Grébovka, also known as Havlíčkovy sady, is one of the most charming and peaceful spots in Prague, and visiting it was a truly delightful experience. The moment I entered the park, I was struck by the beauty of its greenery and the calm atmosphere, which feels like a quiet escape from the busy city. One of the highlights of the park is its stunning fountain, which is beautifully designed and surrounded by benches where visitors can relax and enjoy the view. The sound of flowing water adds to the peaceful ambiance and makes it an ideal spot for sitting, reading, or just reflecting.
Another fascinating feature of Grébovka is its small caves, which give the park a unique and slightly mysterious charm. Walking through these caves feels like stepping into a different world, and they offer interesting photo opportunities. The architecture and details in the park, from the old stone pathways to the decorative elements around the fountain and caves, show that a lot of care has been put into maintaining this beautiful space.
The park is spacious and well-kept, with plenty of areas to walk, picnic, or simply enjoy the surroundings. It’s not as crowded as some of the more famous attractions in Prague, which makes it easier to fully appreciate its beauty and relax in a serene environment. Families, couples, and solo visitors alike can find something enjoyable here, whether it’s exploring the caves, taking a leisurely walk, or admiring the fountain and gardens.
Overall, Grébovka is a wonderful combination of nature, architecture, and tranquility. It offers a break from the hustle and bustle of Prague and gives visitors a chance to connect with nature while enjoying a unique and picturesque setting. I would highly recommend Grébovka to anyone visiting Prague, whether you are looking for a peaceful place to relax, a scenic spot for photography, or simply a charming park to explore. It is a hidden gem that should not be missed.
Havlíčkovy Sady, or Grébovka, is Prague’s second-largest park, laid out in the English style with winding paths under old trees, terraced slopes, and the Botič stream running along its lower edge. At the heart of it stands the legacy of Moritz Gröbe, railway and mining tycoon, who built his summer villa and estate here in the 1870s.
Gröbe’s commission left the park with a curious mix of Romantic architecture and winemaking tradition. The Grotta, designed by Antonín Barvitius and Josef Vorlíček, is a theatrical rockwork cavern with pools, grotto arches, and a fountain court - part of a 19th-century fashion for artificial caves. Higher up, the Viniční altán (c. 1880) looks out over the city: a wooden belvedere pavilion set among the vines, restored in the 2000s after long neglect during the communist years. Its terraces today make one of the finest vineyard viewpoints in Prague.
The Villa Grébovka itself is a neo-Renaissance mansion, once a private summer palace, now ringed with lawns and circular carriageways. Gröbe laid its foundation stone in 1871, marking his ascent into Prague’s industrial elite. Below, the sloping vineyards recall a tradition much older than the tycoon: Charles IV first planted vines here as part of his 14th-century programme for the New Town, later nurtured under Rudolf II. Czech wines - crisp, acidic, shaped by the northern climate - are still produced here on a small urban scale.
Across the grounds, playful follies remain. The Pavilon Grébovka, designed by Josef Schulz in the 1870s, was Gröbe’s games room: skittles to the west, archery to the east, all in a rustic-romantic wooden shell. Today it serves quieter refreshment. Between grotto, villa, vineyards and pavilion, Grébovka feels less like a single design and more like a patchwork of Prague’s cultural ambitions - aristocratic garden ideals, bourgeois industry, and the stubborn survival of winegrowing on the city’s slopes.
I discovered this place online when looking for places to visit in Prague. I loved it for the unique feature of the Grotto as its unlike anything I've ever seen before.
I can't remember which tram number I caught but I got it from the bottom of the Prague Castle and it dropped me off at the top of a hill in a residential area. It was just a few mins walk away and easy to find.
Once you enter the park, there are toilets but no toilet paper. There are signs to the grotto. Instead of walking down, as I came in the top end, I was able to explore the grotto from above before walking down the staircase into the courtyard out to where the fountain is.
Up close the grotto is not in the greatest of conditions but is magnificent in terms of how it has been put together. Once you get downstairs to where the fountain is, if you step back and take it all is, it is very picturesque especially with the colourful backdrop of the buildings behind.
After taking some pictures, I decided to walk down a bit as I thought it would lead to an exit by a busy main road except I got a bit lost and ended up on the far left side where there is a tall grey building which does come out onto a busy road but no trams going back toward the main part of town.
Long story short, there was a rail stop across the road where the small green space is and I asked a lady for help. I walked underneath the passage way and far right to the other main road where I came to the tram stop that got me back to the main old town and stopped right outside my hotel so I could collect my luggage to set off to the airport in time.
Only exit the parts of the park if you are familiar with the area else you will get lost.
It is a beautiful park, very big, lots of green space, dogs are welcome.