Written by local experts Adriana & Matěj
Adriana and Matěj Halouskovi are travel bloggers behind the successful blog Czech the World.
Matěj was born in Prague and has lived here his entire life and Adriana moved here more than 10 years ago.
We have traveled to more than 60 countries, but if we could tell you what place we know the most, it is our city.
While the world-famous Charles Bridge is the undisputed star, a total of 22 bridges over Vltava River weave the city together, each with its own story, style, and unique charm.
This listicle will guide you across every single one, from the most celebrated to the quietly functional, offering a new perspective on the City of a Hundred Spires.
How many Bridges are in Prague?
While Prague is famously known as the “City of a Hundred Spires,” it could just as deservedly be called the “City of a Hundred Bridges.” In reality, there are well over 100 bridges in Prague.
However, I suppose with “Prague bridges,” you are probably referring to 22 bridges crossing the Vltava River (including the pedestrian only bridges).
Prague Bridges Quick Table
| Most Famous | Charles Bridge |
| Oldest | Charles Bridge |
| Newest | Troja Bridge |
| Longest | Radotín Bridge |
| Busiest | Barrandov Bridge |
| Most Unique | Troja Bridge |
Map of Prague Bridges
1) Charles Bridge (Karlův most)
The Charles Bridge is the undeniable heart and soul of Prague, a medieval masterpiece that has formed the city’s primary artery for over 600 years. Its foundation stone was laid by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV himself in 1357, connecting the Old Town with the Lesser Town (Malá Strana). For centuries, this magnificent stone arch bridge was the only way to cross the Vltava in Prague, making it a vital route for trade, royal processions, and daily life. Its two towers, one on each end, served as powerful fortifications and imposing gateways to the respective city quarters.
Walking the bridge is a journey through history and art. It is famously adorned with 30 statues and statuaries of saints, creating an unparalleled open-air Baroque gallery. While the statues you see today are masterful replicas (with the originals preserved in museums), they lose none of their dramatic impact. Don’t miss the plaque at the base of the St. John of Nepomuk statue; touching it is said to bring good luck and ensure your return to Prague. For a truly magical experience, visit at dawn when the morning mist rises from the river, and you can have the bridge almost all to yourself.
2) Mánes Bridge (Mánesův most)
Just a stone’s throw downstream from the Charles Bridge, the Mánes Bridge offers a fascinating contrast in style, showcasing the transition from Art Nouveau to the emerging Czech Cubist movement. Opened in 1914, it was named in honor of the renowned 19th-century Czech painter Josef Mánes. It replaced a previous iron footbridge and was designed to accommodate the city’s modernizing transport needs, including trams, which still cross it today. The bridge’s pillars feature figural friezes with scenes inspired by the lives of Vltava swimmers.
This bridge is a photographer’s best friend. It provides some of the most spectacular, and often less crowded, views of the Charles Bridge, with Prague Castle creating a perfect backdrop. The functional yet artistic design reflects a city on the cusp of a new era, making it a must-see for those interested in architecture and art history. The combination of its unique style and the stellar views it offers makes it a worthy stop on any Vltava walk.
3) Legion Bridge (Most Legií)
The Legion Bridge is an elegant structure of granite blocks that exudes the grandeur of the early 20th century, combining neo-Baroque and Art Nouveau decorative elements. Completed in 1901, it links the National Theatre on the right bank with the Lesser Town on the left. The bridge is named in honor of the Czechoslovak Legions, the volunteer armed forces who fought with the Allied powers during World War I, playing a crucial role in the fight for an independent Czechoslovakia.
More than just a crossing, the Legion Bridge is the gateway to a delightful urban oasis. From the bridge’s center, a grand staircase and an elevator descend to Střelecký Island (Shooter’s Island), a leafy park that is perfect for a leisurely stroll, a picnic, or simply watching the river life float by. Taking the time to visit the island offers a wonderful ground-level perspective of the bridge’s architecture and a peaceful respite from the city’s energetic pace.
4) Čech Bridge (Čechův most)
A true Art Nouveau masterpiece, the Čech Bridge is the shortest of Prague’s main bridges but is arguably its most ornate. Built between 1905 and 1908, it is the only arch bridge in Prague constructed entirely of iron. The bridge is a visual feast, lavishly decorated with four towering bronze sculptures of winged genii perched on columns. Every detail, from the lampposts to the railings, reflects the intricate, flowing lines of the Art Nouveau style.
Named after the writer Svatopluk Čech, this bridge connects the city center with the foot of Letná Hill. For the best view of its stunning decorations, take a stroll along the waterfront on either side. From there, you can fully appreciate the craftsmanship of the sculptures and the elegant arch that makes it a favorite among artists and architecture enthusiasts. It stands as a proud monument to the artistic confidence of Prague during the Belle Époque.
