55 Best Performing Arts Venues in Prague, Czech Republic

There's a limited amount of English-language theater in Prague throughout the year. But in May and June, the Czech capital is awash with comedians, actors, dancers, musicians, mime artists, and all manner of other performers from all over the world. Since its inception in 2002, the Prague Fringe has become a major date on the fringe festival circuit, attracting visiting acts from the United Kingdom, the United States, New Zealand, Australia, and all over Europe. The venues are scattered around Malá Strana; performances, which range from Shakespeare to avant-garde cabaret, are staggered so that you could conceivably see five a day.

One of the largest film festivals in Central Europe, with hundreds of screenings in Prague and its sister festival in Slovakia, Febiofest runs for about a week at the end of March and beginning of April. Films—both premieres and retrospectives—come from virtually all over the world, and a number of renowned directors and stars come to introduce their work. As a side to the festival, world-music bands also perform for free in the garage of the multiplex where the festival is held.

Since 1946, the Prague Spring International Music Festival has been the main event of the classical season. It officially starts in early May with a performance of Czech composer Bedřich Smetana's Ma vlást (My Country)—May 12 is the anniversary of his death—and runs until early June, with typically around 60 concerts spread over more than 10 venues during this time. Conductors such as Leonard Bernstein and Sir Charles Mackerras have been among the guests. Orchestra performances, operas, and church recitals make up the bulk of the schedule, although the gala increasingly features hot international jazz talents. The competition element gives attendees the opportunity to see the next big star. Major events can sell out months in advance; tickets usually go on sale mid-December. If you miss the big one, don't despair—the festival does have a younger brother taking place later in the year: the Prague Autumn.

A creative hub that in some ways defies description, combining theater, dance, teaching, artists' studios, and a "living room" café. Alta is an artistic, exciting place to spend a few hours or take in some cutting-edge contemporary dance.

The domestic Czech and European dance scenes are celebrated at the Tanec Praha International Festival of Contemporary Dance and Movement. Lasting for around three weeks every June, renowned companies from all over the world strut their stuff in a selection of Prague venues.

Rockers, this festival is for you! Located on the peaceful, pretty islands of the Vltava, an often underutilized aspect of Prague, the festival brings international rock, blues, and world-music acts to several waterside venues for a weekend at the beginning of June, and entry is free. In the evenings performances by additional bands take place in nearby clubs.

If you want to join the theater-loving masses and there's nothing on in English, Švanda Theater is your best bet. The plays shown here—a rotating mix that can include everything from Shakespeare to Ibsen to contemporary theater—are supertitled above the stage in English. The theater also occasionally hosts live concerts and serves as a major venue for the Prague Pride festival, held every August.

For the best view, sit in the balcony, on the right side, facing the stage.

Part of the fascinating Lucerna complex, the Great Hall is a beautiful art nouveau ballroom with a big main floor and some loges. It hosts everything from swing dances to graduation balls, Czech and international rock and pop stars to Christmas concerts, and even the occasional boxing match, in wonderful historic surroundings. Everyone from Ray Charles to Maurice Chevalier has played here, so soak up the history as you sway to the beat.

Film junkies make the trek to this out-of-the-way gem of a theater knowing it's worth the trip. The tiny cinema is hidden in the middle of a residential block, and keeps an ambitious schedule of two or three different films a day: festivals, retrospectives, oldies but goodies (think Scarface and The Big Lebowski) plus feature films with English subtitles. Czech translations are done through headphones. Visiting guests have included Terry Gilliam, Godfrey Reggio, and Paul Morrisey. The theater also has an outdoor beer garden in the summer months and a lively indoor bar year-round.

Bargain ticket prices, live music before the films, and a schedule that offers greater variety and more "big name" films are just a few reasons to check out this theater outside the city center. New international releases as well as Czech films (sometimes with subtitles) and festival series give Oko a varied lineup. There's a refurbished bar and café here outfitted with Wi-Fi, and it even offers a video streaming service.

Cinema City Nový Smíchov feels like your usual multiplex until you try the "4DX" experience, which involves moving seats and special effects in your seat like fog and lightning. Located in the Nový Smíchov shopping center, the cinema is an experience for all five senses.

This venue has "Oskar-IMAX," a large-format theater that shows many short films in 3-D and the occasional feature on a very large screen. Most IMAX presentations are dubbed; other screens offer the standard multiplex experience.

This is pretty much the only multiplex in the center of town that runs about 10 movies at once, mostly the latest Hollywood films in English (with Czech subtitles). It occasionally runs Czech films with English subtitles.

This major full-size orchestra plays most often at the Rudolfinum. The orchestra has attracted some well-known guest conductors, and performs classical, jazz, and some film scores.

As the name implies, this group started playing live on the radio in 1927. Since the 1960s it hasn't been directly associated with the national radio system, and has fewer concerts than its main rivals. You can usually see them perform at the Rudolfinum. Besides Czech composers, the orchestra excels in Brahms and Mahler. You can buy tickets at the shop in Vinohrady, online, and at some venues.

A former cylinder factory, then a movie theater, this neoclassical building was renovated into a modern dance venue in 2001. The house presents a lot of premieres, and is the main "dance" theater in town. Several dance festivals are based here.

Domestic and international radio performances and film scores have kept this piano quartet in the spotlight. Formed in 1978 and re-formed in 1993, the group majors in music by the Czech composer Martinů, but also has a wide repertoire of other composers. This ensemble is an excellent choice for classical music lovers.

Bonjour! What do we have here? A little bit of Paris in Prague, that's what. Hidden in the basement of the French Institute is a full-size movie theater; most of the programming consists of recent French films as well as classics, also in French. Some of the films have English subtitles, and the admission fee is usually nominal (80 Kč). They also host an annual French Film Festival in November. No food or drinks allowed (but on the ground floor there's an excellent café). "Serious" film watching only.

Named after a famous 18th-century patron of the arts, this ensemble has won a few prestigious awards. They give excellent performances of works by Mozart and Czech composers, and are one of the better groups to appear in various church concerts around town. The group does not have a website but you can track them down through their Facebook page.

Formerly the Sazka Arena (tickets are still sold through Sazka Ticket), this indoor sports venue often hosts big-time rock and pop acts, like Justin Bieber and The Cure. It's also the current home of local ice hockey legends, Sparta Praha. The security level is very high, and almost airportlike. A small nail file or pocket scissors can delay your entrance.

Founded in 1994, this orchestra is youthful and forward-thinking in more ways than one, boasting a chief conductor (Jakub Hrůša) who was born in 1981 as well as a program which aims to send listeners home with, as they put it, a new "joie de vivre." Their work ranges from classic and romantic to contemporary composers and a children's concert series. The group play regularly, including at the Rudolfinum and Prague Castle.

Famous for playing often (but not always) without a conductor, this ensemble covers the classics up through 20th-century composers. Usually they play about four concerts a year in the Rudolfinum.

Two members of the quartet were born in the same town as composer J. V. Stamic, so they chose this name. The group often plays some Britten and Bártok along with the usual classics and Czech composers.

Prague's central art-house cinema has a great location near the Lucerna shopping passage and an excellent selection of offbeat American films, classic European cinema, and the best of new Czech films. Many films are subtitled in English and the theater even has its own brand of beer.

Many quartets borrow names from composers, but few choose the name of a musician: Wihan was a cellist who knew Dvořák. The quartet has won numerous awards since it started in 1985, and has participated in international broadcasts. Most of their sets include at least one Czech composer.