Things to Do in Czech Republic

Prague’s surprisingly strong ethnographic museum is run by the National Museum (Národní muzeum) and located in a vast and romantic palace known as Kinsky Folly; it was built in 1831 by architect Heinrich Koch and sits amid the glories of Kinský Gardens. The thoughtfully curated exhibitions give an insight into life in rural Czech communities over the last 300 years and cover folk culture and art, music and costume.

As part of the permanent exhibitions ranging from agricultural implements on an historic farm to intricately embroidered wedding dresses, the Musaion has a fascinating display showcasing the annual religious and spiritual rituals of rural Bohemia and Moravia, from Advent masks to shaggy Shrovetide costumes and handcrafted Nativity crèches. There are frequent workshops demonstrating artisan crafts such as pottery and woodcarving, and regular concerts of traditional folk music.

In the Kinský Gardens surrounding the museum are reconstructions of a pagoda-like ornate 17th-century timber church from Wallachia and a Baroque shrine from the nearby urban district of Žižkov.

After a visit to the Musaion, walk through the Kinský Gardens to Petřín Hill for gorgeous views over the city and the Vltava River before heading on to Prague Castle.

Run as part of Prague’s multi-faceted National Museum (Národní muzeum), the Náprstek houses the city’s fascinating repository of non-European treasures. The collection was founded by the Czech explorer and industrialist Vojta Náprstek (1826–1894) and since 1921 has been located in a fine Baroque former brewery known as U Halánků in Prague's Old Town.

Bringing alive the ancient cultures of Asian, African, and American art with vibrant displays of death masks, costumes, ceramics, fine art, coins, and jewelry, highlights of the museum include primitive wooden masks and ornately painted shields from tribal Africa; dugout sealskin canoes and decorative totem poles from North America; and brightly painted toys from Japan. Temporary exhibitions are chosen from the museum’s rich collection of 95,000 artifacts and are supported by an excellent collection of historic photographs.

Twice as large as the Old Town area, Prague’s New Town (Nove Mesto) is sprawled across one of the banks of the Vltava River. Despite its name, the New Town was founded by Charles IV back in 1348 following his coronation under the Holy Roman Empire. It was later redeveloped during the late 19th century.

The New Town features a mix of historic buildings and squares with more modern developments. Wenceslas Square lies at the heart of the area. This was originally built as a horsemarket and is now a popular place for visitors due to its variety of hotels, shops, restaurants, and nightlife. Other notable squares in the New Town include Charles Square and Republic Square, which also hold plenty of appeal for visitors.

The main attractions and historical buildings within the New Town include the Dvořák Museum, the National Museum, the National Theater, the Dancing House, and the New Town Hall.

Built in 1891 for the Czech Tourist Club’s General Land Centennial Exhibition, Petrin Tower resembles a mini Eiffel Tower perched atop Petrin Hill. The highest point in Prague, with panoramic views, the landmark is popular with tourists who brave the 299 steps to get a bird’s-eye view of the city.

 

Petrin Tower was built just two years after the completion of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It was the brainchild of Dr. Vilem Kurz and architect Vratislav Pasovsky, who were inspired to create a smaller version of Gustave Eiffel’s masterpiece after traveling to Paris to see the original at the World Exhibition in 1889. Members of the public largely funded the tower’s construction.

 

Many people choose to hop on the cable car to ride up to Petrin Park, or visit as part of an electric bike, Segway, or walking tour that takes in some of the city’s top landmarks. On a clear day, it’s possible to see all the way to the Czech Republic’s highest mountain, Snezka, some 93 miles (150 kilometers) away.

 

 

Petrin Tower is located in Petrin Park. It is accessible on foot (although the climb is quite steep) from Malostranska metro station (Line A) or via the cable car that departs from Ujezd station.

 

The tower is open seven days a week year-round. Opening hours vary by season: 10am–6pm November to February, 10am–8pm in March and October, and 10am–10pm April to September. Last entrance is 30 minutes before closing time.

 

Petrin Park is home to another interesting attraction, the Stefanik Observatory. Built in 1928, its home to several interesting exhibits explaining the basics of astronomy, and three observation domes with powerful telescopes that track the day and night skies. Visitors can use the telescopes to get a closer look at the stars and planets.

