While roaming the picturesque streets and alleyways of Prague is one of the best ways to experience the city, it’s also beautiful from above. On my most recent trip to Prague we visited the Petřín Lookout Tower, built as a mini version of Paris’s Eiffel Tower in 1891. The tower itself is only a little under 200 feet tall, but when you consider its location at the top of the 1,043-foot-high Petřín Hill, the excursion becomes a bit more daunting.

When we (eventually) made it to the top of Petřín Hill, the views of the city were already beautiful. We then climbed the 299 steps to reach the top of the Tower, where the views were expansive and breathtaking. On a clear day, which we unfortunately did not have, it’s possible to see the highest peak in the Czech Republic, Snezka, which is nearly 100 miles away.

The Tower is nestled in the woods surrounded by vibrantly colored gardens, and there is a stunning Romanesque church later rebuilt in the Baroque style, the Church of Saint Lawrence, located next to the Lookout Tower.

While the trip up to the Tower was no small feat, it was well worth it, and as a bonus there’s a café at the top offering beer and gelato as a reward for your physical efforts.

— Nicole Quasté, assistant editor