Prague Museums

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National Technical Museum (Národní technické museum)

Kostelní 42, Praha 7, Holešvice, Tel: +420 220 399 111, Website: www.ntm.cz, E-mail: info@ntm.cz, , Tram 1, 8, 25 to Kamenická, Free with Matilda card
If you're put off by the rather uninspiring name, then don't be, as a visit to Prague's Technical Museum is a rewarding experience. Without doubt, the most impressive displays are found in the large Transport Hall, crammed full of vintage trains, planes and automobiles.

Among the many exhibits here are examples of Czech engineering at its best - Skoda for example was one of the foremost engineering companies in Europe before WWII. Elsewhere, there's a large display of film and photographic equipment, while the mining technology exhibit recreates the workings of a coal/ore mine in the museum's basement!

Police Museum (Muzeum Policie)

Ke Karlovu 1, Praha 2, Nové Město, Tel: +420 224 923 619, Website: www.mvcr.cz/policie, Metro: I P Pavlova/Tram 4, 6, 16 to I P Pavlova, Open: 1 May-31 Oct 10am-5pm, Tue-Sun, closed Monday
This modest exhibition charts the development of the law enforcement services in the Czech Republic. Exhibits include items on criminology and a selection of weapons.

Pop Museum (Muzeum a archiv populární hudby)

Besední 3, Praha 1, Malá Strana Tel: +420 603 419 198, +420 257 314 776, Website: www.popmuseum.cz, E-mail: popmuseum@volny.cz, Metro: Malostranská/Tram: 06, 09, 12, 22, 23, Open: Fri, Sat, Sun 2pm-6pm all other days by appointment only
Documenting the history of Czech pop music from the 50s to the present day, exhibits include everything from period guitars and amplifiers to record sleeves, posters and backing tapes. And, if you feel so inclined, take to the museum's stage and show how proficient you are on guitar, bass or drums. No need for air guitar here!

Postal Museum (Muzeum poštovní známky)

Nové mlýny 2, Praha 1, Nové Město, Metro: Náměstí Republiky, Tram 5, 14, 26 to Revoluční, Open: 1 Jan-31 Dec, 9am-4.30pm (lunch 11.30am-1pm, Tue-Sun, closed Mondays
This building, which was originally a mill, includes wall paintings by artist Josef Navrátil that date back to the 1840s. The exhibition itself details the evolution and development of postal and telecommunication services in Prague and the Czech Republic. Philatelists in particular, will be interested in the extensive collection of Czech and European stamps on show here.

Prague Municipal Museum (Muzeum hlavního města Prahy)

Na Poříčí 52, Praha 1, Nové Město, Tel: +420 224 816 772, Website: www.muzeumprahy.cz, E-mail: muzeum@muzeumprahy.cz, Metro: Florenc, Tram 3, 8, 24 to Florenc, Open: 1 Jan-31 Dec, 9am-6pm, Tue-Sun, closed Mondays
An exhibition on the development of Prague from the 9th century to the present day. Probably the most fascinating display is a scale model of Prague created by Antonín Langweil using paper. This model took 11 years to complete and depicts Prague around the period it was made (between 1826 and 1837). Free with Matilda card

Prague Wax Museum (Muzeum voskových figurín)

28. října 13, Praha 1, Staré Město, Tel: +420 224 229 852, Website: www.waxmuseumprague.cz, E-mail: info@waxmuseumprague.cz, Metro: Můstek, Open: 9am-8pm daily
An entertaining, albeit overpriced exhibition that includes a broad spectrum of Czech historical figures including Charles IV, Antonín Dvořák, Franz Kafka and Václav Havel. With all manner of foreign pop and movie stars thrown in for good measure (the museum is, after all, a major tourist draw for Prague), there's certainly plenty to see. Just don't expect them to be 'dead ringers' for the people they're modelled on! A second wax museum in Prague (Pražské panoptikum) is located in the Palác Metro passage along Národní třída.

St. Agnes's Convent (Klášter sv. Anežky České)

U Milosrdných 17, Praha 1, Staré Město, Tel: +420 221 879 216, Metro: Náměstí Republiky/Tram 5, 8, 14, Open: 10am-6pm, Tue-Sun, closed Mon
A continuation of the gallery at St George's Convent, St Agnes's exhibits include Czech medieval art, as well as more recent neo-Gothic and 19th-century (nationalist revival) works.

Founded in 1233 by King Wenceslas I, the convent was run by Order of the Poor Clares until 1782, when they (and the Franciscan monks at the monastery next door) were driven out by Joseph II. With the property falling into a state of disrepair soon after, it took until 1980 to be fully restored, before being adopted by the National Gallery as an ancillary building for Medieval Bohemian and Central European art.

Now widely regarded as the most important early Gothic building in Prague, highlights here include panels by Master Theodoric, along with Peter Parler's Tympanum of the Northern Portal of the Týn Church.

Smetana Museum (Muzeum Bedřicha Smetany)

Novotného lávka, Praha 1, Staré Město, Tel: +420 222 220 082, Website: www.nm.cz/english/mbs, Metro: Staroměstská/Tram 17, 18 to Karlovy lázně, Open: 1 Jan-31 Dec, Wed-Mon 10am-noon and 12:30pm-5pm, Free with Matilda card
Paying homage to one of the best loved Czech composers, Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884), the exhibition has been housed in this ornate neo-Renaissance building since 1936. Indeed, it's hard to believe that such a picturesque building was once owned by the city's water company! Today, however, it displays memorabilia associated with the composer's life, work and contribution as a leading figure in the development of Czech opera and music. For those unfamiliar with Smetana, his best known work is Má Vlast (My Country), a collection of six movements composed to capture the spirit of Bohemia at the time.

Toy Museum (Muzeum hraček)

Jiřská 4, Praha 1, Hradčany, Tel: +420 224 372 294, Website: www.barbiemuseum.cz, Metro: Malostranská/Tram 12, 18, 22, 23, Open: 9am-5.30pm daily
By no means an interactive display, but a worthwhile visit nonetheless, Prague's Toy Museum is housed in the former Count's Chambers of Prague Castle. Spread over two floors, the museum showcases old European and American toys, also incorporating part of a collection belonging to Czech émigré film maker Ivan Steiger. Elsewhere, sections are devoted to wooden and tin toys - including all sorts of cars, aircraft, airplanes and trains - along with a huge collection of Barbie dolls (of which there's even a pregnant version). Now, who do we think was responsible for that?

U Fleku Brewery Museum (Pivovarske muzeum U Fleku)

Křemencova 11, Praha 1, Nové Město, Website: www.ufleku.cz, Metro: Národní třída, Open: Mon-Fri 10am-4pm (reservations required)
Although the Czech word for beer sounds rather like something Beavis would scream - pivo! pivo! pivo! - the nation produces arguably the best lager in the world (from the Pilsen and Budweis regions). Here, the U Fleku Museum explains the production process at small breweries around Prague. Set amidst one of the most famous beer halls in the Czech Republic - with a history dating back to the mid-14th century - it's fair to say the owners know a fair thing or two about making (and drinking) the country's finest export!!