The most breathtaking footbridges and bridges you simply must see up close – Inspiration for a day out!

1. Mariánský Bridge in Ústí nad Labem

The largest bridge in our selection, the Mariánský Bridge in Ústí nad Labem, was regarded as a symbol of the city upon its completion in 1998. However, there was much debate, which, to be honest, the city did not particularly welcome. The reason was the bridge pylon, which increased construction costs, and Ústí spent more than twenty years in court over the reimbursement of these additional costs: the price rose from the original 300 million crowns to double that amount. But this did not deter the renowned magazine Structural Engineering International, which ranked the bridge among the ten most beautiful structures in the world of the 1990s.

2. The Troja Footbridge in Prague

The Troja Footbridge in Prague was also frequently mentioned in the media, mainly because the old footbridge collapsed in December 2017. As this bridge was heavily used for journeys from Stromovka to Troja Castle, the zoo and the botanical gardens, a ferry service across the Vltava had to be reintroduced. The new footbridge was completed in 2020. Like its predecessor, it serves pedestrians, skaters and cyclists, but also features several new functions, such as folding railings as a flood prevention measure. Feel free to walk across it; it should last at least a hundred years.

3. Dagmar Šimková Footbridge in Písek

Architect Josef Pleskot (* 1952) is one of the leading figures in contemporary Czech architecture. Examples of his work include the Zen Garden in Litomyšl, the Sonberk wine house and the regeneration of the Dolní Vítkovice site in Ostrava. He was born in Písek, and although he lives in Prague, he considers himself a native of South Bohemia. His first project in his hometown was a footbridge over the Otava River, connecting the districts of Hradiště and Václavské předměstí. The footbridge curves at one point and features a landing, making it ideal for socialising and resting; moreover, it is named after the political prisoner Dagmar Šimková, thereby also serving as a kind of memorial to the victims of the totalitarian regime.

4. Vávra’s Footbridge with a Lookout Tower in Cheb

In Cheb, the Krajinka sports and recreation complex on both banks of the River Ohře below Cheb Castle is a very popular place for a stroll. Along the promenade, you’ll find children’s playgrounds and a cycle path, mini-golf, a picnic meadow, water attractions, a pétanque court, table tennis, streetball, a rope centre, and the unique Vávra Footbridge. Architect David Vávra drew inspiration from the castle’s drawbridge, and the footbridge is complemented by a ten-metre-high observation tower.

5. Two in one town: the footbridge over the Loučná and the viewing footbridge in Litomyšl

Litomyšl, a town of monastery gardens and the cultural legacy of Bedřich Smetana, is also a place where we can find modern architecture. On the banks of the Loučná stream, right in the town centre, there is a suspended footbridge, whilst the Smetana Footbridge is a few years younger. This minimalist structure, which features a lift and a view of the historic town centre, reduces traffic congestion on the busy thoroughfare through the town. Its designers, the Ehl & Koumar studio, won the Czech Architecture Award for this project. The competition jury stated that a good bridge is like a good deed in a cruel world; it connects people and places, and is designed to be pleasing not only to the eye but also as an experience.

6. Footbridge with a bench in Palkovice

In Palkovice, in the Moravian-Silesian Region, people had long crossed the Olešná stream via an old wooden footbridge. Eventually, the village centre was modernised, leading to the creation of a new footbridge. It is designed to expand the public space and provide a pleasant place for meeting and resting, which is why a long bench is situated directly on the footbridge. The glass railing offers an unobstructed view of the surroundings, including the ducks and trout in the river.

7. Vítka Brandy Footbridge in Kadaň

If you are walking along the Maxipes Fík embankment in Kadaň by the River Ohře, you will find the footbridge beneath the dam of the reservoir. At first glance, it may seem to connect the banks, but instead it is set into the rock above the river, making it easier for cyclists to cross. It is almost a hundred metres long and is named after its designer, Vítka Brandy, who sadly died tragically shortly after its completion.

8. Eva Jiřičná’s Footbridge in Klatovy

One of the most hidden footbridges on our list is the glass footbridge designed by Eva Jiřičná’s studio in Klatovy. This footbridge connects Balbínova Street and forms part of the reconstructed Baroque catacombs; it links the former Jesuit college and Jesuit grammar school near the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary and St Ignatius. The original plans included the restoration of the historic water channel that ran here in the 19th century, but in the end, conservationists recommended a modern glass tunnel.

9. Footbridge in Medvědí důl in the Krkonoše Mountains

Whilst walking through the Krkonoše National Park, you may come across several footbridges designed by architecture students from the Czech Technical University in Prague. It was a real challenge for them, as the footbridges had to be easily dismantled whilst also being able to withstand heavy snow. The first footbridge, with a simple yet striking truss structure, can be found over Medvědí potok at an altitude of 1,020 metres, where it spans the Medvědí důl valley.

