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prague with kids?

Prague print by Sketchmore

Prague print by Sketchmore

Dear Oh Joy readers,

I need your advice! My husband has a conference in Prague this fall and we're debating if we should extend his trip and make part of it into a family trip. We did this three years ago when he had to go to Lyon, France for work, and we took (a then 23 month old) Ruby on her first trip out of the country. But now with two kids, I'm a little scared to take them both to a city we've never been to and with me being on my own with the kids for a chunk of it while Bob's working. Part of me is saying "C'mon Joy, you gotta do these things and go on these adventures while you can!" and the other part of me is saying "Oh man, it's super tiring and you should save the money for the house you are saving up for!". So, I need any and all advice you might have if you have ever been to Prague. Would you go with kids? Is easy to get around with them? Would you stay there for just a few days and then head to another nearby city?

Thank you in advance for your wisdom!

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79 comments

  1. Have you tried working with a travel agent or a local tour operator to help you? They could create an itinerary suitable for kids that you could follow and give advice about the city…

  2. I went to Prague last fall, and while there are some areas that could be great for kids (like the gardens), it was a crowded, busy city. You do a LOT of walking. Many of the touristy sites don’t seem particularly geared towards kids (are they going to be able to appreciate the architecture and church history in the city with you?), although there are always exceptions here and there. It’s a beautiful place, but it’s hard to fathom young kids really appreciating it. I visited London for a few days before going to Prague, and I would say that London is more kid-friendly.

  3. Never been to Prague but I’ve heard it’s an amazing city to visit. But having said that if you will have to take care of both the kids all the time it might get exhausting for you and not fun! Will he be free in the evenings to spend time with all of you? Also can you look at getting help. One who can go out with you and take care of the kids while you are out with them?
    Also have you ever travelled with both the kids alone or have to manage them the whole day alone? If you have done it and managed fine you will be able to do it again 🙂 if not as tempting as this opportunity sounds it might be tiring for you in the end!

  4. Prague is nice and quite small… you can easily see a lot of it in a couple of days. It’s walk-able, so with a stroller you would be just fine! And… flying there from LA might not be cheap cheap, but Prague is very cheap for Europe! So you would still save a bit for your dream house! And there are a few low cost companies that fly from there… a lot of nice European destinations are within 1 or 2 hours distance, so a low cost is ok to take then. Or a train even! 😉

  5. Oh Joy, you should totally do it ! Prague is a nice city, almost all the city center is for pedestrians only and there is a really cool zoo ! I went there once like 5 years ago and it was nice : the castle, the river, or just walking there is a lot to do where you don’t need to worry constantly about your kids being loud or running all over the place -being kids in fact ! It will be tiring for sure but some months later you won’t remember that part but only the magic !

  6. The answer to the question of whether or not to travel is always yes. Especially with kids. Travel teaches you that there are more ways of looking at the world than just one and if kids travel when they are young this truth seeps into their soul. I’ve never regretted traveling with kids even though some moments were difficult.

  7. Prague is a beautiful city, and worth visiting. Here’s some stuff to consider:
    Geographically, it’s much smaller than Paris. Except for trip from airport, once in Prague you could do everything by foot or streetcar (no car seat needed, yay!). Having said that the oldest parts of Prague (where the clock and main square are located) are like main old European cities i.e. heavy on the cobblestones and less stroller friendly. You’d want a carrier on that day and walk with Ruby. Because Prague is small, depending on where your hotel/apt is located, many tourist attractions could be close enough for you to get back to your hotel for naptime. In terms of kid/baby supplies, Prague is first world capital city, so convenience markets will for sure have diapers and there are enough organic food shops (biomarkts) scattered throughout the city that you could get fruit/veggie packets.
    I can’t remember if Prague has as many parks/playgrounds scattered throughout as Paris or Berlin does, but one of the main sites is a large park containing a replica of the Eiffel Tower. There is tons of green space and interesting sculptures in the park. The park is situated on a hill leading up to Prague iconic castle, and maybe one of the most kid-friendly things is the funicular train running up and down the hill. Other considerations, food wise there are lots of international offerings in Prague, but the unique about Prague are the traditional cafe’s where you can have cake, coffee, and look at beautiful interiors. What kid wouldn’t like cake? The Charles Bridge is also great kid entertainment–lots of really good street musicians, street artists, and people watching. For you, Joy, I would highly recommend the Alphonse Mucha museum. It’s a small gem, packed to the gills with Mucha’s work–so much I had never seen before!
    Hope some of this helps you with decision-making!

