Prague Brings Back Drive-In Movie Theaters

Updated: 12.5.2020

There is a new addition to the drive-in cinema experience in Prague. After the launch of 3 new drive-in movie theater locations by two different projects only two weeks ago, there is another ‘auto kino’ which will begin screening movies starting today, May 12th at 21:00.

This new drive-in cinema is just behind the Strahov Stadium in the large open parking area. A giant outdoor screen composed of 9 shipping containers stacked together, measuring 13 x 6 meters, will be lit up each night through the summer behind the hisotrical Strahov Stadium atop Petriny Hill.

The newest of Prague’s drive-in cinema distinguishes itself from the other three locations (Prague Airport, Prague 7 Market-Pražská tržnice and an old train station in Nákladové nádraží Žižkov) because not only does it offer 120 spaces for cars, but there will also be 99 outdoor seats for those without cars.

The outdoor, drive-in theater will also off bar services which will be available for several hours both before and after the showings, as well as during the movie. Both cash and credit card will be accepted for all payments at the bar.

Movies will start at 21:00 for the first half of the summer, after which they will be pushed back to a 21:30 start time.

The current schedule for this current week can be found below. Ticket information is also available below. At the moment, a ticket for one car will cost 350 CZK and for a ‘lounger’ the price will be 120 CZK.

original post: 24.4.2020

After several decades in which drive-in cinemas and movie theaters had not existed in Prague, the trend is back. Due to the current coronavirus epidemic situation many businesses in Prague remain closed, although some are gradually re-opening in accordance with the 5-step initiative headed by the Czech Ministry of Health. But many leisure activities, museums, theaters and cinemas are not on the list of businesses to re-open in the next few months. Therefore, those in the theater and cinema industries have been devising ways in which people in Prague can continue to enjoy a movie or a live performance on stage while still following the social distancing norms and adhering to the government’s restrictions.

The project, Art Parking took the initiative to start a drive-in theater and cinema when its founder, Karel Kratochvíl, realized that while online streaming is keeping many people entertained during this time of quarantine, it was not quite the same. He said that watching movies, TV series and even live streaming concerts and events is, “a bit like kissing through a veil.” Therefore he and the project created two locations which will allow many cinema and theater lovers to leave their homes and take to the streets.

There will be live performances at the Prague Market (Pražská tržnice) starting today, April 24. This location will include performances such as classical concerts, alternative concerts, fairy tale puppet shows for children and dance performances.

In addition, Art Parking project has turned the railway station Nákladové nádraží Žižkov (which, coincidentally is the seat of the Czech National Film Archive) into a full-service drive-in cinema.

The other project which will be offering drive-in movie experiences to Prague residents is Kinoauto Praha, a project founded by theater and movie lovers. They have created a drive-in movie theater in a parking lot near Prague’s Václav Havel Airport. This too will begin to show movies on Friday, April 24.

How to buy tickets for the outdoor, drive-in theaters in Prague:

Tickets are available online directly from Art Parking and Kinoauto Praha (see the schedules listed below for locations, times, performances and where to buy tickets). Theater and movie goes will be able to buy tickets for the desired show, which they can present, via their smartphone, to the attendants at the drive-in theaters without leaving their cars or rolling down the windows. Those attending a showing will also be able to make purchases of food such as pop-corn, nachos, french fries, non-alcoholic drinks and beer online which will be delivered directly to the car.

People can select which event they want to see, and buy a ticket online. The ticket will arrive via email, and when the car arrives at the venue, the driver can show the email ticket through the car window without having to roll the window down, so there is no personal contact with the staff. Refreshments can also be ordered online, which will be delivered to the car’s assigned parking location.

Schedule for the drive-in Auto-Kino Strahov at Strahov Stadium

Tuesday May 12
21:00: The Dark Knight (in English with Czech subtitles)

Wednesday May 13
21:00: Caught in the Net (15+)

Thursday May 14
21:00: Owners

Friday May 15
21:00: Through Africa on a Pioneer

Saturday May 16
21:00: The Hunt

Sunday May 17
21:00: La Belle Époque (in French with Czech subtitles)

Monday May 18
21:00: Caught in the Net (15+)

Tuesday May 19
21:00: Ocean’s Eleven (in English with Czech subtitles)

Wednesday May 20
21:00: The Farewell (preview)

For more information regarding the shows and to buy tickets, check out their site here for Auto-Kino.

