Running routes near the OREA Hotel Pyramida
In the immediate vicinity of the OREA Hotel Pyramida, you’ll find not only flat paths in the parks for running, but also more varied routes through the countryside. You can head to Ladronka, Obora Hvězda or Divoká Šárka. Other popular running spots can be found at Petřín and Cibulka. After your morning run, you can then enjoy breakfast right at the hotel.
Ladronka: a flat route for a fast pace
In the Ladronka area, between Břevnov and Vypich, you’ll find well-maintained paths stretching for approximately 4 kilometres, used by runners, cyclists and inline skaters alike. The terrain is flat and the surface is mainly tarmac.
Obora Hvězda: tranquillity amongst the tree-lined avenues
Obora Hvězda in Liboc is a historic game reserve with the Renaissance summer palace Hvězda at its centre. The circuit is approximately 3 kilometres long and follows well-maintained unpaved paths; the main avenue is straight and long, whilst the side paths offer more technically challenging sections, small hills and tree roots. Given the wide variety of paths, the game reserve offers plenty of options for planning your running route.
Divoká Šárka: a rocky trail on the outskirts of the city
Anyone wanting to head out from Pyramida into proper terrain will find it in Divoká Šárka. This nature park on the north-western outskirts of Prague features a rocky valley along the Šárecký stream. Runners looking for climbs and technical descents will find plenty to enjoy; depending on the route chosen, the total length of the circuits can range from 5 to 12 kilometres. Divoká Šárka is a little further away than the other routes around Pyramida.
Petřín and Cibulka: hills with views
Petřín is not only home to the iconic observation tower, but also a prominent Prague hill, 326 metres high, situated between Malá Strana, Smíchov and Hradčany. Runners mainly use the quiet paths in Petřín Park, which wind through meadows and fruit trees around the observation tower. A more challenging workout is offered by the long Petřín Stairs from Vlašská Street. They have an elevation gain of approximately one hundred metres and are suitable for repeated sprints and interval training.
A smaller hill can be found in Košíře, in Cibulka Park. Here stands a thirteen-metre-high stone observation tower with 76 steps, offering views towards Motol, Řepy and Kotlářka. The park is also home to a popular running circuit approximately 4.5 kilometres long, featuring several short but steep climbs.
Where to stay in Prague 6
The OREA Hotel Pyramida on Bělohorská Street in Břevnov is a good base for all four routes. Ladronka is the closest, and from here you can also easily reach Obora Hvězda, Divoká Šárka or Cibulka.
Practical information
Ladronka, Obora Hvězda, Divoká Šárka, Petřín and Cibulka are open all year round and free of charge. Ladronka also has a floodlit circuit for evening runs; the other locations are natural areas and parks where public lighting is not always available. During the day, you should expect heavier tourist traffic at Petřín, Divoká Šárka and Obora Hvězda.
The historic Ladronka estate is situated in a vast park between Břevnov and Vypich. According to the most widely accepted account, it was named after the Italian Count Filippo Ferdinando de la Crone, who purchased the land here in 1688. The restoration of the estate and the surrounding park was completed in 2005. Today, the grounds feature more than four kilometres of floodlit tarmac paths, which are used by runners, cyclists and inline skaters. The terrain is predominantly flat.
The Hvězda Game Reserve in Liboc was founded in 1534 by Emperor Ferdinand I. Between 1555 and 1556, a Renaissance summer palace was built there on a six-pointed star-shaped ground plan. The Battle of White Mountain took place near the game reserve in 1620. Runners can make use of the long, straight avenues as well as the side forest paths. By combining these, it is possible to create routes of varying lengths, although there is no single fixed running circuit through the game reserve.
Divoká Šárka is one of Prague’s best-known natural sites. Divoká Šárka is linked to the legend of the female warrior Šárka and Ctirad. However, the name of the valley probably derives from the old word ‘šarý’, meaning ‘gloomy’, which refers to the deep, rocky gorges found here. The most valuable part of the area has been protected as a nature reserve since 1964. Runners can combine a gentler route through the Šárecký stream valley with steeper climbs up to the surrounding plateaus. On the forest and rocky paths, you should expect stones, roots and uneven surfaces. The length of the route depends on the combination of paths you choose.
Petřín is a prominent hill in Prague situated between Malá Strana, Smíchov and Hradčany, known primarily for its observation tower and extensive complex of orchards and gardens. Runners make use of the quieter paths in the upper section as well as the steep climbs from Malá Strana. The paths and steps leading from the upper end of Vlašská Street, which continue towards the observation tower, offer a more challenging workout.
Cibulka Forest Park in Košíře surrounds a historic estate purchased in 1817 by Leopold Leonard Thun-Hohenstein, the former Bishop of Passau. He transformed it into a summer residence and had the surrounding grounds landscaped in the style of an English park, featuring romantic structures and statues. In the upper part of the park stands a 13-metre-high stone observation tower, which is open to the public. Runners can combine the wider forest paths and footpaths to create circuits of varying lengths with several inclines. The 4.5-kilometre Cibulka–Košíř Circuit race route also runs through the park, though it is not a permanently marked route.