  8. I’m going in May! I heard it’s superrrr friendly and the whole place is adorable like a dollhouse and it’s definitely on the cheaper side of Europe so it seems like of all the places to tag a long to Prague is perfect!
    That being said, only you know how long you’re able to take care of two little kiddies without help–how old will Ruby and Coco be by the fall? What are their general temperaments everyday? Do they have a super strict routine they need to stick to? How are they with jet lag? What are your main concerns of being in a foreign city with kids? Is it just not having an additional adult as backup? What are you hoping that they’d gain from traveling to Prague– If I think back to when I was I kid, while I have great memories of places I’ve traveled to under the age of 5 or 10, I find that I have to revisit places I traveled to under 18 because I personally did not have the capacity to fully understand and appreciate what I was seeing, whether it was culture or nature.
    And then the most concrete–how much money does it cost? Is Bob able to cover any of it as a business expense?
    BTW even though I don’t have kids every time i’m itching to travel I go through the hesitation of I shouldn’t be wasting money I should be saving money! But then I just take the plunge and buy the plane tickets and book the airbnb (if needed)… I haven’t regretted it yet, and if I did I don’t remember. The money blown on the trip eventually comes back…KNOCK ON WOOD…the personal and creative growth from traveling is priceless. Of course I’m in a slightly different boat since I don’t have kids!

  9. Just returned from Prague with family including my two kids. Prague is so beautiful! If this may be your only chance to see the city then go for it! My kids are 11 and 8 and they did well with the walking. There are cabs all around, too, but beware, agree on a price prior to your cab ride. Good luck!

  10. I’m sure you can manage a few days alone with the kids! Prague is a lovely city and loads of families go to visit. There’s a zoo you could visit, and make sure you book tickets to the Black Theatre! These are fairly “easy” activities you could do with the kids.
    Saving is great, having a house is a huge goal, but kids will only be kids for so long, and sooner than you can imagine they will be off to collage or they wont want to go on vacation with their parents! Invest in a trip to Prague, I’m really for that!
    I guess the air tickets will be a splurge, but I think you could find something affordable for accommodation, etc.
    PS. I’m a travel agent in Europe so yeah I think I am qualified to recommend it! 🙂

  11. First off, Prague is one of my favorite European cities! The atmosphere is hard to beat. It’s more expensive to visit than other Eastern European cities, but it’s still much cheaper than Paris or London.
    Prague is a walkable city, even for youngsters. All of the major sights are within a 1.5-mile radius. Prague Castle does require a bit of an uphill hike, but our six-year-old did it.
    Each major attraction has vending machines that dispense medals and coins embossed with the attraction’s image. They’re $3-5, depending on the exchange rate, but they’re fun to collect and make neat souvenirs. They might motivate reluctant sightseers, too.
    Our hotel, King’s Court Hotel, was perfectly situated. Powder Tower could be viewed from our hotel room, the Palladium Shopping Center was across the street, and the Old Town Square was only a 5-minute walk away. The facilities, service, and breakfast were top-notch. We highly recommend it.
    We utilized AAA taxi service to get to/from the airport/hotel. They’re punctual and fair-priced ($25 to the city center), and they advertise a 46% discount on return fares. Just be sure to get a receipt for the return trip, because you may have to collect a refund at the airport.
    One last thing: If I were you, I’d want to include one other city in the trip. Cesky Krumlov is another gorgeous, easy-to-navigate Czech city, and it’s about two hours from Prague.

