Žižkov Highline: Prague’s little‑known but fabulous shortcut
In this Prague off the Beaten Track episode, we start at Prague’s busiest railway hub—Hlavní nádraží—but head somewhere unexpected. Just beyond the platforms lies the Žižkov Highline, a short walkway born from a temporary art project that’s now a functional shortcut between districts.
A walk that starts on the beaten track
The journey begins in perhaps the most “on the beaten track” spot in Prague—its main railway station, Hlavní nádraží. Millions of commuters, visitors, and tourists pass through each year. But instead of heading for the historic centre or Wenceslas Square, there’s another option: take the underground passage that links the station directly to Žižkov in Prague 3. Opened in September 2021 after sixteen months of construction, it’s the first safe, legal, and barrier‑free pedestrian link between the two districts. Before that, reaching Žižkov from here meant a long detour—or for some locals, risky and unofficial track crossings.
Stepping out into a changed Žižkov
On the Žižkov side, the railway corridor has changed dramatically in the past decade. New apartment blocks, modern offices, and small shops have replaced the post‑industrial edge. The transformation is polished and deliberate—but just a short walk away lies something most visitors never see.
Žižkov Highline: a new perspective
The Žižkov Highline began as a temporary installation for the Landscape Festival Prague 2018. Inspired by New York’s High Line, it connects areas long divided by the railway: Karlín, Žižkov, and Vítkov Hill. A wooden staircase leads from street level up to the disused railway embankment, creating a raised promenade just a few hundred metres long. While modest in scale, it showcases how unused city infrastructure can be reimagined as green, community‑friendly public space.
Krenovka: a monument full of life
Along the route stands Krenovka, a 19th‑century building that once served agricultural purposes before becoming a railway facility. For decades it housed a printing press for Edmondson tickets—the small cardboard tickets once standard on trains across Europe. Today, Krenovka is reborn as a cultural centre with dance studios, artist workshops, and community spaces under the motto “Památka plná života”—“a monument full of life.”
A connector more than a destination
The Highline is short, but it serves its purpose well. You can follow the bike path deeper into Žižkov, detour to a café or pub, or descend to the foot of Vítkov Hill, featured in an earlier Prague off the Beaten Track episode. On a recent visit, a steady stream of purposeful pedestrians passed by, using it not as a park but as a shortcut—a connector between everyday destinations.
The poetry of the place
It may not be designed for leisurely strolling, but there are spots to pause. Sitting on a large concrete slab, you can watch trains pass on one of the country’s main eastbound railway arteries while the hum of the city forms a backdrop. Well‑kept flowerbeds add a surprising touch of care. There’s a certain quiet, almost poetic quality here—if you know how to look for it.
From station to discovery
In the end, the walk from Hlavní nádraží to the Žižkov Highline is short, but it leads to a corner of Prague few tourists ever see. It’s proof that even in the most familiar parts of the city, there are always new perspectives to find—especially if you’re willing to cross to the “other side of the tracks.”
Žižkov Highline
- Location: Between Hlavní nádraží and Žižkov, Prague 3
- Opened: As a temporary art installation in 2018; connected via new underpass to Main Railway Station in 2021
- Length: A few hundred metres
- Main features: Wooden staircase, elevated walkway, views toward Vítkov Hill
- Nearby landmarks: Krenovka cultural centre, Vítkov Hill, Karlín
- Fun fact: Once home to printing presses for Edmondson railway tickets, Krenovka now houses arts and community spaces
- How to get there: walk from Main Railway Station (Hlavní nádraží)
