Car & Van Hire - Vestec

Prague offers medieval history, Art Deco façades and great nightlife. Vestec is one of its most underrated areas. The village has a population of 2,700, so it's easy to assume it has little to offer. That's far from the case, though.
 
This charming town is nestled into the plain between Jesenice, Hodkovice and Zdimerice. Its position makes it a cyclist's haven that attracts riders from all over the country, so it's unsurprising that it has over 200 cycling routes. Most local tracks have mild inclines, so if you're an unambitious downhill biker, Vestec is prime terrain. If you want to see the finest natural resources in the region, the 61-kilometre Peloton Biocev Navrh Vlakovy trail is a spectacular option.
 
If there's one thing travellers look for when they visit Vestec, it's peace and quiet, but you needn't rely on pedal power to experience it. The Vestec-Kunratice trail is just 8.7 kilometres long and carries hikers through wooded landscapes and fields of wildflowers. The Vestec-Horni Jircany trail is another popular route that draws admiring crowds in summer. It offers 15 kilometres of lakeside trails and forests suitable for new and experienced hikers.
 
Park Pruhonice is one of the village's proudest pieces of architecture. The château and the sprawling park that surrounds it are a UNESCO Heritage site. It has Gothic traits and an exquisite fresco of St George the Dragonslayer. There are plenty of artistic flourishes to enjoy, so this isn't a site to rush through. The park has its own lake and tree-filled gardens.
 
Vestecky Rybnik easily competes with the beauty of Park Pruhonice. Its wooden walkways carry you over a pond and into a mystical forest. Geese and ducks reside in the wetlands, but if you're more interested in the fish below the water's surface, this is excellent fishing territory. If you're the sporting type, the misty Sazava River is perfect for rafting.
 
Not all of Vestec's attractions are sedate. Magic Planet Casino offers slick gaming tables and a packed schedule of poker tournaments. Its poker rooms spare no luxury. There are menus for your table, valet parking and even a massage service.

Vestec is primarily served by the E50, which carries travellers into town from the south before branching out towards Lahbovice. Highway 603 cuts right through the middle of town, with an intersection heading east and west. Much of the region remains undeveloped, providing all the beauty you could wish for. That makes van hire in Vestec an excellent option. While the terrain is unchallenging, a four-wheel drive can be a boon.

When driving in Vestec, dipped headlights must be turned on at all times. Children under the age of 12 are not permitted to sit in the front seat of vehicles. Always give way to pedestrians crossing at marked crossings.

There's a roundabout at Bonmoto to ease traffic heading in from the west, but Vestec is, understandably, short on traffic jams. With a population of under 3,000 people, the odds of bumper-to-bumper traffic are low. If you're in a hurry and don't want to take risks, though, avoid Hodkovicka Road at the intersection of Highway 603. There is the occasional traffic jam on Vestecka Road at the Na Pruhone turn-off. Beyond Vestec borders, congestion worsens, particularly off the E50 and 603. If you're crossing into Prague from the E50, avoid peak hour. Prague's rush hour is particularly long, starting at 06:30 every morning and ending at 10:00. It starts up again at 14:00 and ends at 18:00.

One of the benefits of visiting a small town is an infinite amount of empty parking spaces. Vestec has on-street parking strewn through its downtown areas. There is only one commercial car park: Parkoviste Vestecky Rybnik, which can be found to the east of the E50 on U Hriste 328.

The blood-alcohol limit in the region is zero. A level of just 0.3 g can come with a six-month driving ban. A level of between 0.3 and 1.0 g comes with a 1-2-year ban, and levels over that will take you off the roads for up to 10 years. These are not penalties worth trifling with.

Vestec roads are maintained to a high standard, but some rural roads aren't as pristine as you might prefer. You'll drive on the right and pass on the left. All passengers are required to have a fastened seatbelt. Speed limits are the usual 50 km/h in urban areas, but you may travel up to 130 km/h on highways.

The Czech Republic allows you to pay for your parking via cash meters as well as credit card payments. Some car parks also accept fees via the Citymove app. You can also download the MPLA.IO app to handle your card payments.