Prague’s charming Charles Bridge, castle and Astronomical Clock are the main attractions. Still, there are also numerous art galleries and museums which you can visit on a rainy or cold day when walking is not that great. Most museums can be viewed in an afternoon, and often less. It is also good to know that many museums have free admission one or two days a month. Many museums and galleries are closed on Monday. See our complete listing of Prague Museums.
The museums of the city provide an intriguing picture of Czech history and the history of the Jewish people of Prague. A further surprise for tourists not familiar with Czech culture is the Gothic and Baroque art of those periods and the art of the nineteenth century Czech National Revival.
Recommended museums:
Army Museum – Extensive collection of World War I and World War II uniforms, weapons, battle dioramas and other Czech and foreign military staff.
National Museum – the Czech Republic’s largest museum, dedicated to everything from the natural sciences to specialised social sciences, and its rich exhibitions have enough to keep practically every visitor interested.
The Prague Jewish Museum is one of Prague’s most popular attractions, as well as being one of the country’s most visited museums. Originally, it was established with the aim of preserving the valuable objects threatened by the demolition and subsequent reconstruction of the Jewish quarter. The basis of the museum’s collection is the liturgical objects from the demolished synagogues, and exhibitions are housed in the Maisel, Spanish, Klaus and Pinkas synagogues on the premises of the Old Jewish Cemetery.
The Technical Museum at Letná presents the history of technology. The focus of its exhibitions is on transport, chronology, photography and film, and mining.
Mozart Museum (Bertramka) – the Bertramka estate is famous thanks to W.A. Mozart, who stayed there with the famous soprano Dušková in October 1787 and in August and September 1791. Today the museum is located in the Bertramka villa, where concerts and social events are also held. The museum has on display documents, prints, engravings, manuscripts, letters, paintings, music notes, instruments and other mementoes of Mozart’s visit to Betramka and Prague.
Franz Kafka Museum – Long-term exhibition of Franz Kafka’s works (1883-1924).
Mucha Museum –The museum is dedicated to Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939), the Czech art nouveau artist.
Lapidarium – The Lapidarium houses many of the Czech Republic’s most valuable stone sculptures from the 11th to the 20th century.
Dvorak Museum – Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904). The museum focuses on collecting, maintaining and displaying documents concerning the maestro’s life and work, such as music autographs and correspondence.
Museum of Communism – Remember the tragic history of the Communist regime with a huge archive of photographs and other relics.
Czech Museum of Fine Arts – The museum houses temporary exhibitions of 20th-century and contemporary art.
Czech Museum of Music – displays a unique collection of musical instruments from grand pianos and harpsichords to trombones, tubas and hurdy-gurdies.
Tip: The most interesting legends and ghosts of old Prague await you in the museum Mysteriae Pragensis.
