Gardens Below Prague Castle

Zahrady pod Hradem (Gardens Below the Castle), clinging to the southern slopes beneath Prague Castle, form a breathtaking series of terraced Baroque gardens offering one of the most spectacular—and tranquil—ways to experience the city’s historic skyline. Once private aristocratic retreats, these gardens—Ledebour Garden, Small and Large Palffy Gardens, Kolowrat Garden, and the Small Fürstenberg Garden—are now united into a single complex open to the public during the warmer months.

Each garden is laid out on steep terrain and connected by ornate staircases, balustrades, pavilions, and viewing terraces. Designed in the 17th and 18th centuries, they reflect the ambition and elegance of the nobility that once lived here, with symmetrical parterres, romantic loggias, and dramatic views across Malá Strana’s red rooftops to the Vltava River.

The Ledebour Garden is especially notable for its richly decorated sala terrena and stucco reliefs. The Palffy Gardens impress with their vertical design and vine-covered pergolas, while the quiet Kolowrat Garden and the secluded Fürstenberg Garden offer peaceful spots for contemplation. Together, they feel like a secret sanctuary hidden in plain sight.

💡 Top Tip 💡

These gardens are best visited in the morning or late afternoon, when the terraces are quiet and the light is ideal for photography. They are accessed from Valdštejnská Street, just behind the Malostranská Metro station—a lesser-known entrance that makes them easy to combine with visits to Wallenstein Garden or St. Nicholas Church.

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📅 Plan your visit

 

🕒 Opening Hours:

Apr & Oct: 10:00–18:00

May–Sep: 10:00–19:00

🌐 Buy tickets online
🎟 On-site: Tickets available at Ledebour Garden entrance, Valdštejnská 3

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🍴Where to eat : 

(Here are some suggestions. All are within 7 min walking from your current location).

 

[$]

- Bake Shop Little Bakery (Artisan bakery & café with homemade treats) 4.5⭐ 

- Melichar Trósts (Modern Czech bistro with creative cuisine and local wines) 4.4⭐ 

 

[$]

- Krčma U krále Barbantského (Medieval tavern with hearty Czech fare and live shows) 4.6⭐ 

- El Pablo (Steakhouse & European cuisine with cozy ambiance) 4.3⭐ 

- Vojanův dvůr (Historic brewery restaurant with garden) 4.1⭐ 

- St. Thomas Brewery Bar (Historic brewery bar with craft beers and Czech cuisine) 4.7⭐ 

 

[$$]

- SIU Restaurant (Modern European cuisine in a stylish setting)5.0⭐ 

- U malířů 1543 (Fine dining in historic Renaissance house) 4.7⭐ 

 

[$$]

- Coda Restaurant (Fine dining with panoramic rooftop terrace) 4.6⭐ 

- Brick's (Modern European cuisine with river views) 4.5⭐