  12. I went to Prague in 2013 (sans children) and loved it! Like other readers have mentioned you’ll have a lot of walking to do, but nothing you can’t handle without a stroller. Have you thought of taking a nanny to help while your husband is at his conference? Or maybe even hiring someone local for a few days. Either way, I would totally say GO FOR IT!
    Also, I just read an interesting children’s book this week about a man who grew up in Prague…something worth checking out to prep your children before the trip. It’s called The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sis.

  13. Karlovy Vary and Cesky Krumlov are excellent day trips from Prague. I lived in Prague for 6 months after college and loved it. City Center is very walkable with no cars allowed.

  14. Some are already saying this – and I rarely chime in – but I think Prague might be perfect for kids. It’s the quaintest and cutest city EVER – one of my very very tippy top favorites in Europe. I think the kids would love the main square and the clock and all of the towers. They might not appreciate the Jewish quarter (which if you could get away, go on a tour – it’s AMAZING) and that kind of deep and dark history but it’s such a manageable city – it’s small but still has a LOT to do. We did a trip with Budapest, Vienna and Prague but they weren’t THAT close together where you could do daytrips so I would say to stick to Prague – I imagine it would be a great first entree into traveling with both cutie pie girls!

  15. I’m all for traveling with kids but I think solo days in Prague with a 3yo and a 1yo would be too much. Do you have the energy to wear a carrier, hold Ruby’s hand and navigate a strange city by yourself? How much walking is she used to or would she need a stroller? Are they going to enjoy the cultural activities Prague is known for? I took a 4yo and a 1yo to Venice and it was OK, but we spent much of our time on boats and outdoors, and my husband was with me during the day to wear the carrier and/or carry the stroller up and down steps. We also had an apartment to go back to at the end of the day and make pasta and collapse.
    We’ve had much more fun on trips to US cities, also renting an apartment and exploring via a combo of rental car (because of car seats) and public transportation.

  16. Hi Joy! I lived in Prague for 9 years and many of my friends had kids during those years. I’d book the trip! Kids are very “en vogue” at the moment, with many restaurants catering to families. Food & Wine Market in Smichov (a short cab ride from Old Town) is a great example. They are a market but also a restaurant and there are always kids running around and having fun. Depending on the time of year, there are parks scattered around the Old Town and New Town. So you’re playing next to 500 year old building. Pretty sweet! Yes, there’s the zoo if you want as well–nothing too special there. Your hotel concierge would be an excellent reference to a lot of other things too. You will do a ton of walking so be sure you have a stroller you like. But luckily most of the streets in Old Town are pedestrian only, so that’s nice. I believe you have access to my email through the back end of your comment widget so don’t hesitate to reach our directly and I can put you in touch with two moms I know there who used to work in fashion and PR (one in Moscow, the other in London) who I can put you in touch with directly for more tips–and I can send you more tips for shopping and design too! xoRach

  17. i agree with alex’s post above about perhaps creating an itinerary! it’ll keep you on a general schedule, but obviously you won’t be held to it if plans change!
    my mom is actually heading there with a group of her girlfriends this saturday 🙂
    hammyta.wordpress.com

  18. Hey Joy! I was just in Prague this past fall, and while I don’t have kids, I think that it would be a really great city to bring kids to. There are a lot of sights, great food, and everything is easily walkable. Also, I found that within the city centre many people spoke English, which made things MUCH easier to navigate (obviously we had a few Czech phrases to work with, but are definitely not fluent!).
    For train rides from Prague, we went to Vienna and Budapest – both are beautiful, easy to navigate, and tourist friendly. I would recommend either from Prague as another destination for your trip!

