11 Magical spots to watch the sunset in Prague

Sunsets in Prague are magical. Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, whatever the time of day or weather. As the sky turns fiery orange and pink behind the City of a Hundred Spires, until the ‘blue hour’ of twilight, it’s a breathtaking sight.

My guide to watching the sunset in Prague takes you from the Baroque statues of the Charles Bridge and spires of St Vitus Cathedral to some of the city’s medieval towers, and some Prague parks and beer gardens just outside the city centre.

I hope this guide helps you see some magical Prague Sunsets.

The centre of Prague – where most visitors spend most of their time – is small and compact, so the majority of the best sunset in Prague locations are within a small area

Most of the Prague sunset viewpoints we recommend are along the Vltava river in Prague, or close by in the Old Town or New Town

The sun sets in Prague behind either Prague Castle (and St Vitus Cathedral) or Petřin Hill for most of the year

During the shortest days of the year, around the December 21^st winter solstice and Christmas, the Prague sunset time is around 4 pm (1600). There are only around 8 hours of daylight at this time of year.

The latest time for sunsets in Prague is 9.15 pm (2115), which occurs around the summer solstice, June 21^st. Prague summer days are long, with well over 16 hours of sunlight possible, and including pre-dawn, dusk and twilight, there are less than six hours of black night sky.

The Charles Bridge is a must do in Prague for any visitor to the Czech capital. The medieval stone bridge is lined with 17^th and 18^th century Baroque statues (mostly of saints).

At both ends there is an ensemble of towers and domes that astonish me even after over two years living in Prague.  Try to catch at least one sunset on Charles Bridge if possible.

The backdrop for a Charles Bridge sunset includes St Vitus Cathedral (from halfway along) or, if you’re closer to the Mala Strana (western) side, the Lesser Town Bridge Tower and dome of St Nicholas Church.

Charles Bridge is an incredible place for sunsets in Prague but, whisper it, it’s even better for seeing sunrise in Prague.

As you look towards the Old Town before dawn, the Old Town Bridge Tower, the spires of the Klementinum and the dome of St Francis of Assisi church form a magical silhouette skyline. Watch the performance as the sun begins to peek through.

For Prague sunrise and sunset times, check this link. And get there an good hour before sunrise.      

The Old Town Bridge Tower is one of the most famous landmarks of Prague, dominating the skyline as you look from Charles Bridge towards Prague Old Town. 

It’s also one of the best viewpoints in Prague, both during the daytime and at sunset, looking across the Charles Bridge towards Mala Strana and Prague Castle.

Its opening hours vary through the year – check the link above – but you can enjoy sunsets in Prague from this superb vantage point between June and August and from late October through to March.

And while you’re up there, take a look in the opposite direction to Křižovnické náměstí, one of the loveliest of Prague squares.

If you’re visiting Prague in winter, sunny days aren’t very common, but when you do get them, you often get vivid red and pink streaks in the sky at sunset.

See Also: Photographing Prague – The Best Photo Locations In Prague

The Powder Tower (Prašná brána) is a magnificent late Gothic gateway to the Old Town, and one of our favourite places to watch sunsets in Prague.

It’s located next to the New Town, on the corner of Náměstí Republiky next to the gorgeous Art Nouveau Municipal House (Obecni dum).

We rate it one of best towers in Prague to visit, because it has superb views in all directions. At sunset you get one of the best views of Prague, with the fairytale Gothic spires of Our Lady Before Tyn Church and St Vitus Cathedral and Prague Castle off to the right.

It’s an incredible sight best seen to full effect in the winter months, though you can also enjoy sunsets in Prague from there in March, June to August and late October and November (same opening hours as the Old Town Bridge Tower).

This is one of the best rooftop terraces in Prague, with a prime view across Old Town Square to the Old Town Hall, its Gothic Tower and the wondrous spires of the Church of Our Lady Before Tyn.

When I visited I had to shell out for a glass of champagne (around 300 CZK; $13 or £10) and I could then stay as long as I wanted to capture the winter sunset light on the buildings.

Now you have to pay an entrance fee of 250 CZK ($11 or £8) and then you get a glass of champagne ‘free’. Alternatively you get to see everything for free if you dine at the restaurant there.

Anyone with an interest in Prague architecture should head down the riverfront to the Dancing House, the first notable post-Communist building in Prague.

Partly designed by Frank O Gehry (of Guggenheim Museum Bilbao fame), it has become one of the most popular sights to see in Prague. From some angles it resembles a dancing couple, and Gehry himself nicknamed it ‘Fred and Ginger’.

It’s also a great place for watching sunsets in Prague. Enter the main lobby – which serves as the reception for the Dancing House Hotel – and catch the lift to the seventh floor.

Climb the flight of stairs to reach the Glass Bar, where you can sit inside or head out onto the terrace.

The view outside is fantastic. You look along one of the most beautiful Prague streets, Masarykovo nábřeží, with its handsome Art Nouveau mansions and the splendour of the National Theatre just beyond. This looks amazing in sunset light.

If you manage to grab yourself a spot in the longer evenings of spring or summer, stay around for a classic Prague sunset, as the sky glows orange behind the silhouette of Prague Castle and the spires of St Vitus.

As well as being the focal point of many sunsets in Prague, the Castle (Pražsky hrad) is a great location for catching some as well. In winter, the sun disappears from view early, only to light up the sky behind the spires of Strahov Monastery (also see below), which look wonderful along the lamp-lit Ke Hradu.

