Kids in Prague

Šutka Aquacentrum, Prague 8

Swimming Activities, Sports and Fitness on 30 July 2014 by Larissa

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Opened since December 2013, Sutka is sparkly clean with something for everyone. This is our choice when the kids are begging for a swim. This venue is cheaper and less crowded than the big Aquapark in Cestlice yet it has enough attractions to keep our kids (aged 8 and 5) satisfied. We don’t need wild rivers and extreme slides so why pay extra for it. At Sutka kids will love the water slides - 5 in total for all age groups.

The swimming centre overlooks Prague and is built on a large piece of land so there is plenty of parking. Reaching here by public transport is also ok, you take the metro to Kobylisy then take one of many buses three stops to Čimický háj.

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The city views can be appreciated from an outdoor paved area with sun loungers just off the main swimming area, unfortunately my kids do not allow me much time there! Instead we are bounding around from pool to pool, slide to slide - it’s quite exhausting but their joy and enthusiasm is infectious.

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The centre is basically split into several levels. The top level has a 50m swimming pool (complete with a viewing platform for up to 400 spectators).

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There is also a separate, smaller pool especially designed for giving swimming lessons to parents with small babies. This pool is in its own section, separated by a door and glass panelling. This pool can also be used for rehabilitation purposes. The entire building and all parts of the centre provide accessibility to people with wheelchairs.

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Men and women have their own shower rooms which also give access to a separate upstairs (Finnish) sauna and outdoor cooling pools for each sex. Women are allowed to enter the male sauna but male entry to the female sauna is not permitted. On the same level as the large swimming pool, directly next to each of the change rooms, is the location of separate male and female steambaths. Unlike the upstairs saunas, swimming costumes must be kept on in the steam baths.

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The aqua park area contains all of the slides, a generous-sized, warm whirlpool, a water-current ‘river’, a large wading section for very young-children (about 20cm deep) and a pool and play area for slightly older kids (waist-deep). This is also the location of the pool bar and a small cafeteria. It is vey appealing the way that all the waterslides are constantly flushed with fresh water streams and how water pours out from small fountains in various sections throughout this aqua park area.

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The larger watersides are approx. 75 metres in length and twirl outside the building. The red one is particularly fun as a section of the ride is in complete darkness - quite freaky the first time you try it. My kids loved the slides and handled them well despite their relatively young ages. My son is only 5 but was wearing a very good buoyancy vest so when he plunged into the deep pool he popped back up and doggy paddled to the edge. There are always lifeguards on duty, usually standing near the river with current and overlooking the larger watersides. Riders on the slides have to wait for the green light to go ahead and cannot ride together so riders are spaced out and can clear the exit tube before the next rider comes along.

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Near to the large water slides and outdoor area you have the cafe. Using your wristband with chip you can order quite a range of food - baguettes, pizza, hotdogs, ice-cream and pastries as well as coffee, juice and soft drinks. I particularly like the way the Aquapark is flooded with a lot of natural light due to large glass walls facing west, it almost feels like you are outdoors.

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The layout of the complex is user-friendly and practical. Upon entry and payment for 1 hour, everyone is issued with a wristband chip, which can then be used to open and close the clothes lockers. There are various check-points around the change areas, which allow viewing of the fees you’ve accrued on food, drinks or extra time as well as your locker number (which older people, like me, often tend to forget). The same chip is also used for entrance to the upstairs sauna, which for hygienic reasons, requires the renting of a sheet for 30 CZK. The chip is also required to move from the large pool area down to the lower, aqua centre section, by walking through special turnstiles (although no extra fee is charged for this).

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Weekends are the busiest times and the centre has a maximum capacity of 500 people but if you visit Sutka’s website they tell you the number of people in the Aqua park and 50 metre pool and what capacity they are at.

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Currently there are plans to open a fitness centre to the east of the main entrance and there is also a suitable spot for a large bowling alley below the 50m swimming pool. In future, the complex will undoubtedly grow and expand into something more than just a local swimming pool.

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ADDRESS: Šutka Aquacentrum - Čimická ulice, Prague 8

OPEN: SWIMMING POOL: Mon-Fri: 6am-10pm; Sat/Sun/public holidays: 10am-10pm. AQUAPARK: Mon-Fri: 2pm-10pm; Sat/Sun/public holidays:10am-10pm. SAUNA: Mon-Fri:10am-9pm; Sat/Sun/public holidays: 10am-9pm.

COST: Each entrant receives a bonus 15 minutes for the purposes of changing.
Adults: 125 CZK for the first hour and 90 CZK thereafter.
Students (up to 26) and Seniors: 95 CZK/1st hour & 60 CZK thereafter.
Children: up to the age of 2, swim for free; Children (up to 15): 80 CZK /1st hour & 45 CZK thereafter.
Family Tickets: (2 adults & 1 child) - 248 CZK p/h; (2 adults & 2 children) - 308 CZK p/h; (2 Adults & 3 children) - 308 CZK p/h; (1 Adult & 2 children) - 214 CZK p/h; (1 Adult & 3 children) - 274 CZK p/h. Discounts apply for each person during the 2nd hour.
Adult member (permanentka) 90 CZK p/hour.

DIRECTIONS:By Metro: Red Line C to Kobylisy. Then catch any of the following busses (102, 144, 152, 177 & 200 to Čimický háj (3 stops)). The centre is adjacent to the bus stop. By Car: GPS: 50.127323, 14.433009. Head north to Kobylisy and then follow signs to Bohnice. The turnoff is clearly sign posted shortly after driving through Kobyliske Namesti. There are 270 free parking spaces available, including parking for handicapped.

FURTHER INFORMATION: http://www.sutka.eu (Czech only)