  19. Do it. I lived in Prague (in Vinorhady district right off the I.P. Pavlova metro) and can tell you there’s plenty of places to visit with kids. The transportation system is super easy to navigate without speaking any Czech. It’s a very small BEAUTIFUL city that is easy to walk around and you can just hop on a tram or metro if you get tired. Also, its easy to daytrip outside of Prague or even shoot over to Germany if you and Bob want to. (Dresden is 2 hours away, for example.)
    There’s actually a rule about building and having parks/green space within a certain distance, so there will always be somewhere to let the kids run or to sit down and enjoy. There’s a huge park/beergarden/playground called Letna that’s worth visiting. Also, a pretty well-known zoo. The castle area is worth a day with the kids and not far from Letna. More gardens there, and there’s a really cool hall of mirrors next to an eiffel tower replica. You’ll also find a few puppet and toy stores not far from here mixed in with the souvenir stores.
    It’s very inexpensive. I’d suggest staying outside of the touristy old-town area and just hopping a tram or walking there to visit if you want. It’s really only ever crowded on the Charles Bridge and a couple spots nearby where the tourists hang out (and we’re not talking Times Square crowded either.) There’s a big expat community and around the city center almost everyone speaks English and if you ask there is often an English menu at restaurants. Lots of moms and dads with prams over in the area I used to live, but a carrier for the littlest one might be wise if you don’t want to deal with a pram.
    Get yourself a local SIM so you can use Google Maps. (10GB of data with vodafone is like $30 and comes with some minutes to call just in case.) There’s a couple Tesco’s, outdoor markets, small food shops, and biomarkets/organic stores.
    I would recommend bringing any medicines with you, but the rest you’ll find easily. Oh, and bring your own moisturizer with sunscreen because that is a weird thing you won’t find at any drugstore and skin gets oddly dry there.
    Feel free to e-mail or tweet me (@bitsofbeauty). I have a sort of city guide I share with all my friends who go and would be happy to share it with you.

  20. My husband and I spent this past xmas in Prague and then took the train to Budapest for nye. Prague is a lovely city; not very large and almost everyone speaks English. I would say go for it! Walk along the water, see the castle complex, hang out in the old town, check out museums, synagogues etc.
    If you DO go… please go to La Degustation Bohême Bourgeoise as it was one of the best dinners we’ve had in a long time. Also loved Casa De Carli for Italian (if you need a break from the eastern european food). Restaurace Mincovna is great for traditional food and they seem like they would be very kid-friendly.

  21. I have been to Prague many times and can highly recommend it. It is a busy tourist town, but way smaller than London or Berlin. There arme huge places with low traffic and you can reach many sights by walking. Also, Czech people love kids and are very friendly and welcoming. When I was a kid I spent several holidays there. It’s only one hour from Dresden, if you like to visit Germany or two hours away from Leipzig, if you would like to come and visit my super cool hometown. 😉

  22. Lots of really great advice and comments already made and there is lots for you to think about. The opportunity to travel should never be missed as sometimes in life that chance doesn’t come around again and you will have missed something potentially great – even if it is only discovering a new city with your children while they are small. It will make a some impression on them, but the bigger rewards are the memories you (underlined if I could) will have of a special time with them in a foreign place. These will be magical memories. You will have so many memories. And remember children don’t remember each day doing the routine things in life – they remember the vacations and fun stuff. This is what their memories are going to be made of.
    Having said all of this, if you are going to be the sole caregiver and spending long days on your own you do have to factor your energy and how you will feel. If you will be doing this for a couple of days that is possibly bearable, but if it is more then it becomes exhausting and that will counter any enjoyment. I did several business trips with my husband and infant / toddler daughter and I was on my own for 15 hrs each day. But I made a ‘mom friendly’ schedule and it worked well – there was lots of sitting, wandering and sometimes a nap or two!
    If you choose to go remember that the visiting has to be on their level with a very flexible itinerary. Let them set the pace. Watch what engages them and let this be your guide. Europe is very child friendly and is so great to share with children.

  23. Prague is a beautiful city, and very maneuverable and fairly cheap. It’d be super easy to combine a trip there with a visit to Cesky Krumlov (about an hour outside of Prague) or a jaunt up to Vienna and Salzburg (which is crazy kid friendly). Definitely go- you only live once!

  24. I am kid-less, so I can’t speak to that, but when it comes to travel, I always just say yes and I’ve never regretted it. Prague is nice, but I’d actually recommend Amsterdam for a family vacation. It’s beautiful and clean and it seems to be a very kid-friendly city (I always see parents riding with kids strapped in to little seats on the front and back of their bike). Also, I’d recommend Croatia as an inexpensive and fun place for a Mediterranean beach vacation, that seems like it would be pretty kid friendly. As for Prague, I actually much prefer Budapest. The city is truly much more grand and it has an untouched quality that feels just slightly gritty but very authentic.

