Prague 6: villas, a thousand-year monastery and the quietest west

Prague 6 is the part of the city where residents claim they can hear birds. That's an exaggeration, but only slightly. The district stretches across the west of Prague, past the Castle on its hill, with more green space and quieter streets than most of the inner city.

What the number covers

Dejvice, Břevnov, Střešovice, Vokovice, Veleslavín, Liboc and Ruzyně, where the airport is. Our separate Dejvice guide covers its busiest quarter.

Břevnov

Břevnov is a calm residential area on the slope behind the Castle. Its anchor is Břevnov Monastery, founded in 993 and traditionally described as the oldest male monastery in Bohemia. Close by, the Star Game Reserve (Obora Hvězda) is a large park with a Renaissance summer palace, and Ladronka is another green space. Streets are lined with interwar villas and apartment blocks.

Střešovice and the villas

Střešovice is known for its villa streets. The Müller Villa, designed by Adolf Loos in the 1930s, is a landmark of modern architecture and runs as a museum. Check opening before you go, and expect to book.

Embassies and diplomats

Prague 6 and neighbouring Bubeneč host many of Prague's embassies and the diplomats who work in them. Expect well-kept streets, quiet evenings and a steady international population.

A day in Prague 6

Mornings are about school runs and the walk to the tram or metro. Weekday lunch hours fill the cafes around Dejvice and Vítězné náměstí. Afternoons are for parks, particularly the Star Game Reserve and Ladronka. Evenings are calm, with most nightlife concentrated around Dejvice.

It is the kind of district where the busiest moment is the Saturday morning shop. Prague 6 does not try to be exciting, and many residents prefer it that way.

Which part of Prague 6?

Green space, properly

Prague 6 has more public greenery than most districts, and it is spread across the area in different forms. The Star Game Reserve is a walled hunting park with long avenues and a summer palace in the middle. Ladronka is a hilltop meadow with a small villa and views. The Šárka valley to the north-west is a wooded nature reserve with cliffs, a stream and room to walk, reached by tram. Between them, a resident can run, picnic or walk the dog without leaving the district.

That is the real selling point for families. Playgrounds, schools and sports fields cluster near the parks, and the Prague 6 district office is the place to ask about local services.

Břevnov Monastery in practice

The monastery is more than a postcard. Its grounds, church and brewery history make it a living centre for the area, and the quiet streets around it have a village atmosphere that is rare this close to the Castle. A visit costs an afternoon and shows you the most settled part of Prague 6. If you can imagine living within a short walk of it, you have found one of the district's best pockets.

Getting around

Metro A (green) is the main line, with stations at Dejvická, Hradčanská, Bořislavka, Nádraží Veleslavín and Petřiny, running to Nemocnice Motol one way and Malostranská and the centre the other. Trams run from Hradčanská to the Castle area and out to Střešovice and Břevnov. Buses link the outer areas. The airport is on the western edge, reachable by bus and taxi.

Housing

Tenement flats near Dejvice, interwar and post-war blocks, estates around Vokovice and Veleslavín, and many family houses and villas. Rents and prices for houses are generally high, and flats a little less so than in the very centre. We don't quote prices, so check current listings.

Estates on the outer edge, such as Petřiny and Liboc, offer larger flats at lower prices but longer journeys. Look at the walk to the nearest station.

What locals know

The airport is closer than it feels. Residents in Veleslavín and Ruzyně are close to departures, but if you are sensitive to noise, check how near a street is to the airport before you sign.

Locals also know the district is greener than the map suggests. Between the monastery gardens, the game reserve and the hillside streets, a short walk from almost any address leads to trees. That is why dog owners and parents with pushchairs seem to outnumber everyone else.

Mistakes in the search

Judging by the villas. The leafy streets are lovely, but many are a steep walk from a tram stop. Walk it in January, not June.

Assuming every part is on the metro. Střešovice and Břevnov rely on trams, and outer areas rely on buses.

Ignoring the airport. Check the street against the flight path if you plan to spend your days at home.

Daily life

Supermarkets, doctors, schools and parks are well spread. Nightlife is modest and concentrated around Dejvice and Vítězné náměstí.

Who it suits, and who should skip it

Families, diplomats, students and anyone who wants a calm, green district with reliable transport. It suits you less if you want a lively late-night scene or a quick walk to the Old Town.

Before you rent

In the villa streets, the question is usually the walk to a stop. A leafy street can mean a steep climb or ten minutes to the tram, and winter makes that more obvious. Ask about parking too, since many houses have a garage but flats often don't. In the outer estates, test the bus connection at rush hour before you sign.

Frequently asked questions

Which metro stations serve Prague 6?

Line A: Dejvická, Hradčanská, Bořislavka, Nádraží Veleslavín and Petřiny, running on to Nemocnice Motol.

Is Prague 6 close to the airport?

The airport lies on the western edge of the district, reachable by bus and taxi.

Where are the embassies?

Many are in Prague 6 and neighbouring Bubeneč, mainly in the villa streets.

Is Prague 6 expensive?

Rents and prices for houses are generally high. Check current listings for numbers.

Take a tram from Hradčanská to Břevnov, look round the monastery grounds, then walk into the Star Game Reserve. If the pace feels right, ask for viewings here.