Prague, Czechia

Vinárna Čertovka

This walkway is so narrow it needs its own light to stop pedestrian traffic jams.

Vinárna Čertovka is touted as the narrowest street in Prague. The 19.6-inch-wide path is really more of a staircase than a proper street, but that hasn’t stopped people from celebrating its svelte girth.

Only one person at a time can squeeze through the thin passageway, which cuts between two houses in one of the city’s most historic neighborhoods. There’s absolutely no room for two pedestrians approaching from opposite ends to pass one another, which led to quite a few tight situations.

To remedy this, someone installed a traffic light on either end of the street. With the push of a button, a walker can alert anyone waiting at the other end that they’re planning to pass through. However, be warned that busy tourists don’t always adhere to the light, so there’s a good chance you’ll wind up wedged within a traffic jam anyway.

For those who are a bit claustrophobic, the tiny street is easily avoidable. It’s merely a little urban planning quirk, and is thankfully not the main way to get to the restaurant tucked away at the end.

Know Before You Go

The narrow street is located in Malá Strana, the city's oldest neighborhood. It's a roughly five-minute walk from the Malostranská metro station.

The street is shown on some maps as “nejužší pražská ulička,” which means “the narrowest street in Prague.” One way to find it is going to U Lužického semináře Street and finding the house number 24. Vinárna Čertovka is next to it.

Čertovka, a restaurant, awaits at the end of the narrow street. Diners there will find a robust menu and a back terrace with wonderful views over the river. To reach the restaurant without squeezing through the passageway, go northeast on U Lužického semináře toward Cihelná, then turn right once you see Proudy, the automated peeing sculpture.

The street is also a two-minute walk from the Franz Kafka Museum and a five-minute walk from the Lennon Wall.