With kids · Prague · Czechia
Prague with kids
Family-tested sights, a calm base and the practical details that make travelling with children easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bobby-John de Bot, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Prague is a fairy-tale city for children, with a real castle, a clock with moving figures, paddle boats, a mirror maze and one of Europe's best zoos. Cobbles and stairs make strollers tiring, and the busiest streets are crowded in summer. Top picks: Prague Castle, Old Town Hall and Astronomical Clock and Petřín Hill and Lookout Tower. Families usually base themselves in Old Town.
Key facts
- Family picks
- 6
- Best area for families
- Old Town
- Rainy-day options
- 0
- Busiest months
- June–August
Best things to do with kids
Castle · Hradčany
1.Prague Castle
Founded in the 9th century and listed by Guinness World Records as the largest ancient castle complex, Prague Castle is a walled hilltop city of courtyards, palaces and churches. A circuit ticket covers St Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace with its vaulted Vladislav Hall, St George's Basilica and Golden Lane, a row of tiny houses where Franz Kafka once wrote.
Arrive at opening or late afternoon; the courtyards are free to walk, and the noon changing of the guard in the first courtyard draws big crowds.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Buying the circuit ticket online saves queuing at the ticket offices; security checks at the gates can still be slow in summer.
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Architecture
- Kids
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Historic site · Old Town
2.Old Town Hall and Astronomical Clock
Installed in 1410, the Astronomical Clock on the Old Town Hall is the oldest of its kind still working. Each hour during the day the twelve Apostles parade past its windows while a skeleton rings a bell. Inside the hall, a lift and ramp climb the tower for one of the best views over the Old Town's roofs.
The hourly show is brief and the crowd is thick with pickpockets; the tower view is the better experience.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Kids
Park · Malá Strana
3.Petřín Hill and Lookout Tower
Orchards, woods and a rose garden cover this hill above Malá Strana. On top stands the Petřín Lookout Tower, built in 1891 as a small cousin of the Eiffel Tower, whose 299 steps lead to a panorama over the whole city; beside it is a mirror maze popular with children.
Walk up through the orchards from Malá Strana or from Strahov Monastery, which is almost level with the top.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
Experience · Vltava
4.Vltava boat or paddle boat
Seeing Prague from the river shows the castle, Charles Bridge and the embankments from a new angle. Sightseeing cruises leave from the embankments, while paddle boats and rowing boats can be rented from Slovanský ostrov (Slavic Island) near the National Theatre.
A paddle boat at sunset is cheaper and more fun than many cruises; some come shaped like swans or vintage cars.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Couples
- Views
- Outdoors
Zoo · Troja
5.Prague Zoo
Set on a terraced hillside by the Vltava in Troja, Prague Zoo is regularly ranked among the best in Europe. Highlights include the Indonesian Jungle pavilion, the gorillas and a chairlift up the slope.
Take the bus from Nádraží Holešovice, and in summer return by river boat to the centre.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
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Viewpoint · Žižkov
6.Žižkov Television Tower
Completed in 1992, this 216-metre concrete tower was once voted one of the ugliest buildings in the world, and David Černý's giant babies now appear to crawl up its legs. An observation deck gives a 360-degree view over Prague, and there is a café and restaurant.
Go on a clear day and follow it with a beer in one of Žižkov's old pubs.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Kids
- Architecture
Where families should stay
$$$ · Best for first-timers, culture and families
Old Town
Staré Město centres on the Old Town Square, with the Týn Church, the Old Town Hall and its Astronomical Clock, and a web of medieval lanes running to Charles Bridge. The Jewish Quarter (Josefov) and the elegant Pařížská boulevard are on its northern edge, and the Municipal House and Powder Tower on its eastern side.
- Good
- Walk to almost every sight; Huge choice of restaurants and bars; Beautiful at night
- Watch out
- Very crowded by day; Touristy restaurants and inflated prices; Late-night noise from bars
- Nearby
- Old Town Square, Charles Bridge, Jewish Quarter, Municipal House
Family travel tips
- Young children travel free on Prague public transport; check the current age limits for older children.
- Many attractions offer family tickets that cost less than separate entries.
- A baby carrier is easier than a stroller on cobbles, steps and the climb to the castle.
- Czech pubs welcome families at lunchtime, and most have simple dishes such as fried cheese and schnitzel.
Day trips for families
- Karlštejn Castle (About 40 minutes by train, then a 20–30 minute walk) — Charles IV built this Gothic castle in the 14th century to keep the imperial crown jewels, and it rises dramatically above a wooded valley.
When to go with children
The best months overall are May–June and September. June–August are the busiest, so book the big sights early. Weather by month.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Prague good for kids?
Prague is a fairy-tale city for children, with a real castle, a clock with moving figures, paddle boats, a mirror maze and one of Europe's best zoos. Cobbles and stairs make strollers tiring, and the busiest streets are crowded in summer.
+What can kids do in Prague?
Prague Castle, Old Town Hall and Astronomical Clock, Petřín Hill and Lookout Tower, Vltava boat or paddle boat and Prague Zoo.
+Where should families stay in Prague?
Old Town: Gothic spires, the Astronomical Clock and lanes leading to Charles Bridge.