of the 63.5-metre iron tower, perched on a hilltop already 327 metres above sea level, you are looking down on the entire city from an angle that no other viewpoint provides. Prague Castle is at your eye level to the north. Old Town Square and the cluster of Gothic spires are spread below to the east. The Vltava makes its long bend southward. On a clear day — and clarity is common in Prague’s autumn and winter — the Bohemian highlands are visible on the horizon.
What makes Petřín Tower different from the city’s other elevated options — the Old Town Hall tower, the Powder Tower, the Žižkov TV Tower — is the combination of height plus setting. You are not looking out from within the dense urban fabric of the city; you are standing above a forested hilltop park, which means the view includes the green canopy of Petřín Hill itself in the foreground, the rooftops of Malá Strana below, and the full sweep of the city beyond. It is also significantly less crowded than the Old Town Hall tower, which queues form for from mid-morning on summer days.
You can reach the observation deck by 299 steps (a moderately strenuous climb in a tight spiral staircase) or by the lift, which carries visitors to the upper gallery. The staircase is inside the tower’s iron lattice structure — on the way up you pass through the framework itself, which is a better architectural experience than simply being encased in an elevator shaft. The observation deck has open-air railings on all sides and is genuinely exposed — in wind or cold, it feels it. In summer, expect a slight queue for the lift during peak hours (11 AM–2 PM). Arriving at opening time or after 4 PM resolves this entirely.
History of Petřín Tower
The Petřín Tower was built in 1891 for the General Land Centennial Exhibition — a grand industrial exposition held in Prague to celebrate 100 years since the first Czech industrial exhibition of 1791. The exhibition covered the Holešovice exhibition grounds and parts of Stromovka Park and was intended to demonstrate Bohemia’s industrial and cultural development to an international audience.
The tower was explicitly inspired by the Eiffel Tower, which had been completed in Paris just two years earlier in 1889 and had caused a sensation across Europe. The Czech Tourist Club commissioned a scaled-down version — at 63.5 metres, roughly one-fifth the height of Gustave Eiffel’s original — designed by architect František Prášil and engineer František Vejrych in the same iron lattice style. It was constructed in a remarkably short time and opened to visitors during the 1891 exhibition.
Unlike the Eiffel Tower, which was originally intended to be a temporary structure and was nearly demolished several times, the Petřín Tower proved immediately and permanently popular with Prague residents and was retained after the exhibition closed. It was extended and renovated in 1919 and again in the 1950s when a television broadcasting transmitter was added. A significant renovation in 1992 restored the original iron lattice structure and upgraded the visitor facilities. The tower has been open to the public almost continuously since 1891 — making it one of Prague’s most durable attractions.
The Hunger Wall (Hladová zeď) that runs across Petřín Hill below the tower is an older historical layer entirely — a 14th-century fortification built by Charles IV using unemployed workers during a famine year, intended simultaneously to feed the poor through paid labour and to extend Prague’s defensive walls. The wall still runs for over a kilometre across the hillside and is visible from the tower’s upper gallery.
Tickets & Prices 2025
| Ticket | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tower — Adult | CZK 150 (~€6) | Stairs or lift access to observation deck |
| Tower — Child (6–15) | CZK 100 (~€4) | Under 6 free |
| Tower — Senior (65+) | CZK 100 (~€4) | ID required |
| Tower + Mirror Maze — Adult | CZK 250 (~€10) | Best value — covers both main attractions |
| Tower + Mirror Maze — Child | CZK 160 (~€6.50) | — |
| Mirror Maze only — Adult | CZK 150 (~€6) | Includes diorama of Battle of Blaník |
| Mirror Maze only — Child | CZK 100 (~€4) | — |
| Funicular | Standard Prague transport ticket | 24hr pass, 72hr pass or single ride ticket |
- Online tickets save queuing at the ticket desk, especially on summer weekends
- Tiqets — Petřín Tower & Mirror Maze tickets · skip-the-line access
- Tiqets — All Prague attraction tickets & experiences in one place
- Go City Prague Pass — Petřín Tower + 30 other Prague attractions on one pass
- Tiqets — Prague City Pass · multi-attraction value including Petřín
If you are planning to visit Prague Castle, the Jewish Quarter and Petřín on the same trip, the Go City Prague Pass covers all three and saves significantly on individual entry fees. Calculate your saving based on your planned attractions before buying.
Opening Hours 2025
Petřín Tower — Seasonal Opening Hours
The park and gardens surrounding the tower are open 24 hours, year-round, free of charge. Only the tower itself and the Mirror Maze require tickets and have opening hours. The funicular operates from approximately 9:00 AM to 11:30 PM year-round (subject to maintenance closures — check the DPP Prague public transport website before visiting).
