Prague’s centuries-old buildings, winding stone streets, and hilltop castle overlooking have made the city one of the most popular visitor destinations in Europe. Additionally, Prague has been a political, cultural, and economic centre of central Europe with waxing and waning fortunes during its 1,100-year existence. Situated in the north-west of the Czech Republic on the Vltava River, the city is home to about 1.26 million people. Key parts of the city are the historic Old Town area (Stare Mesto), Josefov district (former Jewish Ghetto), Letná Park, and the southerly New Town (Nové Mesto), which has a distinct medieval feel. There are great opportunities for running in Prague, from tours of the historic section, river paths, and an extensive series of parks. Note: For a guided running experience in Prague, we recommend our friends at Go! Running Tours.
In the central/historic section of Prague, there are three important runs that can be combined: Prague Sights, Petrin & Prague Castle and Vlatava River. We also love combining Letná Park & Stromovka Park. For a park run with great views, head to Vítkov Hill. In western Prague, we love running in the Star Game Preserve and Sarka – Lysolaje Natural Park near the airport. In southern Prague, there are several large parks which are terrific for running, featuring wooded & open terrain.
Notes: A unique feature of the Prague running scene is the Running Mall, a center for Prague running: store, training center, lounge, run club, classes. In terms of getting around, there’s an extensive metro, tram, & bus system. Runners should note that Prague’s winters can be cold and snowy — but not brutally so.
The city of Prague lies between oceanic climate and humid continental climate. The winters are relatively cold with average temperatures at around freezing and relatively little sunshine. Summers usually bring plenty of sunshine and an average high temperature of 75 °F (24 °C). Precipitation is rather low (just over 20 in [500 mm] per year) since it is located in the rain shadow of the Sudetes and other mountain ranges. Prague’s temperate weather lends itself to running year-round.
