Břevnov and Střešovice: the hillside villa districts west of the castle

If Dejvice is Prague's planned grid and Vinohrady its tenement belt, the hillside districts west of the castle are where the city lets itself relax. Břevnov and Střešovice rise in terraces toward the Bílá hora plateau, with gardens, tree-lined streets and views of the castle across the valley. They are not famous with visitors, which is partly why people who live there like them.

Břevnov: a monastery and a battle

Břevnov's monastery is among the oldest institutions in Bohemia. It was founded in 993 by Prince Boleslaus II and Bishop Adalbert (Vojtěch), and it was the first men's monastery in Bohemia. The Benedictine community still lives there, and the complex, with the baroque Church of St Margaret by the Dientzenhofer family, stands at the centre of the district. A brewery associated with the monastery is part of its modern identity; check the monastery's website for visiting arrangements (as of 2026).

Just beyond the district lies the White Mountain (Bílá hora), where in 1620 the army of the Bohemian estates was defeated by the Catholic forces of the Habsburgs, an event that changed the course of Czech history. The Star Summer Palace (Letohrádek Hvězda), a Renaissance hunting lodge built in the 16th century in the shape of a six-pointed star, stands in a game park nearby. Our piece on the Battle of White Mountain and its consequences explains why the site matters.

Střešovice: villas and a famous house

Střešovice, to the north, was developed more recently. Its streets were laid out between the world wars as a district of villas and small apartment blocks for the professional and business classes of the new republic. The architecture is predominantly functionalist, with plain façades, flat roofs and large windows, set in gardens.

The most famous building is Villa Müller, designed by the Viennese architect Adolf Loos and completed in 1930. Its plain exterior hides a complex interior built on what Loos called the Raumplan, in which rooms are arranged on different levels to fit the use of each space. The house is run by the Prague City Museum, and visits are by guided tour with advance booking; check the museum's website for current arrangements. It is one of the best-known examples of modernist domestic architecture in Europe.

Střešovice also houses the Military University Hospital, whose role in the city's hospital network is covered in our piece on Prague healthcare facilities. A museum of public transport occupies a former tram depot; the Prague Public Transit Company runs it, and it displays historical trams and buses. Check the opening dates with the operator.

What the housing is like

The housing stock in these districts is dominated by houses and villas, mostly from the first half of the 20th century, with apartment blocks along the main roads and a few postwar housing estates at the western edge, such as Petřiny. Gardens, front yards and mature trees are common. A great many houses are privately owned. Flats exist but are not as dense as in the inner districts, and the supply of rentals is smaller.

Many villas are protected or fall inside protected zones, and owners need to work with the heritage authorities on external changes. The rules are explained in heritage protection and building restrictions. If you are renovating, how to renovate a flat in Czechia sets out when permits are needed.

For new housing in the wider area, new developments in Prague 6 are listed on Novostavby.com (in Czech). Prices and availability change, so we quote none. If you are thinking about borrowing to buy a house, the borrowing estimator on Hypoteky.com gives a rough idea based on income and costs. It is an estimate, and only a bank can say what it will lend.

Getting around

The 2015 extension of metro A to Motol transformed the district's connections. New stations at Bořislavka, Nádraží Veleslavín, Petřiny and Nemocnice Motol put the western edge of Břevnov within reach of the metro, and the journey to Malostranská and the Old Town takes minutes. The monastery itself is best reached by a short walk or bus from these stations; check the PID planner for the current connection. Střešovice is served mainly by trams and buses, with a number of stops on the main road along the ridge, and Hradčanská on line A is nearby.

The guide to the metro lines and the tram explainer show how to read the network. The hilly terrain makes cycling harder than in Dejvice, though the parks and game reserves nearby offer scenic rides; see cycling infrastructure in Prague.

Both districts are in Prague 6. Parking is regulated in parts of the area, and the system is explained in Prague parking zones. The city's numbered areas and districts explainer clarifies the labels.

Green space

The hills around Břevnov offer more green space than most Prague districts. The Obora Hvězda game park, a large wooded area with paths, is one of the city's best-known walking areas. Ladronka is a hilltop park with a villa. The city's overview of green spaces and parks sets these spaces beside the larger parks of the north and east.

Daily life on the hill

The hillside districts lack a single commercial centre, which is part of their character. Břevnov has local shopping streets along its main roads, and Střešovice has a village-like core with smaller shops. For larger purchases residents go to the commercial centres of nearby Dejvice or to Anděl in Smíchov, both within reach by public transport. Life is quiet and slightly dispersed, and errands mean a tram, a bus or a car.

Petřiny, at the western edge of Břevnov, is a postwar housing estate, and it adds a different layer to the district. Estates of this kind are described in our piece on Prague's large housing estates. Single-family houses in one street and prefabricated flats in the next is a very Prague mix.

Healthcare is a major presence. Both the Military University Hospital in Střešovice and the large Motol hospital are close; see Prague healthcare facilities. Schools are available in both districts, with admission governed by the catchment rules explained in Prague schools and districts. The big advantage is open space: game parks, monastery grounds and fields toward the White Mountain.

The trade-off is distance from the evening economy. The hillside districts are not places where you step out for a late drink, and the night buses and trams are the main option after the metro closes; the night transport guide explains how they run.

Frequently asked questions

Who designed Villa Müller?

The Viennese architect Adolf Loos, with the Czech architect Karel Lhota. It was completed in 1930.

Can you visit the Břevnov Monastery?

Parts of it are open to visitors. Check the monastery's official website for tours and opening times.

Is Střešovice served by the metro?

Mainly by trams and buses. Hradčanská on line A is nearby.

Where is the Prague public transport museum?

In the Střešovice tram depot. It is run by the Prague Public Transit Company; check its website for opening dates.

For a half-day, take metro A to Petřiny or Bořislavka, walk to the monastery, continue to the Star game park and finish with a tram down to Střešovice. A thousand years of Prague fit into a few kilometres.