Na Prikope Street, Prague

Na Příkopě is one of Prague’s grandest strolling streets, neatly marking the old boundary between Prague’s Old Town and New Town. Its name means “On the Moat,” referring to the medieval ditch that once ran here. Today, the moat has been replaced by a broad, elegant avenue where banks, boutiques, cafés, arcades, and historic façades compete politely for your attention.

Heading down from Republic Square, with the Powder Tower and Municipal House behind you, almost immediately, on your left, you'll see a large, solid-looking functionalist building with a restrained, monumental façade—the Czech National Bank. It is easy to identify by its official, almost fortress-like appearance: less decorative than its neighbors, but impressive in its scale and authority—a useful contrast to Prague’s more romantic architecture, showing the city’s 20th-century modern side.

Continue along the street and keep looking up. Na Příkopě is at its best above shop-window level, where you can spot ornate cornices, sculpted details, elegant balconies, and façades from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

One of the main landmarks to watch here for is the Crown Palace. As you walk down the street, look for an elegant commercial building topped with a sculpted crown, which gives the palace its name. This is the kind of detail you might miss if you keep your eyes fixed on the storefronts. Tourist translation: look up, or Prague will quietly show off without you.

A little farther along, keep to the left-hand side of the street and look for the entrance to Slovanský dům, or Slavonic House, at Number 22. It sits behind a grand historic façade and is clearly marked by its name above the entrance. Step inside if you want a quieter pause from the crowds. Tourist translation: when the street starts feeling too polished and crowded, this is where Prague gives you a backstage pass...

While walking, notice the arcades and passageways branching off the street. These are part of Na Příkopě’s charm: from the outside, it is a polished shopping boulevard; inside, it reveals cafés, courtyards, galleries, and quieter corners. In warmer months, the walk becomes livelier still, with street musicians, seasonal stalls, and pop-up events adding a bit of theater to the city’s most elegant shopping promenade.