  25. Just in your last post you talked about traveling more……do whatever you feel is right for you and your family. We have a family road trip planned from Washington to Disneyland, with a 2 year old. Some people say we are crazy and that she will never remember it, but who cares? The children might not remember but YOU will. We will take lots of pictures and try to journal as much as we can and look forward to when we can tell our daughter about our first road trip adventures. Don’t overthink it, go with your gut for what is right. xoxo

  26. Oh Joy! One of my fondest memories is going to Prague as a child – the clock in the centre is like a fairy tale as are the rest of the buildings, at most of the “landmarks” and touristy sports there are so many little old fashioned toys and figurines to buy and enjoy, true there is plenty of walking but there’s plenty to keep children entertained during the walks and plenty of cafes to stop at! Don’t feel that you have to do everything – tailor the visit to be more about spending time with her and work in some traditional fairy tales to bring the city alive to her vivid imagination! Bring comfy walking shoes and some warm clothes and just do what you feel like doing on the day, don’t feel pressured to fit the whole city into one break! Have a fantastic time should you go, and make the most of the concierge at the hotel – they’re used to giving tips about where to take children and can steer you in the right direction.
    I still have my brightly coloured figurines and collect a new one each time I revisit this magical city!

  27. YES Prague! and YES to traveling with kids! They are so much more resilient and open to new experiences; my toddler reminds me of this every day! My dearest friend who is an illustrator, designer and new mom lives there and runs a beautiful design store/studio with her husband. I love hearing about this wonderful city through her! Here is her work and store info, if you plan to go: http://www.jainandkriz.com/en/
    Happy travels!

  28. Hi Joy!
    I studied abroad in Prague in college, it is a great city! As many commenters have pointed out, Prague is geographically smaller than a lot of cities and is very easy to explore by foot. Czech people appreciate children and it is expected that people will give up their seats on the metro/tram for moms with kids. Men will also help carry strollers onto the steps up a tram with no questions asked. A large portion of the city is hilly and I imagine the cobblestone streets aren’t the best for strollers but the sidewalks are great and the public transportation is fantastic.
    Architecturally it is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. You don’t have to be visiting the tourist attractions to enjoy what Prague has to offer. Fall is a fantastic time of year there. I think as a city, Prague is fairly kid friendly. Letna park by the metronome has some of the best views in the city and is great for children. I also imagine Ruby would have a fun time looking at all the airplanes at the technical museum (http://www.ntm.cz) near Letna.
    I say book the trip! Chances like this don’t come along too often 🙂

  29. prague is one of the most magical cities I’ve been too so if i had an opportunity to go i would do it even with kids.

  30. Definitely take them! We lived in the Czech Republic for four months last year and toted around our 4 month-old no problem. The cobblestone streets are definitely not stroller friendly but I used our mobey wrap and didn’t have any issues in the old town square areas. On a side note–You should try trdelnik while you are there! It’s delicious.

  31. DO IT! I have been to prague and it is one of my favorite cities in Europe. I think it is cheaper than other cities. Quite small so a few days is plenty and very walkable even with a stroller. I love to travel with my kids. They wont remember the city but they learn every time – about family time, undivided attention, how to explore a new city and appreciate different cultures and food. This is what my parents did for me and it fostered a lifelong love of travel.
    It is quite a bit of walking and will be tiring but most adventures are. I say go for it!

  32. i’d say do it with them!!! how many chances are you going to get to go to Pargue? They may never get the chance to again…yeah it will be tough, and probably a bit stressful but you’ll be glad you did it!! What a cultural experience you would be able to give them!!! I operate by the motto ‘kids are supposed to enhance your life, not hold you back’ if you think about it that way, take them. always.

