Vyšehrad and Vinohrady: Prague's other castle, privately guided
Three and a half hours with a licensed guide on Prague's other castle hill and in the elegant district next to it, far from the crowds of the Old Town.
- Duration
- 3.5 h
- Format
- Walk and ride
- Group
- Private, only your party
- Start
- Below Vyšehrad by the river, or your hotel
- Walking
- Moderate
- Guide languages
- English, Spanish, Turkish
Tour code: PP-T18
Highlights
- The Cubist houses below Vyšehrad, unique to Prague
- The casemates and the Gorlice hall with original statues from Charles Bridge
- Vyšehrad Cemetery and the Slavín tomb, where Dvořák, Smetana and Mucha rest
- The legend of Princess Libuše and the view from the ramparts over the Vltava
- The Grébovka vineyard and Plečnik's Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Our Lord in Vinohrady
Route and timing
0:00
Cubist houses
The villas and apartment houses that Josef Chochol built below the rock in the years before the First World War.
0:25
Into the fortress
Through the gates to the Rotunda of St Martin, one of the oldest buildings in Prague, from the eleventh century.
0:45Ticket needed
Casemates and Gorlice
The brick tunnels inside the ramparts and the hall that keeps original baroque statues from Charles Bridge, on the site's own guided visit.
1:40
Basilica, cemetery and ramparts
The Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, the graves of Czech composers, painters and writers, and the view over the river where Libuše foretold the glory of Prague.
2:40
Vinohrady
A short tram or car ride to the Grébovka vineyard and its wine pavilion, then Plečnik's church on Jiřího z Poděbrad Square, where the tour ends.
See the stops in order on Google Maps. The final route follows your pace and your wishes.
About this tour
Prague has two castle hills. Everyone climbs to Prague Castle, but Vyšehrad, on its rock above the Vltava, is where Czech legends place the beginning of the city. Today it is a peaceful park with fortress walls, a basilica and the national cemetery, and it looks down on one of the most elegant residential districts in Prague.
Legends, graves and views
According to legend, Princess Libuše stood on this rock and foretold a great city whose glory would touch the stars. The real history is almost as rich: a royal seat in the Middle Ages, a baroque fortress, and since the nineteenth century the resting place of the nation's composers, painters and writers. The Slavín tomb and the graves around it read like a who's who of Czech culture.
Inside the ramparts, the casemates lead to the Gorlice hall, where several original baroque statues from Charles Bridge are kept safe from the weather. Below the rock stand the Cubist houses of Josef Chochol, a style you will not find anywhere else on this scale.
On to Vinohrady
The name Vinohrady means vineyards, and one still grows in the Grébovka park, with a wine pavilion above it. The tour ends at the Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Our Lord, the striking work of the Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik, in a district of cafés and Art Nouveau houses.
Make it part of a bigger plan
The tour fits well with dinner in Vinohrady, a boat trip on the Vltava or a concert in the evening. Send us your dates and we arrange everything in one itemised quote.
Is this tour right for you?
Walking: Moderate
Some hills, steps and cobblestones, at an easy pace with breaks.
- About 3.5 km on foot
- Some steps
- Partly suitable for wheelchair users: tell us your needs and we check each place.
- Possible with a light stroller, although a baby carrier is easier.
- A private car can take the uphill or longer parts.
Prefer less walking? Accessible Prague
Important to know
- Best time
- Afternoon
- Season
- All year
- Cobblestones and slopes: wear comfortable shoes with a good grip.
- Some parts can only be reached by stairs.
Busy dates (May to September, Christmas and New Year) book up early, so write as soon as you know your dates.
What can be added
Tick what you would like in the form below. We check availability and list each item separately in your quote.
- Entry tickets booked in advance
- Private car between the stops
- Beer or wine tasting
- Dinner reservation
Meeting and drop-off
- Your guide or driver meets you in your hotel lobby or at the meeting point, with a sign showing your name.
- It ends where it suits you in the centre, or a car takes you back to your hotel.
- Your confirmation includes the names of your guide and driver and a contact number for the day.
Your guide and driver
A licensed guide with the Czech National Guide Card leads your tour. The guides we work with speak English, Spanish and Turkish, and other languages depending on availability.
Guides, drivers and venues are specialist partners we have worked with for years. You receive their details 24 hours in advance.
Practical information for your tripCombine it with
Frequently asked questions
Is Vyšehrad worth visiting?
Yes, especially on a second visit to Prague or for travellers who like calm places. It has legends, the national cemetery and some of the best river views in the city, with far fewer people than Prague Castle.
Who is buried at Vyšehrad Cemetery?
Many famous Czechs, among them the composers Antonín Dvořák and Bedřich Smetana, the painter Alfons Mucha and the writer Karel Čapek.
Are the statues on Charles Bridge copies?
Most of them are. Several originals are kept in the Gorlice hall at Vyšehrad, which you see on this tour, and others in the National Museum's Lapidarium.
How do we get to Vyšehrad?
By metro to Vyšehrad station, by tram along the river, or by car, which we can arrange.
- Licensed guides only
- Travel agency under Czech law
- Licensed transport partners
- One written, itemised quote
- Reply the same business day
Ask about this tour
Send your preferred date and group size. We confirm availability and send a written quote.
What happens next
- 1
Tell us
Fill in the short form or write an email: dates, group, interests and anything we should know.
- 2
Get your plan
We reply the same business day with a proposed programme and a written, itemised quote.
- 3
Enjoy Prague
Confirm by email and we take care of every booking. You get your driver and guide details 24 hours before.
We reply by email the same business day (Monday to Saturday, 9:00 to 18:00 Prague time).
Asking costs nothing and commits you to nothing. The cancellation terms of each service are written in your quote. Cancellation policy