A fun thing to do in the capital of the Czech Republic is to visit the narrowest street in Prague.
Vinárna Čertovka is a thin alleyway with a set of quirky traffic lights to help visitors travel through smoothly.
At its narrowest point, this alley is only 70 centimetres wide and you can barely fit both shoulders on either side.
It often goes viral on social media and lots of people visit only to be disappointed by what they discover at the end.
All will be revealed in this guide on how to visit Vinárna Čertovka, Prague’s narrowest street!
The history of Vinárna Čertovka
Although many people call this ‘the narrowest street in Prague’, it’s actually not a street but the last fire exit in the city.
This alleyway is sandwiched between two historic buildings in Mala Strana and was an access corridor to the Vltava River in the Middle Ages.
It meant that fire brigades could access the water quickly should a blaze have broken out in the historic district years ago.
As the centuries passed and this svelte street got busier, the alley was given a traffic light system to stop people getting stuck.
Two people can’t pass each other on this tiny staircase so Jan Hynek invented the traffic lights in 1992 to allow pedestrians to walk smoothly!
How narrow is Vinárna Čertovka?
The narrowest street in Prague is just 70 centimetres (27.5 inches) wide at its narrowest point.
As this place is not officially a street, you won’t find it in any Guinness World Records.
It goes viral on social media a lot due to the traffic lights which makes it a fun place to go.
However, many people are surprised to learn that this alley is actually a dead end and only a staircase to access a restaurant at the bottom!
Many will tell you not to go for this reason as it’s ‘disappointing’. But, I wholeheartedly disagree.
I still think it’s fun and worth seeing in Prague as it’s quite a unique thing to do!
How to visit the Narrowest Street in Prague
Vinárna Čertovka can be found in the oldest district in Prague which is Mala Strana.
It’s a short walk away from the Charles Bridge, Shakespeare & Sons bookshop and Franz Kafka Museum.
It’s easiest to approach on foot and you can find it on U Lužického semináře.
The nearest tram and metro stop is Malostranská and then it’s just a short walk to Prague’s narrowest alley.
Make sure to use the traffic lights
One of the more unique parts of squeezing through Prague’s narrowest street is the fact that it has a traffic light system.
This is so quirky and something that I have not seen before.
I’ve visited many of the ‘narrowest streets’ in Europe now and traffic lights could be very useful, especially if you meet someone head-on!
There are some instructions on how to use the traffic light system but it’s really very simple.
When it’s green at the top, you can go down. If it’s red, press the button and you wait for it to go green. Then you can walk down.
If you want to go back up to the street level, press the button at the bottom and it will (eventually) switch to green for you to go back up!
The traffic lights were put in place for crowd control and to stop drunk disorderliness.
But, I think it’s pretty genius and ensures everyone can use the alley safely.
Not everyone follows the traffic light system and this can cause bottlenecks and accidents. Don’t be one of those people.
What to expect as you squeeze through
So, if you get the green light to go ahead, you can then make your way down the narrow street.
It will start pretty wide but then it tapers around the middle and this is when it starts to get quite claustrophobic.
You can barely fit both shoulders through and you’ll suck your tummy in as you make your way down.
I couldn’t stop giggling as I descended. But, eventually, it will widen out again and you’ll find yourself at the bottom.
There’s not much to see down here apart from a door that leads to a restaurant.
Čertovka Restaurant
The reason why the traffic lights were set up is to make sure that people can pass through safely but it’s also a quirky way to attract touristss to visit a restaurant at the bottom.
You’ll quickly realise on your visit that this ‘street’ is simply a passageway with stairs to access the restaurant terrace.
Their menu is at the top of the alley. So, when you reach the very bottom there is not much to see apart from some beer signs.
You can then head into the restaurant as you’re here or head back up as it’s a dead end.
The alley is free to visit but I still recommend going to the restaurant for a beer or meal if you have the time to support local businesses!
The terrace has a lovely view of the Charles Bridge which is perfect.
Is Vinárna Čertovka worth visiting?
You’ll be one of two people after visiting Vinárna Čertovka;
- You’ll be thoroughly entertained
- Or, you’ll be thoroughly disappointed
Most people find it funny that they enter the ‘street’ and find it a dead end and have to queue to go back up.
Others are not so amused and feel tricked. Especially if they waited for a long time!
Whether it’s a clever marketing gimmick or not, I still had fun here as it’s quite a quirky and unique attraction.
It doesn’t take long to visit (provided the crowds are low) and it’s healthy to do silly things sometimes. Life is simply too short to care that much!
I would highly recommend visiting this alley in Prague.
Opening times
As the alley is a throughway to the restaurant, the alley only opens when the restaurant is open.
They have a gate and lock the alley up when the restaurant is closed. So, it’s always best to check online before you go!
What is the Narrowest Street in Europe?
Although many say that this is one of the narrowest streets in Europe, it’s not officially a ‘street’ so it’s not listed in any world records.
I’ve been to the top three narrowest streets in Europe and have travel guides on some of them;
- Spreuerhofstrasse in Reutlingen, Germany holds the title for the narrowest street.
- Parliament Street in Exeter, England is the second narrowest
- Rope Street in Brasov is the third narrowest street.
At just 31 centimetres (12 inches) at its smallest, Spreuerhofstrasse is the narrowest street in the entire world verified by the Guinness World Book of Records!
Where to visit nearby in Mala Strana
After your journey down Prague’s narrowest street, you will find many amazing things that you can do nearby.
Here are some of the best places to visit near Vinárna Čertovka;
Shakespeare & Sons Bookshop
One of the best bookshops in Prague has to be Shakespeare & Sons and it’s close by on the same street.
It has two floors of books to browse in Czech, French, English and many other foreign languages.
It’s like a labyrinth of tomes to explore with some lovely artwork. I could have spent hours here. Make sure to visit on your way!
Franz Kafka Museum
You really can’t escape references to Franz Kafka in Prague, a Modernist Bohemian author who was based in the city.
He wrote famous books like ‘The Metamorphosis’ and ‘The Trial’ and there are many sites where you can find out more about his life in the city.
The most famous attraction is the Kafka Museum, which is an existential exhibition that takes you on a journey into the world of Kafka—it is very trippy!
Remember to take a picture with the famous ‘peeing statues’ outside. Or visit the Kafka rotating head on Nové Město.
Personally, one of my favourite Kafka sites is his tiny blue house at Number 22, Golden Lane.
Read more of my Czech Republic travel guides
4 Magical Prague Libraries you must visit
How to visit the Klementinum Library
How to visit the Strahov Library
Visiting the Infinity Book tower
How to find the Dripstone Wall in Prague
Visiting the Oldest Tavern in Prague
What’s inside the Prague Dancing House?
A complete guide to the John Lennon Wall
How to visit the Bone Church of Kutna Hora
Magical Cloak Bridge in Cesky Krumlov
Save the Narrowest Street in Prague for later!