Prague with children
 

Hi,

We are going to Prague in two weeks, taking our 7 year old twin girls with us.

Reading through the many travel guides, there seems to be a number of nice pubs and beerhalls that are open during the day and sell food. What is the local customs / rules for children accompanying adults in such establishments for meals (and is there a time by which they must depart) ?

Thanks a lot,

Mark from Bristol UK

Mark, The Czech Republic, like much of Europe doesn't have a problem with children in pubs, in general.

There was a local beer hall in Prague on Na Perstyne that we stopped at a couple of times on our last trip that was more of an adult 'flavor', but we did see some kids with their parents on one occasion.

I think that you'll find some places where it's fine for children, but you may have to stop in and have a look around first to see if it is to your liking.

A lot of people frown on taking children into such places, but my grandfather used to take me into his corner pub when I was a small boy and I had a great time. I have some great memories of watching the guys play darts, (table) shuffleboard and cards while they bought me sodas and chips. I didn't find anything seedy about it.

Again, it depends on the place and the time of day, I think. A pub at 6:00 PM for dinner and a beer is different from a place at midnight, where only drinking is likely on the agenda.

The Prague beer halls are great places. Have fun.

Make sure you take the kids to a puppet show. We went to see Don Giovanni. Great for kids for all ages! Very enjoyable.

Thanks to those that replied. We travelled to Prague in late July and spent a week in an appartment just behind the National Theatre, which turned out to be really central - and just across the road from the Globe Bookstore and Coffeeshop, which was great for breakfast coffee and croisants.
Some of the cool places we went with the kids (twins aged 8) :
National Marrionette Theatre for Don Giovanni puppet show. The kids loved it and the theatre staff were great with them, it lasts a good two hours and is good fun.
Karlstein Castle. About a 40 minute train ride from Prague, well worth it. If you are too early for the train, head for the Prague station bar/cafe, it's a great place to have an ice cold beer for about 20 Crowns. The castle is a good 45 min walk from the station, don't be tempted by the prestzels on sale outside the station - they are vile. The village of Karlstein is nice, but a bit touristy. The standard tour around the castle is quite good - about 600 Crowns (for the family), our girls loved it as they were allowed to unlock all the doors as the tour went round. Clean toilets and refreshments available in the courtyard.
National Technical Museum. A bit out of the way. Good selection of cars and trains, mock up tv studio that the kids can film themselves behind a newscasters desk. Huge underground mock up mine, need to go with a tour - we didn't make it sadly. Refreshments available upstairs. Nice walk back to the centre via Lentna park, where there is a couple of playparks. Down the steps by the Metronome to cross the river again.
Prague Zoo. Easy to get to (Metro and then a Bus) and well worth it - very cheap as well, there is a new bio-dome being constructed - I think it is planned to be ready by summer 04. Nice restaurant just outside the gate.
TV-Tower. Small entrance charge, but entitles you to a discount of the food/drink in either the restaurant or cafe. The views are good from the viewing platform, and also from the cafe level. Toilets available.
Vintage Tram. Hourly service, double the cost of normal tram (hey, still dirt cheap) and you pay on the tram. At one end is the transport museum, which is pretty small and concentrates on buses and trams - but it's cheap, and you can get round it before the next tram leaves to return to the centre.
Petrin Outlook Tower. You can see it from almost everywhere, so it's fun to go up it - it's a fair hike though !. Ice Cream vans at the base provide some welocme refreshment afterwards. Toilets at the base, also there is an observatory next door that opens in the evening - sadly we missed that too.
Prague Castle. It's okay I guess, and we didn't pay to get in - but we did see the changing of the guard, which I think is a bit more exciting on a Sunday (12 noon). The tourist train goes from the old town square to the castle and is a nice way to get there.

In general the choices available for eating is vast, from traditional meat and dumplings to all sorts of international cuisine. Prices are creeping toward what you would expect in a major city, but there are still some bargains to be had. Lot's of history as well - Cafe Slavia, Cafe Imperial etc...

Hope someone has some use from the blurb above.

Just be aware that the "nice" pubs & beerhalls are usually filled with dense smoke at all hours of the day. The typical Czech places are very smoky, while some of the tourist spots have areas in the restaurants that are non smoking (which means there will just be less smoke!) If it is not too cold yet (I hear they are having another heat wave now!), you can go to a beer garden or beer terrace. The air should be a little fresher!

Prague has a great toy museum in the castle complex. My friend's 8 year old girl loved it.

You can also buy some neat toys there - puppets, wooden toys, etc, are all popular items sold in the tourist shops.

Good luck & have fun!

Hi Mark,

We're going to Prague for the Christmas holdidays with our 11 year old daughter and would love to stay in an apartment in a great location.

Any leads, advice, etc?

Thanks so much.