Everyone and their mother tells you to wake up at 5am for charles bridge sunrise photos. What they don't mention is you'll be standing with literally 200 other photographers doing the exact same instagram shot. Those "empty" bridge photos you see? They're from 2003 or taken with a telephoto lens that crops out the crowds.

Go at midnight instead. Bridge is actually empty, street lamps create this moody lighting that's way better than harsh morning sun anyway. Prague castle looks incredible lit up across the river. The gothic towers frame perfectly in the warm street lighting, and you get those reflection shots in the vltava river without a single selfie stick in frame.

Security guards do patrol but they don't care if you're just walking through. Best entrance is from malá strana side near kampa island - fewer late-night pedestrians than old town side. Bring a tripod for long exposures of the lamp reflections.

If letná park gives you better distant views at golden hour, that's cool too, but for actually being on the famous bridge itself without crowds, midnight is unbeatable. Been doing this for years because im fundamentally not a morning person and refuse to get up before 9am on vacation.