7 child-friendly museums in prague

Last Updated on November 23, 2023

As Prague started wearing autumn colours, I was already nervous about our first winter here. My interrogations about what clothes I should buy, however, were met by new friends with reassuring smiles. Prague really doesn’t get that cold, I was told.

Even the woman in the outdoor shop laughed and turned me away empty-handed when I asked if my children would need snowsuits for the city. “No, no,” came the answer. “It barely snows in Prague.” I should have known then we were about to get one of the coldest and whitest winters on record.

And so, although I can smile about it now, as I found out during that long January, finding things to do with kids on a bad weather day in Prague can get a little tricky. There is, of course, a range of soft-play areas in the shopping malls. But if you simply can’t take another morning spent wading through a ball pit, where to turn?

Unlike other European capitals, say London and Berlin, Prague doesn’t have any of those iconic, child-friendly museums, like a big Science Museum. But, if you know where to look, there are still some excellent museum outings available.

Here are the most interactive and fun child-friendly museums in Prague.

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Complex of the National Museum

On the face of it, this neo-Renaissance building looks like the type of place that will most please grown-ups. But behind the grandeur, there’s plenty for kids too. Head to The Miracles of Evolution exhibition to gawp at an eclectic range of natural history specimens, from a 22.5-metre fin whale skeleton to a 1mm-long mite. There are also some hands-on displays, including the chance to stare into the mouth of a viper and prise open a clam.

The shimmering Hall of Minerals is also worth admiring as is the Windows into Prehistory exhibition, with its fossils and models of a mammoth and sabre-toothed tiger.

Then, in addition to the eclectic permanent collections, you can also book a 90-minute slot in the highly interactive Children’s Museum tucked away in the New Building (connected to the main historic building by a multi-media passageway).

The museum’s epic size means it’s probably unwise to try and see everything in one visit unless you are feeling very energetic and have lots of time.

Things to know before visiting Prague’s National Museum with kids:

• Usually open daily. To check times and prices, visit here.
• The closest Metro is Muzeum on lines A and C.
• To avoid queuing, tickets can be bought online. Booking a slot in advance for the Children’s Museum is recommended.
• If you haven’t booked in advance, entering through the New Building often avoids the crowds. You can then walk through the interactive corridor to the main exhibitions in the Historic Building.
• If you choose to buy a ticket that includes the Cupola, you can ascend into the museum’s domed roof and admire views down Wenceslas Square.
• There are cafes and restaurants in both the historic and new buildings of the museum. Bistro Narodni Muzeum in the New Building is a light-filled space, with yummy cakes and affordable prices.
• After a restaurant with a play area? Czech restaurant Vinohradsky Parliament and the neighbouring Belgian restaurant Bruxx share a soft play with a ball pit and are one stop away on the metro (or a 10-minute walk).
• Another nearby kid-friendly place to eat is Bílá Vrána, a social enterprise cafe with a children’s corner.
• The closest playground is in Franciscan Garden. Stop at Ovocný Světozor for great ice cream.

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Looking for the most child-friendly hotels in Prague? Read this helpful article.

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Karel Zeman Museum

This quirky interactive museum showcases the ground-breaking and beautiful work of Czech filmmaker Karel Zeman.

The museum is full of spellbinding clips of his whimsical work. Plus, there are plenty of opportunities to become part of his cinematic world – from riding on a flying machine to taking the controls of a zany submarine. This is a museum where taking photos and video is actively encouraged, as is touching the exhibits.

Things to know before visiting the Karel Zeman Museum:

• Open daily (except some days over Christmas and new year), from 10.00 – 19.00, with the last entrance at 18.00.
• Ask on arrival if you want to follow a treasure hunt around the exhibition. The museum also offers a range of animation workshops and even boat tours.
• Me and my five-year-old son adored this place, but my toddler daughter was less keen. With film clips, very little natural light and all the fantastic contraptions on display, it could be a little overwhelming for the very young. I would suggest that it is most suited for children aged 4 and up.
• You are also a short walk away from Charles Bridge Playground on Kampa, with a sandpit, climbing frames, swings and views across the river.
• Close by is the cafe at the Scout’s Institute, which serves homemade lemonade, cake, soups and has outdoor seating as well as table football inside.

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National Agricultural Museum

We went here on a desperate whim, one cold, wet day and we were so very glad that we did. In 2017, the museum underwent a multi-million dollar renovation and is now hugely interactive.

The hands-on fun includes a small playground, a play kitchen and shop, tunnels to explore and dressing up opportunities. The roof of the museum has also been opened, allowing views over to Prague Castle and a chance to play and picnic on the lawn, weather permitting. The basement holds a collection of grand old tractors, as well as some mini ones to ride on. There are also some computer games for older kids.

