Prague with Kids: Fun Things to Do in Prague as a Family
Prague is one of those cities that looks like it was designed for adults. Medieval streets, enormous churches, castles, historic buildings and enough beautiful architecture to make you feel slightly guilty if you aren’t stopping every five minutes to admire it.
But travelling to Prague with a child is actually a lot more fun than you might expect.
We visited Prague with our 9-year-old son, and rather than spending the whole trip dragging him from one historic building to another, we mixed the big sights with some genuinely fun experiences.
Prague is a particularly good destination for families who travel as part of their children’s education. You can turn a walk through the Old Town into a history lesson, explore medieval science and alchemy, learn about astronomy from the famous clock, and then follow it all up with something much less educational but considerably more exciting.
Here are our favourite things to do in Prague with kids, including the places we actually visited.
Best things to do in Prague with kids
1. See the Astronomical Clock
You can’t visit Prague for the first time without seeing the Astronomical Clock.
The Prague Astronomical Clock, or Orloj, is attached to the Old Town Hall in Old Town Square. The clock dates back to 1410 and is one of Prague’s most recognisable landmarks. It is also the oldest astronomical clock in the world that is still functioning.
For adults, it’s a fascinating piece of medieval engineering. For children, the main attraction is usually waiting for the little figures to appear when the clock strikes the hour. There is a surprising amount going on, including astronomical information, the calendar and moving figures.
The Old Town Hall itself is also worth exploring if your child is interested in how things work. Prague has even created a digital 3D version of the clock that allows visitors to see inside its mechanism. This tour takes you to the Town Hall and underground, right underneath the clock.
Best for: Ages 6+
Allow: Around 30 minutes for the clock and square, longer if visiting the Old Town Hall.
Family tip: Old Town Square can get extremely busy. If your child isn’t particularly interested in the clock, don’t feel that you need to spend ages waiting for the hourly show.
2. Get wonderfully confused at the Museum of Fantastic Illusions
This was one of the places we particularly enjoyed with our son.
The Museum of Fantastic Illusions is exactly the sort of museum that works well when travelling with a child who doesn’t necessarily want to read pages of information about paintings and historical objects.
Instead, you become part of the exhibits.
There are optical illusions, rooms that make you look as though you’re walking on the ceiling, distorted mirrors and plenty of opportunities to take ridiculous photographs. The museum also plays around with famous historical figures and images, including Charlie Chaplin, Albert Einstein and the Mona Lisa. It’s interactive, silly and very easy for children to understand. Sometimes you just want a museum where your child can touch things, experiment and laugh.
The museum is centrally located on Vodičkova Street, close to Můstek metro station, so it’s also easy to fit into a day of sightseeing. It is currently open daily from 9am to 9pm.
Price: Around 349 CZK for adults and 249 CZK for children, students and seniors. Family tickets are available from 799 CZK (1 adult + up to 2 children) or 899 CZK (2 adults + up to 2 children).
Best for: Ages 5-12, although older kids and adults will enjoy it too.
Allow: About 1 hour.
Worldschooling idea: Talk about how our brains interpret visual information and why an image can look completely different depending on perspective.
3. Explore the Speculum Alchemiae
If your child likes Harry Potter, magic, mysterious laboratories or anything involving potions, don’t skip Speculum Alchemiae.
This small museum is dedicated to alchemy and is located in one of Prague’s historic buildings. The laboratories were discovered during renovations, and visitors can see the old alchemical workshop, laboratory and mysterious underground spaces.
The museum tells the story of a time when what we now separate into “science” and “magic” were much more closely connected.
Alchemists were searching for things such as the Philosopher’s Stone and the elixir of eternal youth, while also experimenting with substances and trying to understand the natural world.
For a child, that makes this much more interesting than simply looking at old objects behind glass.
The tour itself is quite short, around 30 minutes, which is another advantage when travelling with children. Tours run every half hour.
Price: Around 200 CZK for adults, 150 CZK for students and seniors, and 70 CZK for children. Family tickets (2 adults + 2 children under 15) are available for around 500 CZK.
Best for: Ages 7+
Allow: About 30-45 minutes.
Family tip: This is a good attraction to pair with another Old Town activity rather than planning your entire afternoon around it.
4. Visit the Steel Art Museum
The Steel Art Museum was another good choice for our 9-year-old.
The museum is filled with huge sculptures made from recycled steel, many inspired by superheroes, films, cars and popular culture. There are more than 120 steel sculptures across the exhibition.
