Best museums in Prague

The timely visit of historical buildings such as the Powder Tower or new modern constructions such as the Dancing House are altogether one of the best things to see or do in Prague. At the same time, a tour of some of the most famous and important museums in the city is one of the best things to do in Prague no matter what time of the year you choose to visit or even the ages of your companions.

The truth is that there are museums of history, art, curiosities and some that combine all three in the same space. I invite you to continue reading this publication, as I have compiled information on the 10 best museums in Prague so that you can get a more concrete and exact idea of the type of expectations you will experience and the things you will find in each one of them.

The National Museum of P rague will always be the immediate reference when thinking about the best museums in the Czech capital. This is the oldest institution dedicated to the preservation of history and art in the Bohemian region. Since its creation in 1818, it has moved several times, but today it has been located in the famous Wenceslas Square since the beginning of the 20th century.

The central hall of the building serves as a sort of pantheon for some of the most illustrious personalities of the Czech Republic and is accompanied by other exhibitions dedicated to the ancient history of the region and the country. The museum has several facilities throughout the city, but the new National Museum building and the building known as the Naprstek Museum are arguably the most important and best connected to the curatorship seen in the main building.

The main building is a true architectural spectacle and is a neoclassical structure that was developed by the same architect who built the State Opera House. The Zoology section may be the most interesting part of the museum for the younger members of the family, while the section focused on the prehistory of Bohemia, Slovakia and Moravia is a must-see for the more adult visitors.

A visit to this museum, as well as a timely tour of most of the other establishments on this list, is one of those things to see or do in Prague in winter. For the internal air-conditioning of this imposing building is a sure protection from the cold temperatures of the Central European winter.

Useful information:

• Entrance fee: adults pay about 9 euros approximately, while children between the ages of 6 and 15 usually pay about 6 euros. Children under these ages are free of charge.
• Hours: open Monday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. The first Tuesday of each month is usually closed for maintenance and it is common that there is one or another specific activity throughout the year that can extend its opening hours.
• Location: the main museum is located at the southern end of Wenceslas Square. It is accessible by public transport via the metro, getting off at the Muzeum station on lines A and C.

The Museum of Communism in Prague is an institution that is created to navigate from a reflective perspective the history of the regime that took power in the Czech Republic from the end of World War II until the fall of this political system of the Velvet Revolution.

The museum is divided into 6 sections ranging from the origins that raised communism as a viable option and a favorable state project to its fall after years of censorship, political persecution and limitations of civil liberties in the country. It is not an excessively large museum compared to other facilities such as the National Museum. However, it manages to stand out for its approach to a very relevant historical period for the Czech Republic in its most contemporary stage.

It could take you about two hours or so to go through it in its entirety if you decide to read most of the descriptive texts of each of the exhibits that are in Spanish and English. Which means it's a relatively short activity that can be accompanied by other plans for the same day.

The Mucha Museum and the Gunpowder Tower are two of the nearest major attractions. Although an excursion to the Terezin concentration camp from Prague could be an interesting activity if you're looking to learn more about the Czech Republic's role during World War II.

Useful information:

• Entrance fee: admission costs about €15 for adults, about €13 for seniors over 65 and there is free admission for children under 10 years of age.
• Opening hours: the museum is usually open daily from 9 am to 9 pm. There are exceptions on special dates such as December 24 and New Year's Day.
• Location: the Náměstí Republiky metro station is the best way to get there, as it is located on V Celnici Street less than 200 meters from the famous Powder Tower.

The best known building of the National Gallery in Prague is located in the oldest square of the historical center of the city. This area is known as Prague' s Old Town and there are several important landmarks such as the street lined with luxury stores called Pařížská or the Tyn Church with its iconic bell towers.

Actually, the museum's facilities are spread throughout Prague and the exhibits are segmented according to historical periods and artistic trends in each of these buildings. For example, medieval art from Bohemia and Central Europe is displayed in the St. Agnes of Bohemia Monastery about 300 meters to the north. That from the Central Gallery building where contemporary works by Warhol, Salvador Dalí and other Czech artists such as Alfons Mucha are exhibited.

The Veletržní palác, located across the Vltava River is a large functionalist building that also has permanent National Gallery exhibits by another group of contemporary artists such as Picasso, Monet, Klimt, Renoir, and Van Gogh. It features works related to the Czech field of fine arts ranging from furniture to photographs and scenographic design.

