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The photogenic Vestec pond
Vestec pond (Vestecký rybník, in Czech) is an outdoor recreation area for all ages located a few kilometers south of Prague.
Situated on the edge of Prague’s Praha-Libuš neighborhood, the pond offers a picnic zone, a children’s playground, an amphitheater, and an outdoor gym.
The surrounding streets are paved, making the area easy to explore on foot, on rollerblades or by bike.
The pond’s distinctive feature is a boardwalk that crosses the water, and two circular wooden platforms set almost at water level where to rest and enjoy the view.
These elements make it a perfect place to relax, meditate, and connect with nature – and a very photogenic spot, especially in autumn when the trees show beautiful colors.
The main route leads halfway around the pond, across the boardwalk that spans a wet and muddy section (which can flood when water levels rise), and passes a small wooden pier with benches.
For an educational twist, you can follow the Planetarium Trail, a 1.5km path that illustrates the sizes and relative distances of the planets in our solar system.
If you are thirsty or hungry, you can try your luck at the Czech hospoda at the corner of the football field, or at the café in the village.
How to reach the pond from Prague
- You can easily get to Vestec by public transport: reach Opatov first (red metro), then jump on bus 321 or 326 till the stop “Vestec, U Klimešů“.
Note: the transport ticket for Prague will suffice, you don’t have to buy any extra ticket. Vestec is still inside the PID 0 zone, so the same Prague tariff is applied.
To plan your journey, always look at the most current schedule on pubtrans.cz. - If you like walking, you can get off the red metro in Chodov and walk about 9km to the pond. This mixed path follows the border of the Kunratice forest and crosses Kunratice village.
- Another walking option is to start in Modřany (accessible by train or by tram), follow the ravine along the Libušský stream, and detour to Kunratice before reaching Vestec. This trail totals 10km.
- If you travel by car, free parking is available near the pond or in most of the surrounding streets.
- It is also very nice to cycle to Vestec.
One of the most popular routes done after work in season starts along the Vltava (A2), diverts in Braník to follow the Kunratice stream (A22) and crosses into the beautiful Kunratice forest (A212 + A202 from Kunratice).