Originally called St. Nicholas Street, but renamed in 1926 to pay tribute to France for helping free the Czechs from Austria-Hungary during World War II, Paris Street is one of Prague’s most prestigious. Also called Parizska Street, it runs between the Old Town Square and the Cechuv Bridge. Lined with trees, it is home to some of the top designers in the world, including Louis Vitton, Hermes, Dolce & Gabbana, Dior, Prada and Gucci. The street’s architecture is also an attraction, with examples of neo-Baroque neo-Renaissance and Secession styles. Buildings feature richly decorated balconies, elegant moldings, busts, statues, turrets and towers.

In addition to clothing boutiques and shops, Paris Street boasts some of the top makers of watches and jewelry, such as Rolex and Cartier. It is also home to some of the best restaurants and cafes in Prague, including Barock, widely considered the best restaurant in the city.

One of Prague’s biggest visitor attractions, the ornate 15th-century astronomical clock is found on the southern side of Prague’s Gothic Old Town Hall. Gilded and complex in design, the clock was made by Czech master clockmaker Mikuláš of Kadaň in 1410 although it has been repeatedly restored and added to over the centuries. Its upper face shows the time and day of the week, the lower one reveals delicately painted signs of the zodiac. Every hour, on the hour, hundreds of tourists gather around the clock to witness the figure of Christ emerge from tiny trap doors above the upper dial of the clock, followed by a collection of wooden Apostles, to act out a mini-medieval morality tale, while the skeletal figure of Death strikes a bell, Greed counts out his money and Vanity worships his reflection.

The Old Town Hall itself was built in 1338 and is today a popular venue for Prague weddings as well as home of the city’s main tourist information center. Trips up its medieval tower reveal superb views of Old Town Square, the sinister twin spires of Baroque Týn church, and the bronze statue of medieval Czech reformer Jan Hus, which lies at the heart of the square. A series of palatial medieval halls are also open to the public.

Following World War II, Czechoslovakia fell under Soviet rule between 1948 and 1989; during this time the Communist authorities arrested more than 205,486 Czech nationals and executed 248 after show trials, with 4,500 prisoners dying in jail. Around 170,940 people were driven into exile, with many more killed trying to flee the country. These dark days behind the Iron Curtain are explored at the Museum of Communism -ironically housed alongside a casino on the first floor of the Baroque 18th‐century Savarin Palace. Using photos, political posters, medals, a jumble of busts of Lenin and Marx, Soviet uniforms and movie reels, the displays deal with the perils of living under state‐sponsored terrorism, showcasing anti‐capitalist propaganda; the constant threat of Cold War warfare; work conditions in a Soviet factory and Russian teaching in schools. Highlights include the mock‐up of a stark interrogation room and rare film footage of the 1962 destruction of the massive, granite Stalin Monument in Letná Park. Happily, the exhibition ends on a positive note, with a video showing events that led to the (largely) peaceful Velvet Revolution and the re‐

establishment of Czech democracy under the leadership of Václav Havel.

Anyone wanting to learn more about Prague’s 20th‐century history can visit the Nuclear Bunker Exhibition near Olšanské Náměstí. The Memorial to the Victims of Communism, whose disintegrating bronze figures were created in 2002 by Czech sculptor Olbram Zoubek, stands on a stone stairway at Petřín Hill on the west bank of the River Vltava.

The Czech Republic is famous for the volume of beer (pivo) the nation consumes. The favourite drink of locals and tourists alike is lager and none is more popular than the classically Czech brand Pilsner Urquell, which is produced at an historic brewery in Pilsen (Plzeň in Czech).

An hour’s drive from Prague, Pilsen is the capital of West Bohemia and was European City of Culture in 2016. Beer has been brewed in the city since 1295, but the story of Pilsner Urquell begins with the building of the Prazdroj Brewery in 1842. This was the year that Josef Groll developed his unique method of brewing, which is still used in making Pilsner lager today.

A guided tour of the brewery leads through the brewing process, from the vast copper storage vats in the factory through the 1930s brew house before traveling to the state-of-the-art bottling facility, which is capable of handling 120,000 bottles an hour. Every tour lasts one hour and 40 minutes and ends in the historic cellars with a tasting session of several unfiltered pilsners straight from the oak cask. To learn about another traditional Czech craft, combine a visit to the Pilsner Urquell Brewery with a tour of the Bohemia glassworks in Nizbor.

