Boat rentals in Prague

Summer means people will want to cool off, and going to the water is one popular way. While Prague's pools and natural swimming areas draw big crowds, more and more people are also looking to the Vltava, which runs through the center of the city.

Žluté lázně in the Podoli section of Prague-4 offers both a place to take part in sports on land and also on the water. They rent one- or two-person kayaks, paddle boards, paddle boats, and motorized rafts. This is in addition to bikes, skates and skateboards for the land, and courts for beach volleyball and other games.

The river down by Podoli is a bit less crowded than in the center, for people who want a little space to maneuver.

There is no licensing requirement for operating a motorboat for people 15 and older, but there are restrictions on how far you can go as some areas of the river are off limits to small motorboats.

Because of the weirs on the Vltava, it is not possible to go very far from some of the rental places in the city center. Places in the north or south of the city offer a bit more flexibility, but not the same view.

The center though has several places to get a variety of boats. Options range from simple paddle boards to grilling on the water.

Půjčovna Lodiček has stands on Smetanovo nábřeží near the center and also on Císařská louka in Prague 5. One atypical thing they offer is grilling boats, where people can have a freshly cooked meal right on the water. Those rectangular boats come with an operator.

The same company has motorboats, which it says are its most popular item, plus rowboats and paddle boats.

Another company, Půjčovna Party Grill Boat rents round boats for grilling on the water.

A relatively new and unusual experience on the water is zorbing, or going out on a see-through inflatable rubber ball. Water Zorbing Prague on Smetanovo nábřeží offers these.

The center also has several places with paddle boats, paddle boards and rowboats, located on Slovanský ostrov, Střelecký ostrov, Novotného Lávka.

Most places in the center rent boats and boards by the hour.

Some of the places outside of the city center also offer boats that can be rented for several days or weeks, and taken by car to other rivers or streams.

For people on a budget, though, who simply want to get out on the water for the briefest time, the city has several ferries that go back and forth across the river. These are part of the public transit system. There are eight lines in the city, with the most central and longest one being P5 from Císařská louka to Výtoň to Náplavka Smíchov and back.

Půjčovna Lodiček
Smetanovo nábřeží, Prague 1
Císařská louka, Prague 5–Smíchov
www.facebook.com/pujcovnalodicek

Slovanka
Slovanský ostrov 1, Prague 1
www.facebook.com/pujcovna.slovanka

Klub Lávka
Novotného Lávka 1, Prague 1
www.facebook.com/klub.lavka.Prague

Plťka Boards
Střelecký ostrov 336, Prague 1
www.facebook.com/pltkaboards

Water Zorbing Prague
Smetanovo nábřeží, Prague 1
www.facebook.com/waterzorbingprague

Půjčovna Party Grill Boat
Rašínovo nábřeží, Prague 2
www.facebook.com/PartyGrillBoat

Žluté lázně
Podolské nábřeží 3, Prague 4–Podoli
www.facebook.com/zlutelazne

Vodpocivarna
Lodnická – zátoka, Prague 4
www.facebook.com/Vodpocivarna

Půjčovna Plavidel Prague
Vltavanů, Prague 4–Modřany

Vodácký Ráj
Císařská Louka 27, Prague 5–Smíchov
www.facebook.com/VodackyRaj

HG Sport
Vodácká 835/12
170 00 Prague 7–Troja
www.facebook.com/hgsport