Petřin Hill (pronounced “Pet-zheen”) is a major attraction in Prague. The hill is located on the western side of the River Vltava, and its location is marked prominently by a 63.5 metres tall steel tower on its peak.
There are two (2) ways of getting up the hill – either by foot, or by the Petřín funicular railway. Here’s a short guide to both.
First posted 11 August 2017. Updated 18 April 2023.
Hiking up the hill
There are paved trails criss-crossing the hill all the way up, making for a fuss free hike. Feel free to explore different routes, as there is no single correct way to reach the top.
You may find that some of the trails require climbing up a short flight of stairs. A word of warning about these – they can get frozen over by very slippery ice in winter. I learnt about this the hard way when my feet slipped and I slid down the stairs painfully.
If you’re visiting Prague in the summer, do beware that Prague summers can be very hot and cloudless. Take the necessary precautions to avoid getting sunburned, a sunstroke, and/or dehydrated.
Petřín funicular railway
The 132 year old funicular railway is, depending on how you feel, either the easiest way or the laziest way up the hill. The funicular serves 3 stations – the base station Újezd, the middle station Nebozízek, and Petřín at the top of the hill.
The trains run at intervals of 10-15 minutes.
Where is the base station?
The base station, Újezd, is located on (believe it or not!) Újezd street in the Malá Strana district of Prague on the west bank of the Vltava River.
The entrance to the station itself is not located on Újezd. Instead, turn onto the side street U Lanové dráhy (Lanové dráhy means “cable car” in Czech), walk down the street and up the stairs to meet the cobblestone trail, then make a big u turn over the funicular tracks and walk straight on. You will then see the station entrance marked with a bright green sign.
Take note that the funicular gets very busy in the summer. If you can’t find the entrance to Újezd station, just follow the queue.
Google Maps coordinates: 50.082609, 14.403793
Google Maps link: https://goo.gl/maps/kmPG3zndfjZ7degJ6
Can I skip the queue?
Let’s say you’re visiting in the summer, and you see a long queue for the funicular snaking out of Újezd station. You don’t want to walk all the way up the hill, but you also don’t want to spend so much time waiting.
Here’s a solution you could try – begin walking the trail up the hill, and follow the signs to Nebozízek station. From my experience, there was barely anyone waiting for the funicular at Nebozízek in the summer as nobody really wanted to walk any of the trail up in the summer heat.
With any luck, you’ll be able to squeeze into the funicular at Nebozízek.
Do note: Nebozízek station is not sheltered. Beware of the heat.
Buying tickets for the Petřín hill funicular
The funicular is considered a part of the Prague Integrated Transport system (Pražská integrovaná doprava), and is operated by the same operator who runs the Prague Metro, Tram, and Bus systems – Dopravní podnik hl. m. Prahy (DPP).
You do not need to buy a separate ticket for the funicular if you’re already holding a 24 hours or 72 hours public transport ticket. This is because the funicular is included in these 2 tariffs.
If you have a short term ticket (less than 24 hours), or if you do not have a public transport ticket, you have to buy the funicular-only ticket for each leg of the journey. This costs CZK 60 (approx. €2.54) one way, and can be bought from ticket vending machines located at Újezd and Petřín stations.
For more information, please visit the Pražská integrovaná doprava info page for the Funicular at https://pid.cz/en/petrin-funicular/
For a seamless public transport experience in Prague, I recommend buying at least a 24 hours ticket. This costs CZK 120 (approx. €5.00), and gives you fuss free access to the Metro, Tram, Buses, and also the funicular.
How are the trains like?
The trains currently being used on the system dates back to 1985 when the line was renovated after a landslide. Both are essentially small cabins on rails with standing room only.
Like most funiculars, the window facing the direction of travel is the most popular. If you’ve been to the Penang Hill funicular railway in Malaysia, these trains may remind you of the older red and white trains.
In latest developments, DPP is implementing a modernisation project for the Petřín Hill funicular, which will see the replacement of the current 38-year old funicular cabins. According to a DPP press release on 19.9.2022, the new cabins will be built to a winning design by Prague based Anna Marešová Designers.
The renders published by DPP reveal a clean, modern exterior design. The new ever popular front (and rear) windows are a single continuous pane of glass spanning roughly 3/4 of the height of the cabin. The bottom 1/4 of the cabin’s front (and rear) face is fitted out with a glossy black panel that resembles a bezel on a phone, with the DPP logo rendered in white – the contrast makes the logo stand out.
The interior renders show a bright and airy cabin much improved from the current ones. The new cabin is framed on both sides by big glass window panels, and glass windows on the roof will also function as the new ceiling. Seats appear to be finished with a light beige colour, further complementing the bright cabin.
I like the new designs, and I certainly look forward to seeing them in action the next time I’m in Prague – assuming of course the project doesn’t run into any delays.
Visit DPP's website for the press release of the new cabin designs in Czech and English. The press release also features the remaining 3 runner up designs, along with commentary on why these weren't selected.
Mini-exhibition in Petřín station
When I last visited in the summer of 2017, there was a small exhibition on the history of the funicular located in the concourse of the small Petřín station at the peak.
A variety of historical photographs and information are on display, which was a nice way to pass the time while waiting for the train.
Public transport connections to the base of Petřín Hill
The base of the hill and the base funicular station is served by Újezd tram stop, offering Tram lines 9, 12, 15, 20, 22, and 23. Tram lines 9, 22, and 23 head east across the Vltava River to the Old Town (Staré Město), which is useful if you’re staying in that area or if you’re coming from/going to one of the many attractions there.
If you’re heading to or from Prague Central Station (Praha hlavní nádraží), Tram lines 9 and 15 are your friends.
If you’re coming on the Metro, you have the option of either Malostranská on Line A to the north of Újezd, or Anděl on Line B to the south. Both aren’t exactly near Újezd, so an onward tram connection is needed.
- For Malostranská, Tram lines 12, 15, 20, 22, and 23 will take you to Újezd.
- For Anděl, you’ll need Tram lines 9, 12,15, and 20.
If it isn’t already clear, the trams are your best friends in Prague.
External Links
- Pražská integrovaná doprava info page on short and long term tickets for public transport in Prague
- Website of Dopravní podnik hl. m. Prahy, the operating company of public transport in Prague
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