Stromovka Park, Prague 7
For most Praguers, Stromovka is an obvious spot to spend a warm summers day or any day of leisure, no matter what the season. Now, if you’ve got kids and they need to burn off some energy and run, yell and scream out in the open air…..this is the place!
Behind the busy hub of Holesovice and temporary traffic chaos of Letna lies Stromovka Park; a peaceful oasis of calm. Once the Royal Hunting Grounds for Czech Kings and nobility (Hunting Chateau is below), the park became public space at the beginning of the 19thC. This is a popular place all year round, especially with families, dogs (dogs are off-leash) and exercise junkies.
The park lost over 600 trees after the floods of 2002 and since then much effort has gone in to redeveloping and rejuvenating this city haven. Sculpture, seating, new pavements, fountains and bridges have been added to the park every year - there is always something for the eye to behold.
The Park covers a massive area which borders Holesovice, Letna and Dejvice and is circled and criss-crossed by tree-lined wide paved roads and dirt tracks, most of which are on the flat. This is the spot for in-line skating, bike riding and scooters - thus an ideal place to introduce children to any of these sports.
There are several playgrounds within the park, the largest is on the edge of the park at the top of the hill on Nad Kralovskou Odborou Street in the direction of Letna. Smaller play areas contain a few pieces of old school play equipment. Look out for wooden seat swings that adults can also enjoy or a fallen tree perfect for kids to explore and climb.
The duckponds are popular with families, here you can feed the ducks and fish on a specially constructed pontoon, nearby are creative wood and stone balancing and climbing pieces for kids to try out (although it’s not very EU compliant!) and a sandpit. Stromovka for me (having partly grown up on a farm) is ideal if I want to have some space and get away from the heat of the city and spread out a picnic blanket. The nice thing is if you wish to find a space away from absolutely everyone - you can, or if you’d rather find some life and listen to the bongo drumming hippies and watch life’s passing parade you can do that too.
Just don’t expect to find many public toilets, there are portaloos if you are desparate otherwise try the new restaurant for luxury loos! Food wise, take a picnic, or try the excellent new restaurant Vozovna (Tram Depot, pic below), deep within the woods and next to a playground. (look out for my review of this soon).
The best way to get to the park would have to be on the Historic Tram number 91. It runs every weekend to and from Stromovka, loops all through the city and up behind Hradcany to the Tram Museum. You can hop on at any point and buy your tickets on board from the Tram Conductor. If you’ve got time you can easily walk from here to Troja and the Zoo via Cisarsky Island or visit the nearby Morsky Svet Aquarium or Funfair at the Holesovice entrance to the park.
In summary, Stromovka is a park that any city would be proud to have, it makes for a great day out and brings us back in touch with nature.
OPEN: All year round
ADDRESS: U Vystaviste, Prague 7
DIRECTIONS: Easiest is to take tram numbers 5, 12, 14, 15, 17 or 91 Vystaviste tram stop. By Car: There is paid parking at Vystaviste, alternatively there is metered parking up the hill in Nad Kralovskou Odborou ul. where you will also find the largest playground in Stromovka.
