Prague Attractions
Enjoy some of the many attractions of Prague.
Prague is divide up into the areas of Hradcany (Castle area); Mala
Strana (Lesser Town); Stare Mesto (Old Town) including Josefov (Jewish quarter), Nove
Mesto (New Town) and Vysehrad.
The main attraction for many is simply walking along the winding
cobblestone streets and enjoying the unique atmosphere. Explore the exquisite examples of
historical European architecture: from Romanesque to Renaissance, Baroque to Art Nouveau
and Cubist; crammed next to one another on twisting narrow streets.
Prague Museums
Mucha
Museum: (Metro: Mustek)
The world's first Mucha Museum, dedicated to the life and work of the world-acclaimed
Czech Art Nouveau artist Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939), is housed in the Baroque Kaunick�
Palace (near Wenceslas Square) in the very heart of Prague; just around the corner from
the Art Nouveau style, Palace Hotel.
A selection of over 100 exhibits comprising paintings, photographs,
charcoal drawings, pastels, lithographs and personal memorabilia provides a privileged
view into the universe of the artist; who is most widely known for the posters he executed
for Sarah Bernhardt, in the fashionable world of fin-de-si�cle Paris.
Bedr[av]ich Smetana Museum (Muzeum B. Smetany):
Novotn�ho l�vka 1, Praha 1.
02/2422 9075.
Tues-Sun 10am-5pm.
Admission charged.
Metro: Starome[av]stsk�; tram 17 or 18.
Concerts are held here, and you can buy tickets on site or at Prague Information Service,
Na Pr[av]�kope[av] 20, Praha 1 (187 in Prague or 02/264 022 outside Prague). This museum,
opened in 1936 (in what was the former Old Town waterworks) jutting out into the Vltava
next to Charles Bridge, pays tribute to the deepest traditions of Czech classical music
and its most patriotic composer, Bedr[av]ich Smetana.
Bertramka (W. A. Mozart Museum):
Mozartova 169, Praha 5.
02/543 893
Daily 9:30am-6pm.
Admission charged.
Tram: 2, 6, 7, 9, 14, or 16 from Ande[av]l metro station.
Chamber concerts are often held here, usually starting at 5pm. Tickets are available on
site or at Prague Information Service, Na Pr[av]�kope[av] 20, Praha 1. Mozart loved
Prague, and when he visited, the composer often stayed at this villa owned by the
Dus[av]ek family. Now a museum, it contains displays with his written work and his
harpsichord. There's also a lock of Mozart's hair, encased in a cube of glass. Much of the
Bertramka villa was destroyed by fire in the 1870s, but Mozart's rooms, where he finished
composing the opera Don Giovanni, have miraculously remained untouched.
Bethlehem Chapel (Betl�msk� kaple):
Betl�msk� n�m. 4,
Praha 1. (Praha 1).
Apr-Oct, daily 9am-6pm; Nov-Mar, daily 9am-5pm.
Admission charged.
Metro: Line B to N�rodn� tr�da.
This is the site where, in the early 15th century, the Czech Protestant theologian Jan Hus
angered the Catholic hierarchy with sermons critical of the establishment. He was burned
at the stake as a heretic in 1415 at Konstanz in present-day Germany and became a martyr
for the Czech Protestant and later nationalist cause. A memorial to Hus dominates the
center of Old Town Square. The chapel was completed in 1394 but reconstructed in the early
1950s. In the main hall you can still see the original stone floors and the pulpit from
where Hus preached; it's used as a ceremonial hall for Czech national events.
Church of Our Lady Victorious--Holy Child of Prague (Kl�ster Prazsk�ho):
Karmelitsk� 9, Praha 1.
Mon-Sat 9:30am-5:30pm, Sun 1-5:30pm.
Fee for occasional concerts.
Museum of the Infant Jesus: Admission charged.
Metro: Line A to Malostransk�.
This 1613 early baroque home of the Carmelite order is famous throughout Italy and Latino
countries for the wax statue of Jesus displayed on an altar of the right wing of the
church. The Bambini di Praga (Baby of Prague) was presented to the Carmelites by the
Habsburg patron Polyxena of Lobkowicz in 1628 and is revered as a valuable Catholic relic
from Spain. Copies of the Bambini are sold frequently on the Lesser Town streets outside
the church, angering some of the faithful.
Church of St. Nicholas (Kostel sv. Mikul�s[av]e):
Malostransk� n�m. 1,Praha 1.
Free admission.
Metro: Line A to Malostransk�.
This church is one of the best examples of high baroque architecture north of the Alps.
