National Museum in Prague

Collections of material evidence from the territory that now forms the modern-day Czech Republic as well as from abroad. History, nature, anthropology, and art: all this awaits you at the National Museum in Prague. Come and see for yourself the famous historical building and one the oldest and largest museums in the Czech Republic.

The Historical Building of the National Museum

The National Museum in Prague, whose Historical building is located right in the city centre on Wenceslas Square, was founded more than 200 years ago in 1818 as ‘The Patriotic Museum in Bohemia’, with the natural science collection of the Czech aristocracy playing a significant role in its foundation. The building in which the museum is based today was completed in 1890 and is a beautiful example of the precise Neo-Renaissance style.

The building has recently undergone long-awaited restoration work, allowing you to admire the art of past generations. The sculptural decoration of both the exterior and interior is of excellent value, along with the wall paintings and especially the original, richly furnished interior.

The most important spaces within the building include the entrance vestibule, the adjoining monumental main staircase hall lit by a glass ceiling, and above all the Pantheon located beneath the dome. The dome is accessible and offers a unique view not only of Wenceslas Square but of the entire panorama of Prague.

The historical building is connected by an underground corridor to the New Building of the National Museum, where you can visit the Children's Museum or the 20th Century History Exhibition.

National Museum - Unique Exhibitions You Must See

Miracles Of Evolution Exhibition

This unique exhibition presents the animal world in a way you won’t normally see in museums – without display cases or shelves. Birds will be flying above your head, fish swimming past you. You’ll see a great white shark, a minke whale, the world’s largest model of a giant squid (17 m), and the popular fin whale (22.5 m). Interactive elements are also included – you can explore a magnified viper’s head, try closing a giant clam, or guide a millipede through underground tunnels.

Windows Into Prehistory

One of the most modern natural history exhibitions in Europe takes you on a journey from the Palaeozoic to the Quaternary. Among the two thousand exhibits, the highlights include the fossil of the oldest identified terrestrial vascular plant in the world – Cooksonia barrandei – and a model of the only Czech dinosaur, Burianosaurus augustai. You will travel through subtropical islands of the Mesozoic, the volcanic landscapes of the Tertiary, and the concluding story of the Quaternary period.

History

Across an area of 1,300 m², two thousand exhibits guide you through Czech history from the 8th century to the First World War. The exhibition focuses on borders and nation-building, identity, language and struggles for power – often ending in warfare.

Mineral Hall

More than 4,000 exhibits from a unique collection of 100,000 minerals from around the world.

Humans – from 25 August 2025

One of the most important exhibitions on humanity in the world brings together anthropology, archaeology, and cultural anthropology. It unites the sections Humans and Their Ancestors and The Story of Prehistoric History, featuring hyperrealistic models, including the famous Lucy by French sculptor Élisabeth Daynès.

More Than Just a Single Exhibition in a Single Building

Today, the National Museum has the significant task of archiving and exhibiting everything which is or will be of historical value. The museum presents collections in both permanent exhibitions and temporary themed exhibitions.

If you would like to visit every branch of the National Museum, one day will not be enough. You will have to visit more than 10 locations in Prague and the surrounding area, where almost 20 permanent exhibitions can be seen. The largest permanent exhibition of items – from mineralogical to historical objects – is located in the National Museum’s historical building on Wenceslas Square, where we recommend beginning your tour. In Prague you can then continue with the exhibits of the Náprstek Museum of Asian, African and American Cultures; the Czech Museum of Music; the Ethnographic Museum; or the National Memorial on Vítkov Hill.

The space available for permanent exhibits can only house a fraction of the items that are managed by the museum. For this reason, the museum organises themed exhibitions, which always focus on one field. You will always be able to read about the museum’s current exhibitions in English on the National Museum’s website.