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Activities for Children in Prague
Prague has fun activities for children of all ages to participate in. Plus there are family friendly restaurants to eat in. Discover all in our Kids' Guide to Prague below. |
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Restaurants for children | |
Many restaurants welcome children, but choosing the right one can make a difference. Our guide to Family Friendly Restaurants covers the ones families will feel comfortable in, including our favourite, Vytopna, which has a miniature railway running around it.
While kids' menus are not very common, and can be limited even when they are available, waiters will be happy to suggest suitable dishes from the main menu, and may also offer half portions of adult meals.
Smoking is banned in restaurants and other enclosed public places in the Czech Republic. |
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Black Light Theatre is a wild mix of ballet, animated film, illusions, puppets and mime artists. The shows are highly visual, and even very young children will enjoy the dancing and the lights and sounds.
Puppet Theatre (Marionette Theatre) enjoys a long tradition in Prague. The shows feature life-size puppets dressed in period costume from the time of Mozart.
Black light theatre and puppet shows are suitable for children of all ages and nationalities.
Prague theatre guide / Prague theatre listings | |
Theatre in Prague |
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Prague sightseeing tours | |
Children enjoy a sightseeing tour so long as the guide is friendly and animated (which they usually are in such a beautiful city - Prague is their passion).
A Prague tour led by an expert local guide takes the pressure off adults. It hands the reins over to someone else for a few hours, to lead the exploration of the castles, towers, bridges and squares.
Always remember, you can read out information from your phone about the sights you find in Prague, but only a guide can bring the history and legends to life!
All Prague tours include Prague Castle in the itinerary. |
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For an Eiffel Tower look-alike, seek out the Petrin Tower (see below for more information on this).
For the full listings, see Prague Towers. |
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The Petrin Funicular Railway runs from the Lesser Town to the top of Petrin Hill. At the bottom of Petrin Hill is a children's playground, on the side of the hill is parkland and wooded areas, and at its summit are landscaped gardens and several attractions to visit.
The foremost attraction at the top is the Petrin Tower, which visitors can climb to enjoy terrific views.
There is also a hall of mirrors and an observatory. At the latter visitors can see exhibits on space and view the sun or planets through one of their telescopes. | |
Petrin Funicular Railway |
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| The ride on the Petrin Funicular Railway is an excursion in itself. Add in the nature, the views and the attractions, and Petrin makes a good trip at any time of the year. |
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Changing of the Guard | |
At the front gates of Prague Castle visitors can observe a Substitution of the Guard ceremony.
It takes place every day, every hour on the hour, from 07:00-20:00.
More elaborate is the Changing of the Guard ceremony which takes place every day at noon. This ceremony includes a fanfare and banner exchange.
There is no fee to watch these ceremonies, just walk up to the castle gates. |
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Prague Zoo is forgotten by some city guides, but it is well worth the trip if you have more than a couple of days in the city. The zoo is located a few kilometres from the city centre and is set around a river gorge, surrounded by rocky cliff faces and rolling meadows.
Among the animals to see are lions, tigers, elephants, giraffes, penguins and sea lions, as well as less common creatures like the Markhor and Ibex, which are housed in mountain enclosures.
A chairlift runs within the zoo. From the top, there are views over the outskirts of Prague - Prague Zoo. | |
Prague Zoo |
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Museum of Communism | |
The Museum of Communism is the foremost attraction of its kind in Prague, showing what life was like during the Soviet era. Some displays focus on the life of Czech children, and include a reconstructed school classroom.
Exhibits feature original artifacts from the communist era, including pictures, reading materials, propaganda of all kinds and military objects.
Visitors to the museum will gain a better understanding of communism: the propaganda and oppression, but also the positive aspects such as the sense of community. |
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Although small by international standards, Sea World (Morsky-Svet) is the largest of its kind in the Czech Republic, and makes for a pleasant excursion with young children. Allow a couple of hours including travel time.
A series of fish tanks, the largest of which contains 100,000 litres of seawater, house exotic fish from around the globe. Observe fish feeding on coral and see a Sand Shark, one of the most feared sea predators.
The marine life includes carpet sharks, rays with poison-carrying spines, and two metre moray eels - Sea World. | |
Sea World in Prague |
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Vysehrad Park and Church | |
Vysehrad makes for a pleasant excursion out of the hustle and bustle of Prague's city centre. Few areas of Prague are as quiet, green and peaceful. It is a good place for a long walk and a picnic.
Vysehrad Park covers a huge area, with different areas to explore. You can also admire fine views over the Vltava River and the surrounding countryside.
