Prague's calmest riverside corner
Where Charles Bridge meets the Malá Strana bank, a narrow arm of the Vltava called the Čertovka ("Devil's Channel") splits off from the main river, carving out the small island of Kampa. The channel was historically used to power watermills along its length — a couple of the old wheels are still visible — and the nickname "Little Venice" has stuck to this stretch ever since, even if the comparison is a stretch.
What to do there
Kampa's main park is a genuine local favourite for a reason tourists often miss: it's shaded, riverside, and a five-minute walk from Charles Bridge without any of its crowds. It's a good spot to sit down with a takeaway coffee or a bottle of something from a nearby shop, and to get a low, water-level view back toward the bridge you won't find from the bank on the Old Town side.
The John Lennon Wall connection
Kampa sits right next to Malá Strana's John Lennon Wall, so the two make an easy combined stop — wall first, then a short walk down to the water to sit for a while.