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National Technical Museum in Prague

Your guide to Prague's premier destination for technology and design.

ScienceHistoryDesignArchitectureLocal heritage

Discover the vast collections at the National Technical Museum, featuring everything from historic automobiles and aircraft to the evolution of printing, photography, and household technology. Engage with interactive exhibits and explore the impact of scientific and industrial advancements.

The National Technical Museum showcases the evolution of technology, industry, and natural sciences through diverse permanent and temporary exhibitions.

National Technical Museum
About the National Technical Museum

The National Technical Museum in Prague serves as a central institution preserving and presenting the rich history of technology, industry, and the natural sciences. Its extensive collections cover a wide array of fields, including transportation, astronomy, mining, and architecture. Through diverse exhibitions, the museum illuminates significant inventions, engineering feats, and scientific discoveries that have shaped society. Visitors can explore the evolution of various technologies, offering a comprehensive look into Czech technical heritage.

Interior of a vintage train car with wooden paneling, large windows, and green-felt tables
National Technical Museum opening hours in Prague

Check today’s opening status, weekly schedule, and special date changes for National Technical Museum. Use these opening hours to plan your arrival and avoid closed times in Prague.

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
-
09:00-18:00
09:00-18:00
09:00-18:00
09:00-18:00
09:00-18:00
09:00-18:00
National Technical Museum Ticket Information

The National Technical Museum in Prague offers various ticket options, with free admission for children aged 0-6. Reduced fares are available for students 15-26 (with valid ID) and seniors over 65. Family and school group tickets can also be purchased. A standard ticket grants single entry to most exhibitions, excluding the coal and ore mine, and is not valid for re-entry. Ticket sales close 30 minutes before the museum's closing time.

Adult
CZK 330.00

Valid for one admission to all exhibitions except the coal and ore mine.

Children up to the age of 6
Free

Ages up to 6

Family Admission
CZK 680.00

Max. 2 adults and up to 4 children under 15

Visitor amenities at the National Technical Museum

The National Technical Museum provides a variety of facilities to support visitor comfort and accessibility, including designated parking options and proximity to public transport. The building is largely wheelchair accessible, featuring step-free entrances, elevators, and barrier-free restrooms throughout the premises. Visitors can benefit from these practical amenities as they explore the extensive collections housed within the museum.

Designated accessible parking

Available

Accessible toilets

Available

Elevators

Available

Special entrance with ramp

Available
Visiting the National Technical Museum with a city pass

The National Technical Museum in Prague is accessible to visitors holding a valid city pass. This provides a convenient way to explore the institution's extensive halls dedicated to transport, industrial design, and technology. Please review the specific access conditions and entry policies detailed on your chosen pass prior to your arrival.

National Technical Museum Location

The National Technical Museum is situated in the vibrant Letná neighborhood of Prague, at Kostelní 1320/42. This central location makes the museum easily accessible for visitors interested in exploring the city's rich cultural landscape and provides a convenient starting point for discovering its comprehensive collections on technology, industry, and natural sciences.

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Kostelní 1320/42

170 00 Prague

Letná, Prague, CZ

How to Visit the National Technical Museum

To plan your visit to the National Technical Museum in Prague, you can purchase admission in advance online, though group visits do not require prior booking. The Main Building offers barrier-free wheelchair access, with a specific ramp located on the right of the main entrance stairs. Photography for private use is permitted, but note that animals, except service dogs, are not allowed inside.

How to Visit the National Technical Museum

Exploring the National Technical Museum

The National Technical Museum in Prague's Letná neighborhood offers an extensive journey through the history of science, technology, industry, and transportation in the Czech Republic. Visitors can explore diverse permanent exhibitions showcasing significant inventions and engineering feats across fields like astronomy, mining, printing, photography, and architecture. Engage with displays featuring iconic vehicles such as the Jawa 750 and Supermarine Spitfire, or delve into the evolution of household appliances. The museum also provides hands-on experiences like a full-scale mine replica and a Merkur construction set playroom, appealing to various audiences. It serves as a central institution preserving the rich technical heritage of the region, illuminating advancements that have shaped society.

A silver vintage Tatra 87 car with round headlights and a CS license plate, displayed indoors with informational plaques and other cars in the background.
Top exhibition picks at National Technical Museum
Curated museum program highlights and what to see now in Prague
Discover high-interest exhibitions at National Technical Museum, selected to help you prioritize your route, compare show themes, and plan a more rewarding museum visit in Prague.
Watercolor illustration of a sugar factory with beets, cocoa pods, and chocolate bars, representing the history of sugar and chocolate production in the Czech Republic.
Permanent exhibition

Discover the 'Sugar and Chocolate' Exhibition at National Technical Museum Prague

Uncover the strategic 'White Gold' history of Czech sugar production.