Museum Kampa is one of Prague’s most charming museums and exhibits contemporary European art in the shiny-white, medieval Sova Mill, which sits on the Vltava bankside on cute-as-pie Kampa Island. The exhibitions are formed from the private collections of Jan and Meda Mládek, Czech art connoisseurs who gifted their stellar artworks to the country in 1999. Among the highlights of the collections are chunky bronzes of the human form by early 20th-century Cubist sculptor Otto Gutfreund and the world’s finest mass of works by pioneering abstract artist František Kupka.

Several temporary exhibitions of European artists take place throughout the year —Yoko Ono and Andy Warhol have both been featured there — and an ever-changing series of wacky art installations scatter the grounds of Sova Mill, which could range from a vast chair to an oversized bright-red plastic dog or ranks of yellow penguins lined up along the breakwater.

First mentioned in 1393, Sova Mill is itself worthy of interest as the oldest watermill on Kampa Island. It was converted into a two-story, Neo-Gothic mansion in the 19th for a wealthy milling family called Odkolek, and was reworked again by architect Helena Bukovanska, with the help of several other Czech designers, before the museum opened in 2003. From the glass rooftop terrace, there is a spectacular view of Prague Castle and the statuary of Charles Bridge.

Podskali Custom House showcases the history of the now-extinct Podskali fishing and woodcutters settlement in Prague. This 16th-century structure is a final remnant of the settlement, which arose in the 12th century and was the site of the largest and richest wood market in the city, until Prague’s expansion led to its demolition in the 19th century.

 

The custom house now holds a small museum on the second floor with photographs and models illustrating the history of the Podskali people and their methods of transportation along the river. Built in a Gothic style, the house features a plastered ground floor and a second floor that resembles a log cabin. You can visit for free with the Prague Welcome Card, which includes admission to other museums and monuments.

 

 

The nearest tram station, Vyton, is a minute’s walk from the building and is served by tram nos. 3, 7, 17, and 52. The nearest metro station is Karlovo Namesti, a 15-minute walk away. From Prague’s Old Town, it’s a 30-minute walk south to the museum.

 

The museum is open year-round, Tuesday through Thursday, 10am to 6pm.

 

Next to the custom house you’ll find the only other remnant of the Podskali settlement, the baroque parish church of St. Cosmos and Damian. The church dates from the 17th century, when it replaced the original Roman-style church. Outside, on the east wall, a memorial plaque notes the building’s history.

One of the most outstanding examples of art nouveau architecture in the world, Prague’s Municipal House is a popular destination for visitors interested in art and architecture. From the grand concert hall to the restrooms, every light fitting, chair, and tile was specially designed for the building by the leading artists of the day.

 

Designed in the early 20th century as a multifunctional building where Prague’s citizens could come to watch a musical performance, attend an exhibition, or meet friends for a cup of coffee, Municipal House is Prague’s finest example of art nouveau architecture, designed by Antonin Balsanek and Osvald Polivka. The concert venue, Smetana Hall, is the crown jewel of the building, with a large glass dome over the auditorium.

 

The interiors of the building feature decorations by Czech artists, including Alphonse Mucha and Max Svabinsky. The twisting metalwork in the building was inspired by natural motifs. Outside, the half-moon mosaic of Apotheosis of Prague, by Karel Spilar, is the centerpiece. The building lived up to its goal as the epicenter of public life—the independent Czechoslovak state was declared here in 1918. Walking and biking sightseeing tours of Prague frequently make a point of stopping of at this magnificent building.

 

 

Municipal Hall is located at 5 Republiky Square on the edge of Old Town (Stare Mesto). It is accessible on foot from most places in central Prague, or as part of a guided walking or Segway tour of the city. The Namesti Republiky Metro stop (Line B) is close by. Trams #3, #5, #6, #9, #14, and #24 stop close by on Jindrisska Street.

 

Municipal House is open daily. The public spaces are open from 7:30am to 11pm, and the box office is open from 10am- to 8pm. The restaurants and cafes have different opening hours throughout the morning, but all are open daily and close at 11pm.

 

Municipal House stands on the edge of Prague’s Old Town and is a great starting point for exploring the neighborhood. Walking through the archway of the 14th-century Powder Tower—one of the 13 original city gates—and find your way to Old Town Square, the heart of Old Town, home to the astronomical clock and Church of Our Lady Before Tyn.

