Prague With Kids
Prague wasn’t on our radar for years. We’d always thought of it as a stag-do destination, all cheap beer and late nights. How wrong we were. This city is absolutely brilliant with children — affordable, gorgeous, easy to walk around, and packed with things that genuinely interest kids rather than just ticking a box. We came for a long weekend and left wishing we’d booked a full week.
Getting There
Direct flights from most UK airports take around two hours, which is about as painless as flying with small humans gets. Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air and BA all run routes, so prices can be very reasonable if you book ahead. We paid under £50 per person return, which felt almost too good to be true. Once you land, the airport bus connects to the metro and you’re in the city centre within 40 minutes. A taxi runs about CZK 700 (roughly £24), which is worth considering if you’ve got tired kids and luggage.
Why Prague Works So Well With Kids
Honestly? It comes down to three things. First, the cost. Prague is remarkably affordable by European standards — meals out, attractions, transport, all of it costs a fraction of what you’d pay in London or Paris. Second, the old town is compact. You can walk between most of the big sights in 15-20 minutes, which means no long, whingey taxi rides or complicated metro journeys. And third, it’s safe. Properly safe. We felt completely relaxed wandering around in the evenings, which isn’t something we can say about every city we’ve visited.
The architecture helps too. Kids might not care about Baroque versus Gothic, but they do notice when buildings look like something from a fairy tale. Prague delivers on that front.
Prague Castle
Start here. You have to. Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle complex in the world, and it feels every bit as impressive as that sounds. It’s not one building — it’s a whole district of courtyards, churches, gardens and lanes spread across a hilltop overlooking the city.
St Vitus Cathedral sits right in the middle and it’s stunning. The stained glass windows threw coloured light across the stone floor when we visited, and even our five-year-old stood still for a moment. That’s saying something.
Golden Lane is the bit the kids loved most. A row of tiny, colourful houses built into the castle walls, originally home to castle guards and later to goldsmiths. The houses are so small that adults have to duck through doorways, which children find hilarious. There’s a small armoury display upstairs too.
Allow a good two to three hours. Adult tickets are CZK 250 (about £8.50), and children under six go free. Wear comfortable shoes — it’s a lot of cobblestones and steps.
Charles Bridge
Probably the most famous bridge in Europe, and for good reason. Thirty Baroque statues line both sides, street artists set up along the length of it, and the views up to the castle and along the Vltava are properly special.
One tip: go early. We’re talking 8am early. By mid-morning the bridge is shoulder-to-shoulder with tour groups and it loses a lot of its magic. First thing, though, you might almost have it to yourselves. We visited in October and at half eight there were maybe 30 people on the whole bridge.
The kids made a beeline for the statue of St John of Nepomuk — specifically, the bronze relief panel at its base with a small dog. Touching it is supposed to bring good luck, and the metal is worn shiny from millions of hands. Our two rubbed it so enthusiastically I thought they’d wear it away entirely. Free, obviously. You can cross it any time.
Old Town Square and the Astronomical Clock
The Old Town Square is the heart of everything. Grand buildings on all sides, the twin spires of the Tyn Church, cafes with outdoor seating, and right there on the side of the Old Town Hall — the Astronomical Clock.
Every hour, on the hour, the clock puts on a little show. Mechanical figures of the Apostles appear in two small windows above the clock face, Death rings a bell, and a golden cockerel crows. Is it the most spectacular thing you’ll ever see? No. But kids are fascinated by it, and there’s something lovely about the whole square stopping to look upward together. Adults photograph. Kids watch with their mouths open. It works.
If you’re visiting in December, the Christmas market here is magical. Wooden stalls, hot chocolate, roasted chestnuts, a massive tree. One of the best Christmas markets in Europe, we reckon, and far less expensive than the German ones.
Petrin Hill
This was our unexpected favourite. A big green hill on the Mala Strana side of the river, and the perfect half-day outing with kids.
Take the funicular railway up — it’s covered by your regular transport ticket, which feels like a bonus. At the top you’ll find Petrin Tower, which looks like a miniature Eiffel Tower. Climb the 299 steps (or take the lift, no judgement) and you get panoramic views across the whole city. On a clear day you can see for miles. Tickets are CZK 150 (about £5).