However, K. I. Dienzenhofer's 1711 design didn't have the massive dome that now dominates
the Lesser Town skyline below Prague Castle. Dienzenhofer's son, Krys[av]tof, added the
260-foot-high dome during additional work completed in 1752. The gilded interior is
stunning. Gold-capped marble-veneered columns frame altars packed with statuary and
frescoes added through the centuries. A giant statue of the church's namesake looks down
from the high altar, as the midday sun strains through the domes, lighting it and the
frescoes.
Church of St. Nicholas (Kostel sv. Mikul�se):
Old Town Square at Par�zsk�, Praha 1.
Tues-Sun 10am-5pm.
Free admission, except for occasional concerts.
Metro: Line A to Staromestsk�.
At the site of a former Gothic church begun by German merchants, this St. Nicholas church
was designed in 1735 by the principal architect of Czech baroque, K. I. Dienzenhofer. He's
the same Dienzenhofer who designed Prague's other St. Nicholas Church, in Lesser Town (see
above). This church isn't as ornate as the other but has a more tumultuous history. The
Catholic monastery was closed in 1787, and the church was handed over for use as a concert
hall in 1865. The city's Russian Orthodox community began using it in 1871, but in 1920
management was handed to the Protestant Hussites. One notable piece inside is the
19th-century crystal chandelier with glass brought from the town of Harrachov. Concerts
are still held here.
Dvor[av]�k Museum (Muzeum A. Dvor[av]�ka):
Ke Karlovu 20, Praha 2.
02/298 214
Tues-Sun 10-5.
Admission charged.
Metro: Line C to I. P. Pavlova.
Built in 1712, the two-story rococo building, tucked away on a Nov� Me[av]sto side
street, was Dvor[av]�k's home for 24 years until his death in 1901. In the 18th century
when the building was erected, this part of Prague was frontier land. Czechs willing to
open businesses so far from the center were called "Americans" for their pioneer
spirit. This building came to be known as America. Opened in 1932, the museum shows an
extensive collection, including the composer's piano, spectacles, Cambridge cap and gown,
photographs, and sculptures. Several rooms are furnished as they were around 1900.
Kinsk‡ Palace (Pal�c Kinsk‡ch):
Staromestsk� n�mest�, Praha 1.
02/2481 0758.
Tues-Sun 10am-6pm.
Admission charged.
Metro: Line A to Staromestsk�.
The rococo Kinsk‡ Palace houses graphic works from the National Gallery collection,
including pieces by Georges Braque, Andr� Derain, and other modern masters. Pablo
Picasso's 1907 Self-Portrait is here and has virtually been adopted as the National
Gallery's logo. Good-quality international exhibits have included Max Ernst and Rembrandt
retrospectives, as well as shows on functional arts and crafts.
Loreto Palace (Loreta):
Loret�nsk� n�m. 7, Praha 1.
02/2051-6740
Tues-Sun 9am-12:15pm and 1-4:30pm.
Admission charged.
Tram: 22 from Malostransk�.
Loreto Palace was named after the town of Loreto, Italy, where the dwelling of the Virgin
Mary was said to have been brought by angels from Palestine in the 13th century. After the
Roman Catholics defeated the Protestant Bohemians in 1620, the Loreto cult was chosen as
the device for a re-Catholicization of Bohemia. The Loreto legend holds that a cottage in
which the Virgin Mary lived had been miraculously transferred from Nazareth to Loreto, an
Italian city near Ancona. The Loreto Palace is thought to be an imitation of this cottage,
and more than 50 copies have been constructed throughout the Czech lands. The Loreto's
facade is decorated with 18th-century statues of the four writers of the Gospel--Matthew,
Mark, Luke, and John--along with a lone female, St. Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary.
Mu[ao]stek Metro Station:
The street follows the line of the old fortifications all the way down to the Gothic
Powder Tower at n�me[av]st� Republiky.
V�clavsk� n�me[av]st�, Praha 1.
Metro: Line A or B.
It's not the metro station itself, which is hardly 20 years old, that warrants an entry
here. Descending Mu[ao]stek's lower escalators, the illuminated stone remains of what was
once a bridge that connected the fortifications of Prague's Old and New Towns can be seen.
Museum of the City of Prague (Muzeum hlavn�ho me[av]sta Prahy):
The museum is 1 block north of the Florenc metro station.
Na por[av]�c[av]� 52, Praha 8.
02/2481 6772
Tues-Sun 9am-6pm, Thurs 9am-8pm.
Admission Charged
This delightfully upbeat museum encompasses Prague's illustrious past.