Prague's New Town Hall isn't as new as its name might suggest. It dates back to 1377 after Charles IV founded the New Town, and it served as the seat of municipal government until 1784. At that point, the building was converted into a criminal courthouse and prison. Today the New Town Hall building is a heritage center and is used for exhibitions, social events and weddings. 

Not much remains of the original building from the 1300s, but today you can see additions and renovations from different periods in history. The Gothic tower, which was added in the 15th century, stands at almost 230 feet tall and offers visitors who climb the 221 stairs views of the New Town and Karlovo (Charles) Square. The south wing of the building was designed in a Renaissance style in the 16th century, and if you look closely, you'll notice a chain fixed to the building. This is from a time when the streets in Prague were closed off by chains. 

Prague’s National Technical Museum (Národní Technické Museum) was established in 1908 but moved in 1948 to an austere, Modernist purpose-built museum designed by architect Milan Babuška and found north of the city center near Letná Park. Its role is to monitor and showcase the development of technology across the years, and following a long-standing reconstruction project that saw the collections expanded, the museum reopened back in 2013. It now has 14 impressive science-based permanent exhibits spread over six floors, with three being underground.

Highlights of the astronomical, photographic and design displays include a photographic studio kitted out with historic cameras; printing presses from the 17th and 18th centuries; and a 5,000-year-old meteorite. The undoubted star of the show, however, is the massive Transport Hall, which is stuffed with vintage Czech planes, racing cars, trains, fire engines and bicycles. Probably of less interest to youngsters but nevertheless fascinating is the peerless collection of architectural records documenting the development of Prague over the last 100 years, from the Art Nouveau grace of the early 20th century to the Socialist Realism of the post-war, Communist years.

There are dozens of places to honor fallen Jews in the city of Prague, but few are as iconic—or as striking—as the Pinkas Synagogue and nearby cemetery. Travelers who enter into the dark doors of Pinkas will find walls inscribed with the more than 77,000 Jews who were killed during the Holocaust, a stunning representation of the atrocity on a visual scale. At the front of the structure a list of concentration camps where men and women perished is listed and the Synagogue’s second floor showcases a small exhibit of moving children’s art.

The nearby burial site serves as the final resting place for some 20,000 Jews. Travelers can wander the well-worn path through 12 layers of graves that belong to famous rabbis, poets and scholars. Off-kilter stones worn by decades of weather serves as a reminder of all that was lost and provide a space of quiet contemplation for visitors.

Home to Ruckl Crystal, Nizbor Glass Factory carries on the tradition of making the high-quality Czech glass and crystal that was originally known as Bohemian crystal. All stages of production are carried out here, including glass blowing, painting, crackling, and cutting. Champagne glasses, bowls, plates, vases, perfume bottles, and lamps are just a few of the items you’ll see made. 

Although some of the Ruckl’s wears stays in the Czech Republic, most is exported around the world. On a tour of the factory, which you can access by coach from Prague, you can learn about the 300-year-old tradition of Bohemian glass and crystal making. You’ll see the molten glass being blown straight from the fiery furnaces and watch  artisans hand-cut the products with amazing skill and precision.

 

The factory is around a 35-minute drive from the center of Prague. Take highway D5 toward Pilsen and turn off at Exit 14. Alternatively, skip the hassle of driving by visiting on an organized tour from Prague—many even include pickup and drop-off from your hotel.

The factory is open to visitors from Monday through Saturday, morning to afternoon, year-round. Outside of the peak summer months, however, opening hours are shortened and Saturday visits need to be booked in advance. Check before you go.

 

The Ruckl Family Glassworks has being producing cut crystal since 1846, with techniques passed down through generations and surviving two world wars and the communist nationalization of all family businesses. The Nizbor factory has been in operation since 1903.

Cutting a swathe through the Baroque beauty of Prague’s historic heart, Nerudova runs uphill through Malá Strana (Lesser Town), forming a link between Charles Bridge and Prague Castle on the west banks of the Vltava River. In the days of the Czech monarchy, the street formed part of the Royal Way, which the king followed from the Old Town Square to the castle on ceremonial occasions. 