  33. Hi Joy,
    I am from Prague/Praha, now living in Us. Of course, I may be bias, but for me Prague is the most beautiful European city. It has all the architectural styles in a relatively small place. It is feels much more intimate than Paris or Vienna. Also the castles in Czech outnumber any other place on the earth with the Prague castle being the biggest according the Guinness world records. I am also a fellow mom and graphic designer and I think you would find it very insipring.
    Go for it:)

  34. I say, “Yes!” I visited Prague pre-motherhood but it is a really lovely and manageable city. We travel a lot with our little guy. Our trips look a little different now than before (mostly because we rent apartments and eat dinner in) but the more I travel, the more I understand that just being somewhere different is just as valuable (if not more so) than checking sites off a list. Walking to a local bakery, playing in a park, going back to the apartment for naps, finding things to cook in a supermarket… it’s all travel. If you go easy on yourself (and the kids) and be happy with just experiencing life abroad, you won’t feel overwhelmed trying to get things done.

  35. Any opportunity to travel, you should take it! Now onto Prague. You can pretty much visit the city in a day or two, so I would highly recommend visiting another city on this trip. We were there for 3 days, I was ready to leave by end of day one. Of all the European cities I’ve visited, I found it the least friendly and the amount of touristy shops is disappointing (it was overwhelming for such a small city). I would have loved to seen more of the country and the castles of Czech Republic! Something to consider especially if you are traveling with kids, how cool would it be for them to explore a castle!

  36. I spent a long weekend in Prague, which was 2 days too many; we saw everything we wanted to see in a day and a half. It’s a beautiful city that your kids are too young to appreciate. Stay home, save the money and the stress.

  37. Saving for a house is great, but if you feel you can afford to go, do it! Coco won’t be under 2 forever, so it’ll be cheaper now than later. I would love to go to my husband’s conference destinations, but since I’m not earning income it’s not possible. You should do it!

  38. I have 2 children and my husband and I decided early on to wait for the big dream trips until the kiddos are old enough to remember them. Since travelling with a 2 year old is nearly as expensive as one school age (yikes!) and we would want our kids to be excited and understand about the adventure to come.

  39. We are super nervous traveling with 2, as well, but have decided to just go for it and will be traveking with our 3 year old and 4-month-old (at time of travel) to Thailand in June. Terrifying? Yes. Difficult? Probably. But I do know the experience will be worth it!

  40. I have a 4 year old and 2 year old and no way in hell would travel with them to uncharted territory and knowing I’d be by myself a lot of time. Going from 1 to 2 kids is a totally different ballgame. The only way I’d do it is if someone came to help and I did a massive amount of research. Other than that it sound like hell on earth. Lol. Having 2 kids back to back is no joke. Good luck!!

  41. It’s been several years since I’ve visited Prague (and never with kids), but it is a beautiful, beautiful city. As others have said, there is a LOT of walking (not to mention Prague castle and the surrounding museums are at the top of an absolutely enormous hill), and most of the sights to see are going to be of the cultural/historical/architectural sort, so they will likely be lost on the little ones. With all that said, it totally depends on what you want out of the vacation. If you want to kick back and just wander the neighborhoods and enjoy a beautiful city, it could be great! If you really want to hit the sights and museums, it will probably be exhausting. The good thing is, the train makes it so easy to hop around, so you could very easily visit Prague for a couple days and then head to Austria or Germany (the train ride itself is also so, so beautiful). Good luck! (We’re also heading to Europe with our new baby this Spring, fingers crossed for us all! 🙂

  42. YES!!! Prague is very easy to navigate, the people are nice, there is a castle, and a clock that chimes, and bridges and pastry shops. I’ve traveled a lot with my twins, now 9, a lot on my own, and have never regretted taking them anywhere.

