Malá Strana & Kampa Island
Malá Strana / Kampa
A Baroque quarter at the foot of the castle, with St. Nicholas Church, Nerudova Street, and the John Lennon Wall. Kampa Island, in the river, is Prague's 'Little Venice' and a green space loved by locals.
The Lesser Town (Malá Strana, meaning 'Little Side') lies on the west bank of the Vltava River, at the foot of Castle Hill. It was founded in 1257 and rebuilt in the Baroque style after a fire in 1541. It is Prague's best-preserved and most peaceful historic quarter, with palaces, embassies, and gardens tucked among slopes and alleys. Highlights include St. Nicholas Church on Lesser Town Square, completed in 1755. It is the pinnacle of Bohemian Baroque, with a green dome and a 70-meter bell tower, and Mozart once played its organ. Admission inside costs about 100 CZK. From the square, Nerudova Street climbs to the castle. Its houses are named with relief signs such as 'Three Violins' and 'Two Suns.' Wallenstein Garden is free and has peacocks and stalactite walls. The Church of the Infant Jesus is also here. Beside Grand Priory Square stands the John Lennon Wall. Since the 1980s, citizens have written lyrics by John Lennon and peace slogans on it to protest the communist regime. It is still repainted constantly today.
Down the stairs beneath Charles Bridge is Kampa Island, separated from the riverbank by the Čertovka ('Devil's Stream'). The large mill waterwheel and the houses along the water are known as 'Venice of Prague.' Kampa Park on the island is a lawn where locals sunbathe. On it stands David Černý's giant crawling baby sculptures. The terrace of the Kampa Museum (modern art, about 350 CZK) is a good spot to view Charles Bridge. At the south end of the island, the Sova Mill and riverbank are a good spot to photograph the castle reflected in the water.
From the Lesser Town, you can take the funicular (public transport tickets are valid) up Petřín Hill and climb the 63.5-meter 'Little Eiffel Tower' observation tower (about 260 CZK). The rose garden, mirror maze, and Hunger Wall on the hill are also worth a visit.
Getting there: Metro Line A to Malostranská station, or trams 12, 20, or 22 to Malostranské náměstí stop. The coordinates above are for Kampa Island.
Opening hours
Quarter open all day; St. Nicholas Church 09:00–17:00; Kampa Museum 10:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Lennon Wall
- Wallenstein Palace and Garden
- Charles Bridge
- Memorial to the Victims of Communism
- Letná Park
- Clementinum
- National Theatre
- Josefov (Jewish Quarter)