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From biking and bobsleigh to planetariums, parks and spas, recreation in Prague is a mixed bag of high-energy activities and leisurely outings offering everything from exercise to exploration. The biggest deal in the world of recreation in Prague is the city’s parks. In 2006 alone, the city spent $40 million (CZK) to reconstruct the many parks located both inside and outside the city center. Prague parks offer plenty of opportunities for both relaxation and exercise. And the bonus is – the park is one of the best places to meet and mingle with the locals.
Some of the top Prague Parks include: Franciscan Garden, Petrin Hill, and Vrtba Garden all located within the city center, and Havlickovy Sady, Letna Hill, and Riegrovy Sady – just outside the center. If you just want to relax and enjoy the scenery, Franciscan Garden is a good bet. With colorful flowerbeds, and places to rest your tired feet, Franciscan Garden is popular with locals so you’ll put in a lot of time people watching here.
After walking up a hill, for around 300 steps, you’ll find yourself at the Observation Tower atop Petrin Hill. The tower is surrounded by gardens and lush greenery and offers magnificent views of Prague. Petrin Hill and Observation Tower is located at Petrin, Mala Strana, Prague 5, Czech Republic and the telephone number is 00420 257 320 112. Closing hours vary by time of year, but the Tower is typically open at 10 a.m. From statues and ornamental banisters to flower beds this Baroque garden offers some of the best views of St. Nicholas Cathedral and plenty of relaxation. Tucked away behind an unmarked “gate,” this Lesser Town garden may be difficult to find, but it’s well worth the search. Vrtba Garden is open to the public from April to October and it is located at Karmelitská 25, Prague 1.
Prague’s second largest park, Havlickovy Sady, is located just outside the city center roughly seven blocks south of the Metro Line A (Náměstí Míru). The park is perfect for walking since it has numerous paths, and it is also offers impressive views of Prague. The most attractive aspect of Havlickovy Sady is the Neo-Renaissance villa -- Villa Gröbe (Grébovka). Built as a luxury summer home for industrialist Moritz Gröbe in 1871 - 1888, the house has a gazebo, terraced garden, and a vineyard where you can enjoy a glass of wine. Havlickovy Sady is located at Vinohrady, Prague 2.
If you want to bike or watch the locals enjoying a warm, sunny day head to Letna Hill (Letná, Prague 7) where you’ll find paths filled with bikers and rollerbladers, and areas filled with skateboarders. If you’re up to it, climb Letna Hill where you can enjoy excellent views Prague and the Vltava River and bridges. And finally, for those looking for beer gardens, sports and interesting statues Riegrovy Sady is it. A popular park for locals during the warm summer months, the park also offers excellent views of the city and lively summer concerts.
Whether you’re tired from hiking up hills or rolling around on a segway tour, you can unwind at Karlovy Vary spa – the largest spa in the Czech Republic. With 12 mineral healing springs, this popular Czech spring offers appointments as well as tours.
Other popular recreational activities such as museums and galleries can be enjoyed any time of the year and just about anytime of the day as there is always a museum or gallery event on the horizon. To find out about Prague museums and galleries, visit my Czech Republic.
Our latest lifestyle content can be found in the Lifestyle category in our new magazine format. Archived recreation content can be found in the recreation tag on our blog.
Leisure and Sport in Prague
Prague is full of fun and activities. But what happens when you have seen the famous Astronomical Clock strike hourly in an attempt to catch one of the most exciting tourist spots in the city about three times? Real life sets in and if you are in Prague longer than the average tourist, then real needs become apparent. One can only drink the best beer in the world and eat fried cheese for a short time before showing the physical sign caused by such delicious things; the beer and fried cheese gut, which contrary to popular belief, will not go away by all the excessive walking on the uneven cobblestone lanes. So, Let us get in shape! Prague offers a good selection of gyms, a few swimming pools and aqua parks, parks with jogging and cycling paths, various sporting facilities, numerous dance centers and even horse stables for that horseback riding lesson you keep meaning to take.
The Most Beautiful Green Spaces and Parks in Prague
Prague is one of the world’s greenest urban areas, with nearly 200 parks and recreational spaces scattered across the capital of the Czech Republic. From Havlíčkovy Sady, the second-largest park in Prague known for the villa Grébovka in its grounds, to the Vyšehrad fort on the eastern bank of the Vltava River and the slopes of Petřín Hill, there are plenty of great places from which to admire the city.
For more information about Prague recreational activities, check out the sites below:
Prague.TV
Prague.TV is an online city guide offering information about everything from cinema and relocating to Prague to a visitors guides and directories. You’ll find lists, summaries and contact information in the areas of sports and recreation, shopping, dining, restaurants, art and culture and more. Find out about canoeing tours, bike rentals, go-karting, golf, horseback riding, laser tag, paintball, parachuting, motorbike rental, pool halls, skate parks, skiing and snowboarding, sports arenas, swimming, tennis, bowling, and yachting.
City of Prague Tourism
Here, you can find out about everything Prague has to offer including nightlife, restaurants, accommodations, shopping, transportation, museums and monuments, and much more!
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