Just by the river, some six kilometres south of Podolska vodarna lies the local’s very favourite cyclo-road. Of course you will not find only bikes there but also a bunch of in-line skaters as well as pedestrians.

It is not only its length which makes it so attractive. It is also the position at the outskirts of the city, in the green area. It is a great place for a picnic or various outdoor sports. By the road, there are several ‘refreshing’ spots where you can get a cheap cold beer or a Kofola – the popular Czech coke drink (which I really recommend trying, we, locals, love it – what about you? ).

A trip there makes for some sort of cultural event, too. That is thanks to the number of great graffitis placed at the so called ‘legals’ – concrete spots by the river on which it is completely legal to spray.

If you own a bike or feel like a long walk, you can go even further than the previously stated 6 km and reach the ‘real’ nature near Zbraslav (where there’s even a small zoo and a former Celtic settlement). Enjoy!

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Modřanská cyklostezka | Relaxing | Free
From Podolí to Komořany | Praha 4
24 hours daily

Just by the river, near Klárov, there is a place many tourist guides will lead you to. It is a nice small square where there is the famous Franz Kafka museum. I haven’t visited it once, although I am a fan of Kafka’s work. Maybe it actually is worth visiting but I want to draw your attention elsewhere.

What I am talking about is the strange-looking sculpture in the middle of the square. You will find there two copper persons peeing into a strange bowl. Their waists move so that it looks even more life-like. The funniest part which a lot of people don’t realize, though, lays on the ground. Those guys pee into a bowl shaped like the Czech Republic. Once again, this proves David Černý‘s (artist of Entropa i.e.) skills and vision.

We Czechs aren’t a particularly proud nation. We are actually willing to make fun of ourselves quite often, which I find quite appealing. Artist like Černý who would elsewhere be considered very controversial thus have many fans here, me among them. But some others may surely find his work insulting. What is your opinion?

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Miska Republika | Art & culture | Free
Cihelná 2 | Praha 1
24 hours daily

Just below the Prague Castle there is a so called “Deer-ditch” a beautiful green spot. This name derives from the deer hunts that used to take place there since the 16th century. Later, the ditch was split into two by a rock dam. However, in 2002 a very classy tunnel once again brought those parts together. From the 20′s until the 50′s, the ditch worked as place for bear-keeping. Later, it was made a military area, not open for public.

Not sooner than in the 90′s it was once again made accessible for the public. And that is definitely remarkable, since the place is unique and worth visiting. Although a ditch, there are also places such as a look-point favored already by president Masaryk .

A small creek “Brusnice” runs through the ditch plus there are some streams you can even drink from. I very much recommend visiting this place on a warm evening, it feels very relaxing. However, beware, the place closes at 18:00 and then becomes a military-secured area. From a personal experience I can’t recommend climbing over the fences…

And also important to know – Jelení příkop is entirely closed for visits during the winter!

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Jelení příkop | Relaxing | Free
Jelení příkop | Praha 1
Apr 1st – Oct 31st 10:00 – 18:00 daily

In the very north of Prague, quite near the place I live, there is a very nice spot. It is a hill called “Baba”. You can easily get there taking bus No. 131 from the stop Hradčanská, getting out at “U Matějě” and then walk north-west. It is a very nice walk through the woods of “Divoká Šárka“.

The hill has an interesting history. Up on it you will find a strange ruin. Surprisingly enough, its history is not confirmed. There are several theories – the widest-spread claims that it is a former wine-press built in 1622. Another says that it is a regular building newly-built at the beginning of the 19th century, others say that it used to be a chapel. No matter which of them is true, it is a nice spot which is even lit at night.

From there you can see a large part of Prague that you wouldn’t see anywhere else (for instance the sewage plant on the largest island at Vltava in Prague). Also, looking at the Prague castle from above is not a very common thing to do. The park around is a great place for sports or chilling out. If you prefer to walk, follow the red tourist sign, which will lead you to the forests of Divoká Šárka.

Not to forget, the surroundings offer an unique architectural composition. There are a number of functionalist villas built in the era of the so-called “First Republic”. See some of them here!

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Baba | Relaxing | Free
U Matějě | Praha 6
24 hours daily

The lime stone cliffs in the south-west of Prague, just above Prokopské údolí, are particularly unique. The whole area of Barrandov is actually called after a French paleontologist Joachim Barrande who made some significant discoveries in this area in the 19th century. The lime stone preserved a lot of prehistoric sea fossils and you can still find them if you know where to seek.

Later, lime stone appeared to be a very attractive mining item. So until some mid-20th century, the whole massive was being mined out. That is also where the largest cliffs come from. Time to time, some of the massive would collapse, leaving the big rocks grow like teeth from the terrain.

By the cliffs there is also one of the best-guarded military areas in the Czech republic. No-one really knows what is its purpose. It is only known that the hills are drilled through with a number of corridors. Allegedly there used to be a secret nazi bomb-research center while later the communists used the space for storage of explosives.

To get to the cliffs, find your own way up either from Hlubočepská or Zlíchov bus/tram stop. If you make it up to the edge, you will definitely agree that it’s one of the best imaginable places for a Sunday trip (which can be either 3 or 15 km long, depends on you) or a picnic. The massive offers a great view of Prague while you can hear the muted sounds of the city…

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Barrandov cliffs | Relaxing | Free
Hlubočepská | Praha 5
24 hours daily

Prague is a very green city, which I find particularly important. In the center there are quite a lot of parks while the outskirts are full of woods. One of the nicest is the hardwood forest at the foothill of Chuchle, at the southwest of Prague. By legend, it is even a magical forest and under one of the trees near the cemetery there is supposed to be a treasure chest…

It is a great place for a family walk or a picnic. You can also find a so-called “mini zoo” there, which was originally a first-aid station for wounded or ill forest animals. But then came the idea of making it a place you where you can actually show the animals. So they built the surrounding-fitting runs and cages and these days you can find there all sorts of deer, boars, owls, wild cats or even a bobcat.

