Commuter alert: Traffic restrictions expected due to Prague Half Marathon

Elite runners from around will participate in the 23rd Prague 1/2 Marathon on a route over 21 kilometers long on Saturday, April 1.

The annual event will also entail traffic restrictions that will mainly affect the city center. Some streets will be closed and parking banned on the race’s route and immediate vicinity. Public transport will also be affected.

Kenyan runner Benard Kimeli will strive for his third win this race, while local Jiří Homoláč is also expected to be at the front. Other elite competitors from around the world include Paulos Surafel from Britain and Oleksandr Mokliak from Ukraine.

One of the biggest stars on the starting list is Irine Jepchumba Kimais, who this year managed to win a half-marathon in Barcelona with a time of 1:04:37. The winner of last year’s marathon in the women’s category, Nesphine Jepleting, will be back to defend her title.

The race is sold out, thus people will not be able to register at the last minute.

During the race, tram, and bus operations will be restricted in stages along the race route. People are encouraged to use metro lines, which will have increased in capacity. Information about current changes is available on the Prague Public Transit Company (DPP) website, info line at 296 191 817, and PID Lítačka app. On the day of the race, between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., it will also be possible to use info line 800 100 991.

The race will start at 10 a.m. in front of the Rudolfinim at náměstí Jana Palacha and end there as well at approximately 1 p.m. The route will go through the districts of Prague 1, 2, 5, 7, and 8, mainly in areas around the Vltava river.

The parking ban will start in the affected area in advance so the route can be completely cleared for the safety of the runners. Any vehicles still in place along the route will be towed away.

The roads along the route will be closed to all traffic during the race. Czech and municipal police will manage traffic. From 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., streets and intersections will gradually close along the race route. They will be reopened as soon as it is safe for the runners.

In addition, in the street 17. listopadu between náměstí Jana Palacha and Pařížská, where the technical support for the race will be, as well as Dvořákovo nábřeží between Čechův most and náměstí Jana Palacha, will be closed on the day of the event from 0:01 a.m. to 4 p.m. Čech Bridge, Mánes Bridge and náměstí Jana Palacha will close from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.