  43. My cousin is married to a wonderful guy from Prague and still has family there. They have gone a few times now to visit Woth your BGs kids and have had a great time. I’d be happy to connect you so them for tips and such about Prague and their thoughts on going if you’d like. Hello at hebrewdawn dot com

  44. Hey Joy,
    Yes, you should absolutely take your family to Prague. I’m a new mom (I have a 6 mo old son) and we travel a lot (and live abroad). As you said, it can be exhausting to travel with children, but it is also so rewarding and wonderful. Sure, our traveling has changed as we now eat in for dinner and opt for stroller-friendly options with public transportation, but it is still wonderful.
    Prague is a gorgeous city and would be great to visit with kids. One of my blog friends lives over in the Czech Republic and I bet she has a ton of great tips for things to do and see (she doesn’t have kids, but I’m sure if you asked she’d be able to give you a ton of information). http://www.adventurings.com
    Good luck with whatever you decide!!

  45. Go Go Go Go Go! You should go! Memories made together are great! Take plenty of photos! Unfortunately your childern are too little to remember! But you never know what life has in store for you! So Goooooooooooo!!

  46. I think the fact that you asked for opinions on your blog (and not just friends IRL) means you really want to go! Because if you didn’t really want to go, you wouldn’t have mentioned it to a bunch of strangers online 🙂
    I say yes, always, to travel with kids. You are lucky that you live in LA, a very multicultural city with lots of friends who are also multicultural. But the world isn’t really like that, or at least not as much as what your kids know. As a parent I think one of the best things you can give your kids is a sense of how big the world is, how many OTHER ways there are to live, and their place in it. Travel is the only thing that will really give them that, and it’s better to start now when they’re young.

  47. I am an American expat living in Prague with a 5yo daughter :). Prague is very kid friendly and there are so many gorgeous places to visit and lots cafes and museums with kids corners where you can sit and relax in between sights. My first visit with my daughter was when she was seven months so I’ve experienced it with a baby, toddler and now a 5yo and had so much fun every time. We travel with my husband when he works as well so I know it can be challenging on your own. It is important to carve out a slow moving itinerary for yourself for sure, but I think you would find this city very accommodating. Prague has one of the best public transportation systems in Europe. It is very well connected. It is also very easy to travel to nearby castles and small towns via bus and train. If you would like help with an itenerary or someone to meet up with at a mom friendly cafe, I’m always happy to show off this lovely city! Is that weird? Ha! I’m so used to meeting up with strangers while traveling I can’t even tell anymore ;).

  48. So fun! We’re headed to Ireland with our 4.5 (will be 5 in July) year old and 17 1/2 month old (eek!) in a few months. Im anxious, but now that the trip planning is underway I am setting myself up to be Mary Poppins, basically! Im excited to be in a new place with them and explore – new inspiration, etc. And seeing it through a child’s eyes – priceless! GO!! And, after doing some research, maybe you head to another area after your hubs work is complete? I’ve been to Prague (amazing City), but maybe not the best place to be for a long time with kids. Then again, it is a new place and we know how kids love new places!!
    http://WWW.BITSYSTYLE.COM

  49. Hi Joy!
    Besides the benefit of exposing your kids to different cultures and countries (which I’m sure we can all agree is awesome) – I HEAR YOU on the apprehension of spending the majority of the time alone with them in a city you’re unfamiliar with. I’ve been to Prague for work, when I was single and without kids – and while it’s gorgeous, I remember there not being a lot of variety of food (coming from LA where we raise our kids with lots of greens, lots of fresh fruit and produce – we are really lucky!). If I visited with Olive right now, I think my two greatest concerns would be the amount you’d have to walk in the city (of cobblestones) and really the lack of greens/fruit for the kids. I guess you could totally take care of this by bringing tons and tons of squishy pouches from the US! Have so much fun! Am I insane that this might be my only worry? Lol!

  50. Joy,
    Being the super foodie that you are, you and your family will be supremely disappointed by most of the offerings in Prague. Because the city was formerly part of Soviet territory in the Cold War, most people didn’t have access to a variety of foods and spices. The government really removed as much of the culturally unique parts of the area as they could. Fast forward nearly 30 years and not much has changed. The food is bland, flavorless, and unoriginal. I ordered a “spicy” tikka masala salad for lunch and I was literally served boiled chunks of unflavored chicken atop iceberg lettuce and dressed with plain runny yogurt. Yuck. Prague has a great beer culture, and if you and Bob are into that, you’ll find it fun. But there aren’t very many “kid friendly” restaurants other than American fast food places like KFC or Burger King.
    Prague is a very cheap city–you won’t spend much to eat there. It’s also very pretty and picturesque. But I don’t recall seeing many children outside of the primary touristy areas near the Old Bridge and the castle. There are plenty of parks that are also fun to visit. I liked Prague well enough, but not enough to want to spend my entire trip there. I would venture across the border to Bavarian Germany and have some real fun!