5) Palacký Bridge (Palackého most)
As the third oldest stone bridge in Prague, the Palacký Bridge is a significant historical landmark, completed in 1878. It was constructed using striking granite blocks of different colors—blue, red, and white—giving it a unique and subtly patriotic appearance. It was the first stone bridge built to serve the rapidly expanding industrial area of Smíchov, connecting it to the New Town and marking a new era of growth for the city.
The bridge was originally decorated with four large sculptural groups by Josef Václav Myslbek depicting figures from Czech legends. However, the statues were heavily damaged by an errant bomb in 1945 and were later moved to the grounds of Vyšehrad Castle, where they can be seen today. The bridge, now bare of its original adornments, remains a vital traffic artery and a testament to the robust engineering of the 19th century.
6) Jirásek Bridge (Jiráskův most)
The Jirásek Bridge is a functional, reinforced concrete structure completed in 1933, named after the prominent Czech writer Alois Jirásek. Its design is relatively modest, reflecting the architectural sobriety of the interwar period. The bridge links the popular area around Resslova Street, near the Dancing House, with the Smíchov side of the river.
While the bridge itself is architecturally simple, its primary claim to fame is the magnificent view it offers of one of Prague’s most celebrated modern landmarks: the Dancing House (Tančící dům). Standing at the New Town end of the bridge provides the perfect vantage point to photograph this iconic deconstructivist building. It’s a place where the functionalism of the 1930s provides the perfect stage for the postmodernism of the 1990s.
7) Vyšehrad Railway Bridge (Vyšehradský železniční most)
A powerful symbol of Prague’s industrial heritage, the Vyšehrad Railway Bridge is a riveted steel truss bridge that cuts a striking silhouette against the sky. Originally built in 1872 and reconstructed into its current form in 1901, it is exclusively a railway bridge, connecting the main Prague railway network with the Smíchov station. Its location at the foot of the historic Vyšehrad rock adds a dramatic contrast between ancient power and industrial might.
Though it doesn’t carry cars, the bridge includes pedestrian walkways on both sides, offering a unique experience. A walk across provides a gritty, atmospheric journey with rumbling trains passing just feet away. The views of Vyšehrad Castle are exceptional from this angle, and the bridge itself has become a point of contention in recent years, with passionate debates about whether to replace it or preserve its historic industrial character.
8) Barrandov Bridge (Barrandovský most)
The Barrandov Bridge is a colossal concrete structure from the 1980s and the most extensive bridge in Prague. It is a critical component of the city’s inner ring road and is the busiest road in the entire Czech Republic, designed to handle immense volumes of traffic. Its construction reflects the ambitious, large-scale urban planning projects of the late socialist era.
Despite its utilitarian purpose, the bridge features some fascinating artistic elements typical of its Brutalist style. At its southern end, you’ll find giant, surreal concrete sculptures by Josef Klimeš. These abstract forms are often unofficially referred to as “The Conqueror Worm” or the “Hippo Bath,” adding a touch of quirky personality to this monument of concrete engineering.
9) Troja Bridge (Trojský most)
The newest and most architecturally ambitious bridge in Prague is the Troja Bridge, which opened in 2014 to international acclaim. This sleek, modern marvel is defined by its incredibly slender and low network arch, an engineering feat that has won numerous awards. The bridge was designed not just for function but for beauty, intended to be a new, elegant landmark for the city in the 21st century.
The Troja Bridge provides a vital link for trams, cars, cyclists, and pedestrians between the Holešovice district and Troja. Its creation has made accessing some of Prague’s most popular attractions, like the Prague Zoo and the Troja Chateau, significantly easier and more pleasant. A walk or tram ride across it feels like a glide, with its graceful design providing an uplifting sense of space and light.
10) Hlávka’s Bridge (Hlávkův most)
Hlávka’s Bridge holds the distinction of being Prague’s first bridge constructed from reinforced concrete, built in stages between 1908 and 1912. Spanning the Vltava across the northern tip of Štvanice Island, it is also the widest bridge in the Czech Republic. It was named after Josef Hlávka, a major Czech architect and philanthropist who contributed to its construction.
The bridge is notable for its impressive sculptural decorations, particularly the relief medallions by sculptors Jan Štursa and Otto Gutfreund. At the Holešovice end, two monumental statues representing “Labour” and “Humanity” stand as powerful allegories of human endeavor. These artistic touches elevate the bridge from a purely functional structure to a significant piece of public art.
