Why Prague’s Hidden Gems Are Practically Fake
Prague’s Idiom book tower
Many travelers want to discover the off-the-beaten-path side of Prague; however, when you ask them to elaborate, they usually can’t: “Just take us where you would take your friends who are visiting Prague for the first time.” I know exactly what they want to see! They want to visit the Idiom, also known as the Infinity Book Tower, the Rotating Head of Franz Kafka, the Senate Gardens with their Grotto Wall, the paternoster elevator, and the Strahov Library. The problem is that these are very basic, well-known attractions; there is nothing hidden about these gems.
The truth is, I’m not really sure how to categorize these attractions anymore, but I do know one thing — calling them “off-the-beaten-path” no longer cuts it. The Idiom Book Tower has more views on TikTok than the Astronomical Clock, but no one would call the latter a lesser-known attraction. There was a time when this was an accurate description, but that ended around 2020, when videos about Prague started to go viral on social media.
Prague’s Paternoster Elevator
The Paternoster, aka the Elevator of Death and Media Hype
The first Czech world hit was the paternoster elevator, labeled as the Eastern European “elevator of death” by Fox News. In this humorous piece of journalism, they managed to both scare and excite readers, sparking interest in traveling so far to see this curious invention. “They're a relic from a time when safety regulations were more lax,” wrote Fox News. Naturally, Prague locals rushed to defend their beloved lift, ridiculing Western media for blowing things out of proportion. Honest Guide, a popular Czech YouTuber duo, laughed at the sensationalist moniker, calling it exaggerated. Janek Rubeš bravely demonstrated how to use the elevator in his videos (some of which have since been taken down) and reassured viewers that there is nothing dangerous or unsafe about it. He probably could not have imagined how many people would flock to Prague, eager to see paternosters in the following years!
The crowds became overwhelming, and the most popular paternosters were eventually broken and closed to the public. The one in the Town Hall that was most promoted now requires paid entry, and the Magistrate’s paternoster was blocked by turnstiles, allowing only building employees to use it. When we spoke to the receptionist, he revealed that their paternoster went out of order after a sizable group of tourists got stuck in it. The entire machine had to be taken apart to free one woman. Now, that sounds like an elevator of death! Sadly, a man in Germany died in a paternoster elevator in 2023 when he failed to exit it on time and was crushed. Considering the surge in accidents involving these elevators, it makes sense that some were closed to the public or started operating with admissions controlled by trained guides who supervise the entire experience.
The Idiom Book Tower
The Idiom Book Tower: Unwanted fame
The Infinity Book Tower (originally named Idiom) in Prague has suffered a similar fate. The Municipal Library, where this “hidden gem” is located, hasn’t started charging tourists for entrance yet, but they are allegedly considering it as it could prove quite lucrative. On busy weekends, the line to see this cool sculpture made of books stretches around the building. Our tourists shared that it took them 40 minutes to get to the front door. Locals who pass by are bewildered: why does anyone care so much about Idiom? It’s cool, sure, but is it worth the wait of one hour just to see it? The appeal of hidden gems used to be accessibility: not many people knew about them, so it created the allure of exclusivity and mystery. That’s why the social media posts that featured them were getting so much attention. The first time I posted a picture of the book tower on my private Instagram account, I received messages from people from my elementary school. Now you can hardly surprise anyone with it.
It’s impossible to say what was the last straw that made Idiom so famous; some say it took just one viral TikTok, but I think it snowballed from multiple guidebooks, videos, and articles praising this artistic marvel. After all, the appeal of such attractions is short-lived; after showcasing them for long enough, they blend into the array of standard tourist sites. If you would like to cross the Idiom off your bucket list, I recommend visiting it right after the Municipal Library opens. This is how we did it last time; the line was only about five minutes long, and we even queued twice in a row to take enough photos and videos. Yes, I am also nostalgic about the times when I could simply enter the building whenever I wanted and record content freely, but now we have to play by the rules.
Fake Prague Hidden Gems: The Truth Behind the Hype
Depending on which blog post you are reading, there are other “off-the-beaten-path” sites recommended. Some authors have spent a total of three days in Prague, while others have stayed longer or visited multiple times. Either way, what exactly constitutes a hidden gem is entirely subjective. Let me give you a rundown of the most famous ones and explain why, in my humble opinion, I think they are fake.
Wallenstein Garden
Wallenstein Garden
Wallenstein Garden, also known as the Senate Garden, is a stunning site that offers gorgeous views of Prague Castle and Lesser Town, as well as peacocks, koi fish, and birds of prey. Tourists love this garden for its impressive manmade Grotto wall and breathtaking architecture.