The two dominant spires in the park belong to the Church of SS Peter & Paul, which is open to visitors and has an impressive interior - Vysehrad Park. |
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There is only one bowling alley in the city centre. Bowling Centrum Millennium Plaza is located 5 minutes walk from both Wenceslas Square and the Old Town Square, and has 8 bowling lanes, pool tables, darts and table football.
Bowling is not so popular in the Czech Republic, so there is normally no need to book. Just go along and see what lanes are available - Bowling in Prague. | |
Bowling Alley in Prague |
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Fresh cakes at Prague cafés | |
Cakes, Ice-cream and Hot Chocolate
There are many cafés, particularly in the New Town, selling fresh cakes, sandwiches and ice-creams.
For a distinguished café, try Café Louvre which offers cakes, coffee, hot chocolate and elegant service in historic surroundings. It also has a large billiard hall attached to it, where everyone can play pool.
Read more in our guide to traditional cafés.
For a local café near Wenceslas Square, try Café Hajek, located in the shopping passage at Vodickova 41 (by the tram stop). It sells chlebíčky (Czech version of a sandwich), cakes, ice-cream and milkshakes. |
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| There is a seating inside Café Hajek, but on a nice day you may prefer to take your refreshments away and sit in the nearby Franciscan Garden. |
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Franciscan Garden & Playground
Franciscan Garden (Františkánská zahrada) is a well-tended public park near Wenceslas Square; it was built originally as a private garden for the Church of Our Lady of the Snows.
Pathways lead through landscaped gardens, comprising hedges, rose bushes, flowers and grass areas.
There is a children's playground at one end, designed for kids up to 13 years. The modern equipment installed includes a climbing frame, swing, see-saw, roundabout, slide and large sandpit.
There are plenty of park benches dotted around the garden too, where visitors can sit to eat a sandwich or ice-cream, or simply enjoy the serenity. | |
Franciscan Garden & Playground |
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Café Hajek (see above) can supply the refreshments. From Franciscan Garden, walk to the opposite end to the playground, exit the garden, and climb the steps to your right.
Open: 07:00-22:00 in summer, 08:00-19:00 in winter.
Directions from Wenceslas Square: walk through the shopping passage 'Palac U Styblu', between Julis Hotel and Vodičkova street. There is another entrance at Jungmannovo Square (Jungmannovo náměstí). |
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Playground at Charles Bridge | |
Other Playgrounds in Prague
Charles Bridge Playground is in the Lesser Town next to Kampa Park Restaurant, near Charles Bridge.
Open: 08:00-19:00 in summer, 08:00-17:00 in winter.
Directions from the Old Town: as you cross Charles Bridge to the Lesser Town, the playground is visible on your right. From the bridge, once over the river take the steps down on your left. Turn right, walk under Charles Bridge, then immediately right again. |
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| There is another playground in the New Town opposite the Main Train Station, which boats slides, swings, climbing towers, a sandpit and a zip line. |
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Open: 08:00-20:00.
Address: corner of Opletalova and Bolzanova streets.
Another children's playground in the New Town is located on Slavonic Island, a beautiful spot by the river, near the National Theatre.
Finally, there is a playground at the bottom of Petrin Hill, near the base of the Petrin Funicular Railway.
All five playgrounds we mention are in the centre of Prague. They have modern equipment with thick rubber mats or sand around the play areas, they are well maintained, and are free for the public to use. | |
Kids Playground at Petrin |
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Podoli Swimming Pool Complex | |
Prague's largest swimming centre, Podoli Swimming Pool Complex is located just outside the city centre, near the Vltava River by Vysehrad.
It is easily accessible by tram.
Podoli consists of one Olympic sized 50m indoor swimming pool, two outdoor swimming pools of 50m and 33m in length, plus a paddling pool for children.
Podoli makes an enjoyable visit at any time of the year, but on a fine summers day it is a lovely way to spend a few hours - Podoli Swimming Pool Complex. |
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Axa Swimming Pool is the finest in Prague's city centre.
An impressive 25m in length, this heated indoor pool is just 10 minutes walk from both the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square.
The Axa Swimming Pool is open to the general public seven days a week, but make a note of the opening hours. Other facilities include a sauna, solarium and massage tables - Axa Swimming Pool. | |
Axa Swimming Pool in Prague |
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Younger children in particular should enjoy a visit to the Hamleys Store. As well as thousands of fun toys and games to discover, there are a number of attractions to try out: a mirror maze, mini-racing cars to drive and a carousel to ride.
Prague is waiting for you. Go have fun! |
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