Free Things to do in Prague for Art Lovers

Travelling can be particularly expensive for art lovers, what with all the museum and gallery entrance fees and then, of course, all the pieces you’ll want to buy in the gift shop afterwards. Well, that’s if you’re anything like me.

Luckily, most cities have lots of arty things to see and do without having to part with any cash. In this new series on Wanderarti, I’ll be highlighting some of the best free art activities in numerous cities around the world. We kicked off with Berlin a couple of weeks ago, and today I’m bringing you a guide to free art in Prague.

Prague is a city I immediately fell in love with when I visited a couple of years ago. I loved the amazing architecture and the laidback atmosphere – not to mention the cheap beer. But there’s a huge art scene there, too, that’s growing bigger and bigger every year. And the best thing? You don’t have to spend a single penny to explore it!

Enjoy the John Lennon Wall

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This wall was just a normal wall until the 1980s when it became a dedicated shrine to the Beatle’s musician. Now, the wall (located opposite the French embassy) is a flurry of graffiti work of Lennon, as well as lyrics and political components surrounding his murder. The Czech police have tried numerous times to white-wash the wall back to the way it was pre-80s, but they realised they were fighting a losing battle. They now allow artists to add to it at any point, which means that the mural will look different on every visit you make!

Boogie on down to the Dancing House

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Prague is full of nouveau architecture and Gothic-style buildings – it’s what the city’s known for, really. So when Croatian-Czech architect Vlado Miluni worked alongside Frank Gehry to create the contemporary Dancing House back in 1996, there was a bit of an upset. The city has now embraced the architectural wonder, though, which got its name from its resemblance to two dancers. It’s hugely unusual and well worth a glimpse if you’re in the city.

Discount days at the major museums

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With its rich cultural heritage, it’s no wonder that Prague has a large collection of museums dotted throughout the city. You have to pay to enter the vast majority of them but, if you know when to go, you can slip in for free. The Museum of Decorative Arts which exhibits beautiful displays of traditional textiles and ceramics is free on Tuesdays from 5pm-7pm, and the famous Kampa Museum which showcases work from local artists living in exile is free to enter on the first Wednesday of every month, whilst the National Gallery opens its doors for free from 3pm-8pm on the first Wednesday of every month, too.

Seek out smaller galleries

Image from Hunt Kastner website

The contemporary art scene in Prague is huge and there is a plethora of white-cube, private galleries to prove it. For us art lovers, most of them are free to enter, too. There’s the Hunt Kastner Artworks which showcases the work of emerging local artists, the Jiri Svestka Gallery which also exhibits contemporary art, and the Galerie Display which boasts an interactive schedule of performances and artists’ readings alongside its regular exhibitions. There are numerous other private galleries in Prague, mainly in the seventh district.

Have a look round Havelska Market

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I love wandering around local markets, seeing the produce and crafts on show and admiring the well thought out displays, don’t you? The Havelska Market in the Old Town is particularly good for art lovers because it includes a huge arts and crafts section as well as the usual fresh food. Here, you can explore piles of wooden toys, hand-made souvenirs, and locally woven textile pieces.

Galivant down Golden Lane

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Golden Lane is one of the cutest and quaintest streets in the whole of Prague. It’s thought to have got its name from the alchemists that were beavering away hunting for a way to turn metal into gold for the Emperor Rudolf, but these days it offers a much artier scene. The row of colourful houses harbour quirky souvenir shops that sell a variety of locally made artisan products like the puppets which are so popular in Prague, as well as prints by Czech artists. Of course, you’ll have to part with some money if you want to buy something, but it’s still a great place just to go for a stroll.

Admire the amazing architecture

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As I said before, Prague is a beautiful museum in its own right, filled with a collection of breath-taking Baroque, Gothic, and Nouveau architecture. It’s enough to just wander the streets and see what you come across around each corner, but if you want a focus to your meandering then head to Mala Strana which is an area filled with incredible Baroque architecture.

Hunt for hair-raising sculptures

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Prague’s been pinpointed a lot recently for its collection of weird and wonderful sculptures that dot the streets. The work of Czech artist David Černý is particularly prominent, featuring a trail of unusual and show-stopping pieces including dead horses and huge guns. Interesting, to say the least.

If you’re an art lover and you’re in Prague, you’re bound to have a good time. But, if you’re looking for some art-based activities that won’t break the bank, then this should hopefully act as a great starting point.

Have you been to Prague? What was your favourite part of the art scene there?

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