Summertime in Prague - when the sun is shining and the city is crowded with visitors from all over the world - is a great time to escape to a special place right in the heart of town: the sinuous, sparkling Vltava River. Boasting a series of charming islands and running right through the center of Prague, the Vltava offers beautiful views and plenty of opportunities for adventure.

Paddle and row boats on the Vltava

Renting a boat for an hour is undoubtedly one of the most fun and unique ways to experience the cityscape of central Prague. A handful of companies stationed along the Vltava offer fun boat rentals at reasonable prices. For about $10USD you can paddle out onto the river in a swan boat or a boat that resembles an old-timey car, and enjoy your time experiencing lovely views of the famous Dancing House, the Charles Bridge, and the always impressive Petrín Tower.

Boat cruises on the Vltava

While a bateau ride on the Seine is seen as a must for any trip to Paris, there seems to be less interest in the similar cruises of the Vltava on offer, and that's really too bad. After all, a leisurely boat ride along the Vltava serves up charming cityscapes that can be enjoyed with a refreshing river breeze carressing the face, allowing you to relax while taking in the sights. As in any city, a river cruise is a great way to get your beatings when first arriving in a city, and as central as the Vltava is to the city of Prague, it is no exception. Also, when else will you get a chance to go right under the famous Charles Bridge!?

Steam boat to the Prague Zoo

Do you like the zoo? How about boat rides? How about gratuitous ferry crossings? It turns out, there's no need to choose: in Prague, you can do them all together as part of the same adventure. Pick up the boat to the zoo in central Prague, and then enjoy the ride as you cruise through the fascinating lock system of the Vltava along your journey. After about 70 minutes, you arrive at an apparently unpopulated Vltava island, which you then traverse on foot before boarding a ferry for what must be the world's shortest boat ride. About 45 seconds later, you arrive outside (about a kilometer outside) what is a truly fabulous zoo, one of the finest in Europe. And surely your adventurous spirit will have been piqued by your voyage, making the exotic appeal of the zoo all the more alluring.

Bonus! You get to see some adorable animals at the end of the journey!

Chelsea London is a Prague-based photographer available to capture your memories. Click to learn more about the services she offers.