Here’s your round-the-world guide to inline skating at night. Inline skaters in cities from New York to Barcelona have hit upon the experience that is night-time skating. Get your glow sticks, wheel lights and house music (or another suitable music alternative) and get to it.
In case it wasn’t obvious, skating at night in a big group of people to music is awesome and you should do it right now.
Where Can I Rollerblade at Night?
Around the world, almost every single evening, there are giant groups of people skating through the roads of a city in the dark. If you actually worked it out, it might even be a non-stop phenomenon of the last twenty years. Someone, somewhere is in a big group of people skating beneath the stars.
Below I have put together a pretty comprehensive list, sharing some of the biggest night skating events in the world. But, as you can imagine, the world is a big place, so there’s every chance your city isn’t covered in which case I recommend just doing a search:
“night skate [insert your city]” and that’s usually quite a good way to find it.
Quick Tips for Inline Skating at night
- You can usually find the time, date and location of the skate on the pages facebook page. Sometimes in the ‘events’ section of the group page.
- Be able to skate fairly well as in you can stop at different speeds, and get up an okay speed, know how to turn and manuevre a little.
- The length varies anywhere from 6km to 25km, so you will be skating for a few hours but in general they take a few breaks to give people a chance to have a drink and recuperate.
- They are super fun (did I say that?)
- Typically they have ‘wardensn’ who are the awesome people who volunteer to help keep the skate as safe as possible, often wearing high vis jackets and skating on the ‘edges’ of the line to indicate the boundary you must go between. Also you may have first aiders ready to assist in the case of accidents who are also typically skating along.
- They attract the cool, engaged skaters from your city, so get on linkedin and check out who that is. You might notice them from the enormous skill they exihibit, skating backwards and in circles around everyone else.
- Most are free, some cost a tiny amount, and only a couple have an option to ‘join’, which basically means to help support by paying a voluntary fee.
- Sometimes they are rained off, always check the facebook / meetup / website / notifications.
- Some of these meet up times are when you get together, some of them are the time they depart so check the relevant pages.
What Cities Have Inline Skating Nights
A lot. Probably more than is on this list but it’s a pretty good list to get you started.
USA – New York City Wednesday Night Skate
I really want to do this one. Get a chance to skate the streets of New York at night. In fact the more I look at all of these the more I want to go on a world skating tour.
Wednesday nights
Runs from the first Wednesday in April to the last Wednesday in October.
How Much: free
Where: Union Square South (South End of Union Square Park. 14th street), 128 University Pl, New York, NY 10003
Meet Up Time: varies but around 7.45pm to 8pm, check the facebook page.
USA – Chicago Road Rave (1st and 3rd Friday nights)
Friday Nights
Helmet is a requirement for this. While many on the list in Europe recommend protection but don’t insist, this is insisted upon here. 10 to 12 Miles through the city of Chicago. It usually takes approximately 2 hours to complete.
How Much: free
Where: Daley Plaza (Southeast side of Daley Plaza), 100 W Washington St, Chicago, IL
Meet Up Time: 7.30pm
They have a MeetUp page
USA – Boston Tuesday Night Skate
So there’s a club in Boston called the Inline Club of Boston (ICB) and they get together every Tuesday night. You don’t have to join the group to turn up and skate with them though. They skate around 12 miles around Boston and surrounding communities, like Charlestown, South Boston, Brookline, Cambridge and Somerville, Downtown Boston, the Back Bay and Boston’s scenic Water Front.
Boston is a beautiful and well-laid out city, and seeing it from skates is a lovely way to do so.
How Much: free!!
Where: Esplanade at the Hatch Shell
Meet Up Time: around 7:00pm. The skate departs at 7:30 and is usually between 1:45 and 2 hours.
USA – San Francisco Friday Night Skate
I don’t live in San Francisco, so I don’t know if this is still going on as their online stuff hasn’t been updated in a while. But there’s contact details to get in touch.
How Much: free
Where: Ferry Building in San Francisco (under the clock tower). San Francisco Ferry Bldg, San Francisco, CA 94105
Meet Up Time: 8:45 PM
UK – London Friday Night and Wednesday Night Skates
Friday Nights
Free, because as we all know, London is a city where everything is free (not really, but at least this is).
The LFNS, as it is known, departs from Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner every Friday at 8pm
the LFNS is faster, more technically demanding and may involve hills and sprints. We welcome both inline (‘rollerblade’) and quad (‘roller skate’) skaters. Children are welcome provided they’re accompanied by a responsible adult willing to take them home if necessary
Wednesday Nights (and other special event nights)
Free!
