Karlín: barracks, basilica and the flood-revived quarter: a walk in Prague

Prague's first suburb (founded 1817), drowned by the 2002 flood and rebuilt into the city's office-and-bistro quarter: the operetta theatre by the Negrelli viaduct, the barracks turned outdoor cinema, the neo-Romanesque basilica on Karlínské náměstí, Mařatka's sculpture on Lyčkovo náměstí and Dientzenhofer's baroque home for war invalids. No overlap with the existing routes.

Best time: Late afternoon into evening: Kasárna Karlín's courtyard opens daily from 11:30 to 23:00 in good weather, and the walk ends near the Pernerova bistros

The route, stop by stop

1
Hudební divadlo Karlín (Karlín Music Theatre)
Built as a variety theatre of the Tichý family, the leading Czech operetta and musical stage in 1945-1989; it stands next to Florenc and the arches of the Negrelli viaduct (1,120 m, Prague's first railway bridge, the longest bridge in Europe until 1910). 10 min outside.
2
Kasárna Karlín
Classicist five-storey barracks, a protected monument, used by the army until 2008; since June 2017 a cultural centre with a summer cinema (yellow deckchairs on the courtyard), a bar in the old garages, fire pits and sculptures by František Skála jr. Open in good weather daily 11:30-23:00 (indoor spaces closed in 2026); Fousáč Truck street food Tue-Fri 17:00-22:00. 40 min.
The courtyard of the old Karlín barracks, a cultural centre since 2017 with a 200-seat open-air cinema, bar and events. It closed in June 2024, reopened in May 2025 on the…
3
Karlínské náměstí and the Church of Sts Cyril and Methodius
The quarter's central square (revitalised 2015) with the church built 1854-1863 by Carl Roesner and Vojtěch Ignác Ullmann, consecrated in 1863 for the millennium of Cyril and Methodius's mission; one of the largest religious buildings in the country and a landmark of historicism. 20 min.
4
Lyčkovo náměstí
Park square off Křižíkova with small sculptures, the best known being Josef Mařatka's 'Inteligence', in front of a showy Art Nouveau school. Karlín was completely flooded in August 2002 (several houses collapsed; it took a year for life to return) and got flood defences in 2006; walk Křižíkova to see the rebuilt streets. 15 min.
5
Invalidovna (exterior)
Baroque home for war invalids built 1731-1737 by Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer on the model of the Paris Invalides; national cultural monument since 2017, run by the National Heritage Institute since 2018. Closed to the public from August 2026 to 2030 for reconstruction and two new wings: see it from Kaizlovy sady park. 15 min.
6
Eska Karlín
End with coffee or bread at Eska in a converted factory hall on Pernerova, near Ricardo Bofill's Forum Karlín (opened 2014). Mon-Fri 08:00-18:00, Sat-Sun 09:00-18:00 (stored hours). 40 min.
A bakery and industrial-chic bistro in a converted Karlín factory, below the Michelin-starred Štangl; the bakery sells house-made bread and preserved vegetables.

Walking directions

Karlín: barracks, basilica and the flood-revived quarter

The route, stop by stop

More walks in Prague