My very favourite place is the somewhat hidden church with a surprisingly large cemetery. If you manage to look through all the leaves (or in winter ) that spot offers a nice view of the river and a part of Prague. It is very silent and often feels even somehow deserted.

Chuchle forest is very comforting in the summer. In the fall you will find all kinds of colourful leaves but you may have most fun there in the winter. If you manage to rent a bobsleigh or something like that, the hill will make for a perfect place to use it…

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Chuchle forest | Relaxing | Free
Velka Chuchle | Praha 5
24 hours daily

In a small street near the tram-stop Národní divadlo there is an exceptional place. It is somewhat hidden – it is very easy to just walk by and not even realize there is a bar. I consider myself as a sort of an expert concerning the Prague pubs and clubs but if it hadn’t been for a friend of mine who showed it to me recently, I might have just died without even knowing this place. And that would be a shame.

First of all – Al Capone’s bar is not just small – it is tiny. I guess if twenty people fit in, it feels already crowded. However, most of the time, there are just about two or three, so you should easily find a spot. Second: this place has a very exceptional atmosphere. I don’t even know why – but if you walk through the narrow hall into a small room – you feel like entering another world. Or more precisely: this place feels as if you were stoned even if you are not – the weird haze, the grave light, the silent music, the pictures of gangsters on the walls…

And third: it is just so cheap! Honestly, it might be the cheapest bar in Prague I know, when it comes to drinks and cocktails. Cuba Libre for sixty and Long Island Ice Tea for ninety crowns – that is what a call a reasonable price!

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Al Capone’s | Bars | Gin Fizz CZK 65
Bartolomějská 3 | Praha 1 | +420224241040
Mon – Thu 17:00 – 02:00, Fri 18:00 – 03:00, Sat – Sun 18:00 – 00:00

At first, it used to be a school. Children would spend their first two grades of elementary school there. Then, it used to be a boy-scout club. Later, it was decided that the building be torn down and replaced by a motorway. But until it is eventually destroyed, it is going to serve as a stylish and original club place, where loads of events are being held. I am talking about „Klubovna”, a club in Dejvice.

A bunch of guys and girls who have for some years been organizing a summer music festival called Povaleč have decided to establish a club where drinking meets culture. They succeeded surprisingly well. Renting the building from city of Prague, they reconstructed every inch of it with their bare hands. More and more people are coming in every day.

Concerts, festivals or theatre plays take place there quite often. Klubovna offers a wide range of drinks including draught lemonades and a vast number of quality rums. The whole spot is covered in graffiti and wall pictures so it feels a bit like a squatt inside. Come sit at the garden, listen to a concert, play chess or a game of fussball! I might meet you there at 03:00 or 04:00 as Klubovna usually closes only after there are no people left in.

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Klubovna in Dejvice | Art & culture, Bars, Music, Festivals & events | Páter, 0,5L CZK 27
Generála Píky | Praha 6
Mon – Sat 15:00 – open end

Dejvice are a very unique part of Prague. One could even say that it is a “city inside a city”, you can find everything you need for life there. There are shops, restaurants, bars, parks, woods… When I moved there half a year ago, I started discovering the secrets of this city quarter. The Dejvice locals showed me quite a lot of nice places (Check this link for other nice Dejvice pubs) – Restaurace na Urale above all of them.

The name comes from the name of the street “Uralská” (most of the streets and lanes in downtown Dejvice are called after some war heroes or Russian places or people). It is a restaurant but lots of locals just go there for a beer. They offer the traditional Gambrinus and Pilsen beer for very reasonable prices. The service is usually very compliant, even so much that you will probably get a new beer before even finishing the previous.

The menu offers a rich traditional Czech cuisine. I can recommend ordering some of the „bramboráks” (sort of potato-pancake) for instance. Also, you should try their pear brandy, they even put bits of pear in it and it is just soo tasty!

Just next to the bar, there is a great Indian restaurant which offers cheap lunch menus. If you feel like a change – go for it!

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Na Urale | Bars, Restaurants | Pilsner Urquell, 0,5L CZK 35
Uralská 9 | Praha 6 | +420224326820
11:00 – 00:00 daily

Downtown, I spotted a very nice place I currently visit quite often. You can easily get there by trams 3, 9 or 14 getting out at Vodičkova stop but it is also just a five-minute walk from Václavskénáměstí. It is called a “café”, it is a regular restaurant, though. The menu is rich and the prices are reasonable. As they promote on their website, it is an “oasis of calm in downtown Prague”.

The name comes from the fact that it started as a place where the employees would be rehabilitated or rehabilitating drug users. However, you couldn’t make that out just like that as the staff are very kind and compliant. It is a family place as there are separate smoker and non-smoker rooms, free wi-fi and even a small playground for the kids. At the same time they sell Czech-made ceramics.

Really cool is the design of the interior, menus and so on. Everywhere you can find advertisements from the beginning of the 20th century – most of the time they are really funny and worth seeing. I visit café Therapy most often for a beer and a “Tartar” steak (a minced raw steak you eat with toast, onion, garlic and pepper), it is just awesome. Come and try!

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Café Therapy | Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Czech) | Tartar steak & toasts CZK 159
Školská 30 | Praha 1 | +420774491177
Mon – Fri 10:30 – 23:30, Sat 12:00 – 23:00, Sun 12:00 – 22:00