London Skate are responsible for running the Wednesday night skate which takes place every week between April and September. The skate starts at the eastern end of Serpentine Road in Hyde Park at 8pm and is fairly fast paced, best for intermediate to advanced skaters. Like the other street skates it is free to attend and open to Inline Skaters and roller skaters.
How Much: like all the London skates, free.
Where: See above. A few different places around London, check the map.
Meet Up Time: Around 19:45 but check the facebook page
UK – Brighton Tuesday Night Skate
Tuesday Nights
How much: Free!
Where: i360 TOWER
Meet Up Time: 7.30 -7.45pm
Other information: ROLL OUT TIME : 8pm, ROLL IN TIME : 9.30-9.45PM
Germany – Berlin
A few dates… And the times are broken up below into the sub-sections
Get together: from 6pm
Start 1st round: 8pm
Break: approx. 9.20pm
Start 2nd round: approx. 9.40pm
Return / end: approx. 10.45pm
How much: 2 EUR to participate, buy it directly on the start site. This includes a free water you get during the break.
Where: Alexanderplatz, 10178, Berlin, Germany
Germany – Bremen
Tuesday Nights
To be totally frank, I can’t read German or the Google translated version of German well enough to know for sure on this one, so hopefully the below is true…
How much: free
Where: HANSA-Carré Bremen, Pfalzburger Straße 41, 28207 Bremen
Meet Up Time: different kick-off times depending on what it is, from around 7pm to 8.30pm.
Germany – Frankfurt Tuesday Night Skate
This one’s only on in the summer. And in case it wasn’t obvious, that’s the case for a lot of the others. not all, but a lot. I would always check their facebook or website for the event details.
How Much: free
Where: Mayfarthstraße, 60314 Frankfurt / Main
Meet Up Time: 8:30pm
Germany – Munich / Munchen
Another beautiful German city…
How Much: free
Where: here
Meet Up Time: 20:30 (skate starts at 21:00)
Or, actually, a different website maybe is here.
Germany – Munster
This looks a huge one. I really want to do this one.
Every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month from May to September.
How Much: 3 EUR
Where: Schlossplatz
Meet Up Time: usually 7pm is when they meet, and start time is around 8pm, finishing around 10.30pm
Austria – Graz, Friday Night Skate
How Much: Free
Where: Tummelplatz, 8010 Graz, Austria
Meet Up Time: 7: 30 PM (May to August)
or the facebook page
Switzerland – Monday Night Skates Going On Everywhere
Mondays
So, it turns out there’s a whole bunch of Monday night skates going on around Switzerland, but it’s not like it’s every Monday in every city. You have THE Monday night skate, and it might be in Zurich, or it might be in Basel, or Bern, etc.
Switzerland – Zurich
Around 8pm
How Much: Free
Where: Bürkliplatz, 8001 Zürich Zürich, Schweiz
Meet Up Time: 7pm, but maybe start a bit later I think, but not sure
Switzerland – Geneva
Mondays, but not every Monday. Check the website for details…
How Much: Free
Where: Esplanade d’Uni Mail
Meet Up Time: 20:00
Distance is approximately 17km.
Switzerland – Bern
Ok, I don’t know the politics here, but there’s always hidden politics. But for some reason Bern are out on their own and aren’t part of the rest of Switzerland’s Monday night skate. Good for you Bern. Maybe it has something to do with the bears?
How Much: free
Where: Waisenhausplatz
Meet Up Time: 19:30
Main site:
Switzerland – Basel
How Much: Free
Where: Theodorskirchplatz, 4058 Basel Basel-Stadt, Schweiz
Meet Up Time: 8pm
Switzerland – Luzern
Check it out, back in 2003! That’s the thing about these night time skates, they show the love of this activity just goes on and on throughout the years. Some of these skates actually started waaay before 2003 as well…
How Much: Free
Where: Bahnhofplatz, 6003 Luzern Luzern, Schweiz
Meet Up Time: 20:00
Looks like it goes on until 22:00
Visit facebook page to learn more
Switzerland – Aarau
How Much: Free
Where: Rolling Rock Skate- & Sportcenter, Neumattstrasse 26, 5000 Aarau, Switzerland
Meet Up Time: 20:00
Inline skates can be hired directly on site for 15EUR and safety equipment for 2EUR.