Delve into the history of the Czech sugar production industry and its profound national importance. Learn about sugar's nickname as 'White Gold' and its crucial role in the National Technical Museum's establishment.

Sugar and Chocolate
A purple watercolor illustration of a medieval construction workshop featuring functional replicas of cranes, winches, and other machinery, demonstrating historical craftsmanship and mechanical principles.
Permanent exhibition

Medieval Construction Machinery: Explore Historical Engineering at National Technical Museum Prague

See functional replicas of ingenious machines from the Middle Ages.

This permanent exhibition showcases full-scale functional replicas of medieval construction machines. Discover how historical engineering utilized simple mechanical principles to achieve complex building tasks.

Medieval Machinery Exhibition
Watercolor illustration of the Construction permanent exhibition at the National Technical Museum in Prague, featuring architectural models, building materials, and structural elements like foundations and trusses.
Permanent exhibition

National Technical Museum Prague: The "Construction" Exhibition on Building Heritage

A permanent exhibition detailing the evolution of architectural elements and engineering.

Delve into the fascinating history of construction at the National Technical Museum in Prague. This exhibition showcases the development of building materials like wood, stone, and clay, alongside various structures from foundations to roofs. Explore the legacy of building heritage.

Construction Exhibition
A purple watercolor illustration depicting the evolution of time measurement, featuring a pocket watch, sundial, hourglass, gears, and an atom model, with text labels 'Astronomical Measurement', 'Flow of Time', and 'The Atomic Age'.
Permanent exhibition

Measurement of Time Exhibition in Prague: Evolution of Horology and Timekeeping

Discover the history of timekeeping from ancient to modern eras.

This permanent exhibition in Prague chronologically displays timekeeping devices. Journey through the evolution of horology, from ancient sundials and water clocks to intricate mechanical and modern atomic timepieces. Learn about significant Czech watchmaking contributions.

Measurement of Time
A watercolor illustration of a museum exhibit showcasing the evolution of household appliances, including a sewing machine, washing machine, kitchen appliances, and robotic cleaners, arranged in labeled sections.
Permanent exhibition

Discover Household Appliances Exhibition at National Technical Museum Prague

Tracing domestic technology and industrial design evolution in Czech history.

This permanent exhibition explores domestic technologies like cleaning, washing, and cooking. See the development of household appliances and their industrial design from the mid-19th century to the present.

Household Appliances Exhibition
Watercolor illustration of a museum exhibition hall featuring display cases with historical metallurgical artifacts, including a 9th-century Slavic smelter and industrial furnace models, under purple lighting.
Permanent exhibition

Discover the Metallurgy Exhibition at the National Technical Museum Prague

Trace iron's role in civilization and technological advancement.

Explore the "Metallurgy – The Path of Civilization" exhibition, detailing the development of ironworking. See historical equipment like a 9th-century Slavic Smelter and models of industrial furnaces. Understand its impact on society, technology, and art.

Metallurgy Exhibition
Watercolor illustration of a vintage camera on a tripod in an exhibition space, surrounded by silhouettes of visitors and abstract purple and yellow swirls representing space, color, and motion.
Permanent exhibition

Intercamera: Space, Colour, and Motion Photography at National Technical Museum Prague

Discover the fascinating history of visual imaging and its innovations.

This permanent exhibition delves into spatial, color, and motion photography. Explore stereoscopic images, interactive color perception displays, and historical motion capture devices. See rare items like Reynaud's Belt and an original Lumière brothers' camera.

Intercamera Exhibition
Watercolor illustration of a museum display case featuring historical contact lens manufacturing equipment, including a 'čočkostroj' (1961) machine, early contact lenses, and a model, under a sign reading 'HISTORICAL CONTACT LENS MANUFACTURING'.
Permanent exhibition

Discover the History of Contact Lenses Exhibition at National Technical Museum Prague

Explore Otto Wichterle's groundbreaking work in optical technology.

This permanent display traces the fascinating evolution of contact lenses and their production methods. Learn about scientist Otto Wichterle's inventions and view early manufacturing machines and historical lens types. A journey into medical history.

Contact Lenses Exhibition

History of the National Technical Museum

The National Technical Museum in Prague was established in 1908, building upon the legacies of earlier institutions like a professional engineering school founded in 1717 and a Czech industrial museum from 1874. It moved to its current, *Functionalist-style* building adjacent to Letná Park in 1941, with full occupation completed in the 1990s after its collection was returned. As the largest institution of its kind in the Czech Republic, the museum underwent significant renovations from 2006 to 2011 to modernize its facilities and continue its mission of preserving technological history.

  • Established in 1908

    1908Founding

    The National Technical Museum was established in 1908, drawing collections from predecessor institutions like the professional engineering school founded in 1717 and the Czech industrial museum opened in 1874.