The fun part is that this isn’t a museum where you’re expected to stand two metres away from everything and whisper. You can interact with many of the sculptures, sit in some of the cars and get close to the artwork.
But what made it particularly good was the Merkur building activity. Merkur is a Czech construction toy system made from metal pieces, nuts and bolts. Kids can use the pieces to build their own creations, which gives the visit a much more hands-on element. Our son particularly enjoyed being able to make something himself rather than just looking at what someone else had created.
Price: Online tickets are around €12 for adults and €7 for children under 17. On-site prices are a little higher, around €15 for adults, €13 for students and €9 for children aged 3-15. Children under 3 go free.
Best for: Ages 5-12
Allow: 1-2 hours.
Worldschooling connection: Engineering, design, materials, recycling, sculpture and mechanical construction all come into this one.
5. Try an escape room at MindMaze
Admittedly, our family is obsessed with Escape rooms. We have done probably over 15 of them in different parts of the world. However, the Escape room at MindMaze was one of the best we’ve ever played, incredibly well put together and thought through. MindMaze offers a range of themed escape games in Prague. Their family games are designed for children from around age six, and the company specifically says its family-friendly rooms don’t contain horror elements or physically demanding tasks. Games are available in English or Czech.
We did their Alchemy themed room, which tied nicely with Speculum Alchemiae we did earlier that day. Our 9-year-old thoroughly enjoyed this room, and found the puzzles neither too hard, nor too easy. What we also loved about this company, is that they didn’t cut us off at exactly an hour, but gave us extra time to solve all the clues and escape, even though we went about 15 minutes above the hour.
The nice thing about an escape room is that it doesn’t matter who solves the puzzle first. You can divide up the clues, look for patterns and work out what different objects are for. It’s basically problem-solving disguised as entertainment.
Price: Their family-friendly Alchemist’s Legacy room (the one we played) costs from 1990 CZK for 2 people off-peak, rising to 2290 CZK for 3-5 people. Peak times (evenings and weekends) run a little higher, from 2190 to 2490 CZK.
Best for: Ages 6+
Allow: Around 1.5 hours including the briefing and game.
Family tip: Check the specific room before booking, as difficulty levels and themes vary.
6. Spend some time at LEVELS Prague
If your child likes gaming, LEVELS Prague is an easy win.
It’s a huge entertainment complex at the Máj Národní building, with more than 200 arcade games, as well as activities including mini golf, bumper cars, bowling, billiards, darts, karaoke and gaming simulators.
This is definitely not a traditional Prague sightseeing experience. And that’s precisely why it can be useful. After several hours of churches, castles and cobblestones, children sometimes need to do something completely different.
For us, LEVELS was the sort of place where our son could simply have fun for a while (especially because it was +37 C degrees outside!)
Price: Entry itself is free. You then either buy game credits from 300 CZK, or get a timed pass for unlimited arcade play: on weekdays that’s 300 CZK for 1 hour, 500 CZK for 2 hours or 700 CZK for 3 hours per person (weekend prices are a little higher, from 400 CZK). Extra attractions like bowling, mini golf and simulators run on credits rather than the time card.
Best for: School-age children and teenagers
Allow: 1-3 hours, depending on how easily you can persuade your child to leave.
Parent warning: You may need to negotiate an exit strategy.
7. Have a medieval dinner at U Krále Brabantského
For something completely different, book an evening at U Krále Brabantského, a medieval tavern in Malá Strana.
The tavern dates back to 1375 and is located directly below Prague Castle. Its evening medieval programme includes live music, dancers, jugglers, swordsmen, a fakir and a fire show. The food is served in a deliberately old-fashioned style, including medieval dishes eaten with your hands.
Is it touristy?
Absolutely.
But honestly, sometimes that’s okay.
Our 9-year-old absolutely loved the fire show, and as if that wasn’t enough, he also got to hold a python. Meanwhile, my husband, whose birthday we were celebrating, had his tooth “removed” by 15th-century doctors and ended up covered in fake blood. Not quite the birthday treatment he was expecting!
The medieval show currently runs Tuesday to Sunday evenings from 7pm to 10pm, and advance reservations are recommended. They also recommend to have cash for payment as sometimes the card machine doesn’t work in the basement. However, we were able to pay by card without any problem.
Price: The show alone costs from 295 CZK per person. If you want dinner included, package deals with food, drink and the full show run from around 1490 CZK up to 2390 CZK per person, depending on how much you want included.
Best for: Ages 6+
Allow: Around 3 hours.