Why it’s not hidden: It is part of the Czech Senate and open to the public. Guides often take breaks there with their groups, so it can get quite crowded.
Vyšehrad
Vyšehrad is a historic fortress featuring striking architecture, ramparts, a peaceful cemetery, and scenic views of Prague. Czech children grow up reading about Vyšehrad legends, so it would be unfair to call it a hidden gem. It gets really busy on weekends, but even Monday to Friday there are many tours and both public and private events held there.
Yes, Vyšehrad is not as famous as Prague Castle, which bloggers often compare it to, but that doesn’t mean it is peaceful during the day. It was a trend to juxtapose the two sites to make a dramatic point about overtourism and its effect. The goal was achieved: now Vyšehrad is well known to Prague visitors, and you can hardly find a vacant bench on a warm day there. It is still a more affordable and laid-back option if you want to beat the crowds: there are plenty of cafés and hidden corners in the Vyšehrad area compared to the ever-buzzing Prague Castle.
The John Lennon Wall
The John Lennon Wall
The John Lennon Wall is a colorful, graffiti-covered wall symbolizing hope and peace, located in Malá Strana. Even though John Lennon never visited Prague, his figure was a major influence on the pacifist movement, which was strained by the iron fist of the Communist regime. Before it became a popular tourist site, it was known as the "Weeping Wall" in the socialist republic because that was where Western-leaning intellectuals came to lament after visiting the local bars.
Why it’s not hidden: It is one of the most common tour endpoints, with hundreds of people flocking there every hour. We finish our Welcome To Prague Free Walking Tour there as well.
Until recently, the John Lennon Wall was a popular attraction during evening pub crawls, where customers would vandalize the site with vulgar pictures. Since the security cameras were installed, fewer incidents like that have been reported to the police. Although having “Big Brother” watching over the John Lennon Wall is quite ironic, we have to admit.
Strahov Monastery
Strahov Monastery
Strahov Monastery is home to one of Europe’s most beautiful and best-preserved historic libraries, valuable art collections, and a traditional abbey brewery. Sadly, it is not possible to enter the Baroque library halls with regular admission. You have to contact the administration and request a private tour in advance. This has led to many bad reviews complaining that you cannot enter and view the books up close, which we feel is undeserved. Customer service, however, leaves much to be desired.
Why it’s not hidden: A visit there is one of the most frequent inquiries for private tours, so you definitely won’t be the only visitor that day.
Žižkov Television Tower
Žižkov Television Tower
Known for its unusual giant baby sculptures, Žižkov Television Tower offers panoramic views and surreal architecture. It has also been voted the second ugliest building in the world, rather hilariously losing to Baltimore’s Morris A. Mechanic Theatre. Praguers are quite used to the look of the TV tower by now and frequently visit its bar and ice rink located at its base.
Why it’s not hidden: How anyone can call a tower seen from every elevated point in Prague “hidden” is beyond our comprehension. Nevertheless, not many tourists indeed make it to Prague 3 district, where the tower is located. That means it is more of a “could n’t-bother-to-go-out-of-the-city-center” gem!
St. Wenceslas by David Černý
The Truth About Prague’s Hidden Gems
How did these sites become so popular? I believe the search for hidden gems was just another tourist trend that has come and gone. Think about it: people only started traveling to Prague about 30 years ago, and the first visitors were quite happy with the "basic" sites they saw. Prague Castle and Charles Bridge were less crowded in 2005 than they are in 2025, even though the Czech capital has always been an attractive destination.
Then, about 20 years after the fall of the Iron Curtain, when the narrow streets of the UNESCO-protected city center were walked through and through, travelers developed an appetite for something unique and cool. They began searching for lesser-known sites. That’s why videos about these attractions did so well in 2015 — it was exactly what people had been searching for!
But another decade later, in 2025, the fame of some of these hidden gems has caught up with them. Imagine promising someone to show them something hidden, only to bring them to a 40-minute line. It would be a huge letdown. As soon as we discover something truly hidden and unique, we will make sure to share our finds on the Real Prague Guides YouTube channel or during the 100 Spires City Tours experiences. ;)
WRITTEN BY VALERY
Licensed Prague guide and co-creator of Real Prague Guides (50K+ YouTube subscribers). My company, 100 Spires City Tours, leads some of the highest-rated tours in Prague.
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Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal opinions of the author and is not intended to discourage visitors to Prague from purchasing tickets to the attractions and tours mentioned above.