  • Moved to current location in 1941

    1941Relocation

    The museum has been located in its current building, adjacent to Letná Park, since 1941, though the full occupation of the main building was completed in the 1990s after the collection was returned following the Nazi occupation.

  • Extensive renovations from 2006 to 2011

    2006-2011Renovation

    The National Technical Museum was closed for significant renovations from September 2006 until February 2011, modernizing its facilities.

  • New galleries opened in 1995

    1995Collection

    In 1995, the museum expanded its exhibition space by opening three new galleries: Industrial Design, Single Building, and Fine Arts, showcasing specific aspects of technology and art related to industry.

  • Opened Railway Museum in 2001

    2001Opening

    In 2001, the museum inaugurated its Railway Museum, which houses a collection of approximately 100 railway vehicles.

  • Flood damage restoration until 2013

    2002-2013Renovation

    The 2002 European floods caused damage to documents stored in a separate location, with restoration work continuing until 2013.

  • Collections originate from earlier institutions

    1717-1874Founding

    The museum's collections have roots in the professional engineering school founded in 1717 and the Prague Polytechnical Institute established in 1806, continuing the legacy of the Czech industrial museum founded in 1874.

  • Designed in Functionalist style

    Architecture

    The museum's present building was designed by Milan Babuška, who won an architectural competition for his design in the Functionalist style.

  • Owned by the Ministry of Culture

    Ownership

    The National Technical Museum is owned by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, indicating its status as a national institution.

  • Largest technology museum in Czech Republic

    Overview

    The National Technical Museum in Prague is the largest institution in the Czech Republic dedicated to preserving the history of technology, featuring exhibits that represent about 15% of its total collection.

National Technical Museum: Practical Questions & Quirky Answers

Wondering if the National Technical Museum is open even on a Monday state holiday, or if you can snap photos of its grand halls in Prague? Our frequently asked questions provide all the practical details and delightful answers for your visit, ensuring you're ready to explore everything from transport to astronomy.

Do groups visiting the National Technical Museum need to book in advance?

No, group visits to the National Technical Museum do not require advance booking.

What is the policy for taking photos at the National Technical Museum?

Visitors are welcome to take pictures inside the National Technical Museum free of charge, provided they are for private use and taken without the use of additional aids.

What can I see at the National Technical Museum's main building?

The main building of the National Technical Museum in Prague’s Letná neighbourhood features 16 permanent exhibitions showcasing the country’s technical and industrial history and present.

Are there discounted tickets for school or children's groups at the National Technical Museum?

Yes, the National Technical Museum offers discounted admission for school groups and children's interest groups.

National Technical Museum Visitor Tips

When planning your visit to the National Technical Museum in Prague, admission can be purchased online in advance, though group visits do not require prior booking. The museum is generally wheelchair accessible, featuring a special entrance with a ramp, elevators to most floors, and accessible toilets, with a wheelchair available for loan if needed. Visitors are welcome to take photographs for private use without additional aids, but note that animals are not permitted inside, except for seeing eye dogs. Car parking is also available on the museum grounds for visitor convenience.

National Technical Museum Visitor Experience

The National Technical Museum in Prague caters to a diverse audience, including families with children, students, solo explorers, and couples interested in science, technology, and design history. Younger visitors can engage with hands-on activities, such as the Merkur construction set playroom and a construction playground. The main building is largely wheelchair accessible with ramps and elevators, though some specialized exhibitions, like the Ore and Coal Mine, may present limitations. Visitors are welcome to take photographs for private use, and service animals are permitted.

National Technical Museum Photo Gallery

Explore the vast collections of the National Technical Museum in Prague through these images. The gallery offers a glimpse into grand halls filled with historical vehicles, scientific instruments, and exhibits detailing the evolution of technology and industrial design. Visitors can visualize the scale of its diverse displays, from transportation to mining and photography.

White stylized NTM monogram and text 'NÁRODNÍ TECHNICKÉ MUZEUM' on a red background
A silver vintage Tatra 87 car with round headlights and a CS license plate, displayed indoors with informational plaques and other cars in the background.
A green helicopter suspended from the ceiling in a museum hall with numbered sections on the wall
Interior of a vintage train car with wooden paneling, large windows, and green-felt tables
A light blue vintage car with a prominent grille and round headlights, parked indoors among other classic vehicles
A vintage blue Benz 16-40 HP automobile with brass headlights and black wheels on display indoors.
A vintage brown automobile with wooden wheels and a leather interior, displayed in a museum hall with other historical vehicles.
A green vintage automobile with brass headlights and a wooden steering wheel displayed in a museum hall
Blue steam locomotive with red wheels on display in a museum hall
A wooden model of a tower inside a glass display case in a museum hall
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