We tend to associate the term “pole” primarily with the Earth’s North and South Poles—with races of conquest, scientific expeditions and extreme conditions. When we hear the word pole, we imagine a pack of dogs pulling a sled and a lonely polar scientist in perfectly waterproof clothing. In general terms, however, a pole is simply the most distant place with the most extreme characteristics. Logically, Prague also has its poles. And believe us, they will surprise you. They are located in places where you would imagine anything but that you are in a metropolis and capital city. If even a drop of pioneering or exploratory spirit runs through your veins, there is nothing left to do but set out.

Just to be clear. The poles are determined by the cadastral boundary between the Capital City of Prague and the Central Bohemian Region. The coordinates below are taken from the Digital Technical Map of Prague (DTM). There is currently no more accurate determination of coordinates. There are slight deviations in commonly used electronic maps, such as Google Maps or Mapy.cz. However, you can rely on the accurate coordinates listed below.

Prague’s North Pole (the northernmost point)

GPS: 50° 10' 38,747"" N;14° 31' 36,683"" E
Map

Prague’s North Pole lies on the south-eastern edge of the municipality of Hovorčovice. You will find it at the end of Veleňská Street, by the railway crossing. The exact point is located in front of the crossing signal, on the side closer to Hovorčovice. A symbolic concrete marker indicating Prague’s North Pole stands 15 metres away, on the other side of the crossing, outside the railway protection zone. The site is publicly accessible and offers views over a Prague field known as Čelisko and a nearby dog shelter. Standing here, one might recall Frištenský’s remark upon conquering the North Pole: “Well, I may not understand it properly, but speaking for myself, I’d say I don’t see anything particularly extreme here. Compared to our trip to Kokořín…” Something along those lines. The location is easy to reach by train (Hovorčovice station is 350 m from the pole), by PID bus (route 351 from Letňany metro station), by bike (routes 8100 and A27) or by car. In the surrounding area, the village of Líbeznice is also worth a visit, featuring high-quality contemporary architecture by studios such as Atelier M1 and Projektil, as well as Ehl & Koumar architekti, which recently completed a new fire station complex here—a project we also covered in our The Road out of the City series. You can also visit the Zlatý kopec archaeological site, where the oldest known settlement in this territory has been documented. We particularly recommend the area as a full-day architectural excursion.

Prague’s South Pole (the southernmost point)

GPS: 49° 56' 30,840"" N;14° 23' 44,027"" E
Map

Prague’s South Pole lies approximately 200 m from the north-eastern edge of the municipality of Vrané nad Vltavou. Of all four poles of Prague, this is the most frequented site, as it lies in a river floodplain next to a popular bike path (A2) and under the Vrané-Jarov road. It is also the most photogenic of the four. The point is surrounded by the striking scenery of the rocky slopes of the Zvolská homole nature reserve. The site is publicly accessible and marked by a concrete pillar with a label. The easiest way to reach it is by bike (A2) or by train, getting off at the nearby Jarov railway station. Half a kilometre upstream you will find the Vrané nad Vltavou – Strnady ferry. The area is also served by several PID bus routes (Jíloviště, Výzkumný ústav stop). You can round off your conquest of Prague’s South Pole with a climb up Homole Hill, which offers picturesque views over the Vltava valley.

Prague’s East Pole (the easternmost point)

GPS: 50° 5' 13,268"" N;14° 42' 24,435"" E
Map

Prague’s East Pole lies in Klánovice Forest, in the Vidrholec area, approximately 500 m west of the town of Úvaly. The point is publicly accessible and marked by a concrete pillar with a label. Finding it will be a bit of a challenge. Although it is located just 50 m east of the green hiking trail, it sits in dense undergrowth that can interfere with GPS accuracy. But don’t worry. It’s not easy to get lost in Klánovice Forest, so you can start searching without fear. The nearest railway station is in Úvaly, and the area is also served by PID bus routes. Still, the best way to reach the site is by bike or on foot, ideally following the green hiking trail.

Prague’s West Pole (the westernmost point)

GPS: 50° 6' 10,787"" N;14° 13' 27,973"" E
Mapa

Prague’s West Pole lies approximately 500 m south-east of the Amazon complex in the village of Dobrovíz. It is the most remote of all Prague’s poles. From K Amazonu Road, turn off by the old cemetery onto a muddy field track that will lead you to the security fence surrounding Václav Havel Airport Prague. A symbolic concrete pillar with a label stands here. The exact westernmost point itself is the only pole that is not publicly accessible, as it lies about 100 m beyond the fence within the airport’s strictly protected grounds. The nearest public transport stops are at the Amazon complex (train and PID). Cycle route 8100 runs along K Amazonu Road (which, incidentally, almost connects Prague’s North and West Poles). In good weather, you can watch planes taking off from here.