This is my guide to the stunning Vrtba Garden Prague (Vrtbovská zahrada), a beautiful 18th-century Baroque Garden in the heart of the Czech capital.
This Baroque garden is one of our Prague highlights, close to several other Prague sights in the heart of the Mala Strana Prague district. Yet it feels quite off the beaten path as it’s hidden away behind houses close to the area’s main square, Malostranské náměstí.
You can reach it via an archway and a sign in Czech, pointing you to Vrtbovská Zahrada. You’re immediately transported to another world. Seeing the Vrtba Garden is one of the best things to do in Prague, and this guide will tell you all you need to know about it.
Where To Stay Near The Vrtba Garden In Malá Strana
Hotel Nerudova 211 – exquisite small hotel halfway up the hill to Prague Castle, a gorgeous Baroque house where we spent our honeymoon
Hotel Pod Věží – another magnificent centuries-old hotel, this one in a superb location next door to the tower at the end of the Charles Bridge
Pytloun Old Armoury Hotel – Stara Zbrojnice – wonderful atmospheric 400-year-old building in Mala Strana, and very close to Kampa Park
Hotel William – one of the best mid-range hotels in the Mala Strana and Smichov area, very close to the tram and Ujezd too
Prague Gardens Tours
Two excellent tours take you to the cluster of gardens in the Malá Strana district, with slight variations – both include the Vrtba and Wallenstein Baroque Gardens. I’ve visited all of the locations covered by these tours, both of which are three hours long, and knowing the places so well, would suggest that they are among the most enjoyable walking tours in all of Prague. I highly recommend either of these tours.
Mala Strana Gardens and Baroque Beauty – includes the Vrtba, Wallenstein, Vojanovy Sady, and two Baroque churches close by, St Nicholas and Our Lady Victorious
Prague Renaissance and Baroque Gardens Walking Tour – includes the Vrtba, Wallenstein and Royal Gardens on the hill next to Prague Castle, including Queen Anne’s Summer Palace
What is the Vrtba Garden Prague
The Vrtba Garden is an 18th-century Italian-style Baroque garden and part of the Prague UNESCO World Heritage Site. The garden is built into a hill and has a terraced layout, like some other gardens in Prague. The garden features patterned flower beds and a variety of impressive Baroque statues.
Good to know: The Vrtba Garden offers some of the best viewpoints in the city. With stunning panoramic views of the Malá Strana area, Prague’s finest churches, and the Old Town across the Vltava River.
Best things To See In The Vrtba Garden?
The first thing you see is the magnificent Sala Terrena, or Entrance Hall. It resembles a stone grotto, albeit one stunningly decorated with frescoes.
Walk right out of the Sala Terrena and turn right onto the ground level of the Garden and look back to the magnificent terraces of the Garden. Climb to the first level where the balustrade is adorned with statues and stone vases.
The views of Prague start to develop at this point, with the nearby St Nicholas Church in Malá Strana and the Church of Our Lady Victorious (home to the famous Infant Jesus of Prague statue), themselves examples of the finest Prague architecture from the Baroque period.
Top tip: Continue to the third level for another great Prague view, but there’s more to come yet. There’s a narrow staircase behind the building at the top, and this leads you to the highest viewpoint in the Garden. From here you can see over the towers of the Maltese Church to some of the best-known landmarks of Prague, including the splendid Gothic spires of the Tyn Church.
Vrtba Garden Prague History
The Vrtba Garden dates back to the early 18th century. It’s at the foot of the slope of Petřin Hill, so its topography dictated building upwards. It’s an ingenious Baroque garden in the Italian style, with two terraces above ground level, and a lookout that’s higher still.
It was built by Jan Josef, Count of Vrba, a major official at Prague Castle. He commissioned František Maximilián Kaňka to design the garden, while Matyáš Bernard Braun oversaw the many sculptures and Vacláv Reiner was responsible for the frescoes.
The garden layout was completed by 1720, with the additional sculpture was finished by 1725.
Where Is The Vrtba Garden In Prague?
The Vrtba Garden is one of the best hidden gems in Prague, and although it’s on a main street in Prague city centre, it’s quite easy to walk past it without noticing it.
It’s in the Malá Strana district, often referred to as Prague Lesser Town, around a minute’s walk from the southern end of the area’s main square, Malostranské náměstí, at Karmelitska 25.