10. Footbridge with a bench over Hluboká Strouha

The second ‘student’ footbridge in the Krkonoše National Park is situated on the slopes of Stoh, at the point where the blue hiking trail – which runs from Špindlerův Mlýn to Klínové boudy – crosses the Hluboká strouha. There is a bench on the footbridge, facing towards the valley. In an area where there are few places to rest, this is truly useful!

11. The ‘Fragrant’ Footbridge over the Černá Strouha in the Krkonoše Mountains

The third footbridge in the Krkonoše Mountains runs along the Klínová trail across the Černá strouha, adapting to the terrain and naturally curving in the direction of the path. On the upper edge of the outer girder is a bench offering a view of the valley. And an interesting fact? The footbridge is made of cedar wood, which still exudes an exotic scent.

12. Footbridge over the Čistá stream near Hrnčířské budy in the Krkonoše Mountains

Another footbridge over the Čistá near Hrnčířské budy had to cope with challenging terrain: it is situated in a narrow ravine and on a sharp bend. It consists of seven wooden triangles connected by steel elements, suspended by steel cables, with a plank ‘walkway’ inside.

13. Footbridge in Eliščino údolí in Malá Úpa

The fifth footbridge in the Krkonoše Mountains is located in Eliška’s Valley near the Renner huts in Malá Úpa and is the sturdiest of them all; it also allows cars to pass over it. The designers chose to use wood as a traditional local material, whilst the connecting elements are made of durable steel.

14. Footbridge in Příbor

You may know Příbor as the birthplace of Sigmund Freud, but it is certainly also worth seeing the well-preserved historic centre and the modern footbridge over the River Lubina. The segmental structure used was the first of its kind in the Czech Republic; the bridge’s railing is made of stainless steel posts with sturdy oak handrails and lighting. The footbridge’s minimalist design offers an unobstructed view of the surroundings.

15. The swinging footbridge below Šobes

The Podyjí National Park is legendary not only for the Šobes vineyard, which ranks among the ten best vineyards in Europe, but also for the famous swinging footbridge located below it. If you set off from Hnanice, this is the only way to get there. There are several swinging suspension footbridges across the River Dyje in the Podyjí: you’ll find another one near Vranov nad Dyjí and a third on the hiking trail from Podmolí to Devět mlýnů.

16. The swinging footbridge at Svatošské skály

A short distance from Karlovy Vary, in the deep canyon of the Ohře River, you will discover the Svatošské skály, one of the most popular destinations for day trips in the area. Beneath these rocks, there used to be an old suspension bridge that swayed. The newly built footbridge helps cope with the influx of tourists and stands a little further upstream. Thanks to its modern construction and wider design, it can also be used by rescue workers if necessary. The deck is made of oak and the larch wood railing features a design in the shape of so-called St Andrew’s crosses. And what’s great? It sways too!

17. Curiosity No. 1: the transboarder beneath Hamrštejn

Among our footbridges is also a unique transboarder across the Lužická Nisa below Hamrštejn Castle. This is a self-service wooden footbridge, also known as a gondola bridge. It replaced an old metal footbridge, and now a cabin on pulleys is used to cross the river, which passengers power themselves by pulling on a rope. This transporter is unique in the Czech Republic; there are only two similar structures in Europe.

18. Curiosity No. 2: The aqueduct at Hadrovec near Domažlice

A unique architectural feature was the bridge near the Havlovice railway station in the Domažlice region: a wooden aqueduct, the only one of its kind in the Czech Republic, which ran over the railway line. The historic water channel, which carried water from the forests below Čerchov to the ponds around Domažlice, had existed since the 16th century. The international Prague–Plzeň–Regensburg–Munich cycle route runs alongside the aqueduct. The aqueduct was dismantled in 2025 and plans are now underway to build a new all-metal one.

19. New footbridge in Nymburk

Following the collapse of the old Troja Footbridge in Prague in 2017, concerns spread to Nymburk, where a footbridge of the same design was located. The old bridge was demolished in 2018 and the new footbridge for cyclists and pedestrians was opened in 2021. A small public beach for swimming in the Elbe is to be built near this new footbridge.

20. Footbridge from Holešovice to Karlín

As for Prague, “…Charles Bridge has set a certain standard – I wouldn’t find another like it, except perhaps the bridge leading to Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome with Bernini’s angels,” says Santiago Calatrava, a renowned contemporary Spanish architect. According to him, bridges in Prague are just as important as a castle or a cathedral, and they should be beautiful. The footbridge connecting Holešovice and Karlín, opened in 2023, is magnificent. It facilitates access to Štvanice Island for pedestrians and cyclists.