The area just below Hradčanské náměstí, a few metres uphill from Ke Hradu, also offers outstanding views, especially so as the sunset light falls on the domes, spires and towers below.

Also try to seek out another of the most beautiful places in Prague, the viewpoint below the Black Tower (Černá věz). At sunset in spring and summer you’re treated to late golden sunlight flooding the centuries-old skyline of the churches and towers of Mala Strana, an extraordinary sight.

The Baroque twin spires of the Strahov Monastery, between Petřin Hill and Prague Castle district, are ideally located for a dramatic sunset in Prague, especially during the autumn and winter months.

The Strahov spires are visible from many vantage points, especially across the river in the Old Town. We particularly like the view from the small park next to Manes Bridge (Manesuv most) with the dome of St Nicholas Church to its right.

We also strongly recommend visiting the monastery, primarily to visit the astounding Baroque Strahov Library (a considerably better experience than the Klementinum Library across the river). While you’re there, take a look at the splendid Baroque church next door – one of the finest churches in Prague.

The Hanavsky Pavilion is a wonderful Baroque and Art Nouveau concoction on the Letna Park ridge overlooking the city, and it’s one of the best places in Prague to enjoy the sunset.

The Pavilion has a small beer garden, and there’s a viewpoint just outside, from which you have a superb view of the river and main bridges in Prague. There is also a great view over the spires of Old Town Prague from there.

In winter, the sun sets behind Petřin Hill, so on a clear day the dusky sky glows a vivid pink, the last of the colour lingering long before giving way to the night. In summer, the city looks wonderful in the late golden sunlight, and there are more viewpoints as you walk along the ridge.

The Prague Metronome is a popular Prague landmark, built on the site of the widely loathed statue of Stalin which was demolished in 1962. A little further on, the Letna Park Beer Garden offers another fine panorama over the city and Zizkov TV Tower to go with your cold glass of Pilsner Urquell.

If you walk from the ridge at Letna Park towards Holešovice and the Sparta Prague football stadium, keep an eye on the horizon to your left.  As you walk further away from the trees towards the busy main road, Milady Horakove, the spires of St Vitus Cathedral come into view.

It’s not the most obvious spot for a sunset in Prague, but from close to the main road you get a great – and different – view of St Vitus Cathedral on the horizon, looking stunning against the pink sunset sky.

Vyšehrad is the second castle in Prague, around 4 km (2.5 miles) upstream from the more famous Prague Castle.  It stands on a rocky bluff overlooking the river, and commands fantastic views in both directions.

As you look north down the river, you get a great view of the city and Prague Castle, and this looks particularly beautiful at sunset, especially during the summer months.

Like Prague Castle, Vyšehrad is of great importance to Czechs, as it’s the traditional home of the Přemyslid rulers of Bohemia.  

Within Vyšehrad Castle there is a splendid neo-Gothic Basilica, the Cemetery with tombs and memorials to many famous Czechs, one of the most beautiful Prague parks, and two locations to enjoy sunsets in Prague.

The first of these is a footpath just behind the Cemetery, close to the Basilica and Rio’s restaurant, at the top of a flight of steps leading down to the river.

The second Vysehrad sunset spot is in the Hospudka Na Hradbach, one of our favourite beer gardens in Prague.  It’s another one for a balmy summer evening, with a great view towards the suburb of Nusle, its vast bridge and the towers of Prague Bastion and New Town. 

Riegrovy Sady – Rieger Gardens – is one of the best places to kick off a Prague night out.  It’s located in the suburb of Vinohrady, a few minutes’ walk from the Zizkov TV Tower, and is well-known for its beer garden, which is at the top of the hill, and is best accessed from Na Svihance.

The beer garden itself doesn’t offer much of a view. Instead of lingering there, continue a minute or two towards the park, and find yourself a spot on the slope to sit and watch the sun set over the city and St Vitus Cathedral. One of the best things to do in Prague.   

Whether you’re enjoying the historic beauty of Charles Bridge or relaxing in a tucked-away beer garden, the sunsets in Prague are unforgettable. I hope you get to see a few in the magical city of a hundred spires.

I have lived in Prague for four years, and written many more guides on the city. The best place to begin is my guide to the best Things To Do In Prague, which gives you a great overview of the city – ideal for first-time visitors. Also see my guide to the best landmarks of Prague so you know all the main sights.

Don’t miss my guide to the most famous landmark in the city, the Charles Bridge Prague. It’s one of the most beautiful bridges in the world – just set your alarm early for sunrise to avoid the crowds!

Check out my guide to the sights along the Vltava River in Prague, exploring the sights along both sides of the River. And don’t miss my Prague area guides, including Old Town Prague, the stunning old heart of the city.

Don’t miss my guide to New Town Prague, the neighbouring district which is nearly as old. Take a look at my guide to Mala Strana Prague, the gorgeous area between the River and Prague Castle.

Check out more of my themed articles on places to visit in Prague. Don’t miss my guide to the best churches in Prague to visit, And don’t miss my guide to the most beautiful Prague streets. My guide to the best hidden gems in Prague reveals even more amazing places to seek out.

And finally, if you’re intrigued by Prague history, check out my guides to Communist Prague and Prague World War 2 Sites.

David Angel is a British photographer, writer and historian. He is a European travel expert with over 30 years’ experience exploring Europe. He has a degree in History from Manchester University, and his work is regularly featured in global media including the BBC, Condé Nast Traveler, The Guardian, The Times, and The Sunday Times.  David is fluent in French and Welsh, and can also converse in Italian, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Czech and Polish.

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