How To Get To The Vrtba Garden Prague
Continue up the gentle gradient of Mostecká, one of the prettiest Prague streets with its splendid Baroque mansions, towards the dome and tower of St Nicholas Church, Malá Strana.
You’re almost there already. Turn left at the corner of the square onto Karmelitská, taking the first pedestrian crossing to the other side.
Turn left down the street, go straight across the street on the right (Tržište) and a few metres further on you’ll see an archway with an information board outside.
The main sign points to Vrtbovská Zahrada, and you pass through the archway into a courtyard. The ticket office is on the end on the right.
Good to know: If you’re using the Prague trams, you need to head for Malostranské náměstí. The 12, 15, 20, and 22 services pass through here. Alternatively, the nearest Prague Metro station is Malostranská, a 10-minute walk from the garden.
Vrtba Garden Tickets
The Vrtba Garden Prague is open daily from the beginning of April to the end of October.
Adult tickets cost 120 CZK , children and students pay 95 CZK, and a family ticket costs 350 CZK.
See the beginning of the article for guided tours of the Vrtba and other Prague gardens.
How Long Do You Need To Spend in Vrtbovská zahrada ?
We spent well over an hour in the Garden. It’s one of the most beautiful things to see in Prague, a place to be savoured.
We took our son there, and our visit included playing hide and seek with the Vrtba Garden cat. Other visitors spent around half an hour there, but to really appreciate the Vrtba Garden, an hour is ample.
Top tip: Make sure you see all the levels of the Garden. The upper levels have fantastic views of Prague, and you’ll get some incredible photos of Prague from those levels.
The Vrtba Garden – Our Verdict
The Vrtba Garden is one of the outstanding sights in Prague. It fits in easily with the rest of your Prague sightseeing. You could see it before venturing up Prague Castle Hill, or while exploring Malá Strana and Kampa Island.
Remember that if you visit Prague in winter the Garden is closed. However, if you’re in Prague in springtime, or during summer or autumn, it’s open and worthy of time on any Prague itinerary.
Vrtba Garden Prague – Final Thoughts
I hope that you’ve found this guide interesting, and that it has introduced you to some places that you may not have otherwise discovered.
Having lived in Prague for over four years, I’ve written extensively about my former home city, and here’s a selection of further articles for you to browse through:
Parks and Gardens In Prague
Prague Parks – green escapes, riverside walks, beer gardens and more
Letna Park – one of the largest city parks, with superb views over the city
Stromovka Park – former royal hunting grounds in Holešovice
Petřin Hill – outstanding hillside park with some of the best walks in Prague
Prague Gardens – the stunning formal gardens of Prague
Vrtba Garden – glorious early Baroque terraced garden in Mala Strana
Petřin Hill – outstanding hillside park with some of the best walks in Prague
Top Sights In Prague
55 Amazing Things To Do In Prague – By A Former Local
Charles Bridge Prague – one of the most beautiful bridges in the world
Old Town Square Prague – one of the most beautiful squares in the world
Týn Church Prague – stunning Gothic church with fairytale spires
Landmarks of Prague – 22 unmissable sights in the city
Jewish Prague – all Jewish sites in Prague, including those beyond the Josefov district
Hidden Gems in Prague -27 off the beaten track sights to seek out
How To Visit Prague Zoo – one of the best in Europe
National Museum Prague – the biggest, best Museum in the Czech Republic
Prague by Area
Old Town Prague – one of the most captivating old towns in Europe
New Town Prague – the modern heart of the Czech capital – but a taste of the old is never far away
Malá Strana Prague – the enchanting Baroque ‘Lesser Quarter’ below Prague Castle
Kampa Island Prague– the most beautiful and intriguing of Prague’s islands
Vltava River in Prague– everything there is to see along the river in the Czech capital
Žižkov Prague – the former working class renegade and artists’ hangout, as quirky as ever, with some of the best pubs in Prague
Holešovice Prague – Prague 7, one of the best modern areas to explore in the city
Themed Articles On Prague
Churches in Prague – 20 wondrous churches from St Vitus Cathedral to a modernist masterpiece in Vinohrady
Communist Prague – 18 Fascinating Places To Explore
Sunsets In Prague – the 10 best places to see them
Prague Streets – the city’s most beautiful streets
Prague World War 2 Sites – including the Heydrich Assassination Site and more