Visiting some or all of this gallery's installations is a recommended activity that adds to plans to see or do in Prague during the summer due to the fact that there are usually special activities or exhibitions involving all of the museum's venues simultaneously.

Useful information:

• Ticket price: the entrance to this museum costs about 20 euros per person approximately and has a duration of one week in which the bearer will be able to move freely between one venue and another until having known all the permanent exhibitions.
• Opening hours: the standardized opening hours for all the National Gallery's venues are 10 am and closing at 6 pm for Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. On Wednesdays the opening is extended to 8 pm and no venue receives visitors on Mondays.
• Location: there is no single location, but the Czech St. Agnes Monastery, the Kinsky Palace, the Šternbersky Palace and the Exhibition Palace are some of the reference names to reach all the facilities of the National Gallery in Prague.

On Chilená Street just opposite the Old Town of Prague and between Charles Bridge and Mànes Bridge is the Museum of Franz Kafka, the greatest representative of Czech literature and one of the most important authors of contemporary literature of the 20th century.

In the museum there are exhibitions detailing important aspects of the author's life such as his creative relationship with the city of Prague and the cultural influence that his work has had for the country and for the literary genre in general. There are also several photographic compilations of his life and family environment, first editions of his books, sketches, letters and all kinds of personal items of Kafka.

The fountain located at the entrance of the museum is one of the most iconic places in the city and the dark and confusing exhibition on the famous work of The Metamorphosis are some of the must-see details of this museum. When visiting it you can take the opportunity to visit the Vojanovy sady Park, as it is an important site in the city. It is also a meeting point for some of the best excursions around Prague.

Useful information:

• Ticket price: admission costs approximately 7,59 per person although family tickets for 4 people are also available for €20.
• Hours: the museum is open every day of the week from 10 am to 6 pm.
• Location: it is on the Vltava bank, on Cihelná street. It is accessible by public transport from Malostranska station or the streetcar station of the same name.

The Mucha Museum, located in the baroque Kaunický Palace in the center of the New Town of Prague is a cultural establishment that is entirely dedicated to the works of the artist Alfons Mucha. He was a Czech Art Nouveau painter who is internationally regarded as one of the greatest representatives of Art Nouveau.

In the museum there are several exhibits featuring posters, oil paintings, sketches, decorative panels and three-dimensional works. Most of which are works that were created during his stay in Paris. In fact, inside the museum there is a replica of the studio that the artist lived in the French capital during the Belle Epoque.

This museum is most recommended for art fans and especially for admirers of Art Noveau. Although it is also a recommended activity among the plans to see and do in Prague at Christmas because of its proximity to Na Příkopě boulevard, which is usually quite decorated from late November to early January.

Useful information:

• Ticket price: admission costs about 11 euros approximately for adults and about 7 euros for those over 65 and for minors.
• Hours: open every day of the week from 10 am to 6 pm. Just like most of the museums that are named in this compilation.
• Location: the museum is located on Panská Street. It is easy to reach it from the Mustek or Muzeum stations of the city subway.

Culture has always been a very important aspect of Czech society and so it is not surprising to learn that there is a Czech Museum of Music in the city of Prague. The facility is the former church of St. Mary Magdalene and consists of an exhibition of more than 400 instruments that have been part of the musical history of Bohemia and Central Europe from the medieval period to the present day.

The building's interior lobby impresses most attendees with its majesty. It is located in the center of the Malá Strana district and the Kampa Island with its respective museum of modern art are other attractions you can enjoy in this section of the city.

The Jardin Vrtba is another site you can't miss when visiting this museum, mainly due to the fact that it is a place that won 't keep you busy for too long.

Useful information:

• Ticket price: admission costs 11 euros approximately for adults while there is a discount to 8 euros per ticket for minors and for those over 65 years old.
• Hours: open every day of the week from 10 am to 6 pm, except Tuesdays.
• Location: located on Karmelitská Avenue in the heart of the Malá Strana district. You can get there by public transport if you get off at the Hellichova station of the city's streetcar system.

