Discover Vinárna Čertovka in Malá Strana—Prague’s ultra‑narrow lane with real pedestrian traffic lights. Learn its story and why it’s a quirky must‑see.
Prague has a knack for surprises not just in its castles and squares, but in the small stuff, too. In Malá Strana, a short stroll from Charles Bridge, there’s a street you won’t stumble upon by accident. It’s so narrow that two people can’t pass shoulder to shoulder. To keep anyone from getting wedged in, the sides are fitted with real traffic lights—just like on the road, only for pedestrians. Green means go. Red means wait until the other person comes through.
This curious lane is called Vinárna Čertovka. It’s roughly 50–70 centimeters wide—about the span of an adult shoulder. It used to serve as a fire passageway; now it’s practically a tourist sight. People don’t come because they need to get somewhere, but out of sheer curiosity—and, of course, for a photo or two.
Interesting fact: the passage leads to a restaurant, and the signal really does its job—it’s not an art installation, but a safety measure.
Amusing as it looks, the idea is perfectly sensible. In such a tight corridor, anyone coming head‑on simply cannot squeeze past. Add a bend that blocks the view of the other side, and the lights start to feel less like a gimmick and more like common sense.
What’s striking is how rarely this passage shows up in guidebooks. It seems to live its own quiet life: tourists adore it, while official directories barely give it a nod. Their loss.
We tried to track down similar streets in other countries for comparison. The most famous is Spreuerhofstraße in the German city of Reutlingen. At just 31 centimeters across, it made the Guinness World Records. But no fresh side‑by‑side comparisons with the Prague passage have surfaced in recent months.
So while Prague’s lane isn’t the narrowest on the planet, it’s certainly among the most unusual. After all, where else would you find a pedestrian traffic light on a path barely half a meter wide?
It’s easy to file this away as a playful urban quirk, yet it quietly shows how even the tiniest leftover spaces can become interesting and useful. Sometimes all it takes is a traffic light—and a cramped passage turns into a small attraction, nudging the city to feel a bit more welcoming.
Chances are, these pocket‑sized spaces will be tapped more often in the future. Residents and visitors don’t always crave grand squares and big museums; sometimes the real thrill is discovering something unexpected just around the corner.
If you find yourself in Prague, make time for Vinárna Čertovka. Walk it end to end, wait for the green, and for a moment feel like the only pedestrian on the “road.”