Prague’s National Technical Museum is a dazzling presentation of Czechia's industrial heritage over the decades and a surprising no-brainer, family-friendly attraction. Little kids will love the main hall, filled with life-sized trains, planes, cars and motorcycles. Older kids (and adults) will enjoy the more technical, hands-on displays of astronomy, photography, printing and other scientific and industrial fields.
Planes, Trains & Automobiles
The "Transportation Hall" on the main floor is by far the museum's most popular attraction and features an amazing collection of historic planes, trains, automobiles and motorcycles that are close enough to touch. The highlights here include the first automobile manufactured in the Czech lands, a "Tatra 80" model limousine from 1935 that was used by Czechoslovak President T G Masaryk and a Spitfire fighter plane from WWII that was used by Czech pilots, based in Great Britain, for raids over Nazi Germany.
What Else to See
Separate halls scattered throughout the rest of the building are devoted to drier displays of Czech industrial prowess in fields like photography, printing, household design, architecture and astronomy. There's no point in trying to see it all. The best strategy is to follow your nose, depending on your interests. Astronomy buffs will want to see Jost Bürgi's sextant from the late 16th century. This instrument was used by Johannes Kepler, the top mathematician of Emperor Rudolf II, in forming his laws of planetary motion. The "Intercamera" exhibition teaches the principles of color photography.
