Musaion

The basics

One of the collections overseen by Prague’s National Museum (Národní muzeum) network, the Musaion is the ideal addition to a Prague walking tour. Stroll through the lush Kinský Gardens to an elegant 19th-century villa and dive into Czech folk culture, art, music, and costume. Permanent exhibitions range from historic agricultural tools to intricately embroidered wedding dresses, plus Advent masks, shaggy Shrovetide costumes, and handcrafted nativity crèches as part of the section dedicated to the religious rituals of rural Bohemia and Moravia.

Things to know before you go

• After a visit to the Musaion, walk through the Kinský Gardens to Petřín Hill for gorgeous views over the city and the Vltava River.

• There is a small café, gift shop, playroom for kids, and cloakroom with lockers inside.

• Admission to this and all National Museum sites is included in the Prague Visitor Pass.

• The Musaion is partially wheelchair-accessible; contact the museum before visiting for more information.

How to get there

The museum is set deep in the Kinský Gardens, just south of the Lesser Town (Mala Strana) on the southern slope of Petřín. You can reach its historic villa on foot in just a few minutes from the nearby Švandovo divadlo stop for tram lines 9, 12, 15, and 20 or from the Kobrova stop for the 176 bus.

When to get there

The Musaion is closed on Mondays and some holidays; confirm that the museum is open in advance when visiting during holidays. The indoor exhibitions are ideal for a rainy day outing, though the surrounding Kinský Gardens are spectacular on clear days from spring through fall. The museum also offers frequent pottery and woodcarving workshops and folk music performances—check the website for dates.

Prague’s Kinský Gardens

Prague’s ethnographic museum is inside Kinský Gardens, the city’s elegant English-style park on the southern slope of Petřín. Covering 22 acres (9 hectares), this leafy expense has several important landmarks, including reconstructions of a pagoda-like 17th-century timber church from Wallachia and a Baroque shrine from nearby Žižkov. This serene urban park offers ponds, a waterfall, cool wooded areas, scenic walking paths, a rose garden, and a children’s play area.