Under the arches and up the Devil's Channel

About this experience

Prague Venice (Pražské Benátky) runs the little wooden boats you see tucked under the Old Town end of the bridge. You board at the Judita pier, an old harbour below Křižovnické náměstí 3, right beside the Charles Bridge Museum and behind the statue of Charles IV. The boat heads out under the arches, crosses the Vltava and turns into the Čertovka, the Devil's Channel, a millrace that runs between Kampa island and the Lesser Town past a water wheel and houses built to the waterline. Commentary comes through your own headphones, in 19 languages. According to prague.eu, the route also passes the last arch of the Judith Bridge, the stone bridge that stood here before Charles Bridge.

Every ticket comes with a drink (beer, lemonade, tea or coffee, and mulled wine in winter), a piece of gingerbread or an ice cream in summer, and entry to the Charles Bridge Museum, which on its own costs 220 CZK on prague.eu. At the box office the cruise is 550 CZK for adults and 350 CZK for children aged 2 to 12 (operator's price list), and the online price of about $25 is close to that. What you gain by booking ahead is free cancellation up to 24 hours before and a fixed time slot.

Two honest caveats. The commentary is a recording, not a guide, and the boats are small, so the views are from water level. And the canal part is short: GetYourGuide's own review summary says some guests wanted clearer expectations about the brief canal time. One guest also waited 40 minutes for the boat to fill, even though the operator says boats leave every 10 to 15 minutes. The boats are not suitable for wheelchair users.

• Under the arches of Charles Bridge, the view nobody gets from the deck
• Into the Čertovka between Kampa and the Lesser Town, where the big boats cannot go
• Audio commentary in 19 languages on your own headphones
• A drink and gingerbread or ice cream on board
• Entry to the Charles Bridge Museum, by the pier

How the day runs

1. BeforeKřižovnické náměstí

   Find the Charles Bridge Museum at number 3, beside the Old Town Bridge Tower. The box office and the steps down to the Judita pier are there.

2. 0 minBoard at the Judita pier

   Pick up headphones, choose your language and take your drink. Boats leave every 10 to 15 minutes.

3. 5 minUnder Charles Bridge

   The boat passes under the arches and crosses towards Kampa, with the castle above the Lesser Town roofs.

4. 20 minThe Čertovka

   Into the narrow channel past the water wheel and the houses on the water, then back out to the river.

5. 45 minBack at the pier

   The cruise ends where it started. Walk straight into the museum with the same ticket.

What's included

Who it suits

What guests say

Tips before you book

• Go late in the afternoon from October to April. The last boat leaves at about 17:00, and the low sun lights the Lesser Town.
• Do the cruise first and the museum after. The commentary gives you the story, and the museum fills in how the bridge was built.
• Sit on the side facing the bridge as you leave the pier. The arches pass close on that side.
• Bring a layer in spring and autumn. On the water it feels colder than on the bridge.
• Keep the ticket after the cruise. You need it to get into the museum.

Read next:

• River cruises
• Best time to visit

Frequently asked questions

Compare with

Charles Bridge Guided Walk & River Boat CruisePragueWay guide through the Lesser Town and over the bridge, then a boat with a drink, a snack and the museum.★ 4.9 · About 2 hours · from $50Charles Bridge Towers Combined Entry TicketBoth Gothic gate towers on one ticket, for the view down the statue-lined bridge to the castle. Self-guided, same day.★ 4.5 · 1 to 1.5 hours · from $17Charles Bridge Museum Entry TicketThe museum at the Old Town end: models of the medieval building site, the Judith Bridge and the floods. About an hour.★ 4.2 · About 1 hour · from $10