Schedule for the drive-in Theater Performances by Art Parking at Prague Market (Pražská tržnice)

Friday April 24
16:00 – 17:00: Brothers in a Trick – Special (theater)
19:00 – 20:00 Monika Načeva – Wild horses (music)

Saturday April 25
16:00 – 17:00: 1000 things that bother me (theater) Theater under Palmovka, Palm off Studio
19:00 – 20:00 Ester Kočičková (music)

Sunday April 26
16:00 – 17:00: Holektiv – Airplane (theater)
19:00 – 20:00: Mutants Search the Starting Point (music)

For more information regarding the shows and to buy tickets, check out the Art Parking’s main website.

Schedule for the drive-in Theater Performances by Art Parking at Nákladové nádraží Žižkov:

Monday, April 27
20:00: Parasite (in Korean with Czech subtitles)

Tuesday, April 28
20:00: V síti (in Czech)

Wednesday, April 29
20:00: Green Book

Thursday, April 30
16:00: Portrait of a Lady on Fire (in French with Czech subtitles)
20:00: La La Land

Friday, May 1
11:00: Paddington 2 (dubbed in Czech)
16:00: Národní třída (in Czech)
20:00: Through Africa on a Pioneer (in Czech)

Saturday, May 2
11:00: Shaun the Sheep: Farmageddon (dubbed in Czech)
15:00: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
20:00: Vlastníci (in Czech)

Sunday, May 3
11:00: Mirai (dubbed in Czech)
15:00: Midsommar
20:00: La belle époque (in French with Czech subtitles)

For more information regarding the shows and to buy tickets, check out the Art Parking’s main website.

Schedule for the drive-in Kinoauto Praha Movie Theater at the Prague Airport:

Friday April 24:
20:30: Pulp Fiction

Saturday, April 25:
20:30: Samotáři (in Czech)
23:30: Ikarie XB 1 (in Czech)

Sunday, April 26:
20:30: The Fifth Element

And for more information regarding shows at the Kinoauto Praha and to buy tickets, check out their website.

Summer 2020 – Day Trips from Prague

One of the many great things about living in Prague is that you are so close to everything, to Austria, to Italy, to Germany. Trips to these countries is as easy as getting into a car and driving a few hours or maybe taking a short flight from the airport in Prague. But travel this summer, 2020, will be a bit different from normal. With the travel bans slowly lifting, travel will still be discouraged, many people living in Prague will be looking for some places that are a bit closer to home.  Here are some suggestions for day trips from Prague that you might have missed before.

Liběchov – architectural delights and scary fairytale creatures

This small village of only about 1,000 inhabitants is located just north of Prague, in the district of Mělník in the Central Bohemian Region, halfway between Mělník and Štětí. The town itself is worth a visit with many great pieces of architecture still standing including the Liběchov Chateau, a former Renaissance fortress which was rebuilt into the Baroque style and the Church of Havel with Rococo and Classicist themes. But perhaps one of the main reasons for visiting Liběchov is found just outside the town limits where visitors can see two separate works of art by Czech artisit Václav Levý from 1845 and 1850. Klácelka Cave is a carved into sandstone and included some extraordinary figures such as Czech herors, dwarves and other fairy tale creatures. His other work, Blanik, are towering sculptures measuring 9 meters high and are considered to be one of the strangest and creepiest places in the Czech Republic.

Beer Tours – check out a local brewery

There are many small breweries hiding just outside of Prague in small villages and towns. Traveling to several in one day is a great way to explore the countryside just outside of Prague without having to break out in a sweat. With a car or hired driver, you can easily check out three or four in one day, see rolling green hills and some of the smaller villages, while enjoying what the Czech Republic does best –  brew beer.
Some possible loops that you can check out are:
– Brewery Tour Loop 1: Unětice -Unhošť – Kytín
– Brewery Tour Loop 2: Kácov – Kostelec nad Černými lesy – Nupaky – Dolní Břežany
(Just remember to hire a driver or designate a DD (designated driver) if you are going to be on the road or hire one of ours for a safe brewery tour.)

Český ráj – Bohemian Paradise

Most people have probably heard of Český ráj, but have you actually been there? And did you know that besides hiking through the forests and sandstone columns that are so emblematic of the region, you can also take a boat ride through a nearby gorge? Hrensko Gorge offers several options for taking a boat trip down the peaceful river through walls of sheer rock painted in green moss and towering vibrant emerald colored trees.