The Petřín Funicular — Complete Guide
The Petřín funicular (lanovka) is one of Prague’s oldest and most enjoyable public transport experiences — a counterbalanced cable car that has been hauling passengers up Petřín Hill since 1891, the same year the tower was built. The current cars date from 1985 (modernised 1999) and the journey takes approximately 3–5 minutes, climbing through the forested hillside with expanding views of Malá Strana below as you ascend.
Funicular Stations
- Újezd (bottom) — The lower station on Újezd Street in Malá Strana, directly accessible from tram stops Újezd (trams 9, 15, 22, 23) or a 10-minute walk from Charles Bridge. This is where you board going up.
- Nebozízek (middle) — The mid-station stop, adjacent to Restaurant Nebozízek with its terrace views over the city. You can alight here to eat, then reboard a later car to continue upward.
- Petřín (top) — The upper station at the top of the hill, a 3-minute walk from the tower. This is the standard exit for tower visitors.
Funicular Tickets — Important
The funicular uses standard Prague public transport tickets — the same tickets valid on trams, metro and buses. You do not need to buy a special funicular ticket. Options:
- Single ride ticket (CZK 30) — Valid for 30 minutes on any transport. Covers one funicular journey. Buy from machines at Újezd station or in advance.
- 24-hour pass (CZK 120) — Covers unlimited transport including funicular all day. Best value if you are also using trams and metro.
- 72-hour pass (CZK 330) — Same as 24-hour but for three days. Excellent value for most visits of 3+ days.
For full guidance on Prague’s public transport tickets and passes, read our complete Prague public transport guide.
How to Get to Petřín Hill
The easiest and most enjoyable way up. Take tram 9, 15, 22 or 23 to Újezd stop in Malá Strana, then walk 2 minutes to the funicular lower station. The tram from Old Town Square (stop: Staroměstské náměstí) to Újezd takes about 8 minutes on tram 22.
Multiple paths lead up the hill from Malá Strana. The most pleasant starts near the Kinský Garden (Náměstí Kinských) — a steady uphill path through forested gardens reaching the rose garden and tower from the south. Also accessible directly from Strahov Monastery at the top, approaching from the Hradčany direction.
- Cross Charles Bridge westward into Malá Strana
- Follow Mostecká Street to Malostranské náměstí square
- Take Karmelitská Street south for 8 minutes to Újezd Street
- Turn right — funicular station is visible, or continue walking uphill
- Total walking time from Charles Bridge: approx 25–30 minutes including hill
If you are visiting Prague Castle and Hradčany, consider walking south from the castle along the ridge to Strahov Monastery, then descending through Petřín Hill to the funicular and back to Malá Strana. This gives you the whole hilltop in a single downhill walk — one of the great Prague afternoon routes, and completely free except for tower entry.
What Else Is on Petřín Hill
Most visitors come for the tower and leave. The hill has considerably more to offer — allow an extra hour if any of the following appeal:
A genuine 19th-century mirror maze — not a modern installation but a disorienting labyrinth of angled mirrors installed in 1891 alongside the tower. The maze leads into a large diorama room depicting the defence of Prague against the Swedes in 1648, painted in vivid period detail across a curved panoramic canvas. Genuinely confusing, genuinely fun and completely unlike anything else in Prague. With children it is at least as entertaining as the tower view.
A formal terraced rose garden immediately south of the tower, maintained by the city and free to enter. At peak bloom in June and July it is one of the most photogenic spots on the hill. The garden benches face south with views over the city — a good picnic spot in good weather. In late summer the roses are largely finished but the garden remains pleasant and uncrowded.
The public astronomical observatory on Petřín Hill has been open since 1928 and offers evening telescope sessions on clear nights. Daytime visits include solar observation and exhibitions on astronomy and cosmology. One of the most underrated attractions on the hill — book evening sessions in advance as they are popular and spaces are limited.
The long stone wall running across Petřín Hill is a medieval fortification built by Charles IV in 1360–1362, funded by the royal treasury and built using unemployed workers during a famine year — giving the poor paid labour while extending Prague’s city walls. The wall runs for over a kilometre and is visible from multiple points on the hill, most dramatically from the funicular as you pass through it. A small gate with the original stonework is accessible on foot near the upper funicular station.
A 10-minute walk north from the tower along the hilltop brings you to Strahov Monastery — a Premonstratensian monastery founded in 1143 with two of the most extraordinary Baroque library halls in Europe. The Theological Hall and Philosophical Hall are both accessible to visitors on a single ticket. Photography is restricted (and enforced) but the view from the doorways into each library is sufficient — floor-to-ceiling books, painted ceilings and the smell of four centuries of accumulated knowledge. The monastery brewery (Klášterní pivovar Strahov) produces excellent beer served in the adjacent pub — the best post-tower beer stop in Prague.
