Finally, after months of dark winter days, Spring is soon coming to Prague and we will be able to start enjoying one of our favourite activities here, which is walking in nature. Interestingly, while the architecture walks in the Unesco Protected historical center is the main thing tourists focus on when coming to our city, it is the hiking trails where you can really find locals (actually trying to avoid the crowds of tourists). So today we’re going to talk about one of the most popular hiking/walking areas in Prague - Divoká Šárka.
Article by: Damien Smethurst, writer and city explorer
Photos by: Michal Dziendziura, founder and licensed guide at Free Walking Tour Prague
Depending on how you arrive in Prague, there is a good chance you will pass it on the way into town. If you arrive by plane, you will certainly pass it on the left side of the road as you go down towards the center of Prague, and might even marvel at the people standing on the cliffs. It’s such a great first image of the city, and the country as a whole.
Divoká Šárka is a huge protected area, just outside the city, and one of the gorges is named after a female Slavic warrior named, you guessed it, Šárka, who legend has it through herself to her death after betraying her lover.
But that’s enough happy and joyful history for now, let’s get on with details of the walk itself.
You start by taking the tram to the end station at Divoká Šárka (or airport shuttle bus no 112), and then follow the red and yellow trails down the hill behind McDonalds for a few minutes. When the trails split, take the right, red, trail, and you can follow it around the legendary Šárka gorge by sticking to the left of the hill.
There are options, for those who wish to, to climb to the top of the hill here, and it’s a great view if you make the effort. But there is no shame in sticking to the marked trail.
After 1.2km, or thereabouts, you will come to a small kiosk, and this will be your first option of the day to purchase a drink – staying hydrated is really important on hot days after all!
Just after the kiosk the trail will again split, with the red trail going to the left, and a pink bicycle trail going right. For the purpose of this trip, we will take the bike trail as it’s less taxing on the legs. Continue on the bicycle path until you meet the red trail again – a distance of maybe 1km, and then turn left onto the red trail.
Just after this turn you can continue along the red trail for the next few kilometres. The trail will meander its way towards the small village of Jenerálka, with many paths and options to explore on either side for those who are adventurous enough.
If you decide to stay on the main trail though, you will pass a small well or spring on the left side, and shortly after that the trail will go to the left at the tourist information board. There is a small mine tunnel here, really just an exploratory tunnel, where someone was once trying to find iron ore.
As you come into the town of Jenerálka you will pass the town castle on your left, and there is a memorial plaque here to commemorate 46 children aged between 2-16 years who were interned in the castle between 1942-1944 after their parents had been executed in retaliation for the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich.
After pondering this tragedy, it is fortunately just a few hundred metres further, where you get an option to either finish here, after 5.5km, and take a bus back to Bořislavka metro, or stop for more refreshments before continuing on.
If you decide to continue, then from the Jenerálka bus stop you should follow the red trail once more, until you get to the street V Šáreckém údolí. This is a cycle path, but even on a busy day will be much less popular than the paths taken so far, so it is a great way to get away from the crowds.
It will add another 4km to your walk, so is not a choice to take if you have mobility issues, but whenever I am in the area this is my favourite part of the walk. I would recommend both the food and drinks at Cheesus Chrust Bistro at the end of the road, before taking a bus back to Dejvicka metro, which is about a ten minute drive.
Of course, there are so many paths and trails in the area, and while this is a specific route, it is not the ONLY route you can take. www.mapy.cz is a great way to check out trails, and the link to this trail can be found here:
https://en.mapy.cz/s/ferecerumo
As always, check the weather before you go hiking, and make sure you have suitable clothes and suitable refreshments for your planned journey. This is not a difficult trail, and should be suitable for anyone with moderate walking ability. But accidents do happen, and people can get lost very easily if they are in an unfamiliar place, so just make sure you take basic precautions.
Do you want to learn more about off-the-beaten-path places in Prague? Ask our guides directly during one of our free walking tours! We offer 3 different free tours of Prague in English and Spanish.
Thank you for reading the article. For more travel tips from our local experts around the world check the blog section of our website! Have you read our recommendations for Prokopské údolí another easy hiking area in Prague?
