Family-Friendly Things to Do in Prague
There are so many family-friendly things to do in Prague that you can easily fill a five-day leisurely itinerary including ample rest and playground time for the kiddos and beer garden time for the adults.
As part of our annual siblings’ travel tradition, we try to meet once a year in a new destination where everyone is truly on “holiday mode.” For 2019, my sisters picked Central Europe as their main holiday destination. My sisters were after a dose of architecture, history, mountain scenery, and culture. On their itinerary: Budapest, Vienna, Salzburg, Hallstatt, and Prague where we joined them for their final leg of travel.
A Hop, Skip, and Jump to Prague with a Toddler
A short hop, skip, and jump from London City Airport, the flight to Prague took less than 1.5 hours. Luckily both the outbound and return flights were easy peasy travelling with a then 15-month-old Lady Yeya. For our party of 5 adults and two kids (8 yo and 15 months), we booked a beautiful, spacious, bright and airy 3BR /2 BA apartment. This gorgeous apartment was located right in the middle of Old Town Prague next to restaurants, shops, cafe, and a supermarket which was very convenient.
As we had a young toddler, it was important for us to pick a strategic location in case we needed to head back to the apartment for Lady Yeya’s nap whilst the rest of my family was out and about in Prague. Other things to keep in mind when travelling to Prague is all the cobblestone alleyways in Old Town is not great for umbrella strollers. Furthermore, there are many places that are not step-free, even buildings with elevators may not be step-free at the mezzanine levels.
As for routines, we kept Lady Yeya on the same routine as much as possible to prevent meltdowns. Whilst she was easy-going during our daytime outings, but in the evenings it was a different story. Lady Yeya was very clingy but only clingy to Mum. It was some form of separation anxiety due to unfamiliar surroundings and having other family members around the flat. Plus, she found it amusing that Mum and Dad were sleeping in the same room with her. That said, we made the best of the situation and stuck to our normal routine. Lady Yeya eventually got comfortable with sleeping in a new surrounding. but only just as we were about to bid a fond adieu to Prague.
Family-Friendly Things to Do in Prague
My sisters tasked me with finding family-friendly things to do in Prague. The list was endless but these were our favourite sights and attractions in beautiful Prague.
Charles Bridge
The famous Gothic stone bridge was commissioned by Emperor Charles IV in 1357 which connects Old Town to Malá Strana. The pedestrianised bridge contains some 30 Baroque statues and is filled with tourists, artists and musicians. By sunset, the bridge is heaving with people enjoying the view of Prague Castle and Old Town. There’s a little playground (Vojanovy Sady Park) at the foot of Charles Bridge in Malá Strana if you need a safe place for the kids to let out some energy. There’s a lovely view of the famous Charles Bridge from below.
Prague Castle
Perched high above on the left bank of River Vltava, Prague castle was the seat of Czech monarchy starting with Prince Bořivoj in the 9th century. With its spires and towers, this gorgeous fairy-tale fortress cannot be missed. There are three types of tickets but we were happy to take “Circuit B” which included St. Vitus Cathedral, Old Royal Palace, St. George’s Basilica, and Golden Lane with Daliborka Tower.
Kampa Park
Located in Malá Strana is Kampa Park right on the banks of River Vltava. It is a lovely park with restaurants and cafes as well as Museum Kampa, the “Babies” Sculpture by David Verny, and a nice children’s playground. The tree-lined grassy areas are perfect for picnic lunch or some rest time for the kiddos. Every summer in mid-July, Na Kampe Street plays host to the “French Market” with a dozen food stalls and live music for a very jovial afternoon.
Old Town Square
Officially known as Staroměstské náměstí, Old Town Square is the heart of Prague flanked by some amazing Gothic and Baroque architecture including the Church of Our Lady before Tyn, St. Nicholas Church, and medieval astronomical clock known as Prague Orloj. Old Town Square is lively with tourists, locals, artists, musicians, and entertainers to keep the little ones happy. Be sure to try the local speciality Trdelník with ice cream.
Letna Park
This wonderful park across the river from the Jewish Quarter is a real gem with miles of tree-lined pathways, beer gardens with views of Old Town, restaurants and cafes, and several children’s playgrounds. The closest one to the beer garden consists of a few climbing structures to keep kids busy whilst the adults enjoy a cold Kozel beer. There’s also a larger enclosed playground in the middle of Letna Park with a mix of play structures for young tots to older kiddos.
Wenceslas Square
In the heart of New Town (Nové Město) is Wenceslas Square, the main shopping artery in Prague lined with hotels, restaurants, bars and cafes along its long wide boulevard. At the top of Wenceslas Square is the National Museum and Prague State Opera. It’s the main shopping district if you have Koruna to use. If you need a playground stop for the kiddo, there is a small play area inside the tranquil Franciscan Gardens not too far from Wenceslas Square.
As you can see, there are plenty of family-friendly things to do in Prague. We look forward to future city break trips around Europe! Do you have a favourite destination for a family-friendly city break trip?