Now named after the famous 19th-century poet Jan Neruda, who lived at no. 47, the street is composed of brightly colored and gabled Baroque townhouses and palaces, dating from the 17th and 18th centuries and today bursting with boutique hotels, souvenir shops, bars and restaurants; as the street wends up towards the castle it becomes the province of several overseas embassies. Unusual features of Nerudova are the symbols painted or carved on to the façades of the buildings; these represent the professions of the original owners in the days before street numbering was introduced; thus a musician lived at ‘At the Three Violins’ (no. 12) and a goldsmith at ‘At the Golden Cup’ (no. 16). An intriguing pharmacy with its original interior dating from 1821 is located at ‘At the Golden Lion’ (no. 32) and the elegant Morzin Palace (no. 5) is embellished with imposing statues of Moors; this is currently the Romanian Embassy.

The Jewish ghetto in Prague grew up in Josefov around the Old-New Synagogue, which was in use as early as 1270. It has the distinction of being oldest functioning synagogue in Europe – for over 700 years services were only halted during Nazi occupation between 1942–45 – and today it is once more the heart of Jewish worship in the city. A Gothic oddity, the whitewashed synagogue is topped with brick gables and its interior is starkly simple and little changed since the 13th century, with one prayer hall for the men and an adjoining gallery for women, who originally were only allowed to witness services from behind a glass screen. An elaborate wrought-iron grill encases the pulpit and the Torah scrolls are contained in a plain Ark on one wall. Apart from a couple of chandeliers, the only embellishment is a tattered red flag bearing the Star of David hanging from the ceiling, given as a gesture of respect to the Jewish community by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV in 1357; the red banner close by was a gift from Ferdinand III in thanks for Jewish help in repulsing a Swedish invasion in 1648. Down the centuries the building has survived fires, pogroms and sieges, giving rise to the legend that is protected by angels.

One of the largest cemeteries of its kind in Europe, with headstones dating back to the mid-1400s, the Old Jewish Cemetery is an off-the-beaten-track destination where you can spend a peaceful hour or two. More than 100,000 of Prague’s Jewish citizens were buried here, and there are around 12,000 gravestones still in place.

 

Historians estimate that the cemetery was first put to use during the early 15th century. The oldest grave, belonging to the rabbi and poet Avigdor Kara, dates to 1439. The most recent grave dates from 1787—burials were banned within the city limits after this time due to public health concerns. Headstones display various styles from different eras, including Renaissance, baroque and Gothic. Small pieces of paper held down with pebbles in front of the graves dot the space—local custom has it that the dead will answer your wish if you write it down and leave it in the graveyard, but only if weighted down with a stone brought from your hometown.

 

Visitors often come to the cemetery as part of a walking tour of the city, or as an additional activity after visiting the Jewish Museum. Special tours dedicated to the city’s Jewish history can provide additional insights.

 

 

The Old Jewish Cemetery is located in the Josefov area of the city, between Brehova, Maiselova, and Siroka streets. It is close to the river at the Staromestska metro stop (line A). Tramline 17 also stops close to the cemetery. Traveling by car is not recommended—most people visit on foot, often as part of a guided walking tour.

 

The cemetery is open every day, except Saturdays and Jewish holidays. Opening hours are 9am–4:30pm with extended hours in the summer—the exact dates change every year so check before visiting on summer evenings.

 

A marvel of medieval engineering, the Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square (Staromestske Namesti) is one of Prague’s most popular tourist attractions. Every hour, on the hour, carved figures of the Apostles parade past windows in the clock to the delight of the visitors gathered below.

Dedicated to the delicate Art Nouveau talents of Czech artist Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939), the Mucha Museum is located in the Kaunický Palace, itself built in Baroque style in the early 18th century. A must for all fans of Art Nouveau, the museum hosts the world’s best exhibition of Mucha’s intricate posters, decorative panels, lithographs and sketches, typically of blue-eyed, flowing-haired Slavic beauties.

Many of the posters on display were completed while Mucha lived in Paris between 1895 and 1904, and several advertised productions starring the famous actress Sarah Bernhardt. Photos taken during these years at his notorious Paris studio reveal gatherings of the great and good of the Belle Epoque, including one of Expressionist artist Paul Gauguin minus his trousers. Visits to the museum round off with a fascinating and in-depth 30-minute documentary on Mucha’s life.

Guided tours of the Mucha Museum are available in several languages and should be booked seven days in advance. Fans of Mucha can also see his work in the stained-glass windows of St Vitus Cathedral and at Prague’s landmark Art Nouveau Municipal House.