Prague for Kids
If you plan to come to Prague with children, many places allow them to enjoy the great architecture or walk-in Old Prague Town just as much as you can. The Czech attitude to kids is generally very positive. Here are some tips.
- Rent a rowing boat on the Vltava river
- Stromovka Park and Zoo
- Petřín Hill (have a picnic lunch, enjoy the wonderful views, the Mirror Maze and botanic
- gardens, and see the mini Eiffel tower)
- Children’s theatre (Puppet Show)
- Museum of miniature (displaying miracles of miniatures)
- Toy Museum
- Museum of Music (display of musical instruments, particularly ancient ones)
- National Technical Museum (old trains, planes, etc )
- Prague Planetarium
- Prague parks
- Movies/Cinema
- SeaWorld
- Dětský Ostrov (enclosed playground on a small island just off the Lesser Town side of the Vltava river).
Puppet Show Tip
There is a puppet theatre with daily shows for children, but all performances are in Czech – Puppet Theatre Jiskra, Klapkova 26, Prague 8 (take tram number 10, 14, 17, 24, or 5 and get off at Ke Stírce). There is also the famous Špejbl and Hurvínek Theatre – see more at www.spejbl-hurvinek.cz
Other Theatres
- Don Giovanni Marionette Opera, Kinsky Palace, Old Town
- National Marionette Theatre, Žatecká 1, Josefov.
Pedal-Boating Tip
The Vltava river is the perfect place to spend an hour or two pedal boating with kids if the weather is nice. We had a great time pedalling under each bridge and exploring the river. You can rent pedal boats at Charles Bridge, Mánesův Bridge and Žofín Island (on the Old Town side, also called Slovanský Island).
Výstaviště Exhibition Grounds
The widespread Exhibition Grounds have a traditional fun-fair, the Seaworld aquarium, a swimming pool and a planetarium, which presents several shows daily. Location: Výstaviště, Holešovice.
Prague Zoo
For nature and animals lovers, Prague Zoo is the perfect place to visit and elected as the 7th best zoo in the world by Forbes magazine. The zoo is open all year round and is located in the picturesque environment of the Troja Basin. Its diverse terrain makes it possible to walk through both shady groves and open, grassy plains. There is an ever-growing number of exhibition lots that blend with the natural landscape. To make your trip to the zoo more pleasant, a popular series of informative feedings and training exercises have been prepared for weekends, along with many other interesting programmes. There is also a small chair lift that will, no doubt, be entertaining for children. We must not forget to mention that the zoo has been renovated since the floods of 2002.
Forbes Traveller Magazine listed Prague Zoo among the world’s best zoos.
Open: daily March 9 am-5 pm; April, May, September and October 9 am-6 pm; June, July and August 9 am-7 pm; November, December, January and February 9 am-.4 pm.
Getting there: take a bus no. 112 from the underground station of Nádraží Holešovice (line C); get off at Zoologická zahrada, last stop
Address: U Trojskeho zamku 3/120, Prague 7.
Tip: From Prague Zoo it is only a short walk to the botanical gardens in Troja, where in 2004 the unique new tropical greenhouse Fata Morgana was opened.
Karel Zeman Museum
Czech king of animation, director, and special effects innovator Karel Zeman influenced filmmakers and technicians, from George Lucas and Steven Spielberg to Tim Burton and Terry Gilliam. He propelled Baron Munchausen through the skies on a cannonball. He animated Jules Verne’s novel »20,000 Leagues Under the Sea« for the silver screen. How he managed it can be seen in the museum studio. Exhibits detail the special effects techniques used in individual movies, each accompanied by a video showcasing their use.
Address: Lesser Quarter, Saská 3; www.muzeumkarlazemana.cz, Open: 10 am-5 pm; Admission 200 CZK, children less than one metre tall go free.
Little Train Rides
Discover Prague in Disneyland fashion on a little children’s-style train, passing through the Jewish quarter, across the Vltava to the Lesser Quarter and back again. It departs from Old Town Square in high season April-Oct between 9 am-6 pm on the hour. The ride lasts for about 50 minutes. Tickets cost 180 CZK, and children up to the age of 12 rides for free.
Adventure Playground
The area near Prague’s main railway station is slowly being reclaimed from nefarious characters, with designer hotels and this superb enclosed kids’ playground with activities for kids big and small.
Open: 08:00 – 19:00; Location: Vrchlického sady, Prague 1
AquaPalace
This indoor water park is located just about 10 minutes drive from Prague-Opatov by public transport. Touted as ‘the largest water park in central Europe’, the facility features saunas, a spa complex, and a fitness centre, along with a variety of pools and nine water slides. It’s an attractive destination for families looking for some summer fun. Directions: Bus from Prague-Opatov to Čestlice; Distance: 8 km south of Prague.
Transport
- Until they reach the age of 6, children are allowed to ride for free on public transport.
- Drivers of trams and buses must wait for you to board if you have waved them down and been acknowledged by the driver.
- When in a car, children up to 150cm and 36kg must be in a car seat. This is a legal requirement and even applies to children when in taxis.
- On public transport, buggies are free – as long as a child is sitting in them! If there isn’t a child in the buggy, though, you’ll need to buy an oversized-item ticket, which costs 16 CZK (25 CZK on trains).
- Until they reach the age of 6, children are allowed to ride for free on public transport.
- Drivers of trams and buses must wait for you to board if you have waved them down and been acknowledged by the driver.
- When in a car, children up to 150cm and 36kg must be in a car seat. This is a legal requirement and even applies to children when in taxis.
- On public transport, buggies are free – as long as there is a child sitting in them! If there isn’t a child in the buggy, though, you’ll need to buy an oversized-item ticket, which costs 16 CZK (25 CZK on trains).
Book your transfer from Prague Airport online, and we will arrange baby seats for you free of charge.
Restaurant Tip: Only a few restaurants in Prague offer facilities for children or even children’s menus, though many will provide half-portions.