Estonia – Tallin Friday night skate
How much: free
When: 7.30pm
Where: Vabaduse väljak, Tallinn, Estonia
Poland – Warsaw
How much: free
When: it ranges from 7:15pm, to 9pm, check their facebook page
Where: Pomnik Mikołaja Kopernika, Krakowskie Przedmieście, Warszawa, Poland
Amsterdam Friday Night Skate
Where: the round bench next to the Film museum in the Vondelpark
When: 8pm meet up for 8.30pm
You get back around 10.30pm
Parking tip:
From 21.00u, parking is free in the Emmalaan (parkside) and the surrounding streets. The parking meters do not accept coins, bring your chipknip.
Copenhagen Friday Night Skate
Friday night skate in Copenhagen is something to behold. It takes place between April – September and it’s free, and no signing up.
Each skate has a different route around 20km in length. It’s not a race, as none of these are…
How Much: free
Where: Israels Plads, 1361 Copenhagen
Meet Up Time: check the facebook page but around 8pm
Pari-Roller: Paris Friday Night Skating Tour
Wow, this one looks professional. They’ve even got corporate sponsors. How does everyone feel about that?
The skate is completely free though, which is great.
You have the option to join an annual membership for 25 EUR.
With some rules like:
No promotional operation for a trademark, without the approval of the association.
How Much: free
Where: Gare Montparnasse
75014 Paris, France
But check their facebook page.
Meet Up Time: around 9pm.
Madrid Friday Night Skate
The Madrid Friday Night Skate (MFNS) is currently happening on a monthly basis the third Friday of each month. Meeting time is at 10 PM. Both starting and ending spots are set independently for each route. But meeting&starting venue is always in or near the city center and with easy access to public means of transportation.
How Much: looks free but not sure
Where: locations change
Meet Up Time: usually 21:15
Barcelona Friday Night Skate
I knew it, I just knew it. 10:30pm this starts. Barcelona is such an incredibly late city. What the hell!? I mean, I guess its’ the weather of course but seriously when do these people manage to sleep? Most of the other skates on this list have finished by the time this one kicks off. You have to love Barcelona.
“a non-profit organization , created in 2003, which aims to promote skating as a sporting and recreational element and to promote the human, social and cultural relationships that derive from it. As well as providing a structure that will allow greater public and administrative recognition. All in a framework of civility, fun and security”
How Much: free
Where: City Center, on Salvador Espriu 61.
Meet Up Time: 10:30pm.
Sydney Bladers: Wednesday Night City skate in Sydney
Think it can vary when this skate is and where though.
How Much: free
Where: 1 Prince Albert Rd, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Meet Up Time: 20:30-23:30
Austria – Vienna Friday Night Skate
How Much: free
Where: Heldenplatz
1010 Vienna, Austria
Meet Up Time: 9pm
Facebook page has the details. Go to the events section.
Sweden – Malmo Friday Night Skate
Malmo is a beautiful city
Escorted by the police who stop the traffic, this skate is between 15 and 20km long, taking about 2 hours, like a lot of skates on this list. There’s a break half way of about 10 minutes.
When? 7.00pm
Where: location varies
Find out more informatin on their website, or facebook page.
Website
Facebook page
The best directory list of night skates on the internet
Okay, so though I spent a lot of time on my list, there is a better one here
Related Questions:
Should I really inline skate at night?
Well, it does depend actually. If you’re in a big group that’s well-managed then yes. If you’re dressed in all black like a ninja and you’re skating down a motorway then, well, no… Basically, stay safe friends! Remember, it’s not whether you can see a car or a motorcycle or low flying helicopter, it’s whether they can see you! In the great battle between the skater and the eight-wheeled lorry, the skater rarely comes out on top.
What should I wear?
If you want to skate at night, then you should wear a cape and goggles. You can buy them here. (only kidding, obviously you should rent a cape and goggles unless it’s going to become a permanent fixture). You should wear stuff that helps you be seen.
What types of skates should I use?
Whatever skates you want. Skates are typically not powered by light, so it makes no difference.
How Far Do They Go?
Obviously they vary, but be ready to skate 10 miles.
Is it legal to skate at night?
I don’t know. It might be. It might not be. It depends where you are as to the local laws, or by-laws. Generally if skating in the day is legal, then skating at night should be legal. But often there’s no laws actually written. If there’s a big group that has been doing it for a while and no one in the city has told them off, you’re probably safe… Until of course some city politician or senior policeman decides they’re not happy with you reckless anti-social skaters, and decide to do something about you(!!)
Where Can I Skate?
See the entire article above. See it? That’s where.