Museum of Decorative Arts, Prague

Museum in Prague

CC BY-SA 4.0 / RPotmesilova

If you enjoy places where beauty is in the details-glass that catches the light just right, typography that feels like art, or furniture that makes you rethink “everyday” objects-the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague is one of the top attractions in Prague. Set in a Neo-Renaissance building close to Josefov, it's an easy add-on to a central day, and it feels refreshingly different from Prague's usual focus on towers and royal history.

The museum's appeal is also practical: the displays are curated for curious visitors rather than specialists, and it's a comfortable, indoor stop when you want a slower pace. It's often visited on walking tours of Prague that link Old Town and the Jewish Quarter, but it works just as well as a dedicated design afternoon with a gift-shop browse and a café break afterward.

History and Significance of the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague
Things to See and Do in the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague
How to Get to the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague
Practical Tips on Visiting the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague
Where to Stay close to the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague
Is the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague Worth Visiting?
FAQs for Visiting Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague
For Different Travelers
Nearby Attractions to the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague

History and Significance of the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague

Founded in the late 19th century, the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague was created to champion applied arts-objects that sit at the intersection of utility and beauty. Its collections grew alongside the Czech modern movement, when designers, artists, and craftspeople were redefining national identity through materials, pattern, and form.

The setting matters: the museum’s Neo-Renaissance building is itself a statement about culture and craftsmanship, with decorative architectural elements that mirror the museum’s mission. It’s a fitting container for collections that range from ceremonial textiles and historic ceramics to modern photography and graphic design.

In recent years, the museum has been modernized to improve how visitors encounter the objects-better conservation, clearer interpretation, and more contemporary display approaches. The significance today is not just the depth of the holdings, but the way the museum makes design legible: it shows how taste, technology, and daily life evolve together across centuries.

Things to See and Do in the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague

The museum rewards visitors who follow materials. Start with glass and ceramics-areas where Czech and Bohemian craftsmanship is internationally admired. Look for shifts in shape and color over time: small changes in technique can signal huge changes in style, and you’ll often notice a thread from Baroque richness to cleaner modernist lines.

Textiles are another highlight, especially if you enjoy the patience and skill behind embroidery, lacework, and historic garments. Even if you don’t consider yourself a “textile person,” the craftsmanship and preservation quality tend to win people over, especially when you see how design language travels across centuries through pattern and ornament.

For modern design lovers, the photography and graphic works can be the surprise standout. Interwar design, book art, and poster culture reveal Prague’s role in European visual modernity, and it’s also a strong place to appreciate Art Nouveau through original works and design objects associated with the era. Leave time for the temporary exhibitions if you can-they’re often where the museum feels most contemporary, connecting historic craft to modern fashion, design, and cultural commentary.

How to Get to the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague

The museum is located near the Jewish Quarter and the Old Town area, making it straightforward to reach on foot from central Prague neighborhoods and a natural stop between riverside walks and Josefov.

If you are arriving by air, Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) is the nearest airport, with easy connections into the city center by public transport and taxi/rideshare. For the best deals and a seamless booking experience, check out these flights to Prague on Booking.com.

If you are coming by rail, Praha hlavní nádraží (Prague Main Station) connects well to the center via metro and tram, followed by a short walk to the museum area. Train schedules and bookings can be found on Omio.

Long-distance buses typically arrive at Florenc, which has metro links that make it easy to transfer toward Old Town.

Driving into the center is usually not worth the hassle due to limited parking and congestion; park outside the core and finish by public transport or walking.

Practical Tips on Visiting the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague

Suggested tips: Start with the collections you care about most, then circle back to your favorites; the museum is best enjoyed at a relaxed pace rather than as a full-speed checklist.
Best time to visit: Late morning on a weekday or mid-afternoon when many tour groups are elsewhere, so galleries feel calmer.
Entrance fee: CZK 350
Opening hours: Wednesday–Sunday 10am–6pm; Tuesday 10am–8pm; Monday closed
Official website: https://www.upm.cz/
How long to spend: 1.5-3 hours for a satisfying visit, longer if you enjoy reading labels and exploring temporary exhibitions.
Accessibility: Typically manageable for most visitors, but confirm lift access and gallery routing if you need step-free movement.
Facilities: A design-focused shop and an on-site café are part of the experience and worth planning into your visit.
Photography tip: If photography is allowed, focus on texture and detail shots-glass reflections, textile patterns, and typography often photograph better than wide gallery views.
Guided tours: If you want deeper context, consider an audio guide or guided tour option when available, especially for Czech modern design and Art Nouveau material.
Nearby food options: The museum café is a convenient stop, and Josefov and Old Town offer plenty of choices within a short walk.

Where to Stay close to the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague

For a stylish central base close to Old Town and Josefov, The Emblem Prague Hotel is well placed for walking to the museum and nearby cultural stops. If you prefer a refined boutique feel with easy access to both the river and central sights, Maximilian Hotel is a strong choice for design-minded travelers. For a classic, upscale option that’s convenient for transport links and central walking routes, Hotel Kings Court makes it easy to combine museums, Old Town wandering, and evening plans.