The Illusion Art Museum of Prague is an establishment focused on optical illusions and interactive magic located in the new section of the city just off Melantrichova Street. This section of Prague is one of the epicenters of the nightlife in the Czech capital, but during the day it really is a fun place to visit with the family or all alone.

The optical illusion of the chair is one of the most iconic elements of this museum and the proximity of this site to the Prague Astronomical Clock makes this another must-see place to visit.

On your way to the square where the famous 600-year-old mechanical clock is located, you could pass by the curious Prague Sex Machine Museum. And the fact is that this is an interesting institution that seeks to delve into the history of human intimacy and the evolution of human sexual habits.

Useful information:

• Entrance fee: tickets usually cost 12 euros for adults while children between 15 and 6 years of age usually pay 8 euros. Children under 6 years of age are free of charge.
• Hours: the museum is open daily from 9 am to 9 pm.
• Location: it is on Melantrichova Street and can be reached on foot in less than a minute from the Mustek metro station.

The Toy Museum is located in the north wing of the Prague Castle, a neo-Gothic building that has several museums inside and in its entirety represents one of the most impressive buildings on the planet. It is also one of the most significant tourist attractions in the Czech Republic.

Inside the museum you will find everything related to the field of toys as a basic element of the history of mankind. Therefore there are pieces from Ancient Greece as well as exhibits of more modern elements such as Barbies. There are handcrafted pieces hundreds of years old as well as all kinds of traditional Bohemian and Central European toys.

This is definitely one of the best things to do in Prague with children. Although it is an attraction it can be quite interesting even for a group of adult travelers. Along with the visit to the cathedral and a few other activities it also presents itself as one of the things to see and do in the Prague Castle district.

Useful information:

• Ticket price: admission is quite inexpensive, as it is usually around €3 for adults, while children and seniors over 65 pay half price. There are family tickets for two adults and two children for a fee of 4.5 euros in total.
• Hours: usually this museum is open every day of the week from 9:30 am to 5 pm.
• Location: it is inside the Prague Castle and therefore the best way to get there is through the subway getting off at Malostranská station.

The Jewish Museum in Prague is one of the oldest institutions dedicated to the preservation of this culture in Europe. As in the case of the National Museum of Prague and the National Gallery of Prague, it is a permanent exhibition that is subdivided among various sites in the city.

The 6 synagogues that still remain after World War II, the Old Jewish Cemetery of Prague and the Roberta Guttmanna Gallery are the facilities that comprise this important historical preservation organization. There are permanent exhibits on the Holocaust and its degree of affectation among Czech society, but there are also exhibits on the history of Judaism in Bohemia and Moravia.

Touring the exterior of these buildings is also one of the things to see or do in Prague at night, as they are all located in a touristy and important neighborhood of the city's oldest historic center.

Useful information:

• Entrance fee: combined admission for all synagogues and the cemetery, with the exception of the Old-New Synagogue, costs about 9 euros approximately. Children under the age of 6 are free and children between 6 and 15 usually pay 6 euros per admission ticket.
• Hours: from November to March it is usually open every day of the week except Saturdays from 9 am to 4 pm. From April to October the weekly format of closed Saturdays is maintained, but they start the day at 10 am and receive visitors until 6 pm.
• Location: all synagogues are located in the western section of the Old Town of Prague. For this reason the best way to get there by public transportation is to get off at the Staroměstská station of the Prague metro.

A couple of meters from Prague's Old Town Square on Celetná Street is the Prague Museum of Torture and Elements of Torture. Its name in Czech is Muzeum útrpného práva. Basically it is a space set up to look like a gloomy dungeon in which there are more than 400 artifacts used for medieval torture throughout Europe and particularly in the Bohemian region.

The experience can be frightening for many people due to the fact that a good part of the exhibits are accompanied by a strange lighting and musical ambience. Which seeks to transport the visitor to a realistic scenario about how the Holy Inquisition took place.

Useful information:

• Ticket price: the approximate entrance fee for an adult is usually about 6.50 euros, while children between 15 and 6 years old usually pay half of 4 euros approximately.
• Hours: open every day of the week from 11 am to 6 pm between Monday and Friday. On Saturdays and Sundays it starts receiving visitors at 10 am and closes its doors at 8 pm.
• Location: its location on Celetná Street makes it accessible by public transport from Náměstí Republiky station as well as from Staroměstská station.