It may happen that it rains during your stay. Such is travel life. But stay positive. Surprisingly, even on a rainy day in Prague you can discover more than you had expected. There are quite a few cool things to do even when the rainy days hit.
Who writes you this?
I am not a travel blogger or journalist. My name is Dana and I am Prague local – born and raised here. I am also owner of a small touring business called Prague Behind The Scenes. Besides guiding I also like writing about my hometown and help future visitors to enjoy my city in a less touristy way.
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1. Go to a library and discover an endless book tunnel!
Sounds boring? Believe me, it won’t be at all. Right by the entrance to Prague Municipal library (5 minutes from the Astronomical Clocks) you will see a cool installation called Idiom. It’s a high vertical tunnel made of books. The best thing about the tunnel is that when you take a look inside, you will see a never ending hole. Why? Because there are mirrors on each end and they make the space incredibly deep and high at the same time.
Address: Mariánské nám. 98/1, 110 00 Prague 1
Tip: close to here you can also find a good exchange office with fair rates. To learn more about changing money in Prague, read my blog post Where to exchange money in Prague. It´s not always so easy.
2. Ride “paternoster” – doorless elevator that never stops
These historical doorless elevators have scared me since my childhood. They are running in a loop without stopping. It´s a chain of open compartments where you simply need to hop on and hop off. They don´t stop!
My parents always told me that the compartments turn upside down at the top!!! They don’t, no worries. But still, be careful while using them. They are not here for fun. Prague “paternoster” elevators are still commonly used in several public institutions and buildings to get around. You can ride them as well, just please don’t make mess, noise or some dangerous videos in there. Be careful and treat the place with respect.
Address: One paternoster is above ABC Theatre, entrance via side door from a street V Jámě (close to UGO salaterie). In operation daily during the working days.
3. Enjoy a bright sky without rain. In a library from the 18th century!
Guys, this is an absolutely stunning historical library called Strahov Library. You will find it only 15 minutes walk from Prague Castle. Strahov library consists of two amazing halls: Philosophical (in the picture) and Theological. The Theological hall was built even earlier, in the 17th century.
My recommendation for what not to miss here: look at the shelves, there are 200 000 volumes of books including many manustrips and incunables. One of the oldest ones is Strahov evangeliary from the 9th century. Many of the book covers are not made of paper but from animal skin (pigs, cows). Some of them are even made of wood! The collection of the wooden covers you will find in a section called “xylotheque – herbarium”. Ask the staff where to find it. Also notice how the books are placed on the shelves: from the long ones at the bottom to the short ones at the top. This set up makes a perfect optical illusion – you think that the hall is higher than it really is. In both right corners there are also fake spines of books – covering hidden doors with spiral stairs leading to the balcony and upper located books.
The ticket to the library currently costs 150 CZK (ca 6 euro). Unfortunately you can´t enter the halls (this is only possible on private tours) but you can still take fabulous pictures. I highly recommend visiting Strahov Library during the low season because when I went there (January 2024) there were only 15 other people with me. It was astonishing even though I didn’t get closer to the books.
Where: Strahov Library, Strahovské nádvoří 132/1 – Prague 1 (I am just very sad that there are such bad reviews about the library. I was impressed). The tickets are available in the office inside the Church of St. Roch (2 minutes from the library entrance, by the main gate to the abbey grounds).
4. Back to school! Learn how to pour the famous Pilsner Urquell beer
Dear future students, this is a “school” you will love! You are in a beer country and beer is definitely a part of our culture. And we are also extremely picky about the way how our beer is poured and served – foam, temperature, smell, cleanliness of the glass…this is a science, guys! If you want to learn more, taste more and master your beer tapping skills, join a 60-minute long tapster class.
This is an original Pilsner Urquell experience downtown Prague. In a lovely interiour of a former bank from the beginning of the 20th century (Art Nouveau). Practice, taste and forget about the rain outside. This class only takes 60 minutes and costs ca 35 euro / pp (including unlimited beer tasting)! After taking the class you will know how to tap the three Czech pours: hladinka, mlíko and šnyt, you will also know why the beer needs to be poured in a wet glass or what is the difference between dry and wet foam.
Where? Pilsner Urquell The Original Beer Experience, right at the bottom of Wenceslas square. Address: 28. Října 377/13, Prague 1.
5. Experience the biggest virtual reality zone in Europe
Forget about rain and travel back in time to the 16th century. You still will be in Prague. But in Prague without tourists, cars and fancy restaurants. During this special visual experience you will find yourself in a mysterious Prague, capital of Bohemian Kingdom. Place where the legendary Golem used to live. In Prague we now have the biggest virtual reality zone in the whole of Europe. This experience called Golem VR will take you 500 years back.
You will be equipped with the VR headset and special backpack tracking your position. Thanks to this gear you will be teleported to the 16th century to explore Prague as it looked back then. Your task is to find Golem, a mysterious creature of the old Jewish community. This experience is actually a game so along the way you will also need to solve puzzles and do various tricks. My personal experience?
My senses were completely confused (that´s positive!!!) for approx. 30 minutes while walking through different parts of this game. I nearly forgot to “play” as I was so impressed by the visual side: you are standing by the river, see Charles bridge without crowds, then you enter historical library and laboratory, Jewish cemetery, Old New synagogue, you fight with Golem…You feel the breeze, jump when rats are running under your legs, sense different temperatures, touch the real handrail, everything is extremely realistic.
Golem VR is suitable for kids as well, so the whole family can enjoy this fun teleportation to Prague history.
Address: Na Příkopě 854/14, Prague 1, in the Hamleys store on the underground floor. Play area: 250 m2.
6. Explore Prague passageways to see upside down sculptures
On a cold, rainy day in Prague you can learn about a unique part of Prague’s architecture called passageways – you will be perfectly protected from the rain and discover something fantastic! One of the prettiest passageways is located in Lucerna Palace. Here you can also find a controversial sculpture designed by David Černý, called St. Wenceslas riding a dead horse.
Address: Vodičkova 704, Prague 1, right by the stairs to Lucerna cinema.
Food lovers? Find your way to Gurmet passage in Dlouha street, Prague 1. If you like well-selected international and local food and beverages – welcome to paradise. The passage houses some of the best gastronomic businesses in Prague: local butcher shop and deli Naše maso, where you can alse taste some small warm meals because they are also cooking there or tap your own beer (self service:-) or in winter tap your own clear beef broth in a to go cup – perfect for hangover and for keeping you warm, Sisters bistro – here you can taste a typical Czech snack called “chlebíčky”, don´t miss Cukrář Skála – amazing confectionery (try their merengue “kremrole” and ice cream in the summer). Great way to spend some quality time when it rains in Prague. There are also two wine bars, a sushi place and a Vietnamese banh-mi-ma bistro.
7. Warm up in a century old cellar
On a rainy day in Prague you may also like nice, warm treatment. Try a local sauna, massage or a private bath in Wellness Holešky. This hidden cozy place is situated underground, in a 100 year-old cellar which evokes a unique atmosphere. The rustic Finnish sauna is made of wood from a century-old barn. Wellness Holešky is located in the Holešovice district. You can easily get there by metro C line (red), the wellness is only 1 minute away from the exit. Or take UBER, it´s only 10 minutes ride from Prague city center.
Dana, owner and fully certified guide for Prague Behind The Scenes | Small-Group Tours and Experiences.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or want to see Prague with me. With my services I try to support sustainable and respectful tourism, not mass tourism. If this sounds like your style too, I will be happy to hear from you. I am an independent solopreneur, so you will always talk / write directly to me. Thank you for supporting small local businesses.
dana@praguebehindthescenes.com
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