The Vltava River in Prague

The Vltava River is the longest river in the Czech Republic. It is a tributary of the river Elbe and originates from two streams, the Warm Moldau in the Bohemian Forest and the Cold Moldau in the Bavarian Forest.

The Vltava flows through a narrow valley, only parts further up are slightly wider. Only parts of the river are navigable without restrictions and locks have to be passed over and over again.

In Prague, the Vltava flows in a somewhat broader and winded river bed. Many bridges link both sides, the most famous one is the Charles Bridge in Prague.

By chance, we have discovered a beautiful viewing point, which we had apparently visited once before in 1992. A look at the images proves that we were in almost the exact same spot. And that not much has changed there.

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The first picture is from 1992 and the second picture is from 2015.

Actually, during our visit to Prague, we had planned to go on a boat trip. But … we didn’t get around to it. The tours offered at the landings in the Prague centre are not cheap and, that’s even more crucial, very short. Most journeys end directly behind the Charles Bridge or, in the opposite direction, only three bridges further down at the Stefánikuvmost Bridge. Walking on the banks takes about 30 minutes and gets you to the very same spots. Longer tours are rarely even offered because time-consuming passages through the ship locks are necessary.

If you would like to experience the feeling of being on a boat, you can spend the night in one of the hotel ships or enjoy a good meal there in the evening. These ships are fixed to their landing and offer a variety of comfort classes.

We find the Moldau is in Prague easy to see and in the evening on the way to the hotel gladly ran along the bank. The view from the bridges or from the castle is simply incomparable, especially at sunset you should take the time and just enjoy!