Vrtba Garden

The basics

One of Prague’s best-kept secrets, the terraced Vrtba Garden dates to 1720, its baroque, Italianate roots well-preserved in the manicured rose gardens, architectural elements, fountains, statues, and more. It’s one of Prague’s smaller gardens, but its elevation high on Petřín Hill and its lack of crowds make it a stand-out nonetheless. See Vrtba on a garden tour of Prague, getting a glimpse (and a scent!) of the city in a way most travelers will never experience.

Things to know before you go

• There is a small fee to enter—you’ll see an admission kiosk at the front entrance.

• If you stay at the adjacent Aria Hotel Prague, you can enter the garden directly from your accommodation.

• The garden puts on a pretty—and popular-to-attend—lighting ceremony in early spring and late fall. Check the garden’s website for more information.

How to get there

The Vrtba Garden is easy to find once you locate the signs near Vrtbovský Palace. Find it on the northeastern edges of Petřín Hill, just steps from Charles Bridge and Lesser Town, and look for a door in the high walls. If you aren’t already in the area, you could bike, take public transit, or nab a taxi.

When to get there

Vrtba Garden has seasonal hours, but regardless of the time of year, it’s always open every day of the week. Hours are extended from June to September, when you can visit roughly from 10am to 7pm. There’s no bad time to get there, as crowds are rarely large, but catching the first rays of the sunset from the terraced hills is hard to beat.

The ‘lesser’ rage

Prague’s Old Town may get all the attention, but Lesser Town is more than worth a stroll. Steep streets, cobbled stairways, baroque facades, and fabulous palace gardens like Vrtba can be found at every turn. Book a tour to find all the best spots—the guidebooks won’t always cover this one.