- A guided Malá Strana & Petřín tour covers the hill, Charles Bridge, the castle district and the baroque gardens in one well-structured half-day
- Tiqets — Prague historical tours · Malá Strana, Petřín & castle district
- WeGoTrip — Self-guided audio tours of Prague · explore Petřín & Malá Strana at your own pace
- Klook — Prague half-day tours · small group & private options
Suggested Half-Day Itinerary — Petřín & Malá Strana
Petřín Hill works best as part of a broader Malá Strana afternoon. Here is the route that gets the most out of the area with the least backtracking:
Charles Bridge — Early Morning
Start on Charles Bridge at opening time when it is still quiet. Walk westward into Malá Strana. This is the best time on the bridge — no tour groups, morning light on the castle.
Malá Strana Streets
Walk south through Malá Strana towards Újezd — past St. Nicholas Church (look inside if it is open), through the quiet residential streets of Malá Strana that most visitors never reach.
Funicular Up — Újezd Station
Board the funicular at Újezd. Ride to the top station (Petřín). The hill is quieter at this hour than at midday — the tower queue is minimal or nonexistent at 10 AM.
Petřín Tower
Climb the 299 steps (or take the lift) to the observation gallery. Allow 30–45 minutes including the views and descent. This is the clearest part of the morning before any haze develops.
Mirror Maze & Rose Garden
Walk 3 minutes south to the Mirror Maze. Allow 30 minutes inside. Then walk through the Rose Garden — in summer this is at its best; in other seasons still pleasant and quiet.
Walk to Strahov Monastery
Walk north along the hilltop (10 minutes, flat path) to Strahov Monastery. Visit the library halls (CZK 150 — worth it). Have lunch or an afternoon beer at the monastery brewery — the outdoor terrace has views across the city.
Descend to Prague Castle or Funicular Back Down
From Strahov you can walk 10 minutes east to Prague Castle for the afternoon, or return to the funicular top station and ride back down to Újezd for the rest of your day in Malá Strana or Old Town.
Practical Tips for Visiting Petřín
- Best time to visit: 9–11 AM on any day of the week. You beat tour groups to the funicular and reach the tower before the midday crowds. Sunset visits (the tower is open until 10 PM in summer) are the second-best option for photography.
- Worst time to visit: Saturday and Sunday between 11 AM and 3 PM in July and August. The funicular queue backs up and the tower lift has a 20–30 minute wait. Go early or late.
- Wear comfortable shoes: Even taking the funicular, the hilltop involves walking on cobblestone and gravel paths. The descent from Strahov Monastery to Malá Strana is steep in places.
- Bring a layer: The observation deck is fully open and exposed. In autumn and winter it is noticeably colder and windier at the top than at street level in central Prague. In summer it provides excellent natural air conditioning.
- Photography: The tower interior allows photography. From the observation deck, wide-angle or standard focal lengths work best — the view is panoramic rather than distant-subject, and a telephoto lens is less useful than at ground-level city viewpoints.
- The park is free: Walking, picnicking and sitting in the gardens on Petřín Hill costs nothing. On a sunny day, many Prague residents come here specifically to sit in the rose garden or on the hill slopes with food and drink from the supermarket. This is entirely acceptable and very pleasant.
- Funicular maintenance: Check dpp.cz for current funicular status before visiting, especially October–March when maintenance closures are more frequent.
- Children: Petřín is excellent for families — the Mirror Maze is universally enjoyed by children, the hill is safe and green, and the funicular itself is an event rather than just transport. Budget 3 hours with children rather than 2.
More Prague Attraction Guides
- Prague Castle Complete Guide — 10 min walk from Petřín via Strahov; combine both in one afternoon
- Charles Bridge Guide — the natural starting point for a Malá Strana & Petřín afternoon
- Jewish Quarter (Josefov) Guide — pair with Petřín for a full Prague day
- Best Rooftop Bars in Prague — other elevated views if the tower queue is long
- Malá Strana Neighbourhood Guide — where to stay and eat near Petřín Hill
- Prague Public Transport Guide — full guide to tram tickets, passes and the funicular fare system
- 3 Days in Prague Itinerary — where Petřín fits into a complete Prague trip
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Visit Petřín Tower?
Book tickets online and arrive at 10 AM — the tower queue is minimal at opening time and the morning light on the castle is the best of the day.
Book Tower + Mirror Maze Tickets Get a Prague City PassThis article contains affiliate links. If you book through them, HelloPrague earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend services we genuinely believe will improve your Prague visit. Full disclosure
grozdan44