Right next to the tower is the Mirror Maze. Just CZK 75 (roughly £2.50) and worth every penny. Our kids spent 20 minutes laughing at their own distorted reflections, which is cheap entertainment by anyone’s standards. There’s also a playground near the top of the hill, so you can let them burn off energy while you sit on a bench and enjoy the view. Bliss.
A Boat Trip on the Vltava
When legs get tired — and they will, Prague is hilly — a boat trip is just the thing. Several companies run one-hour cruises along the Vltava, and they cost between CZK 300-400 (£10-14) per adult. Children usually get a discount or go free if they’re small enough.
It’s nothing revolutionary, but it’s relaxing. You float past the castle, under Charles Bridge, past the National Theatre. The kids liked waving at people on the bridges. We liked sitting down. Everyone won.
National Technical Museum
If your children are into cars, trains, planes or anything with an engine, this museum is brilliant. The main hall has vintage cars, motorbikes and a full-sized steam locomotive, all displayed beautifully. There are interactive bits too — not just “press this button” interactive, but properly engaging stuff about how things work.
Best for children aged six and up, we’d say. Our youngest found some of it a bit over his head, but the older one could have stayed all day. Admission is CZK 250 (about £8.50). It’s a short tram ride from the centre and well worth the journey.
Food and Drink
Right, let’s talk about food, because this is where Prague really shines for families. Eating out here is extraordinarily good value.
The dish to try is svickova — slow-cooked beef in a creamy vegetable sauce, served with bread dumplings and a dollop of cranberry sauce. It’s comfort food, basically. Rich, filling, delicious. A plate costs CZK 200-300 (£7-10) in a decent restaurant. Our kids demolished it.
For snacking, trdelnik is everywhere. A chimney cake — dough wrapped around a metal cylinder, grilled over coals, then rolled in sugar and cinnamon. Sometimes filled with ice cream or Nutella, though the plain version is best in our opinion. CZK 80-120 (£3-4) from street stalls all over the old town.
And yes, the running joke is true. Beer is often cheaper than water. A half-litre of excellent Czech lager in a restaurant might cost CZK 50 (under £2). Not that the kids benefit from that particular saving, but the grown-ups certainly appreciated it.
Most restaurants are very child-friendly. High chairs were easy to find, portions were generous, and nobody batted an eyelid when our toddler dropped a dumpling on the floor. Twice.
Where to Stay
Three areas worth considering, depending on your priorities.
Old Town puts you right in the thick of it. Walk to everything. The trade-off is price — this is the most expensive part of the city for accommodation, and it can be noisy at night. Fine for a short trip if your kids sleep through anything.
Mala Strana sits just below the castle on the western bank of the river. Quieter, very pretty, and you’re right next to Prague Castle and Petrin Hill. Charles Bridge is a five-minute walk. We stayed here and loved it.
Vinohrady is the local pick. A residential neighbourhood with excellent cafes, a lovely park, and much better value for money. It’s a 15-minute tram ride to the old town, but it gives you a feel for how Prague actually lives rather than just how it looks on postcards. Great option if you’re staying longer than a weekend.
Getting Around
The city centre is genuinely walkable. Most of the main sights are within a 20-minute stroll of each other, and the streets are interesting enough that the walk itself doesn’t feel like a chore.
When you do need transport, the tram system is excellent. Clean, frequent, reliable, and the kids thought riding one was an attraction in its own right. A 24-hour pass costs CZK 120 (about £4), which covers trams, buses, the metro and even the Petrin funicular. Children under six travel free.
We barely used the metro, but it’s there if you need it. Three lines, easy to navigate, no fuss.
Practical Bits
A few things worth knowing before you go. The Czech Republic uses the Czech crown (koruna), not the euro. Don’t let that put you off — card payments are accepted almost everywhere, from restaurants to tram ticket machines. We used cash only once or twice the entire trip.
Prague is very affordable by European standards. We found it roughly half the price of London for meals, attractions and transport. A family of four can have a genuinely excellent day out — castle, lunch, boat trip, cake — for well under £60. Try doing that in most Western European capitals.
English is widely spoken in tourist areas, though learning “dekuji” (thank you) goes a long way. The locals appreciated the effort, even when our pronunciation was dreadful.
We came home already planning our next visit. Prague with kids just works. It’s beautiful without being fussy, affordable without feeling budget, and interesting enough to keep everyone — toddlers to teenagers to tired parents — genuinely happy. Book it. You won’t regret it.