Worldschooling connection: Medieval food, entertainment, social class, weapons, music and daily life all make good jumping-off points for a history lesson.
Other Prague attractions worth considering with kids
Here are some other places to explore in Prague with kids (and without).
Prague Castle
Prague Castle is one of those places where you can easily spend half a day without realising it. Perched above the Malá Strana district, the castle complex has been at the heart of Czech history for more than 1,000 years. The first church was built here in the 9th century, and the site gradually grew into the enormous complex you see today. It has been the seat of Czech kings, Holy Roman Emperors and, today, the President of the Czech Republic.
The castle isn’t actually one single building. It’s a whole collection of palaces, churches, courtyards and historic streets, so there is plenty to explore.
The highlight for most visitors is St. Vitus Cathedral, the huge Gothic cathedral that dominates the Prague skyline. Inside, you’ll find impressive stained-glass windows, chapels and the tombs of important Czech rulers. It’s also home to the Chapel of St Wenceslas, dedicated to the patron saint of the Czech lands.
Another favourite is Golden Lane, a tiny, colourful street of historic houses built into the castle walls. The houses were originally occupied by castle workers and craftsmen, and later became associated with alchemists and Rudolf II’s fascination with the occult and sciences. One of the houses is also linked to writer Franz Kafka, who lived there briefly with his sister.
You can also visit the Old Royal Palace, where you can see the impressive Vladislav Hall, once used for royal ceremonies, banquets and even medieval tournaments. The St. George’s Basilica is another interesting stop and is one of the oldest surviving churches within the castle complex.
If your child likes history, don’t rush through the castle without looking at the details. There are crowns, armour, tombs, medieval architecture and plenty of stories about kings, emperors and political intrigue. It’s a surprisingly good place for a bit of history worldschooling.
Practical information
You can enter the grounds of Prague Castle for free, but you’ll need a ticket if you want to visit the historic buildings. The Main Circuit, which is probably the one most families will want, includes St. Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, St. George’s Basilica and Golden Lane. It currently costs 450 CZK per adult, 300 CZK for children aged 6-16, or 950 CZK for a family ticket covering up to two adults and five children. Children under six enter free.
There is also a Permanent Exhibitions ticket for 300 CZK per adult, 200 CZK for children aged 6-16 and 700 CZK for a family. This includes The Story of Prague Castle, the Castle Guard Exhibition, the Prague Castle Picture Gallery and Rosenberg Palace.
The castle complex is open from 6am to 10pm, but the historic buildings have shorter opening hours. During the summer season, the main visitor buildings are generally open from 9am to 5pm, with winter opening hours until 4pm. It’s worth checking the official website before you go because individual buildings can occasionally close for ceremonies or other events.
One useful thing about the Prague Castle tickets is that they’re valid for two days, so you don’t have to rush through everything in one visit.
Price: For two adults and our 9-year-old, the 950 CZK family ticket for the Main Circuit would cover all three of us. That’s considerably better value than buying three individual tickets.
Best for: Ages 6+, particularly children interested in castles, history and stories about kings and knights.
Charles Bridge and the Charles Bridge Museum
Walking across Charles Bridge is one of those Prague experiences that you’ll probably do whether you planned to or not. The 14th-century bridge crosses the Vltava River and connects the Old Town with Malá Strana. It’s lined with 30 statues and is one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks.
For kids, you can make the walk a little more interesting by turning it into a mini scavenger hunt. How many statues can they spot? Which ones have animals? Can they find the statue with the dog? It gives them something to look for rather than simply being told to admire another historic building!
If you want to learn more about the bridge itself, the Charles Bridge Museum is located right beside the Old Town end of the bridge. The museum explains the history and construction of the bridge, including the story of Charles IV, the bridge’s architect Petr Parléř and the medieval engineering involved in building it.
There are archaeological remains, architectural fragments and models showing how the bridge and surrounding area developed. One of the more interesting things for children is seeing how much work went into constructing a medieval bridge without the machinery and technology we have today.
The museum is fairly compact, so it’s a good option if you have an hour to spare rather than something that needs a whole afternoon. It can also be a useful addition to your visit if your child is interested in engineering, architecture or medieval history.
Price: Around 220 CZK for adults and 110 CZK concession (seniors 60+, visitors with disabilities, children under 15, students under 26). Combined tickets with a Prague Venice boat cruise are also available from 550 CZK.
