Stromovka Park in Prague

Departure from Vytaviste station: tram 1, 6, 8, 17, 25. Terminus 1 and 25 drop you off directly at Stromovka Park.

(S/E) Enter the park, walk to the planetarium, then take the paved path slightly to the left to reach the ponds.

(1) Take the path on the right and follow the route. There are many paths in this park, so if you feel like it, take a few detours between the different lakes until you reach the restaurant (Šlechtova restaurace).

(2) Turn left onto the path, then right onto the path that goes uphill and continue to the Governor's Summer Palace (Místodržitelský letohrádek).

(3) Turn around, then take the path on the left. Keep going in the same direction until you reach the porch.

(4) Take the path on the right for about 20 metres and turn left onto the path.

(5) Head right to reach Králoská Obora, then turn left towards the railway line.

(6) Go under the railway bridge and immediately turn right to walk along the Malá říčka, which is a backwater of the Vltava.

(7) At the crossroads, continue straight ahead.

(8) Take the path on the left, go up the steps and cross the bridge over the canal (plavebni Kanal).

(9) At the end of the bridge, take the stairs down. Take the path on the left, then turn right towards the footbridge over the Vltava. Cross the bridge.

(10) At the end of the footbridge, go under the porch to enter Troja Palace Park. Walk about a hundred metres, then turn left to cross the plant maze and head towards the Vltava. Turn right towards the palace gardens and cross them. Once at the end, turn right towards the palace, go around it on the left and exit onto U Trojského zámku.

(11) Take the path on the right and Trojská Street on the right.

(12) Cross Trojská Street: you are now facing one of the entrances to the Prague Botanical Garden. There is an entrance fee: 180 CZK per adult, or approximately €7.50. Take the path that climbs through the vineyard and leads to the St. Clare Cellar: panoramic view of the vineyard and Troja.

(13) Continue to the right towards the Botanical Garden.

(14) Cross the Japanese Garden and turn right towards the café. Walk past it and continue straight ahead to the other Japanese Garden.

(15) Head right to go around the small lakes, return to a larger path and follow it to the left. Then follow the GPX track, which is just one example of the possibilities available in the park.

(16) Turn right and return to a street, following it to the intersection with Trojská Street.

(12) Take the street straight ahead, cross the footbridge over the Vltava again, and return to the bridge over the canal.

(9) Cross the bridge again.

(8) Continue straight ahead, passing under the railway line.

(17) Take the path on the left and then continue straight ahead to the tram station (S/E).

This hike can be done in a day. If you want to spend more time in the botanical garden, opposite Troja Castle on the west side is Prague Zoo, covering 58 hectares and home to 650 species of animals.

(1) Stromovka Park (Královská obora Stromovka). This former royal hunting reserve has become a nature reserve in Prague. With its wide variety of majestic trees, lakes and vast expanses of meadow, this green space inspires rest and tranquillity.

(3) The Governor's Summer Palace dominates the entire park, and a small terrace offers a panoramic view of the surrounding greenery. This Gothic-style hunting lodge was founded by King Vladislav Jagellon in 1495. After 1578, Emperor Rudolf II undertook a Renaissance-style reconstruction to turn it into a summer pavilion.

Troja Palace is a Baroque summer residence built between 1679 and 1691, blending French and Italian influences. It is open to the public, and you can admire the chapel ceiling and its trompe l'oeil perspective. Outside, you can stroll through the gardens or lose yourself in the plant maze, which is also an orchard.

A path winds its way up the south-facing hillside to the Sainte-Claire vineyard, a listed historical monument. It bears witness to the past wealth of Prague's wine industry. The esplanade at the top (13) offers a splendid view of Troja Castle and the city of Prague in the background.

(14) Don't miss the Japanese garden in the botanical garden.