Outside the museum, a small number of animals are there to greet you on your way in and out, and there is also a small garden and some more agricultural machinery to climb on and admire. Here is a short video of some of our highlights:

Things to know before visiting Prague’s Agricultural Museum

• Open Tuesday – Sunday, 09.00 – 17.00. For ticket prices, please check here. Children are free.
• You can take a virtual tour of the galleries here.
• You can easily spend a whole morning or afternoon here. 
• We love this museum. My only slight reservation is the giant computer game in the Hunting gallery, where you can hold a rifle and try hunting animated animals. This made me feel a bit uneasy. If this isn’t your thing, I suggest skipping this gallery.
• The museum is situated next to Prague’s National Technical Museum, a tram ride away from the town centre, on the edge of Letna Park. On a wet day, you could combine a visit to both museums, whereas on a sunny day, head into Letna Park, where you will find playgrounds, restaurants, beer gardens, drink kiosks, picnic benches and some of the very best views of Prague.
• A short tram ride towards Hradcanska will bring you to Cafe Pointa, a relaxed cafe serving a good range of snacks and meals, which also has a small play area.
• If you are in the mood for hot dogs, burgers and chips, you are a five-minute walk from the aptly named Mr. Hotdog, which also has a highchair and colouring sheets. Book ahead on weekends.
• For directions on how to get there, you are best looking at the National Technical Museum website. The National Agricultural Museum is next door.

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National Technical Museum

This good-looking museum was initially something of a disappointment to me and my son. Sure, the aircrafts hanging from the ceiling and huge steam trains and beautiful cars all look great. But, as most exhibits in the main hall are guarded by ropes and ‘do not touch’ signs, we were left feeling a little underwhelmed.

However, the new play area (on level -2) contains lots of Merkur for engineering wonderful contraptions (the Czech version of Meccano), as well as large wooden blocks and a small number of Lego-style blocks. Here, you can find some beanbags and a TV showing old Czech animations.

Older kids might also get a kick out of the guided tour of the TV studio and dressing up in the photography exhibition. If you book a ticket on arrival, you can also have a tour of mocked-up coal and ore mines from the 1950s. That said, I suspect most of these attractions will be best suited to Czech speakers.

Things to know before visiting Prague’s National Technical Museum:

• Open Tuesday – Sunday, 09.00 – 18.00. For full details of prices, see the website.
• The museum café serves a good range of drinks, snacks and light meals and has a highchair.
• The museum is huge. We spent around two hours here – but only skirted through some of the exhibitions.
• As with the Agricultural Museum next door, you are a little out of town here, just on the edge of lovely Letna Park. For details on how to find your way, check here.

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Prague City Museum – Main Building (currently closed until autumn ’24 )

It is possibly worth coming to this museum for the beautiful building alone, although no doubt most children won’t see the architecture as a major draw. Happily, though, there is enough to delight little ones too. The small Medieval House exhibition, featuring puzzles and puppets is sure to please primary-aged kids, whereas even the littlest of ones will enjoy building their own city in the soft play area.

The highlight for me though was discovering the Langweil model of Prague – a wonderful miniature model of the Old Town, created from cardboard at the start of the 19th century by a librarian who devoted all his free time and money to his unusual pursuit.  The model is lovely, but the short 3D cinema show, which flies you up close to the narrow lanes and over the gardens and rooftops of the model, was the real treat for us all (well, excluding my toddler, who was more interested in eating her 3D glasses).

The museum also houses a traditional exhibition about Prague’s history, as well as some temporary exhibitions.

Things to know before visiting Prague City Museum

• The main building is currently closed for renovation. However, the museum’s House at the Golden Ring also has a playroom and excellent multimedia exhibits. It’s close to Old Town Square.

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Museum of Senses

A short stroll from Wenceslas Square, this museum has an interactive ethos, with visitors encouraged to challenge their senses. There is an emphasis on the visual experimentation, and my 6-year-old adored dancing in the infinity mirror ‘disco’ room and some of the optical illusions. That said, it was exploring some of our other senses that was the real highlight.

We all loved experimenting with the bed of nails, testing our ability to sniff out the identity of hidden objects, and having our sense of proprioception probed by the vortex tunnel (cue a very dizzy mum). Short, accessible explanations are in English as well as Czech and other major European languages. As photographs probably won’t do the exhibits justice, here is a short video showing some of our highlights:

Things to know before visiting the Museum of Senses in Prague:

• Open daily from 09.00 – 20.00
• The museum isn’t huge, and the ticket price isn’t inexpensive. That said, under fives are free, and there was enough to keep my kids entertained for over an hour. As we were there on such a hot day, I would have happily paid to go in for their air-conditioning alone (although we were kindly given free entry for the purposes of this review).
• Both my young children really enjoyed it, but the museum is well set up for tweens and teenagers too. In addition to photo opportunities, there is some interesting science to ponder and a few brain teasers and puzzles scattered throughout the museum too.
• There are lockers and toilets – but don’t go expecting to get a meal. As you are in the centre of town, there is no shortage of food options close at hand though. We are always partial to a quick plate of noodles at Vietfood (highchair available).
• Looking for a little post-museum activity? If the weather permits, you are close to the lovely playground in Franciscan Gardens.

