5 tips for escaping the summer heat in Prague

Summer in Prague has its own charm. However, long days, a holiday atmosphere and a historic center full of life are also accompanied by hot streets and the harsh midday sun. What to do in Prague when it’s too hot outside? We’ve selected five places where you can spend the hottest part of the day, experience something new and get to know the city from a completely different perspective.

In the morning, you’re still pleasantly strolling along the Vltava River, but before noon the cobblestones are starting to radiate heat and finding shade resembles a small urban discipline. Fortunately, Prague is not only about Charles Bridge, viewpoints and outdoor monuments.

The following tips will be appreciated by couples, individuals and families who are deciding what to do in Prague with children. And they will also come in handy when the summer sun is unexpectedly replaced by rain.

1. Stromovka

When the center of Prague gets hot, one of the most pleasant options is to head to a place where tall trees, water and vast grassy areas prevail instead of stone facades. The Royal Game Reserve Stromovka covers approximately 95 hectares and its paths lead past ponds, playgrounds and quieter corners.

You don’t need to have a precise plan in Stromovka. Just find a spot under a tree, spread out a blanket and stop for a moment wondering how many Prague sights you still have to see. Thanks to the size of the park, people naturally disperse here, so it’s easy to find a quieter spot even during the summer holidays.

The park is also family-friendly. Kids can run, ride a balance bike or explore the ponds while adults enjoy a slower afternoon in the shade. So if you’re looking for family activities in Prague or what to do in Prague with kids, Stromovka is a safe bet.

💡Our tip: Walk from the Exhibition Grounds towards the ponds and don’t try to see the whole park in one visit. Stromovka is best when you’re not in a hurry.

2. Náplavka and pedal boat rental

Instead of walking around the monuments at noon, rent a pedal boat on Slovanský ostrov or near Žofín. From the surface of the Vltava River, you’ll see the city from a completely different perspective, and the gentle breeze from the water will reliably drive away the heat. Pedal boats are among the most popular activities for children and adults alike.

3. Story of Prague: An escape into history that won’t bore you

Sometimes the best solution is to simply disappear inside for a while. But this doesn’t have to mean passively browsing display cases and reading long descriptions. Story of Prague is an interactive museum that combines authentic stories with film installations, audiovisual elements, special effects and augmented reality.

In 19 atmospheric rooms on three floors, approximately 160 exhibits await visitors, which will guide them through 800 years of Prague’s history. The virtual guide in the mobile application helps to put individual events into context, and thanks to interactive elements, the tour becomes an immersive experience, not a history lesson.

During the holidays, we recommend purchasing tickets for Story of Prague in advance. It will be easier to plan your visit for the hottest time and avoid any waiting for free time for the tour.

💡Our tip: Head to the museum around noon or early afternoon. In the morning, you can walk through the historic center, spend the hottest part of the day inside, and continue along the Vltava River in the evening.

4. Underground under the Basilica of St. Peter and Paul in Vyšehrad

Most people associate Vyšehrad with views of the Vltava River, the park, the walls, and the distinctive towers of the Basilica of St. Peter and Paul. However, a completely different world is hidden beneath the surface.

The labyrinth of casemates was created during the transformation of Vyšehrad into a fortress, it measures more than one kilometer and is divided into four separate parts. Individual tour routes will take visitors, for example, to Gorlice, air raid shelters or to the remains of a forgotten church. The Martinské casemates also hide a lapidary with fragments of the decoration of the Basilica of St. Peter and Paul.

5. National Technical Museum in Letná

Prague is not only a city of kings, bridges and church towers. It is also a city of industry, transport, science, architecture and inventions. This side of history is represented by the National Technical Museum in Letná.

The main building houses 16 permanent exhibitions. The most famous is the vast transport hall, where you can follow the development of automobile, motorcycle, bicycle, air, ship and rail transport as well as firefighting equipment. Other parts of the museum are dedicated to astronomy, photography, architecture, printing, timekeeping, mining or household technology.

The National Technical Museum is ideal for children who quickly tire of long expositions, but can spend dozens of minutes wandering around a historic locomotive, airplane or old car. However, it will also interest adults who, looking at older technology, will start to remember their own childhood.

💡Our tip: After your visit, continue to the nearby Letná Gardens. In the evening, you can enjoy a beautiful view of Prague’s bridges and the historic center.