Prague may not be the first destination that springs to mind for a holiday with kids, but city breaks to Prague have plenty of fun activities for children and parents who want something different from their trip away together.

The following activities are great fun for children visiting Prague and can be enjoyed both in the glorious hot summer months and in the fairy-tale winter time.

Toy Museum at Prague Castle

Prague Castle is Europe’s biggest castle complex. It’s made up from huge grounds containing cathedrals and gardens overlooking the river, perfect for princesses-in-waiting to explore.  There’s also a fantastic Toy Museum within the castle grounds. The ground floor has everything from model trains to teddy bears, musical instruments to wooden dolls. However, the upper level is the real attraction. It’s filled with hundreds of Barbie dolls, creating the world’s second largest exhibition of the toy. Displayed in huge glass cabinets, the Prague Toy Museum has an original edition Barbie doll as well as all her friends, Ken dolls and celebrity dolls.

Museums of Miniatures

Children will also find the Miniatures Museums enchanting. This museum is hidden away within the Strahov Monastery, but it’s well worth the visit. It has roughly 30 pieces which all need to be examined with telescopes and magnifying glasses to be fully appreciated. They were all created by world-record winner Anatoly Konyenko, and one piece took him seven years to complete! Pieces include the world’s smallest book, a mini Eiffel Tower and a flea wearing golden horseshoes and holding a minuscule pair of scissors and padlock in its hands.

Parks and Gardens in Prague

Prague has a great choice of gardens and parks with playgrounds, perfect for kids with lots of energy. Stromovka Park is Prague’s largest park and has streams, gardens and shady areas which are great for a summer picnic. At the top of Petrin Hill there are gardens with fun, carnival-like attractions including a funicular railway and a mirror maze. By the Vltava River is Slav Island where you can rent rowboats and pedal boats – a great activity for kids and a much more memorable experience than the over-priced ferry boats.

Shopping in Prague

Prague has daily markets selling a variety of traditional Czech goods like cut glass and crystal, but Prague is famous for its marionette theatre and the markets are a great place to find a hand-made marionette puppet.

If you’re visiting in the winter months the Christmas markets in Prague are like something from a storybook. Children will adore the charming stalls selling traditional hot food, quaint stocking fillers, wooden toys, scented candles, and decorations. But the Christmas markets are so much more than just shopping  – there are animal paddocks with sheep, goats and donkeys and a Bethlehem stable scene with Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and the Three Kings.

Prague Theatre for Kids

Prague has some great theatre entertainment for children. There is the quirky Black Light Theatre where everything is performed under a black light which creates surreal neon performances.

The Rise Loutek Theatre has off-season performances perfect for children visiting Prague. Fairy-tales and folk stories are re-told in one hour shows using captivating marionette and hand puppets – a magical experience for kids and grown-ups alike.

Child-friendly Restaurants in Prague

Contrary to popular opinion, Prague has plenty of child-friendly eating establishments. Recommended by locals is Kogo, a child-friendly, relaxed Italian restaurant in New Town which serves up tasty pizzas, pasta, steak and seafood.  Oliva restaurant has a fantastic menu and there’s a wonderful play area especially for children.

Prague Hotels

The four star Hotel Popelka in Prague is a great choice for those visiting Prague with kids. The Hotel Popelka is ideally located in a peaceful spot near the town centre, perfect for being close to all the major attractions whilst still being quiet in the evenings.

Alternatively, the four star Hotel Elysee situated on Wenceslas Square is close to the Jalta shopping centre which has restaurants, cafes and shops close to hand. Tastefully decorated the Hotel Elysee is a great choice for families looking for smart accommodation in the centre of Prague.