Litomerice to Lovosice – WWII history, wineries and a ferry ride

Just past Terezin is the small city of Litomerice. It’s a beautiful Czech town, quite typical with an impressive main square, surrounded by gorgeous architecture dating back centuries, red-roofed buildings and winding cobble-stone streets which lead you through quiet neighborhoods and giving you a true impression of a traditional Czech town. From the city center you can head out of town, following one of the many hiking trails that crisscross all of the Czech Republic. One of the trails leads past a former World War II bunker, a crematorium and several abandoned buildings.

This part of Bohemia is called the Bread Basket of the Czech Republic as it is full of many fields and orchards that supply a lot of produce for the country. This includes wine as well! There are several small wineries in the Lovosice region and many have a wine cellar or restaurant where you can enjoy some of the local wine, meet the owner and enjoy a bit to eat as well.

Once you have arrived in Lovosice you’ll be on the Elbe River. If you are looking to add some more onto your hike you can cross the river with the only river crossing for kilometers, by ferry boat. The ferry boat zips (as a relaxed speed) back and forth across the Elbe, captained by a kind elderly man who might let you take the wheel if you ask nicely. Across the river the trail continues and you can decide whether to explore some more vineyards or you can return across the river and back to Litomerice.

Kokořín Castle (Hrad Kokořín)

The nature surrounding Kokořín Castle is lush and beautiful in the summer when the trees are deep green and the rivers are all rushing with water. Kokořín Castle is located northeast of Prague, less than an hour’s drive from the capital city. It was originally built in the early 1300s before being damaged severely in the Hussite Wars a century or so later. Luckily the castle was reconstructed again during World War I in a reconstruction campaign and has been a national cultural landmark since 2001. It has some great facilities like a swimming pool and tennis court, so it’s perfect for a day of sport and relaxation in the forest.
Another great option for seeing Kokořín Castle is by air! Check out a hot air balloon ride or private helicopter flight over this famous castle or one of the many other castles in the area.

Eco-Friendly Travel is Possible in Prague!

It’s difficult to do much these days or go many places without seeing or hearing something about how our everyday actions, habits and travels are not eco-friendly and are potentially damaging the environment, and is certainly true for the travel industry. Recent advocacy from vibrant, energetic individuals such as Greta Thunberg, as well as long-time and distinguished figures such as David Attenborough and the Blue Planet II team, have caused quite a stir among politicians, policy makers, advocates and common folk alike in regards to the harm that travel can have on Mother Nature.  

Luckily, there are many ways in which we can all be a bit more environmentally conscious when traveling and make a difference, small or large, in our daily lives and when traveling, to help reduce our carbon footprints. We invite you to have a look at our top 5 ways that you can travel in an eco-friendly manner and help reduce your carbon footprint while traveling by reading below and then go out and try some of these today, on your next vacation or when you are visiting friends in a few weeks. Go ahead, your planet will thank you

We have outlined a few ways in which interested travelers can learn how to be a bit more eco-friendly while traveling and help to reduce their carbon footprint when traveling to Prague and the Czech Republic. And of course, feel free to use these tips for your daily life as well!

5 METHODS HOW TO ENGAGE IN ECO-FRIENDLY TRAVEL IN PRAGUE AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC:

1. Take the No-Plastic Challenge:

Plastic bottles and plastic bags are two of the worst polluters in the world. They seem so handy and convenient in the moment, but they have lasting effects. In the case of plastic bottles, they can take nearly 500 years to decompose and in the case of plastic bags, up to 1,000 years! 

Plastic bottles and plastic bags, due to their light weight, can easily be blown out of trash cans and become litter on the streets. From there they can end up in ponds, rivers, lakes and eventually the ocean. This can have devastating effects on the plant and animal life in these bodies of water. 

And remember that while recycling is important, it is much better and more efficient to simply consume less and thereby reduce our waste production. In order to do so, we can all reduce the number of plastic bottles and bags we decide to buy/use in our daily lives, including when traveling. In most Czech supermarkets, they will charge you a small fee if you request a plastic bag. But why not bring a fabric tote bag from home? They fold up nicely and can be very useful during your trip, whether out for a day tour in Prague and can’t fit everything in your normal bag, or when you go souvenir shopping. Better yet, buy yourself a tote bag as a souvenir so that you’ll have something that you can use during your time in Prague as well as a memory of Prague once you’ve gone back home. It’s a win-win situation!