Family tip: Charles Bridge gets extremely busy during the middle of the day. If you want to enjoy the bridge without being squeezed through a sea of tourists, go early in the morning. You can then visit the museum afterwards, before continuing into the Old Town.
Best for: Ages 6+, especially children interested in history, architecture or how things are built.
Petřín Hill and Petřín Tower
Petřín is a good option when you need a break from the city streets.
You can walk through the gardens and head towards Petřín Tower, which resembles a smaller version of the Eiffel Tower. The tower offers views over Prague, although climbing it with a child requires a little energy.
Prague City Tourism currently lists a family ticket for the tower for two adults and up to four children.
I’d combine this with some time outdoors rather than treating the tower as a standalone attraction.
Prices Information
Prices were checked in August 2026, but it’s always worth checking the attraction’s official website before visiting, particularly for family tickets and seasonal pricing.
Best museums in Prague for kids
One thing we particularly liked about Prague is that you don’t have to choose between “educational” and “fun”.
Some of the best family museums manage to do both.
Our picks would be:
- Museum of Fantastic Illusions, for visual tricks and hands-on fun
- Speculum Alchemiae, for medieval science and alchemy
- Steel Art Museum, for sculpture, engineering and construction
- National Technical Museum, especially for children interested in machines, transport and technology
- Museum of Bricks, if your child is LEGO obsessed
- National Museum, if you want a more traditional museum experience and your child is interested in history and science
For a 9-year-old, I’d avoid trying to squeeze several large museums into one day. One proper museum plus an interactive activity tends to work much better.
Best parks and playgrounds in Prague
Prague isn’t just about historic buildings.
Stromovka Park
Stromovka is one of the best places to let children run around after a morning of sightseeing.
It’s a huge former royal game reserve, covering around 95 hectares, with mature trees, open grassy areas, walking paths and several playgrounds. It dates back to the 13th century.
It’s particularly useful if you’re travelling in warmer weather and your child needs some space.
Take snacks, give yourself plenty of time and don’t worry too much about following an itinerary.
Letná Park
Letná is another good place for views and open space. It’s particularly useful if you’re walking around the northern side of the historic centre.
The city views are excellent, and it’s a good place for children to get some exercise without leaving central Prague.
Day trips from Prague with kids
If you’re staying in Prague for more than four or five days, you could consider a day trip.
Kutná Hora
Kutná Hora is one of the most popular day trips from Prague.
The historic town is famous for its medieval silver-mining history and the Sedlec Ossuary, often called the Bone Church because of its unusual interior decorated with human bones.
That last part is obviously dependent on your child’s tolerance for creepy things.
For a history-loving 9-year-old, though, it can be an interesting way to explore medieval Europe beyond Prague.
Karlštejn Castle
Karlštejn Castle makes another good family day trip if your child likes castles.
It’s close enough to Prague to make it practical without turning your day into a long-distance expedition.
The castle, surrounding countryside and train journey can make the trip feel like an adventure rather than simply another museum visit.
Where to eat with kids in Prague
Prague is generally an easy city for family dining.
You don’t need to eat in restaurants specifically labelled “family friendly” to find somewhere suitable for children.
For traditional Czech food, look for dishes such as:
What Czech food should kids try?
Svíčková is beef served with a creamy vegetable sauce, usually accompanied by bread dumplings.
Guláš is a rich meat stew, generally served with dumplings.
Smažený sýr, or fried cheese, is exactly what it sounds like and is usually a safe bet for children who aren’t feeling adventurous.
Bramboráky are Czech potato pancakes.
Trdelník, or chimney cake which you’ll see everywhere in Prague. It’s a sweet dough wrapped around a cylinder, grilled until golden, then coated in sugar and cinnamon. You’ll find them topped with everything from nuts to ice cream. They’re very much a tourist favourite rather than a uniquely Czech tradition, but that doesn’t stop them from being a fun holiday treat.
And then there are koláče, traditional Czech pastries that make a good snack if you need more sugar.
One thing we found useful in Prague was not trying to make every meal a “traditional Czech food experience”. Sometimes the best family holiday strategy is simply finding somewhere everyone will eat.
Where to stay in Prague with kids
For a family trip, I would prioritise location over having a fancy hotel.
Staying somewhere within easy walking distance of the Old Town, Malá Strana or the New Town makes life considerably easier because you can return to your accommodation during the day when everyone needs a break.
An apartment can also work particularly well for families, especially if you’re staying for several nights. Having a kitchen, separate sleeping space and somewhere to keep snacks can make a surprisingly big difference.
