Prague off the Beaten Track

A podcast exploring the hidden gems of Prague, uncovering unique places, stories, and cultural experiences away from the usual tourist paths.

Hidden Prague: exploring Bohnice’s quiet cemetery and scenic vistas

In this episode of Prague Off the Beaten Track, we explore Bohnice, a Prague district with a fascinating mix of history, nature, and calm. It’s a place where ivy has reclaimed forgotten graves and trails lead to scenic lookouts above the city. Come along for a peaceful autumn walk through one of Prague’s most surprising corners.

11-13
11:08

The Braník Rocks: where Prague’s prehistoric past meets today’s city life

In this episode of Prague Off the Beaten Track, we explore Braník Rocks, the striking limestone cliffs that rise above the Vltava River in southern Prague. Once quarried for the “Old Town lime” that helped build the city’s bridges and embankments, the site now reveals layers of history reaching back 420 million years. It’s a place where fossils, wartime tunnels, and today’s climbers all share the same ancient stone — a vivid meeting of nature, history, and urban life.

10-30
12:08

Prague's oldest botanical garden: 250-year-old classroom hidden in plain sight

In this episode of Prague Off the Beaten Track, we visit one of Prague’s most fascinating green spaces — the Botanical Garden of Charles University. Founded in 1775, it’s the oldest continuously operating garden of its kind in the Czech Republic. Today, it combines centuries of academic tradition with the peaceful charm of a public park right in the heart of the city.

10-16
15:49

From vineyards to bunkers – the Prague park that captivated Dan Brown

Few visitors to Prague have heard of Folimanka Park, a green valley tucked between Vinohrady and Nusle. Yet this quiet corner recently gained worldwide attention when Dan Brown set part of his latest thriller there.

10-09
16:04

Malešice Botanical Garden: history, peace, and nature in Prague’s overlooked district

In this episode of Prague off the Beaten Track, we visit the Malešice Botanical Garden, a quiet oasis few people in Prague have heard of. Run by a horticultural school, it offers an arboretum, rock garden, and peaceful paths away from the usual tourist crowds. Nestled under Tábor Hill, it reveals a surprising blend of history, nature, and tranquillity in one of the city’s overlooked districts.

10-02
11:11

Prague’s Výtoň railway bridge: history, controversy, and a new future

In this episode of Prague Off the Beaten Track, we visit the Výtoň railway bridge—an unmissable steel landmark just below the Vyšehrad cliffs. For more than 120 years, its sweeping arches have carried trains across the Vltava while quietly becoming part of daily life for locals. Once threatened with demolition, the bridge now has a new lease on life as Prague balances heritage, transport, and identity.

09-25
13:46

Exploring Divoká Šárka: Prague’s wild gorge of legends, cliffs, and hidden pools

In this episode of Prague Off the Beaten Track, we visit Divoká Šárka—one of Prague’s wildest landscapes, filled with rocky cliffs, meadows, and forests. Just a short tram ride from the city centre, this nature reserve blends ancient history, dramatic scenery, and local legends. From swimming in spring-fed pools to hiking past medieval hillforts, it’s a perfect escape into nature without leaving Prague.

08-14
15:37

Žižkov Highline: Prague’s little‑known but fabulous shortcut

In this Prague off the Beaten Track episode, we start at Prague’s busiest railway hub—Hlavní nádraží—but head somewhere unexpected. Just beyond the platforms lies the Žižkov Highline, a short walkway born from a temporary art project that’s now a functional shortcut between districts.

08-09
13:10

Where Prague feels like a village: exploring Kajetánka and its neighbors

In this episode of Prague Off the Beaten Track, we visit Kajetánka—a hidden gem in Prague 6 that once housed a monastery and vineyard. Today it’s a peaceful park with historic surroundings and hardly any tourists. If you're looking for a quiet place to wander or have a picnic, this might be your new favorite spot.

07-24
12:37

Girls' Castles: Legends, Meadows, and Przewalski’s Horses in Prague

In this episode of Prague Off the Beaten Track, we take you to Dívčí hrady, where legends meet nature on a peaceful hillside above Prague. Walk through meadows, discover old Czech stories, and catch a glimpse of wild Przewalski’s horses. This quiet part of Prague offers stunning views, rich history, and an experience far from the city’s usual tourist routes.