11) Štefánik’s Bridge (Štefánikův most)
Replacing a former suspension chain bridge named after Emperor Franz Joseph I, the current Štefánik’s Bridge is a reinforced concrete structure that opened in 1951. It is a key transport link connecting the Revoluční street at the edge of the Old Town to the Letná Tunnel, funneling traffic towards the northern districts of Prague. Its design is straightforward and unadorned, typical of post-war construction.
The bridge is named after Milan Rastislav Štefánik, a Slovak politician, diplomat, and astronomer who was one of the key figures in the foundation of Czechoslovakia. Its strategic location near the Ministry of Industry and Trade and its role as a major traffic artery make it a constantly buzzing and important, if not particularly ornate, part of the city’s infrastructure.
12) Libeň Bridge (Libeňský most)
At a length of 780 meters (including its access ramps), the Libeň Bridge is the longest in Prague. Opened in 1928, it is a fascinating and rare example of a bridge built in the Cubist architectural style, designed by the architect Pavel Janák. It connects the Holešovice district with the once-industrial, now rapidly developing area of Libeň.
For decades, the bridge has been in a state of serious disrepair, leading to long-running public and political debates about whether to tear it down or invest in a complex and costly renovation to preserve its unique architectural heritage. This controversy has made it a symbol of the struggle between urban development and historical preservation in modern Prague.
13) Negrelli Viaduct (Negrelliho viadukt)
The Negrelli Viaduct is a monumental piece of railway history and, for a long time, was the longest bridge of its kind in Europe. Completed in 1850 by the Austrian engineer Alois Negrelli, this stone arch viaduct stretches for over a kilometer, connecting Masaryk Station with the northern district of Bubny. It was a crucial link in the state railway line from Vienna to Dresden.
After a major reconstruction completed in 2020, the viaduct is not just a railway artery but is also becoming a new cultural hotspot. The spaces within its arches, long used for storage and small businesses, are gradually being transformed into trendy cafes, shops, and galleries, breathing new life into this magnificent 19th-century structure and integrating it into the city’s social fabric.
14) Braník Bridge (Branický most)
Known almost exclusively by its colloquial nickname, the “Bridge of the Intelligentsia,” this double-track railway bridge was built in the 1950s. Located in the south of the city, it was designed to connect the Smíchov and Vršovice railway networks, primarily for freight transport, bypassing the busy central passenger stations.
The bridge’s poignant nickname has its roots in a dark chapter of Czech history. During the communist regime of the 1950s, thousands of intellectuals, lawyers, and other educated professionals who were deemed politically unreliable were stripped of their positions and forced to work as manual laborers. Many of them were assigned to work on the construction of this very bridge, a history that is now embedded in its identity.
15) Radotín Bridge (Radotínský most)
The Radotín Bridge is a behemoth of modern engineering and officially the longest bridge structure in the Czech Republic, spanning over two kilometers. Opened in 2010, it is a crucial southern section of the Prague Ring Road, designed to divert transit traffic away from the city center. Technically a series of connected bridge structures, it impressively crosses both the Vltava and Berounka river valleys.
Due to its function as a major highway, it isn’t a bridge for a pleasant stroll, but driving over it offers sweeping views of the surrounding landscape and the confluence of the two rivers. It represents the modern, large-scale infrastructure required to keep a major European capital moving, a world away from the pedestrian-scale charm of the Charles Bridge.
16) Most Závodu míru
Located in the far southern district of Zbraslav, this is the first bridge to cross the Vltava within Prague’s official city limits as the river flows northward. Opened in 1964, it replaced an older bridge that had been destroyed at the end of World War II. Its name, which translates to the “Peace Race Bridge,” is a nod to a famous international cycling stage race, popular across the Eastern Bloc, which often passed through the area.
This bridge is primarily of local importance, serving as a vital connection for the residents of Zbraslav and surrounding areas. It provides access to the beautiful Zbraslav Chateau and the main road leading south out of Prague. For visitors exploring this charming outer district, the bridge serves as a welcoming gateway to the city.
17) Holešovice Railway Bridge (Holešovický železniční most)
This is one of Prague’s lesser-known and more specialized bridges. Built in 1976, this single-track railway bridge serves an important logistical purpose by connecting the Holešovice and Libeň railway lines. Its most unique feature is its orientation: it is the only bridge in Prague that crosses the Vltava at a sharp diagonal angle, a necessity of the track layout it was designed to serve.
While not a tourist attraction, the Bulovka Railway Bridge is a testament to the complex web of infrastructure that underpins a major city. It is a purely functional structure, visible from parts of Holešovice and Libeň, that plays a quiet but essential role in the efficiency of Prague’s extensive railway network.