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National Film Museum

This hands-on museum – exploring the history of film, with a particular focus on Czech animation – was the brainchild of three Czech film students.  Housed off Franciscan Gardens, there’s plenty here to occupy film enthusiasts and fidgety, little hands.

From experimenting with zoetropes to getting lost in virtual reality and making a short stop-motion film, my 7-year-old loved it all. It was the recording studio, though, where we all had the most fun – using gongs, coconut shells and xylophones to create a soundtrack for a variety of films.

Explanations are available in Czech and English and the museum staff are very helpful.

Things to know before visiting Prague’s National Film Museum:

• Open Tuesday – Sunday, 13.00 to 19.00. Check the website for ticket prices.
• The museum is very hands-on but not huge – expect to spend one to two hours here.
• Best for primary-school-aged children and older.
• The museum is in Prague’s city centre. If the weather allows, combine a visit here with a trip to the picturesque playground in Franciscan Gardens.
• The museum contains a small cafe for drinks. Alternatively, head across to Café Truhlárna in the gardens, for excellent coffee and cake.
• Visiting on a hot day? Getting ice cream at nearby Ovocný Světozor is a Prague must.

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Lumia Gallery Prague

My 7-year-old was particularly taken by the sandpit, which swirled and swished thanks to colourful projections. Meanwhile, my 11-year-old loved interacting with the installations and getting lost in the mirror maze. Here’s a quick glimpse of our time there:

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Things to know before visiting Lumia Gallery Prague:

• Open daily, 10.00 – 20.00.
• Again the museum isn’t huge (or inexpensive). Expect to spend around 1 – 2 hours here.
• Visit the website for up-to-date ticket price information. However, it is probably fair value compared to similar museums in other European capitals, and under-4s are free and family tickets are available.
• Due to its central location, expect it to get busy during weekends and school holidays.
• This museum is in the same building as The Gallery of Steel Figures, and you can get a discount by buying a joint ticket. This other gallery is popular with tourists, who come to have selfies with giant figures constructed from recycled metal. Not my thing, but I understand the attraction.
• You are around a 5-minute walk from Food Lab, an international restaurant where kids can access a supervised play area for a small charge.
• Ascend the nearby Old Tower Hall Tower for brilliant views over Prague. There is a lift for weary little legs.

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Some bonus family-friendly museums in Prague

Toy Museum Prague

Fans of quirky museums will delight in this small exhibition housed in a Gothic tower close to Prague Castle. Best suited to older children (it isn’t interactive), there are toys through the ages to admire, including creepy dolls, robots, Star Wars figures and Barbie fashion .

Museum of Communism

Teens may be interested in learning more the country’s turbulent past under Soviet rule at this small but fascinating museum, which features mock-ups of a classroom and an interrogation room.

Retro Muzeum Prague

Another museum which considers the country’s Communism past is this large gallery in the Kotva Department Store. Here the emphasis is on everyday life in the Czech Republic in the 1970s and 1980s, and there are exhibits to touch, as well as lots of design inspiration. You are in the same building as a good-sized soft playroom and a mini golf course.

Museum of Minatures

This museum dedicated to teeny tiny pieces of art is another good option for teens in Prague. By peering through microscopes, you will be able to wonder at an inscription on a human hair and a camel train within the eye of a needle. The museum is (unsurprisingly) small and is near Prague Castle.

Kunsthalle Praha

This new modern art gallery sits at the heart of pretty Malá Strana (Lesser Town), not far from the Charles Bridge. Older children and teens may enjoy the temporary exhibitions here, and there is also a small but well-stocked play area. The upstairs cafe has a terrace with great views across to the castle.

Czech Museum of Music

This gorgeous museum in Malá Strana often has interactive, child-friendly temporary exhibitions.

Dinosauria Museum Prague

In the swish POP retail park, out by the airport, is a new museum bound to delight dino fans. Inside you’ll find fossils, large-scale models and a VR game. The brilliant indoor amusement park Majaland is also close at hand.

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Looking for more things to do in Prague on a rainy or cold day? Take a look at this post.

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So, I hope you find at least one option which is to you and your children’s tastes. As I find with most things in life, expectations are everything – so I hope I haven’t raised them too high – but I do think Prague’s museums really contain some fun hidden treasures for small and big kids alike.

Found a Prague museum you love? Leave me a comment below.

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