Monastery brews and castle views: Beer garden season gets underway in Prague

Spring brings the promise of summer and, for Praguers and Czechs everywhere, the primal urge to drink beer outside. Whether you raise a glass in the Czech capital’s plethora of beer gardens or at one of the many festivals tapping into the country’s finest, the 2024 season is saturated with beer; there are at least half a dozen beer festivals to look forward to until autumn.

Beer festival season gets underway this weekend with the Prague Beer Fest. Held at the Holešovice Market Hall on April 12 and 13, it features around 50 breweries from Europe and the U.S. Attendees can enjoy workshops, lectures, and tastings while meeting prominent brewers.

On April 27, beer enthusiasts can head to the Festival of Monastery Breweries, which comes to the Břevnov Monastery Brewery. Offering free entry, visitors can taste Poutní beer, created in cooperation between Plzeňské Prazdroj and five Czech monastery breweries.

The Žižkov Beer Festival at Parukářka Park takes place from May 31 to June 1. This open-air gastronomic event offers diverse beers, including lagers, light and dark specials, filtered, unfiltered, and top-fermented brews. In addition to beer, attendees can indulge in beer ice cream, Belgian fries, burgers, and grilled fare with activities for children and free entry.

Moving into June, the Mini-Brewery Festival at the Prague Castle takes place in the Royal Gardens on June 7 and 8. Showcasing beers from Czech, Moravian, and Slovak mini-breweries, visitors can enjoy unlimited tastings and explore the rich diversity of regional brews against the majestic backdrop of the castle.

Next up, local beer lovers should flock to the Beer Festival at Náplavka, located along the Rašínovo embankment, on June 14 and 15 – sample specialty beers from over 50 small Czech breweries amidst live music and gastronomic delights.

The Nomad Beer Festival, celebrates nomadic breweries on Sept. 6 and Sept. 7 at the Holešovice Market. Offering free entry, attendees can explore an array of flavors from various breweries while enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of the festival.

Head to one of the city's many beer gardens to quench the dry spell between festivals. Here, we’ve put together a map of our favorite beer gardens by district for your sipping convenience.

Some highlights include the newly reopened (in 2023) Na Hradbách beer garden in the Vyšehrad fortress, which boasts some of the best views of Prague. In other news, Letná Beer Garden has announced on social media that a new bar next to the viewpoint should cut down on long lines.