Jazz Boat Vltava Cruise with Live Jazz Concert Prague

Na Františku pier and the Old Town embankment

The jazz boat leaves from the Na Františku pier on the Dvořák Embankment, at the northern edge of Prague's Old Town where the Vltava makes its wide bend towards the Čech Bridge. This stretch of riverbank borders Josefov, the old Jewish Quarter, while on the opposite bank the green slopes of Letná Park rise above the water. In the evening the embankment is calm, the lamps come on along the stone quay and the castle hill glows to the west, so boarding here is already part of the experience.

How to get to the Na Františku pier is simple: it is about a ten-minute walk from the Old Town Square along Pařížská Street, or a few minutes from the Právnická fakulta tram stop beside the Čech Bridge. Staroměstská metro station on line A is also close. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before the 19:30 departure so the crew can seat you before the music starts.

The Vltava River through the heart of Prague

The Vltava is the longest river in Czechia, flowing roughly 430 kilometres from the Šumava mountains to its meeting with the Elbe at Mělník, north of Prague. In the capital it curves through the city in a broad S shape, crossed by a string of historic bridges and dotted with small islands. Seeing Prague from the river gives you the classic panorama that is impossible to take in from the crowded streets: domes, spires and red roofs stacked up on both banks.

A Vltava river cruise is one of the best things to do in Prague at night, because the boat moves slowly, the monuments are floodlit and the busy daytime traffic on the water has gone. On this cruise the river becomes the stage set for the music: the band plays while the boat glides past the embankments, and the breaks between sets are the moment to step onto the open deck for photos.

Charles Bridge and the Old Town Bridge Tower

Charles Bridge is the oldest standing bridge over the Vltava in Prague, begun in 1357 and completed in the early 15th century. Built of sandstone blocks, it stretches about half a kilometre between the Old Town and the Lesser Town and is lined with baroque statues of saints added mainly around 1700. For centuries it was the only bridge across the river in the city and part of the coronation route that led up to the castle.

At its Old Town end stands the Old Town Bridge Tower, one of the finest Gothic gateways in Europe, decorated with carved figures and coats of arms. By day the bridge is packed with visitors; from the boat at night you see it as it was meant to be seen, its arches reflected in the water and the tower lit against the sky. Many guests say this view alone makes the Prague jazz boat worth it.

Prague Castle, St Vitus Cathedral and the Lesser Town

High on the hill above the left bank rises Prague Castle, founded in the 9th century and for centuries the seat of Bohemian kings and later of the country's presidents. It is a vast complex of palaces, courtyards, churches and gardens stretching along the ridge of Hradčany. At its centre soars St Vitus Cathedral, begun in 1344 and completed only in 1929, whose Gothic spires dominate almost every view of the city.

Below the castle spreads the Lesser Town, or Malá Strana, a quarter of baroque palaces, terraced gardens and the green dome of St Nicholas Church. After dark the whole hillside is floodlit, and from the deck the castle seems to float above the rooftops. If you plan to visit Prague Castle by day, this cruise is a lovely way to see it first from below and understand how the city grew around it.

Live jazz and dinner on board

Jazz has deep roots in Prague: the music arrived in the 1920s, survived difficult decades and today the city has a lively scene of jazz clubs and festivals. On the jazz boat a band of local musicians plays three live sets during the cruise, with two short breaks in between. The atmosphere is relaxed rather than loud, so the evening suits a night out with friends as well as a quiet dinner for two.

The default option includes a three-course dinner served at your table on the heated inside deck: a starter, a choice of main course (fish, vegetarian, chicken or pork) and a dessert. Drinks are not included and can be ordered from the crew on board. Because the inside deck stays warm, the Prague jazz cruise runs all year, and the open deck is there whenever you want fresh air and the full view of the illuminated city.