Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic, is one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, Prague is the perfect destination for a family getaway with your little ones. On your holiday, you’ll be able to lose yourselves amongst the city’s iconic buildings, enjoy a selection of puppets and toys and visit some of Prague’s many towers. This city is a real delight for children, and offers adults the chance to feel like kids once again.
What to see and do when visiting Prague with children
Discovering Prague’s history, gastronomy and unique culture with your children can be a wonderful experience. This city offers a wealth of family-friendly activities that can be enjoyed over the course of a few days. If you’re wondering what to do when visiting Prague with your children, take note of the following recommendations.
The Toy Museum is found within Prague Castle. This is the world’s second largest toy museum, with seven rooms showcasing toys from a wide range of countries and eras. Children and adults alike will have a fantastic time looking at tin robots, porcelain dolls, train sets, model boats, teddy bears and a selection of modern toys. Before leaving the castle grounds, be sure to visit St George’s Basilica, the Old Royal Palace and the Imperial Stables in particular, which your children are bound to love.
Cable car and boat trips, guaranteed fun for all the family
Vyšehrad Castle sits atop one of Prague’s many hills, offering breathtaking views across the city. Within the castle grounds, you’ll find fantastic gardens that are perfect for running around and spending some time outdoors.
If you want to go to the Petřín Lookout Tower, you’ll need to take the cable car. The experience of going up a hill in a cable car, watching as the buildings get smaller and smaller beneath your feet, is always enjoyed by children. This part of Petřín Hill is also home to the mirror maze, where children will have a great time seeing how their reflection can be distorted in different ways.
Prague is an easily walkable city. You’ll find something fascinating along every street and in every square, and won’t be left short of monuments to visit. However, when visiting Prague with children, it’s also important to factor rest periods into your schedule. One great way of recharging your batteries is to take a boat trip along the Vltava , which is one of the longest rivers in Europe.
One of the city’s most recognisable towers, which you simply must find time to visit during your trip to Prague with children, is that of the Astronomical Clock. This is sure to be a highlight of your family trip to Prague. We recommend heading up the tower for a great view of the spectacular procession of the twelve apostles, which takes place every hour, on the hour.
Have fun with Lego, puppets and music
If there’s one place worth visiting during your family holiday to Prague, it’s the Lego Museum. This museum, dedicated to the small blocks that can be combined to build anything you can think of, is a great family-friendly attraction. Spanning over 340 square metres, this Lego paradise showcases 2,500 original models and reproductions of iconic monuments from all over the globe. It also contains sections dedicated to Harry Potter, Indiana Jones and Star Wars.
Prague is also referred to as the puppet capital of the world. Part of the city’s magic is found in the National Marionette Theatre. If you’re planning on visiting Prague with children, this is a great opportunity to learn about the role of puppets in the city. Be sure to take a tour of the theatre, where you’ll get the chance to become personally acquainted with some of the most iconic marionettes that perform at the venue.
The city of Prague will always be closely associated to one of human history’s most talented musicians, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Another fun activity for your family holiday to Prague could be a Mozart walking tour around the city. Starting from the House of the Three Golden Lions, where the famous composer lived during his second stay in Prague, the tour will take you to the National Theatre, where Mozart personally conducted the première of one of his most famous operas, Don Giovanni.
When travelling to any city with children, zoos are always a good back up plan. Prague is home to one of the best zoos in Europe, with many areas designed specifically with children in mind. One such example is the farm area, where your kids will have the chance to touch and feed certain animals. This is another idea of a fun activity in Prague that can be enjoyed by the whole family.
Spending Christmas in Prague with your children
If you already felt that Prague was a fairy-tale city, you should see it at Christmas. Its illuminated streets, decorated shop fronts and buzzing Christmas markets give it a very special atmosphere. It is a particularly good place to visit if you’re travelling with children. Your whole family will love the festive atmosphere, street food, outdoor markets, twinkling lights and Christmas trees.
Be sure to take your children to the nativity scene in the Old Town Square, and take photos next to the enormous Christmas tree decorated with over 100,000 light bulbs. This is the location of the city’s largest Christmas market. You should also make time in your schedule to admire the illuminated streets from one of the city’s many towers, and to cross Charles Bridge. To wrap up your family trip to Prague, we recommend attending one of its Christmas concerts. While the most famous venue is the Prague State Opera House, many performances are also held in churches—and some are even held in the street! These magical experiences will make you forget about the wintery weather.