07-17
11:48

Urban Oases on the Vltava: Discovering Prague’s Central Islands

They’re in the middle of Prague’s historic core, yet many visitors never set foot on them. This episode of Prague off the Beaten Track takes you to two islands, nestled in the Vltava River, that are easily overlooked green spaces that offer history, views, and a welcome escape from the city’s busy streets.

07-10
13:28

Cool refuge in the city: Kunratický les or "Kunraťák", Prague’s forest getaway

Kunratický les, known to locals as Kunraťák, is one of Prague’s largest and most beloved green spaces. Located in the city’s south, it offers shady trails, wildlife, and even the ruins of a medieval royal castle. It’s a perfect escape from the summer heat — peaceful, easy to reach, and full of history.

07-03
12:35

Prague’s Little Hanoi: SAPA market and center

In this episode of Prague off the Beaten Track, listeners are guided through SAPA—Prague’s sprawling Vietnamese market complex in the district of Libuš. It's a unique space where commerce meets culture, offering everything from street food and household goods to legal services and community events. Far from Prague’s tourist hotspots, SAPA reveals a vibrant side of the city that many have never seen.

06-05
13:37

Concrete, rubble, and renewal: The curious story of Rohanský ostrov

Rohanský ostrov, or Rohan Island, is a place many Prague residents pass without a second thought. Once a true island in the Vltava River, it later became a forgotten industrial zone. Today, it’s undergoing a transformation into a modern, sustainable neighborhood—with green parks, housing, and public spaces. In this episode of Prague Off the Beaten Track, we take a closer look at its layered past and ambitious future.

05-15
11:23

Prague off the Beaten Track: Hotel International provides Soviet grandeur with a view

You won’t find it on most tourist maps, but the Grand Hotel International in Prague’s leafy Dejvice district is a towering time capsule. Built in the 1950s in the style of Stalinist architecture—but with an American twist—it combines communist-era ambition, artistic surprises, and panoramic views into one unforgettable landmark.

05-08
18:10

Vítkov: a peaceful hill where Czech history was made

Just a short walk from the center of Prague rises Vítkov Hill—a quiet, unassuming ridge that separates the districts of Žižkov and Karlín. Though technically part of Žižkov, it’s visible from much of the city and offers some of the best panoramic views of Prague. Still, it remains surprisingly uncrowded, a perfect candidate for those seeking a different kind of city experience.

05-01
11:34

From castles to concrete: The expanding story of Prague

Unlike most episodes of Prague Off the Beaten Track, this one doesn’t take you to just one place. Instead, it takes a step back to look at the bigger picture—because before we head out to places like Libeň, Karlín, or Jižní Město, it helps to understand how Prague became what it is today.

04-24
12:51

Žižkov Tower: From Cold War relic to luxury in the sky

Soaring high above Prague’s rooftops, the Žižkov Television Tower is impossible to miss—and just as impossible to categorize. A product of late-communist engineering, this peculiar structure has been called everything from an eyesore to a masterpiece of high-tech design. But what many visitors don’t realize is that inside one of its iconic pods, perched 70 meters above ground, lies one of the city’s most exclusive places to spend the night.

04-03
11:12

Prague’s forgotten fortifications: discovering the Baroque ramparts in a hidden park

Tucked away just a short walk from the well-trodden tourist paths of Hradčany lies a quiet green space that preserves a little-known chapter of Prague’s military past. Park Max van der Stoel may seem like an ordinary public park, but along its edge are massive stone and brick ramparts—remnants of the Baroque-era fortifications that once encircled Prague.

03-20
15:31

Vyšehrad Casemates: exploring Prague's hidden underground

Vyšehrad, Prague's legendary hilltop fortress, offers visitors far more than stunning views and ancient monuments. Beneath its walls lies a lesser-known historical marvel—the Vyšehrad Casemates, an underground complex from the 17th century, once built to safeguard soldiers from enemy fire and now open for exploration.

03-13
15:07

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