Guide to Petrin Hill: Sights, Things to Do & Cable Car

Petrin is a wooded hill in Prague's Lesser Town with landmarks such as Petrin Tower, the observatory and viewpoints.

At 318 meters, Petrin Hill, also known as Laurenzi Hill, is the highest hill in Prague. It is located on the left bank of the Vltava River, to the west of the Prague city center, and is known mainly for its unique panorama as well as its extensive green areas.

Petrin, which boasts numerous attractions and experiences, is one of the top sights in Prague.

Was kann ich auf dem Petrin Hügel machen

What Can I Do on Petrin Hill?

Petrin Hill near Prague Castle is a popular destination and is considered one of the most romantic places in Prague, especially in the spring. In the middle of the city, it offers an idyllic retreat with its parks and gardens and enjoys great popularity among tourists and locals alike.

In addition to the green spaces, consisting of the Rose Garden, Kinský Garden, Strahov Garden and the Seminary Garden, you can also expect to see quite a few sights on the hill.

Places of Interest:

Petrin Observation Tower: The top of the hill is dominated by the 63.5 meter high Petrin Observation Tower. It is a scaled-down replica of the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the highest lookout point in Prague. In the tower, in addition to a viewing platform at a height of 51 meters, there is a café, a souvenir shop and a small exhibition about the history of the observation tower and hill.
Observatory: The Štefánik Observatory, built in 1928, lets you look up at the starry sky. The observatory, named after the Slovak astronomer Milan Rastislav Štefánik, has three domes containing the main telescopes that allow you to look up at the starry sky. Furthermore, there is a permanent exhibition about astronomy.
Cable Car on the Hill: The cable car, which opened in 1891, takes you on a 510-meter route to Petrin Hill. The ride in the glazed cabin at a height of 130 meters is already a special experience thanks to the magnificent scenery.
Viewing Platform: In addition to the viewing platform in Petrin Tower, there is another viewing platform on the southeast part of the hill.
Monument to the Victims of Communism: Still at the foot of the hill, not far from the bottom station of the cable car at Újezd, there is the Monument to the Victims of Communism. The sculptural group of seven bronze figures commemorating the victims of the communist era in Czechoslovakia was made by the sculptor Olbram Zoubek.
Mirror Maze: A mirror maze near the lookout tower provides fun and entertainment, especially for children. It is the favorite for family outings.
Famine Wall: On the edge of the Kinský Garden you will come across the old Famine Wall. It is a city fortification from the 14th century, built during a famine at the behest of Charles IV.
St. Lawrence Church: The baroque church dates back to the 10th century and is dedicated to St. Lawrence.
Church of St. Michael the Archangel on Mount Petrin: The wooden church from the 18th century originally came from present-day Ukraine and was brought to its present location only in 1929.

Admission, Tickets and Guided Tours

Viewing Tower ticket: To visit the viewing tower, you must purchase an admission ticket. You can find an overview of the current admission prices here.
Ticket Mirror Maze: Visits to the Mirror Maze are possible after purchasing a single or combination ticket. Current prices can be found here.
Combined Ticket: A combined ticket that gives access to the Petrin Observation Tower as well as the mirror maze is also available.
Observatory Ticket: The current entrance fees for the Štefánik Observatory can be found on the official website.
Guided Tours: Guided tours of Petrin and its sights are offered by various private operators.

How Do I Get to Petrin Hill?

Petrin Hill is located in the Lesser Town of Prague. The easiest way to get to Petrin Hill is by cable car. To reach the "Újezd" station, the bottom station of the cable car, it is best to take streetcar lines 9, 12, 15, 20 or 22. Once at the top of the hill, you will find yourself in a park. About 240 meters to the north is the Petrin Observation Tower.

Alternatively, you can climb the hill on foot.

Tip: If you get off one stop earlier ("Nebozízek"), you can visit the Nebozízek restaurant, which also offers a unique view.

Petrin Cable Car

The Petrin cable car from 1891 runs along the route Újezd - Nebozízek - Petřín. It is part of Prague's public transport system and runs every 15 minutes in the winter months and every 10 minutes in the summer months.

The ride lasts about 5 minutes and opens up magnificent views of Prague.

Tickets for the Cable Car: Cable car tickets can be reserved in advance. Booking in advance is recommended on weekends, vacations and vacations.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

How do I get to Petrin Hill?

The easiest way to reach Petrin Hill is by cable car. The cable car station "Újezd" is served by streetcar lines 9, 12, 15, 20 or 22. Alternatively, you can also climb the hill on foot.

Where can I buy a ticket for the cable car to Petrin Hill?

Since the cable car is part of Prague's public transport system, you can use it with a daily, multi-day, monthly or annual ticket and in that case you do not need an additional ticket. Otherwise, the purchase of a one-way ticket is sufficient. Tickets are sold at the bottom station on site. However, the cable car tickets can also be reserved in advance. Booking in advance is recommended on weekends, holidays and vacations.

Where is Petrin Hill?

Petrin Hill is located in the Lesser Town of Prague. It is located on the left bank of the Vltava River, to the west of the city center.

Where does the cable car to Petrin Hill depart from?

The cable car departs from the "Újezd" valley station. It is located barely 100 meters from the "Újezd" streetcar station. After the middle station "Nebozízek", where there is a well-known restaurant, you reach the "Petřín" terminal station after about 5 minutes.

How do I get from the cable car to the Petrin Observation Tower?

Arriving at the top of the hill at the "Petřín" cable car station, you find yourself in a park. Looking around, you can already see the Petrin Observation Tower. After almost 240 meters you will reach the observation tower.

Was kann ich im Aussichtsturm Petrin machen

History of Petrin Hill

The first written mention of Petrin Hill dates back to 1108, when the hill was called Laurenziberg, derived from the 10th century St. Laurentius Church located on the hill. At that time the forest was heavily wooded.

It is only from the 17th century that the name Petrin, probably from the Latin word petrus - rock, comes to the fore. This fact is due to the fact that in its early past the hill was used as a quarry.

From the Middle Ages onwards, part of the heavily wooded hill had to give way to vineyards as well as cultivated land - even today, numerous vineyards can be found on Petrin Hill.

From the 10th century the hill was additionally used as a place of execution. This is also evident from the first written record, when the last members of the Vršovci ruling family were executed here.

Over the centuries, buildings such as the Hunger Wall (14th century), the Petrin Observation Tower, the cable car and the Mirror Maze, which were built on the occasion of the Industrial Exhibition in 1891, the observatory (1929), and the Church of St. Archangel Michael on Petřín Hill, which was moved to the hill from Carpathian Ukraine in 1929, followed.

Even today, Petrin Hill is very forested and is a popular recreation area for the locals as well as tourists from all over the world.

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November 4, 2020