If you are travelling with a younger child, check the stairs and lift situation before booking. Prague has plenty of beautiful historic buildings, but “charming historic building” and “easy to navigate with a tired child and suitcase” are not always the same thing.
Getting around Prague with kids
Prague is very easy to get around without a car.
The metro, trams and buses cover most areas you’ll want to visit, and the trams are often an attraction in themselves for children.
One particularly useful family perk is that children under 14 can use Prague public transport for free, although you may need proof of age.
For the historic centre, walking is often the easiest option.
Just remember that Prague has a lot of cobblestones.
Comfortable shoes are not optional. If you want to see what we personally pack for city breaks like this one, our family travel gear guide covers the shoes, bags and other bits that have survived 70+ countries with us.
A good approach is to combine walking with public transport rather than trying to walk everywhere. Prague looks compact on a map, but a full day of sightseeing can rack up a surprising number of steps.
Practical tips for visiting Prague with kids
Don’t over-plan
Prague has enough attractions to fill a week, but you don’t need to see all of them.
For us, mixing historical sights with activities such as illusions, escape rooms and gaming made the trip much more enjoyable.
Book popular experiences ahead
For things like escape rooms and the medieval dinner, book ahead rather than assuming you’ll be able to walk in.
Have a rainy-day plan
Prague can be fantastic in bad weather because there are so many indoor attractions.
Our list of museums and interactive activities means you can easily swap a park day for a museum day if the weather changes.
Don’t underestimate the hills
Some areas, particularly around Prague Castle and Malá Strana, involve steep streets and lots of stairs.
Plan accordingly.
Take breaks
This sounds obvious, but it’s one of the easiest things to forget when visiting a city as beautiful as Prague.
You don’t need to keep sightseeing just because you have another attraction on your list.
Find a café, get a cake and let the child stare at a screen for 20 minutes if necessary.
Your holiday will survive.
Is Prague safe for families?
Prague is generally a comfortable city for family travel, and we found it easy to get around with our son.
As with any popular European city, the biggest practical concern in crowded tourist areas is petty theft and pickpocketing.
Take particular care around Old Town Square, Charles Bridge, public transport and other busy areas.
We also found that Prague is straightforward to navigate, with plenty of public transport and pedestrian areas.
As always, keep an eye on children around busy roads, tram tracks and crowded tourist areas.
Prague with kids: a worldschooling perspective
One of the things we like about travelling with our son is that we don’t necessarily separate “school” from the trip.
Prague gives you plenty of opportunities to learn without sitting down with a workbook.
You can learn about:
History: Medieval Prague, the Holy Roman Empire, the Habsburgs and the history of Czechoslovakia.
Science: Astronomy at the Astronomical Clock and chemistry and early science at Speculum Alchemiae.
Engineering: The mechanisms of the astronomical clock and building with Merkur at the Steel Art Museum.
Art: Gothic architecture, statues, sculpture and the city’s enormous collection of historic buildings.
Problem solving: Escape rooms at MindMaze.
Physics and perception: Optical illusions at the Museum of Fantastic Illusions.
Geography: The Vltava River, the Czech Republic and Central Europe’s position between Germany, Austria, Poland and Slovakia.
This is one of the reasons Prague worked so well for us as a travelling family. There was always something we could turn into a conversation or learning opportunity, without making it feel like school. If you want to build more of this into your own trips, our guide to the worldschooling apps and websites we actually use and our ultimate worldschooling resources guide are good places to start.
Final thoughts: Is Prague good for families?
Yes, absolutely.
Prague is a particularly good destination for families who want a city break that mixes history with genuinely entertaining activities.
The famous sights are impressive, but what made Prague work for us was being able to balance them with things our 9-year-old actually wanted to do.
One minute you’re standing in front of a medieval astronomical clock. The next you’re investigating an alchemist’s laboratory, building something out of Merkur, trying to escape a room or watching a medieval fire show.
That combination is what we’d recommend.
Prague is probably best suited to families with school-age children who enjoy a mixture of history, unusual museums, puzzles, games and exploring on foot. Younger children can certainly enjoy it too, but you’ll probably want to build more playground and park time into your itinerary.
And if you’re worldschooling, Prague is even better. It’s the kind of place where you can spend the morning learning about medieval science, the afternoon exploring engineering and the evening eating dinner in a medieval tavern.
If Prague has whetted your appetite for other unusual European family city breaks, take a look at our guides to Kraków with kids, Copenhagen with kids and Chișinău with kids.