Is the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague Worth Visiting?

Yes, particularly if you want a Prague experience that feels intellectual, visual, and pleasantly unhurried. It's a museum that rewards curiosity: you can arrive knowing nothing about Czech design and still leave with a clear sense of how materials, craft, and modernity shaped the city's creative identity.

It’s also a strong counterpoint to Prague’s monumental sightseeing. After churches and castles, it’s refreshing to spend time with objects made for living-furniture, glass, books, garments-where you can see how beauty was built into daily life across centuries.

FAQs for Visiting Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague

It focuses on applied arts and design, including glass, ceramics, textiles, furniture, photography, and graphic works.

Yes, the displays are accessible and visually engaging, and the craftsmanship is easy to appreciate without specialized knowledge.

Most visitors spend 1.5-3 hours, depending on how closely they explore the collections and temporary exhibitions.

Yes, it has strong coverage of Czech modern movements, including Art Nouveau and interwar design.

Yes, temporary exhibitions are often a key part of the museum and can add a fresh, contemporary angle to your visit.

Yes, the location makes it easy to pair with a Jewish Quarter walk or a riverside stroll.

Yes, and it’s worth time-many visitors enjoy the design-focused items, books, and Czech artisan goods.

Yes, the café is a convenient place to take a break and extend the museum experience at a relaxed pace.

It can be, especially for older kids who enjoy visual displays; for younger children, a shorter visit with a few focused galleries works best.

Crowds vary by season and time of day; weekdays and mid-afternoons often feel calmer than weekends and peak midday hours.

What Other Travellers Say...

Reviews Summary

4.6 (1,740)

Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague at 17. listopadu 2 sits in a grand 1897 building and showcases decorative arts including jewelry, clocks, ceramics, glass and textiles. Visitors praise a standout glass exhibition and displays by local jewelry designers, note varied permanent displays from furniture to dress design, and recommend buying the ticket that includes all exhibitions to see more. Reviewers describe the museum as quiet and inspiring, especially for applied-arts enthusiasts, and mention affordable student pricing and clean facilities.

Kev C

3 months ago

"This place is so underrated with all those tourists attraction in Prague. I’m so glad to get the full ticket including the glass exhibition which ongeneral visit tix not included. As someone study applied arts, to see all this work or mind if I said master piece on display, it’s impressive and so inspiring. I spend a solid 2 hour to take my time to look at everything, from the wall deco to the ceiling, table deco to Mucha collection. The best part is it’s a very quiet musuem, during my visit I think there was only 10 guests including me wandering, it’s perfect activity to get out of crowded tourist in Prague...."

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Joris Peels

a month ago

"The glass exhibit was wonderful as was one of a local jewelry designer. There’s something for everyone here with dresses, jelwery, design, furnitureand more. Well done museum. Very quiet...."

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Zeynep Köymen

2 months ago

"Student discount price was very affordable and I was able to see the permanent exhibitions and also two new ones on the top floor. The glass themedexhibition was so exciting too see. Definitely recommended. Also, it was very quite most of the time...."

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For Different Travelers

Families with Kids

For families, this museum works best with a “pick your highlights” approach. Choose visually immediate sections like glass or colorful decorative objects, and let kids move at a quicker pace rather than trying to cover every gallery. A short, focused visit can be far more enjoyable than a long one.

Use the café as a built-in reset point. It gives everyone a break, and it helps turn the museum into a comfortable, low-stress stop rather than a test of patience.

Couples & Romantic Getaways

For couples, the Museum of Decorative Arts is a refined, low-rush cultural date. The galleries invite you to point things out to each other-patterns, materials, poster designs-and it's a relaxing contrast to the more crowded, outdoor sightseeing.

Finish with the gift shop and a coffee, then walk toward the river or Old Town for an easy, elegant afternoon. It's a great way to add a sense of “local cultural life” to a romantic Prague itinerary.

Budget Travelers

Budget travelers can still get strong value here because it offers a dense, high-quality collection in a comfortable setting. If you’re choosing paid museums selectively, this is a good pick when you want a lot of visual payoff without needing a guide.

To keep costs in check, plan it as part of a walking loop through central Prague so you don't spend extra on transport. Pair it with free river walks and Old Town wandering for a full day that feels rich and balanced.

Nearby Attractions to the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague

Jewish Quarter (Josefov): A compact historic area with synagogues, memorial sites, and streets that reward slow walking and reflection.
Old Town Square: Prague's iconic central square, easy to reach on foot and ideal for combining with an afternoon museum visit.
Rudolfinum: A major concert hall nearby, perfect if you want to add an evening cultural event after the museum.
Vltava riverfront walk: A scenic route for decompressing after galleries, with bridges and viewpoints close to the museum area.
Klementinum: A historic complex known for its library and views, offering another indoor cultural stop within easy reach.

The Museum of Decorative Arts appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Prague!

Moira & Andy

Hey! We're Moira & Andy. From hiking the Camino to trips around Europe in Bert our campervan — we've been traveling together since retirement in 2020!

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