Climbing, Bouldering & Rope Centres
To gain the skill of climbing different parts of the mountains, climbers started indoor climbing as a practice exercise for themselves. However, by the 1980s, indoor climbing had emerged as a recreational activity. There are several forms of indoor climbing: bouldering involves rope-less climbing at low heights in the presence of safety mats; soloing is yet another type of rope-less climbing; trad-climbing requires you to climb without routes using your safety gear; and also ice climbing, which involves climbing ice-covered rocks. It is a great physical exercise that works both the upper and lower bodies, and many people prefer it due to its uncompetitive nature. People of any age can do it, and there are no requirements for physical fitness. Every step taken during climbing requires a lot of patience, thought processing and smart planning. Consequently, sport climbing helps one to improve their concentration and develop problem-solving skills.
Prague has a wide collection of climbing centres, with so many different heights and locations for you to choose from. Listed below are the ones most worthy of mention.
UltraAnt Climbing Club
Týnská 17, Prague 1 – Staré Město; www.tynskastena.cz
A short walk from Old Town Square will find one of the oldest standalone climbing walls in Prague. There are 3 tilt-adjustable climbing profiles as a local distinction, by means of which 2 UIAA grades can adjust the difficulty rating of the climbs.
The maximum ceiling height is 7 metres, and the total wall area is about 200 m2.
Adrenaline Pit
Václavské náměstí 13 and 15, Prague 1 – Nové Město; www.adrenalinepit.cz
This climbing centre directly on Wenceslas Square offers climbs along 22 routes of bolted holds in overhangs and sheer drops. As well as the opportunities for climbing courses or joining the local mountain climbing group here, you can opt to play squash or relax in the sauna.
Free Solo
Donovalská 1662, Prague 4 – Chodov; www.freesolo.cz
The climbing wall has 105 climbing routes and, with its height of 18 m, belongs among the tallest walls in the Czech Republic. In addition to the indoor wall, there is an indoor and an outdoor boulder. A distinctive feature of this wall is some routes on the local chimney, which is 35 m tall.
Lokal Blok
náměstí 14. října 10, Prague 5 – Smíchov; www.lokalblok.cz
The largest boulder wall in the Czech Republic offers professionals and novice climbers over 500 m2 of climb profiles with more than 60 marked routes of varying difficulty. Every month (outside the summer holidays) and ahead of public competitions, the holds are relocated to upgrade the entire wall. Another big plus is the stylish garden restaurant.
SmíchOFF climbing centre (Lezecké centrum SmíchOFF)
Křížová 6, Prague 5 – Smíchov; www.lezeckecentrum.cz
The second-largest climbing wall in the Czech Republic has a wide range of routes at all difficulty levels. The wall is some 14 metres high almost all the way around, which not only helps your stamina training but brings a sense of true rock climbing.
Radotín sports hall (Sportovní hala Radotín)
U Starého stadionu 9, Prague 5 – Radotín; www.halaradotin.cz
Disabled accessible sports facilities intended for sports clubs and the public. The building houses a climbing wall with a modest range of routes but a decent height of 12.5 m, a large sports hall, sauna, bar, etc.
Ruzyně climbing wall
Drnovská 19, Prague 6 – Ruzyně; www.stena-ruzyne.com
The climbing complex mainstay consists of a large indoor and outdoor climbing wall. Both walls have a climbing area of over 1,000 m2. There are many fine routes, massive overhangs, “juicy” ceilings, boulder routes, a gym and a climbing gear shop.
Most of the routes range in difficulty between 6 to 8 UIAA, but there is something for climbers from beginner to competition level.
Boulder Bar
U Výstaviště 11, Prague 7 – Holešovice; www.boulder.cz
A large and fun boulder with a number of marked routes at six levels of difficulty on a climbing area of 300 m². The whole place is very airy and brightly lit by daylight. Sundries here include, e.g. a non-smoking bar, climbing gear shop and a kids’ play area.
Holešovice wall (Stěna Holešovice)
Bubenská 43, Prague 7 – Holešovice; www.stenaholesovice.cz
The Holešovice climbing wall is among the largest climbing centres in the Czech Republic. A climbing area of 2,600 m2 and a height of up to 12 metres is enough to satisfy even the most proficient.
Among other things, it has routes for dry-tooling, challenging crevices, a “3D wall”, a practice ‘via ferrata’, a ‘paratrooper style exercise machine and other attractions.
Palmovka sports centre
Heydukova 6, Prague 8 – Libeň; www.scpalmovka.cz
An up to 14 m high climbing wall with a multitude of routes in several distinct sections is part of the larger sports centre (with gym, sauna, exercise classes in halls, a fitness bar). One curiosity is the chance to climb a practice double pitch route and its relatively strict classification rating.
BigWall
Ocelářská 16, Prague 9 – Vysočany; www.big-wall.cz
This 20-metre high wall can stand in comparison with the top walls abroad. It was built with the benefit of the most advanced technology and many years of experience. The result is a 3,000 m2 surface for climbing with a rope. Also at BigWall is a full boulder climb (a 300 m2 climbing surface).
Rope centres
Jungle Creek rope centre
Císařská louka, Prague 5 – Smíchov; www.fun-island.cz/aktivitylanovecentrum
Here you can check out your dexterity under the supervision of a qualified instructor and meet the physical challenge of an 8-metre height. The booking must be made at least 48 hours in advance, with at least 5 participants. The rope centre is part of the Cinda sports relaxation complex.
PROUD Prague Rope centre (Lanové centrum PROUD Praha)
Rubeška 7, Prague 9 – Vysočany; www.lanovecentrum.cz/en/praha
Adventure, fun and shared experiences – that’s what you take away from the local rope centre. Most of the programmes have to be booked (at least 3 days in advance), but you can come without a booking for the afternoon public programme. Payment is according to the obstacle you want to climb over.
ABYSS – Lanový park Hostivař
K Jezeru, Prague 10 – Hostivař; www.ilanac.cz
The only treetop rope centre in Prague offers two high rope obstacle courses of differing difficulty. Both courses are sequential and unidirectional, which means you can’t pick and choose obstacles, but always the entire course. There is the yellow track for less experienced climbers and families with children, with a total of 23 obstacles at about 5 metres off the ground. More experienced climbers can try the red track with 17 obstacles (of which 3 are cabled) between 5 to 12 metres off the ground. The park is closed from November to March.
