Prague’s Can’t-Miss Museums

Three Must-Visit Museums in Prague

Prague is full of treasures — from the majestic Castle to the enchanting Jewish Quarter — so visitors often feel short on time. Still, if you can, we strongly recommend adding these three museums to your itinerary.

Why? They are deeply connected to Czech culture and history. Each is housed in a remarkable building worth seeing in its own right.

They stand apart from the usual “tourist traps” (such as the Museum of Torture or Chocolate Art Museum around Old Town Square).

Here are the three museums we recommend most:

1. National Technical Museum (Národní technické muzeum)
📍 Location: Kostelní 42, Letná
🕘 Opening hours: Tue–Sun, 9:00–18:00

If you enjoy science, engineering, or simply great design, this museum is a must. Founded in 1908, it has been in its current grand functionalist building since 1942.

The vast Transport Hall is especially impressive, with vintage cars (including those of presidents Masaryk and Havel), motorcycles, aircraft, and even Emperor Franz Josef I’s train carriage. The museum covers 14,000 m² across seven levels with 14 permanent exhibitions and thousands of objects.

2. Czech Museum of Music (České muzeum hudby)
📍 Location: Karmelitská 4, Malá Strana
🕘 Opening hours: Tue–Sun, 10:00–18:00

Prague is a city of music — birthplace or inspiration for great composers like Dvořák, Smetana, and Mozart. The Czech Museum of Music celebrates this heritage inside a magnificent Baroque former church, St. Mary Magdalene, in the charming Malá Strana district, just below the Castle.

The vast main hall often hosts concerts, and the museum’s collection includes over 3,000 instruments, priceless manuscripts, and rare pieces such as a violin by Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù and Mozart’s piano.

3. Army Museum Žižk​ov (Armádní muzeum Žižk​ov)
📍 Location: U Památníku 2, Žižkov
🕘 Opening hours: Tue–Sun, 10:00–18:00

Even if you’re not interested in the military, this free museum is fascinating. Fully renovated in 2022, it covers Czech and Czechoslovak military history from the First World War through the Communist era. Spread over four floors, it features nearly 300 beautifully lit displays and seven sections:

Highlights include the story of the Czechoslovak Legions of WWI and the paratroopers who carried out the 1942 assassination of Reinhard Heydrich.

Why Choose These Three?

They are not only culturally important but also refreshingly authentic compared to the touristy “novelty museums” scattered around Old Town. Each one offers an enriching experience, set within stunning architecture and neighborhoods worth exploring.