Permanent exhibition: Ancient Prague - the history of the city and its inhabitants from
prehistoric times to 1620. Prague between the Middle and New Ages. Langweil�s model of
Prague created during 1826 - 1837 - a unique three dimensional representation of the city
made of paper and wood.
Alfons Mucha Museum (Muzeum A. Muchy):
Pansk� 7, Praha 1. Phone 02/628 4162 E-mail museum@mucha.cz.
Daily 10am-6pm
Metro: Mustek
Admission charged.
This museum opened in early 1998 near Wenceslas Square to honor the art nouveau master,
Alphonse (Alfons in Czech) Mucha. Though the Moravian born turn of the 20th century master
spent most of his creative years in Paris drawing luminaries like actress Sarah Bernhardt,
Mucha's influence can still be seen throughout his home country. The new museum, around
the corner from the Palace Hotel, combines examples of his graphic works, posters, and
paintings and highlights his influence in jewelry, fashion, and advertising.
Petr[av]�n Tower (Rozhledna):
Atop Petr[av]�n Hill, Praha 1.
Apr-Oct, daily 9:30am-8pm; Nov-Mar, Sat-Sun only 9:30am-5pm.
Admission charged.
Tram: 12 or 22 to �jezd, then ride the funicular to the top.
A one-fifth scale copy of Paris's Eiffel Tower, Prague's Petr[av]�n Tower was constructed
out of recycled railway track for the 1891 Prague Exhibition. It functioned as the city's
primary telecommunications tower until the Emir Hoffman tower opened. Today the Eiffel
replica exists solely as a tourist attraction. Those who climb the 195 feet to the top are
treated to striking views, particularly at night.
Powder Tower (Pras[av]n� br�na, literally Powder Gate):
N�me[av]st� Republiky, Praha 1.
Metro: Line B to N�me[av]st� Republiky
Once part of Star� Me[av]sto's system of fortifications, the Old Town Powder Tower (as
opposed to the Powder Tower in Prague Castle) was built in 1475 as one of the walled
city's major gateways. The 140-foot-tall tower marks the beginning of the Royal Route, the
traditional 3/4-mile-long route along which medieval Bohemian monarchs paraded on their
way to being crowned in Prague Castle's St. Vitus Cathedral. It also was the east gate to
the Old Town on the road to Kutn� Hora. The tower was acutely damaged during the Prussian
invasion of Prague in 1737. The present-day name derived from the 18th century, when the
development of Nov� Me[av]sto rendered this protective tower obsolete; it was then used
as a gunpowder storehouse.
Old Town Hall (Starome[av]stsk� radnice) and Astronomical Clock (orloj):
Starome[av]stsk� n�me[av]st�, Praha 1.
02/2422 8456
May-Oct, Mon 11am-6pm, Tues-Sun 9am-6pm; Nov-Apr, Mon 11am-5pm, Tues-Sun 9am-5pm.
Admission charged to Town Hall tower.
Metro: Line A to Starome[av]stsk�.
Crowds congregate in front of Old Town Hall's Astronomical Clock (orloj) to watch the
glockenspiel spectacle that occurs hourly from 8am to 8pm. Built in 1410, the clock has
long been an important symbol of Prague. According to legend, after the timepiece was
remodeled at the end of the 15th century, clock artist Master Hanus[av] was blinded by the
Municipal Council so that he couldn't repeat his fine work elsewhere. In retribution,
Hanus[av] threw himself into the clock mechanism and promptly died.
S[av]ternberk Palace Art Museum (of the National Gallery) (S[av]ternbersk‡
pal�c):
Hradc[av]ansk� n�m. 15, Praha 1.
02/2051 4599
Tues-Sun 10am-6pm.
Admission charged.
Metro: Line A to Malostransk� or Hradc[av]ansk�.
The jewel in the National Gallery crown (also known as the European Art Museum), the
gallery at S[av]ternberk Palace, adjacent to the main gate of Prague Castle, displays a
wide menu of European art throughout the ages. It features six centuries of everything
from oils to sculptures. The permanent collection is divided chronologically into
pre-19th-century art, 19th- and 20th-century art, and 20th-century French painting and
sculpture. Also included is a good selection of cubist paintings by Braque and Picasso,
among others. Temporary exhibits, such as Italian Renaissance bronzes, are always on show.
The Veletrz[av]n� Palace now houses most of the National Gallery's 20th-century art
collection. The rest of the national collection is divided between Kinsk‡ Palace on
Old Town Square and St. Agnes Convent near the river.
St. Agnes Convent (Kl�s[av]ter sv. Anez[av]ky C[av]esk�):
The convent is at the end of Anez[av]ka, off Has[av]talsk� n�me[av]st�.
