The capital city of the Czech Republic, Prague is also one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. Is it any wonder, with its wonderful historical buildings and squares, plus affordable cuisine and beer? And if you want to visit Prague with a dog, you’re lucky that there’s plenty of dog-friendly attractions.
Dog-Friendly Sightseeing in Prague
It’s possible to see many of the top tourist sights in Prague with your dog at your side. Add these stops to your itinerary when visiting Prague with a dog.
#1 Explore the Old Town
Prague has one of the most well-preserved Old Towns in Central Europe. It’s a must to wander through it, checking out the historic buildings that line the impressive squares.
One of the top spots to head is the Old Town Square, dating back to the 10th century. The square is home to the Old Town Hall, multiple churches and the Astronomical Clock, still in operation.
In the centre of Prague, don’t also miss the Wenceslas Square and Josefov, the former Jewish Town. Note that this area of Prague can become very crowded with tourists during the day. During the summer months, consider visiting early in the morning with your dog for the best photos.
#2 Walk Across the Charles Bridge
The Old Town of Prague is joined to the Lesser Town of Prague on the western side of the Vltava river by multiple bridges, but the grandest of them is the Charles Bridge.
This 600m-long medieval stone arch bridge was completed during the early 15th century and is an impressive sight in itself, thanks to the many statues that line the bridge. It’s worthwhile reading up on the bridge’s history and statues, or taking a guided tour.
During the middle of the day, the bridge can become very crowded. I recommend walking across early in the morning, before the crowds arrive and the light is beautiful, or return during the evening.
#3 Explore the Grounds of Prague Castle
The main attraction of the Lesser Town of Prague is the Prague Castle. A huge complex with plenty to see, cross the Charles Bridge than head up the hill through the narrow streets of the Lesser Town to reach its extensive grounds.
Dogs are not permitted to join you inside any of the castle buildings or its gardens, but they are welcome to explore the castle grounds with you, as long as they are on a leash and wear a muzzle. Dogs are generally also allowed inside the restaurants and cafes at the castle.
Entry to the grounds of Prague Castle is free, for both humans and dogs. Entry fees only apply for entering most of the buildings, although it’s free to enter the vestibule of St Vitus Cathedral (although dogs are not allowed to join you). No entry fee applies to Golden Lane.
The grounds are open from 6am until 10pm daily, both during the summer and winter months. If visiting during the middle of the day, catch the changing of the guards ceremony at 12 noon.
#4 Visit the Lennon Wall
Another popular free spot to visit in the Lesser Town of Prague is the Lennon Wall, located close to the end of the Charles Bridge.
This heavily-graffitied wall has been long decorated with messages of protest since the 1960s, but has only been known as the Lennon Wall since after John Lennon’s assassination in 1980, when a portrait and song lyrics by the singer were painted on the wall.
It’s a fun spot for photos with your pup, but also appreciate its historic significance and read some of the latest messages on the wall.
#5 Take a Day Trip to Karlštejn Castle
There are no shortage of wonderful castles to visit in the Czech Republic and another great castle to visit on a day trip from Prague is Karlštejn Castle. Surrounded by forest, this classic Gothic castle was founded in the 14th century.
Karlštejn Castle is about an easy 40 minute drive to the southwest of Prague. Alternatively, you can catch the train to Karlštejn Station (see below for rules for pets on the trains), then it’s either a short taxi ride or a 30-minute walk to the castle entrance.
Previously, small dogs were allowed to join you on interior tours of the castle, however, according to the current FAQ, this is no longer be allowed, even for animals carried in a bag.
However, dogs are still allowed to join you in the castle grounds, as long as they are kept leashed and wearing a muzzle, particularly when the grounds are crowded during summer.
I recommend taking turns to go on an interior tour if you are not travelling alone. Alternatively, it’s free to just visit the castle grounds.
Dog-Friendly Parks in Prague
Prague is home to multiple dog-friendly parks where dogs are allowed off leash. The easiest way to find off-leash dog parks in Prague is to keep an eye out for one of the signs, like the one below, which are located in the different neighbourhoods of the city.
This sign was located near the apartment I stayed in during my last visit to Prague, and showed the nearby parks where dogs were not permitted, plus the parks where dogs were allowed off-leash.
The large park where dogs are allowed off-leash in the above sign is Vítkov Park, a wooded park surrounding the National Memorial on Vítkov Hill.
Dogs on Public Transport in Prague
Both small and large dogs are allowed on public transport in Prague, although the rules slightly differ depending on the size of the dog and whether they are in an carrier. The most detailed rules are on the Czech website, with only a confusing simplified listing on the English site.
Small dogs in a carrier that is completed enclosed with an impermeable bottom can ride for free. The carrier should be no larger than 70 x 45 x 25cm, also the maximum size of a small bag that can be carried for free.
This applies to local transport in Prague (including metro lines, trams, buses, trolleybuses, the Petřín cable car and ferries), buses in the surrounding Central Bohemian Region and PID trains.
For larger dogs not in a carrier, they also ride for free on public transport within Prague, but there is a fee of 20 CZK on buses in the surrounding region and on PID trains.
Larger dogs in a box are charged a fee of 20 CZK within Prague and on buses in the surrounding region, the same as for large luggage items. The tariff on PID trains varies.
Alternatively, if you have a ticket valid for one day or longer, you can also bring along a piece of luggage or a dog for free, except for on PID trains.
Note that all dogs not in a carrier need to be leashed and wearing a muzzle. It’s a lot more common to see dogs wearing muzzles in the Czech Republic, including on public transport.
Ideally, when boarding a tram, bus or cable car with a larger dog, request permission from the driver. Additionally, you should board through the doors with a dog pictogram on buses and trams and travel in the adjacent vestibule, as long as there is no pram in it.
Dog-Friendly Dining in Prague
There’s no shortage of dog-friendly restaurants and cafes in Prague. We had no issues with taking our dog into any of the restaurants that we dined in, although it’s always best to check before entering, and there is a chance some restaurants may not allow dogs.
Dog-Friendly Accommodation in Prague
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The majority of accommodation in Prague allows dogs. When I checked the percentages on Booking.com a few years ago, 60% of the hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs in the city on the site allowed dogs, although conditions may sometimes apply.
It’s quite common for an additional charge to apply when you are staying with a dog in a hotel in the Czech Republic. I remember being stung with a hefty charge of €15 (considering how cheap the hotel room was) when staying in a hotel just outside Prague.
For a luxury stay in Prague, treat yourself to a stay at the five-star Art Nouveau Hotel Paris Prague. Centrally located and with access to the wellness and spa centre included, dogs, cats and other pets are welcome to join you, with a pet bed provided. A fee of €17 applies for small dogs and cats up to 10kg, or €32 for larger dogs over 10kg.
For something very different, check out the Botel Marina. This boat hotel is located just a few kilometres from the centre of Prague, right on the river, naturally! Small pets are welcome with prior notice, with an additional charge of €10.62 per night, increasing to €12 in 2024.
There’s also plenty of pet-friendly Airbnbs available to book both in Prague and in the rest of the Czech Republic. I found many of them are rented out by people who themselves are dog owners.
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About the Author
Shandos Cleaver is the founder of Travelnuity: Dog-Friendly Travel. She has travelled extensively with her Miniature Dachshund, Schnitzel, including to 33 countries across Europe, every state and territory of Australia except Tasmania, and 10 of the United States. She’s passionate about providing inspiration and information to others wanting to travel with their dogs, whether close to home or internationally.