Letna Park Prague has it all – some of the best viewpoints in Prague, one of the best beer gardens in Prague, beautiful avenues of trees, a gorgeous Art Nouveau pavilion and more. Add in one of the most popular landmarks of Prague, great running and cycling paths and enough space for a mass political protest and you draw quite a crowd.
Here’s our guide to Letna Park, one of the best Prague parks to visit.
Letna Park Prague – An Introduction
Letna Park in Prague occupies a prime position just to the north of the Old Town, and it’s one of the most pleasant places to visit in Prague – and an essential stop if you’re photographing Prague
It overlooks a splendid stretch of the Vltava river in Prague, including many of the most beautiful bridges in Prague
It’s located in the suburbs of Holesovice and Bubenec, in the Prague 7 district
Most of the main Letna Park attractions and sights are located along the ridge overlooking the river
The Park is known as Letenské sady in Czech
There is also an enormous stretch of parkland between the kids’ playground and the Sparta Prague football stadium – many mass political rallies have taken place here, including during the 1989 Velvet Revolution
Letna Beer Garden
Letna is possibly the most famous Prague beer garden, largely on account of the splendid views you get over the city. In spring and summer, the Letna Park beer garden is shady, with the trees around in full flower. We revisited while in Prague in autumn, and the views over the city are more open. Stopping off there for a drink (I went for a Gambrinus, and they also serve Pilsner Urquell) is one of the best things to do in Prague. You can also get burgers and hot dogs there.
Prague Metronome
The red Prague Metronome has been ticking and tocking back and forth since 1991, and has become one of the icons of this great Prague park and, indeed, the city. It’s directly above Cechuv most – the Svatopluk Čech Bridge – and occupies the site of the hated gargantuan statue of Josef Stalin, which was blown up in 1962. The flat area below the Metronome is popular with skateboarders, kids on scooters and runners – the latter also run up the steep steps and slope from the riverside far below.
Hanavsky Pavilion
The late 19th century Hanavsky Pavilion is one of the hidden treasures of Art Nouveau Prague. It’s right next to the best views of the river and city, and has a small beer garden where you can enjoy a drink and take in the panoramic view.
Letna Park Children’s Playground
Letna is one of the best parks to visit if you’re in Prague with kids, and has a great playground to round things off nicely. One part is suitable for younger kids who can climb on the wooden hippos and rock back and forth on the little animal rides. The part for older kids has slides, climbing frames and sandpits.
Things To See In Prague Near Letna Park
Two excellent Prague museums are very close to Letna – the National Agriculture Museum and the National Technical Museum next door. My seven-year-old son and I can vouch for the Agriculture Museum.
Stromovka Park, another of the best parks in Prague, is a 15-minute walk or 10-minute tram ride (head down the hill to Strossmayerovo náměstí and change there for the 17 tram to Vystaviste Holešovice.
The trams make getting around Prague very easy, and the number 12 is only a 5-minute run down the hill from lovely Mala Strana Prague.
Getting To Letna Park
As one of the main parks in Prague, Letna is easy to find and reach. Part of it is directly above the river, and the 15 and 17 trams stop directly below the Metronome at Čechuv most. From there. It’s a short, steep climb up the hill, some routes with long flights of steps, others with less steps and longer slopes.
On the other side of Letna Park, five different tram routes stop close by – the 1,8, 12, 25 and 26. They all stop at Sparta (right outside the football ground), Korunovačni and Letenské . They are all on the same street, Milady Horakové, so take your pick.
Check out these other great Prague parks:
David Angel
David Angel is a British writer and photographer who has been travelling and photographing Europe for over 25 years. His work is regularly featured in worldwide media including the BBC, the Guardian, the Times and the Sunday Times.
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