18) Most Barikádníků (Bridge of the Barricade-Fighters)
The Most Barikádníků is a wide, utilitarian concrete bridge built in the late 1970s, serving as a critical traffic artery for northern Prague. It connects the districts of Holešovice and Troja and is an essential segment of the city’s inner ring road (Městský okruh). Its primary function is to handle a high volume of cars, city buses, and trams, funneling traffic efficiently in and out of the city center. The bridge’s name serves as a somber memorial, honoring the citizens who erected barricades on its predecessor during the heroic Prague Uprising against Nazi occupation in May 1945.
While it is a vital piece of city infrastructure, the Bridge of the Barricade-Fighters is not a tourist destination in itself. Pedestrian walkways exist on either side, but the noise and speed of the constant traffic make it an unpleasant route for a leisurely stroll. For a visitor, its main significance is purely functional; it’s the bridge you will likely cross by tram or bus when traveling from the city center to popular attractions in the Troja district or to the Bohnice and Kobylisy neighborhoods.
19) Lávka HolKa (HolKa Footbridge)
Lávka HOLKA is a modern and slender footbridge designed exclusively for pedestrians and cyclists, providing a seamless connection between the district of Holešovice and the northern tip of Imperial Island (Císařský ostrov). Opened in 2023, its name is an acronym for the two districts it links: HOLešovice and KArlín, reflecting its role in the area’s broader development. The bridge is an important link in Prague’s extensive network of riverside recreational paths, specifically connecting the popular A1 and A2 cycle routes.
This footbridge is not a historical landmark but a celebrated piece of modern recreational infrastructure. It offers a peaceful and scenic way to access the green spaces of Imperial Island, away from the noise and fumes of city traffic. For those looking to enjoy a longer riverside run, walk, or bike ride, Lávka HOLKA serves as a perfect connector, allowing for a pleasant loop that can be combined with the nearby Troja Bridge for a varied and enjoyable outing.
20) Trojská lávka (Troja Footbridge)
Opened in 2020, the Trojská lávka is a brand-new pedestrian and cyclist footbridge that provides a vital and scenic link between the recreational hub of Troja and Imperial Island (Císařský ostrov). The bridge was built to be exceptionally robust, a direct response to the infamous collapse of its predecessor in 2017. Its contemporary design is both functional and elegant, serving as a safe and reliable crossing for the thousands of people who visit the area’s attractions.
For tourists, this footbridge is incredibly practical and enhances the experience of visiting one of Prague’s most popular areas. It provides the final, beautiful approach for those walking from the island to the Prague Zoo, the Botanical Garden, and the Troja Chateau. The walk across is calm and offers lovely views of the river and surrounding greenery, making it an integral and pleasant part of a family day out and a testament to Prague’s investment in modern, people-friendly infrastructure.
21) Dvorecký Bridge (Dvorecký most)
The Dvorecký Bridge is the newest member of Prague’s Vltava-spanning family and is currently under construction. This highly anticipated bridge will connect the districts of Podolí on the right bank and Zlíchov on the left. It is being designed by the same architects who created the stunning Troja Bridge, and features a similarly creative and modern aesthetic.
Once completed, the Dvorecký Bridge will be dedicated to public transport (trams and buses), cyclists, and pedestrians. It is not intended for general car traffic, reflecting a modern urban planning philosophy that prioritizes sustainable transport. The bridge will significantly improve connectivity between these riverside neighborhoods and is set to become a new, elegant landmark for the southern part of the city.
Practical Tips for Prague from Locals
Maps we have created for you:
We’ve created detailed maps featuring the best sights, hidden gems, recommended places to stay, itineraries, and more — all based on our own local experience. We hope they’ll help you plan an unforgettable trip to our beautiful hometown. Check our maps on this page.
How to save money on currency exchange:
We highly recommend getting a Revolut card — it’s one of the best travel debit cards out there. We’ve been using it for over 10 years and it has already saved us thousands of euros.
Where to stay in Prague (Our Picks):
| Option 1 | Option 2 | Option 3 | |
| City Center | Metropolitan | River View | Dancing House |
| Budget | Pension Akát | Czech Inn | AirBnb |
| Rooftop | Wenceslas Square | Metropolitan | Dancing House |
| Parks & Cafés | Hotel Orion | Anna Hotel | Libero Residence |
| Luxury | Grand Hotel Bohemia | Alchymist | KINGS COURT |
Best Guided Tours in Prague (Our Picks):
- Essential for first-timers: Top Sights & Historic Center Introduction Tour
- Jewish Quarter: Jewish Quarter Walking Tour
- Hidden Gems: Hidden Gems Walking Tour with Local Guide
- Bike Tour: Complete City Bike Tour
- Food Tour: Guided Street-Food Stalls Walk (with tastings)
- Beer Tour: Prague Microbrewery Tour
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