For plastic bottles, you can also bring one from home or buy a new one as a souvenir when you first arrive. That way you are both sure to drink enough water during the day and also you are drastically reducing the number of water bottles you would buy. If you follow the doctor’s order of 8 glasses of water a day (about 2 liters), that would be anywhere from 2-6 (depending on the size bottle you buy) plastic bottles / person / day if you are traveling. 

The great thing about Prague and the Czech Republic is that all tap water is drinkable! So you can fill up your water in the hotel or your accommodation before you set out for your spectacular day of sightseeing around town. 

2. Pay to offset your carbon footprint:

You may have seen this offer before when buying a plane ticket, “Pay to offset your carbon footprint” or “Make a donation to reduce your carbon footprint” or “Buy carbon credits here.”

These programs and others like them receive your payments and use them for projects around the globe that are taking steps to reduce our carbon footprints.

Excursions to do in Prague and ISLANDICA are happy to be able to offer the opportunity for all people to donate a small sum of money to offset their trips to and within the Czech Republic. This option will be made available at the time of booking the trip. The entire sum of the donation (none of which stays in our company, nor do we receive any commission or payment for this service) is used to plant trees here in the Czech Republic to replace the hundreds of thousands that have been cut down in recent years for farming purposes. 

3. Take the ‘No-Towel Policy’ (or at least reuse your towels while in one location).

Most people do not change their towels nor their bed sheets daily while at home, so why do so when you are on the road? 

National Geographic reported that in the US, laundry use at hotels and accommodation accounts for 16% of all water usage (second only to toilets and showers–see below about reducing showers). Imagine if you brought your own towel so that valuable resources were not used to wash towels after every guest. 

Another study done in the Canary Islands at a luxury hotel determined that by simply reminding visitors to reuse their towels, there would be a yearly reduction of water usage by 129,000 liters which would therefore reduce carbon emissions from this hotel by 1,676 kg.

4. Use Public Transportation

Prague in particular is known for having EXCELLENT public transportation. There are 4 metro lines as well as countless trams and buses, so that you can take some form of public transport at any time of day to nearly anywhere in the city and surrounding areas that you need or want to do. And to top it off, the price is amazingly cheap. (See more here about how to use public transportation in Prague.)

 Efficient and reliable public transportation is not something you are guaranteed in every country you visit. In some places, you’ll be waiting hours to get a bus out of town. In other countries, you might not even have the option to take a public bus or tram but instead be obliged to take a car, whether rented or through a taxi service, to get anywhere. Many Americans in particular are pleasantly surprised at the ease at which they can take the trams throughout Prague, enjoying their journey as they go. 

But you’re in luck because you’ve chosen to visit Prague and the Czech Republic, where you have both excellent service and a very low price for all forms of public transportation. And it’s just one more adventure to check off your list. 

5. Travel locally:

We all travel for different reasons and to see and experience different things. Some people travel to see the tallest mountain, the largest lake, the most incredible building or the most beautiful painting. And each person should travel according to their tastes, their desires and their abilities so that their experience of the journey is a pleasant, positive and enlightening one.

Travel also allows us the opportunity to learn about new cultures and new people and also more importantly to learn FROM them. It is one thing to walk past houses and restaurants that seem full of locals but never enter, it is an entirely different experience to be able to enter these locations and speak with them and understand for good or for bad, the things that make us different, but surprisingly so, the things that we all share in common. 

This is why To Do In Prague and ISLANDICA offer specialized tours which give visitors to Prague this utterly amazing and unique experience to meet locals, hear from them, learn from them and share a meal with them, all in order to fully appreciate the local culture and customs. 

This wonderful encounter also gives locals the opportunity to interact with people from places that they may never visit. 

Final thoughts:

We do not believe that travel should cease to exist, but we do believe that we can all do our individual part to make a difference in our lives, whether at home, at the office or on the road. Our eco-friendly travel tips are a great way to start you down the path to helping the planet by reducing your carbon footprint and helping us all breath a bit easier. Come enjoy Prague and the Czech Republic, it is a beautiful city and a remarkable country. And along the way, do something that will make an impact on the places you will come to fall in love with.