21. Suspension Bridge in Dolní Morava

In 2022, the longest suspension bridge in the Czech Republic was added to the attractions of the Dolní Morava mountain resort. The Sky Bridge 721 measures 721 metres and you walk across it at a height of 95 metres above the ground. It runs from the Slaměnka chalet near the Cloud Trail to the slopes of Chlum Hill.

22. Eva Footbridge in Adamov

Since 2022, the town of Adamov has had a beautiful platform at its railway station. Its central feature is the Eva Footbridge, which provides access to the individual platforms via staircases and lifts. The architects from Hua Hua Architects drew inspiration from the town’s industrial history and incorporated the design of the female XX chromosome into the structure.

23. Footbridge to Švédský vrch in Cheb

The footbridge to Švédský vrch in Cheb holds several interesting records. With a total length of approximately 400 metres, it is the second-longest footbridge in the Czech Republic, and the longest of all footbridges that are also intended for cyclists. It spans a total of 43 railway tracks, which is another Czech record.

24. The Hermit’s Footbridge in the Podyjí National Park

Good neighbourliness can take many forms: in some places, of course, joint celebrations; in others, bells or a chapel. In the Podyjí National Park, these connections are manifested through bridges and footbridges. In 2023, the Poustevník Footbridge was opened east of Hardegg, near Lukov, on the site of a former ford. Although similar footbridges already existed here, the Hermit’s Footbridge will not be the last; a project called ‘Bridges to Neighbours’ plans to create two interconnected hiking trails, accessible from both the Moravian and Austrian banks of the Dyje.

25. New footbridge from Karlín to Vítkov

The Prague districts of Karlín and Žižkov are close, yet far apart. The main obstacle between them is Vítkov Hill. Currently, there is only a pedestrian tunnel here, but a new footbridge with a lift tower is soon to be built, spanning the railway line at the foot of Vítkov. The architect behind this new project is Petr Tej, who designed the Štvanice Footbridge connecting Karlín with Holešovice. The new footbridge is to be built to connect with the Štvanice Footbridge and link three different locations in Prague. It is planned to be completed around 2030.

26. The two-storey bridge on the D1 motorway

The most interesting remnant of the never-completed A88 motorway is the two-level bridge on the D1 motorway, with a minor road running from Vojslavice to Hořice on the lower deck, whilst the upper deck of the D1 motorway is open to traffic. This Vojslavice double bridge, sometimes also known as the double bridge near Koberovice or the double bridge near Píště, is considered a unique piece of engineering and is listed as a cultural monument.

27. The highest bridge in the Czech Republic

The highest bridges in the Czech Republic, the Žďákov Bridge and the Vysočina Bridge near Velké Meziříčí, will soon be surpassed by a new bridge spanning the Střela River valley. It will be built at a height of 87 metres and will stand on the Plas bypass, thereby speeding up the journey between Žatec and Plzeň. It will also allow pedestrians to cross, and thanks to a viewing platform with a glass floor, it is sure to become a popular tourist attraction. Work will begin in 2025, and the bridge is scheduled to open to traffic in 2028.

28. Orlík and two railway bridges side by side

When travelling by train from Tábor to Písek, you will cross the Schwarzenberg railway bridge. This elegant arched structure spans the Vltava and the Orlík Dam, with trains having begun running across it in 2024. During your train journey, you will enjoy a stunning view of the original truss railway bridge dating from 1889. This old bridge has been designated a technical monument, and a cycle path may run across it in the future. You can find a similar pair of old and new bridges elsewhere, for example in the Jihlava River valley between Dolní Kounice and Ivančice, where the new railway bridge stands next to the remains of the historic viaduct.

29. Prague and the Dvorecký Bridge, an elegant gateway between Smíchov and Podolí

The new Dvorecký Bridge, connecting Podolí and Smíchov, was recently completed in Prague. This elegant structure, designed by architects Tubes and Atelier 6, is inspired by Cubism and is intended for trams, buses, pedestrians and cyclists. The bridge replaces the ferry service between Lihovar and Dvorce and connects key tram routes across Prague. The area around Dvorecký Bridge will also be very interesting; on the Podolí bank, a lively space for socialising and relaxation will be created, whilst on the Zlíchov side, an unusual light park is being prepared, featuring street lamps from dozens of countries around the world. The Dvorecký Bridge will thus become not only a useful transport link, but also an entertaining place for walks and superb views of the Vltava.

30. Ostrava and the bridge that spews fire

Fire-breathing gargoyles reminiscent of scenes from a fantasy film? That is exactly what the new Na Karolině Bridge in the centre of Ostrava will be like. This bridge over the Ostravice River will connect Moravian and Silesian Ostrava and become a striking architectural landmark for the entire region. Designed by architect Roman Koucký, the bridge will feature separate lanes for cars, cyclists and pedestrians, and will be complemented by improvements to the surrounding junctions. If the project is successful, Ostrava will gain not only an important transport link but also an imaginative urban attraction.