Although Prague caters for visitors all year round, the summer season is in many respects the most suitable for the trip of your life. You will hardly get disappointed by closed or limited hours, which is so often the case outside the summer months. And since many Czechs leave Prague during the summer holidays, the tourist flow is quite bearable too.
The advantage of summer relies in the opportunity of many fabulous outdoor activities. If you want to experience summer as the Czech youth does, you will not forget to visit two largest parks in the city - Stromovka and Letna.

SUMMER OUTDOOR TIPS:

Letna park

Letna park is located atop the Vltava river and it is dominated by the metronome where once a massive statue of Stalin stood. Letna offers many biking and skating paths, playgrounds and a famed beer garden. In addition, if you want to experience the real Czech ‘hooligan’ atmosphere Letna football stadium holds regularly, among others, matches of two main Czech teams – Sparta and Slavia.

Stromovka park

On the other hand, Stromovka is notoriously known for its numberless concerts of Czech alternative music known as Stromovka Music Garden (1.8.-31.8.2006)

Vystaviste

In addition, near the park you have a wonderful opportunity to re-live your childhood when you visit years-old amusement park in Vystaviste with dozens of fairground attractions. However, the number one must see place here is a unique Krizikova Fountain (from April to October). It is a complex of thousands of jets and colorful spotlights that accompany the musical performances of many genres from Michael Jackson to Smetana or a ballet. In Vystaviste you can also experience an underwater trip with sharks in Prague’s Sea World.

Troja Zoo

Once in Prague during the summer one can’t forget to visit one of the best zoos in Europe –Troja Zoo famous for its gorillas and everyday bathing of the elephants. You can easily get there from Stromovka Park on the footbridge.

Parukárka park

Zizkovian Parukárka pub atop Parukárka hill is another favourite summer spot: you will meet whole families as well as punks there, it is famous for its concerts or juggling youth. Status of a cult certainly deserves Zizkov TV tower that can be seen from almost every spot in Prague. It combines an old time communist architecture with a tint of the postmodern – babies with UFO faces crawl up and down all over the building. In addition since May the tower is at night wrapped up in the colourful lights.

Strelecky Island

However, Strelecky Island Film Projection (underneath the Bridge - Most Legii, opened until 17th September) belongs among the most popular. Also this year the program includes various Czech alternative musical performances .The island film festival is unique for its green surroundings but also mostly for the projection of the high quality films. This year you’ll be entertained by the famous Bollywood production, Projekt100, Czech films as well as student films. English subtitles, Czech beer and a tent against the bad weather go without saying.

Vltava River

In Prague nature and culture meets once again on the Vltava River. You can simply enjoy the river voyages or row your small boats or have a ride on a pedal-boat. There is also an attraction called the Jazz Boat (from May until 30.7.),where you have a feeling of being at the real high quality jazz concert and at the same time you are enjoying and making photos of Prague river night atmosphere. On the ground you can anytime hop on the antique wood-framed tram or a hitch a ride on a horse drawn-carriage, or have a short flight on the funicular.

SUMMER FESTIVALS AND THEATERS:

Summer Shakespeare Festival

If you are a fan of the so called higher culture you can’t miss the annual Summer Shakespeare Festival. It is an open air project staging each year several plays in which many of Czech best actors and directors pay tribute to the renaissance dramatist in the courtyard at the Prague Castle. This year’s program includes Othello (premiere 21.6.), The Merchant of Venice or The Twelfth Night.
For the non-Czech speakers a large exhibition of photographs is prepared in the gardens of the Prague Castle.

Theaters

True, this famous event tries to make up for the summer break of many Prague’s theatres. Nevertheless, there are few performances once in a while adjusted for the English speaking audience such as many non-verbal performances of the Alfred theatre or Ta Fantastika. The latter is a famous black theatre which originated in Prague in the 60’s and it casts performances with a few days off throughout the whole July. Nonverbal multimedia events are roofed over especially by the famed Laterna Magika.
One of the theatres that don’t close during summer is Ungelt Theatre (14th June-6th September) that stages world famous playwrights in the Prague’s historical environment of New World. Almost as popular as the Shakespearian festival is certainly a theatrical project of the foremost Czech actors at Vysehrad (the oldest Prague dome area) from 24th July until 14th September.

Mozart Prague 2006

The lovers of opera music will be satisfied by the all-summer (12.7. -28.8) performance of Don Giovanni staged by the Theatre of the Estates as a part of the summer music festival which is in turn part of the Mozart Prague 2006.
Or you can visit the famous paradise gardens below the Prague Castle and enjoy the performing of classical music in the core of the historical and the most romantic part of Prague (10.6.-29.7. Ledeburg gardens).

Summer Festival of Old Music

At the same time the International Summer Festival of Old Music (from 18.7. - 6.8.) will please your ear on numberless historical spots during your summer visit.

THE TOP CONCERTS IN SUMMER

Sinead O’Connor...................22 / July....................Stromovka
Suzanne Vega .....................19 / July...................State Opera
Eric Clapton......................20 / July...................Sazka Arena
James Blunt.......................18 / July...................Prague Gardens

In addition, Roxy club or Palac Akropolis can offer you a full all-summer program featuring the world famous alternative musicians such as kraut rock Senior coconut (3th August Roxy), Zen Anniversary (22th July Roxy) or the American legend Pixies (13th July Akropolis) Undoubtedly one of the greatest events of Prague summer is the Love Planet Festival (11-12th August)at Vystaviste announcing this year a bunch of great names such as Franz Ferdinand or Pet Shop Boys.

EXHIBITIONS IN SUMMER

Rare and old Jewish scrolls are exhibited until the 26th July as a part of the Year of Jewish Culture in Prague.
Ultimate summer exhibitions are to be seen in Futura famous for its progressive contemporary art (“I” until August 13th) or at Rudolfinum where you have an opportunity to see collection of Portraits by famous Dutch photographer Rineke Dijkstra (until August 27th )

NEAR PRAGUE EVENTS:

The main event for cinema in Czech Republic can be found in the spa town of Karlovy Vary. The Film Festival invites high-profile guests from all over the world (30.6.- 8.7.2006)
Karlstejn is Czech Republic’s most visited castle open until September. Architecturally impressive are also Krivoklat or Konopiste.