U milosrdn‡ch 17, Praha 1.
02/2481 0628
Tues-Sun 10am-6pm.
Admission charged.
Metro: Line A to Starome[av]stsk�.
A complex of early Gothic buildings and churches dating from the 13th century, the
convent, tucked in a corner of Star� Me[av]sto, was once home to the Order of the Poor
Clares. It was established in 1234 by St. Agnes of Bohemia, sister of Wenceslas I. The
Blessed Agnes became St. Agnes when Pope John Paul II paid his first visit to Prague in
1990 for her canonization. The convent is now home to the National Gallery's collection of
19th- and 20th-century Czech art. In addition to rooms of contemplative oils, the museum
contains many bronze studies that preceded the casting of some of the city's greatest
public monuments, including the equestrian statue of St. Wenceslas atop the National
Theater. Downstairs, a Children's Workshop offers hands-on art activities, most of which
incorporate religious themes. The grounds surrounding the convent are inviting.
St. George's Convent at Prague Castle (Kl�ster sv. Jir�ho na Prazsk�m hrade):
Jirsk� n�m. 33.
02/5732 0536
Tues-Sun 10am-6pm.
Admission charged.
Metro: Line A to Malostransk� or Hradcansk�
Dedicated to displaying old Czech art, the castle convent is especially packed with Gothic
and baroque Bohemian iconography as well as portraits of patron saints. The most famous
among the unique collection of Czech Gothic panel paintings are those by the Master of the
Hohenfurth Altarpiece and the Master Theodoricus. The collections are arranged into
special exhibits usually revolving around a specific place, person, or time in history.
Strahov Monastery and Library (Strahovsk‡ kl�ster):
Strahovsk� n�dvor�, Praha 1.
02/2051 6671
Tues-Sun 9am-noon and 1-5pm.
Admission 40Kc adults, 20Kc students.
Tram: 22 from Malostransk� metro station.
The second oldest monastery in Prague, Strahov was founded high above Mal� Strana in 1143
by Vladislav II. It's still home to Premonstratensian monks, a scholarly order closely
related to the Jesuits, and their dormitories and refectory are off-limits. What draws
visitors are the monastery's ornate libraries, holding more than 125,000 volumes. Over the
centuries, the monks have assembled one of the world's best collections of philosophical
and theological texts, including illuminated manuscripts and first editions.
T‡n Church or the Church of Our Lady Before T‡n (Kostel pan� Marie pred
T‡nem):
Staromestsk� n�mest�, Praha 1, entrance from Stupartsk�.
Metro: Line A to Staromestsk�.
Huge double square towers with multiple black steeples make this church the most
distinctive standout of Old Town Square. The "T‡n" was the fence marking
the border of the central marketplace in the 13th century. The church's present
configuration was completed mostly in the 1380s, and it became the main church of the
Protestant Hussite movement in the 15th century (though the small Bethlehem Chapel in Old
Town where Hus preached is the cradle of the Czech Protestant reformation.
Veletrzn� Palace (National Gallery):
Veletrzn� at Dukelsk‡ch hrdinu 47, Praha 7.
02/2430 1111
Tues-Sun 10am-6pm (Thurs to 9pm)
Admission charged.
Metro: Line C to Vltavsk� or tram 17.
This 1925 constructionist palace, built for trade fairs, was remodeled and reopened in
December 1995 to hold the bulk of the National Gallery's collection of 20th-century works
by Czech and other European artists. .
Nightlife:
Akropolis
Doors open 7.30am. Tram #5, #9 or #26.
Kubel�kova 27, Z�zkov.
Decent live arts/gig venue in the backstreets of seedy Z�zkov
Agharta, Jazz Centrum,
Krakovsk� 5, Nov� Mesto.
Open until 1am.
Metro Muzeum
jazz club with a good mix of foreigners and locals.
Radost FX
Belehradsk� 120, Vinohrady.
Open until 6am. Metro I.P. Pavlova.
Known as the best dance club in Prague, with a great veggie caf� attached
Reduta
N�rodn� 20, Nov� Mesto
Open Mon-Fri until 2am, though the music stops at midnight.
Prague's oldest-established jazz club, serving up anything from traditional to modern
James Joyce Pub
Liliov� 10
02/2424-8793
is authentically Irish (it has Irish owners), with Guinness on tap and excellent
fish-and-chips.
Jo's Bar
Malostransk� n�m. 7
no phone
is a haven for younger expats, serving bottled beer, mixed drinks, and good Mexican food.
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