Views are never boring. Whether it's about a historic city, a rolling forest landscape or a meandering river. You can enjoy panoramic views in special places in the Czech Republic. Climb rocks, towers and hills for the best views in the country.
1. St. Nicholas Basilica in Prague
Prague is called the 'City of a Hundred Towers'. Several of these towers are accessible and are an ideal place to view the Czech capital from above. A particularly photogenic viewpoint is from the tower of the Basilica of St. Nicholas in the Malá Strana district. Climbing the 215 steps is absolutely worth it. From the 65 meter high tower there is a great view over the Charles Bridge, the Vltava and Prague Castle. The bell tower served as a fire tower and was the last town crier tower in Prague. From the 1960s to the 1980s it served as an observation post for the state security service at the western embassies in the area.
2. Glass skywalk in the Beskids Mountains
In the eastern province of Moravia, in the Beskids Mountains, there is a remarkable lookout tower near the Pustevny mountain peak. Also called the Valaška route, the tower has a wheelchair-accessible walkway that takes visitors to a height of 1099 meters. At the top there is a panoramic view of the entire Beskids mountain range and with good weather it is even possible to see the mountains in Poland and Slovakia. The tower has information panels, challenges such as a wooden Himalayan bridge that moves and a glass skywalk. Anyone standing here can look down 22 meters through the glass.
3. Viewpoint Mariánská in Hrubá Skála
There is no shortage of viewpoints in the Bohemian Paradise nature reserve. The area, known for its meters high sandstone rock formations, is full of places from which the views are spectacular. One of the best vantage points to view the rocks, a chateau and the Trosky ruins is at the Mariánská viewpoint. This place is 1 km from the chateau Hrubá Skala. For a sunset and sunrise, this place is breathtaking. It is recommended to follow part of the Zlatá stezka (Golden path) hiking route, which passes many other photogenic places.
4. TV Tower Praděd
Praděd, the highest mountain in Moravia and Silesia, has had a watchtower since the early 20th century. The Gothic tower was replaced in the 1970s by a modern television tower of 146.5 meters high. The top of the transmitter reaches up to 1637.5 meters and is the highest accessible point in the Czech Republic. Visitors can reach the observation deck at a height of 73 meters with an elevator. The view is amazing and reaches as far as the Beskids Mountains, the Giant Mountains and even the Alps and High Tatras in Slovakia. In the television tower is a restaurant and a hotel, the highest accommodation in the Czech Republic.
5. Goethe Tower in Karlovy Vary
Karlovy Vary in Western Bohemia has been a favorite of spa guests since the 19th century. The visitors came to Karlovy Vary for its medical spa treatments, which in addition to bathing and drinking the mineral-rich waters also recommended walking in nature. Around the town of Karlovy Vary there are several walking routes to watchtowers, such as the neo-Gothic Goethe tower built in 1889. It is the oldest watchtower in Karlovy Vary and is located on a 638 meter high hill. There is a cafe in the building and the Ore Mountains, Slavkov Forest and Doupovsé Hills can be seen from the viewing platform.
6. Meanders of the Vltava
The Vltava is an important river in the Czech Republic and flows through some major cities such as Český Krumlov and Prague. This meandering river through the Bohemian landscape has inspired many artists. The composer Bedřich Smetana even wrote a symphonic poem about it. The most beautiful place to view one of the horseshoe-shaped meanders of the Vltava is between the dam of Kamýk and Orlík near the village of Solenice in Central Bohemia. The view is known as the Czech Horseshoe Bend.
7. Hot Air Balloon Ride in South Moravia
Towers and hills are great vantage points, but nothing beats a hot air balloon ride for 360-degree views. A balloon flight, where the balloon usually floats about 1000 meters above the ground, is a great experience. In South Moravia it is possible to soar over a rolling landscape with vineyards and fields. The region is somewhat like Italy and is therefore also called 'Moravian Tuscany'.
