A major destination for art, history, and culture, the city of Prague treats visitors to stunning cathedrals, beautifully maintained historical sites, and fascinating museums. In fact, the Czech capital is home to dozens of museums of all sizes, more than enough to satisfy any type of tourist. These cover a variety of topics, from the classical and historic to the outrageous and stomach-churning.

Here are five of the best museums the city has to offer.

National Museum

What better place to start this list than the largest and oldest museum in the Czech Republic? Dating back to 1818 and housing a collection of 14 million items related to natural history, history, arts, music and librarianship, the National Gallery is a must-see for any visitor. The complex is dominated by the neo-Renaissance main building, which is set to re-open on October after a seven-year renovation. The Independent reports that this restoration is in line with the museum’s 200th anniversary, and underscores just how significant the institution is to Czech culture.

Museum Kampa

Located on the Eastern shore of Prague’s leafy Kampa Island, Museum Kampa is home to an impressive array of 20th century central European art. Visitors and passersby are greeted by sculptor David Černý’s surreal giant slot-faced babies installation and Magdalena Jetelova’s sculpture of a chair, both of which are visible from across the river. In its feature on the finest unknown museums in Europe, The Guardian elaborates that Museum Kampa has also housed temporary exhibitions from artists like Yoko Ono, Andy Warhol, and Julian Opie.

Read also: Best areas to stay in Prague

 

Karel Zeman Museum

You probably have not heard his name, but chances are, you have marvelled at some of Karel Zeman’s films. As explained in a previous blog post here on museuly, filmmaker and special effects artist Karel Zeman made Czech cinematography world-famous in the 20th century with films like Journey to the Beginning of Time (1955) and The Fabulous World of Jules Verne (1958). The museum’s exhibits are just as playful and whimsical as its namesake’s work, allowing visitors to step into the films and interact with the different movie-making sets.

Museum of Torture

Among all of the amazing museums in Prague, PartyPoker recommends a visit to the Museum of Torture and Torture Instruments, as long as you aren’t squeamish. A little museum tucked away in the shopping arcade near Charles Bridge, this museum is home to dozens of barbaric macabre paraphernalia used to elicit confessions or punish criminal or religious offenders. Each device is explained by signs in both English and Czech.

If you’re in the mood for something different, however, this museum is only a five-minute walk from what can be seen as its opposite – the Sex Machines Museum. Another museuly post specified that this is the only museum for sex machines in the world, and houses everything from chastity belts to the world’s first erotic films.

Read also: 5 Essential Things to Known Before Visiting Prague

Prague Jewish Museum

The Prague Jewish Museum is home to one of the largest collections of Judaic artifacts in the world, and is a tribute to the victims and survivors of the Holocaust in Prague. The six sites of the museum house everything from manuscripts and old photographs to Jewish textiles, and even hold events throughout the year. Although the museum buildings are closed on Saturdays for the Sabbath, The National Geographic explains that there’s still plenty to appreciate in the architecture that once housed nearly all of Prague’s Jewish population, including world-renowned writer Franz Kafka.

Have you been to any of these museums? How was your experience?

Pin it!