  51. I love Michele’s advice – as a mama of one 2.75ish boy, we’ve travelled a lot with him and still have a lot to go!
    We moved to the US last year from New Zealand and were in transit/on holiday for nearly 6 weeks and my hubby started work soon after arriving- some days were better than others but overall we remember the good things and not the bad experiences.
    We don’t get to see as much of a city as we would like but hey, we went and saw what we could and tried to make the most out of the experience as we could. We always tried to one kid friendly activity per day and it seemed to work well for us.
    Good luck with your decision 😉

  52. I’m from Passported, a modern travel agency that specializes in kid-friendly travel for grown-ups. Let us know if you need any help planning!
    A few tips for Prague:
    Visit the National Marrionette Theater
    Ride the funicular to Petrin
    Check out Prague Castle – Changing of the guard (the best one is at noon!)
    Hang out at this great playground in Lesser Town by the Charles Bridge
    If you want to be in the center of it all, stay in Old Town, but the best views are from across the river.

  53. My husband had a conference in Prague last June so we went as our family trip. We travel like this multiple times to other countries since our kids were little.They were 5 & 8 then, older than yours so It was easier because they could walk on their own. But kids are still kids, unpredictable. Sometimes they will be amazed by some small things along the way or whinny only to walk 5 more steps. But I love having them around. I always miss them when I see beautiful things or spectacular sunset( we travel just as a couple too and love alone time, not try to be that corny) Prague is beautiful,walk-able and kids friendly.I ended up be with the kids almost all day but we tried to figure something out with my husband’s schedule so he can join us part of the day, maybe morning or evening depending what part of conference that he could skip. I did one or two things per day and stop as much as we want, many cute cafes as other mentioned. It is very affordable!! I could have a nice cold beer or fun drink while they have homemade lemonade or juice as a treat. I let them have sweet or treat more than usual. Petrin park is awesome. Paddle boat on the Vltava river. Castle, Astronomical clock, Mucha museum are all great and doable with kids. I would recommend stay near center. We stay at Airbnb that not too close to the center just to avoid the crowd so we ended up walk a lot to reach the center everyday. Bus is easy to take and not hard to figure it out. We took kids to the bars late at night with kids and no one care( forget about sleep schedule).Down side is that people smoke a lot..well it is temporary environment and you can avoid them. I also recommend Cesky Krumlov, It is magic.. we are in love with it. You will have the town to yourself after 4-5pm when the bus tour left. Do the trip Joy!!

  54. Hi Joy. We were in Prague a few years ago (without kids) but there were a few things we saw that I thought would be awesome (or in some cases terrible) with our kids (age 2 and 5) in tow:
    Petrin Park and the Zoo are great kid-friendly destinations where you could spend a lot of time exploring and walking around. The zoo has an adventure zone and playground in addition to the animal exhibits. There are also a bunch of beautiful, independent chocolate shops and patisseries in the old center. You could do a progressive wander and treat yourselves to one bite at each shop, stopping at other shops and cafes as you go.
    Traditional czech food can be heavy on meat and sauces – although it’s more diverse now than offerings even a few years ago. For something different, there’s a delicious Italian restaurant right in the heart of the city called Pasta Fresca, with lots of kid friendly fare.
    Baja Bike tours offers bikes with kids seats on the backs. (email or call first to confirm) You’d need to do a tour with your husband to carry a kid with each bike. But, I’d recommend this as a way to tour the castle area since that part of the city otherwise would require a lot of walking. (Probably more than you’d want to do with piggy-back rides or an Ergo style carrier.)
    Finally a few things to avoid:
    – There are lots of advertised puppet shows, often set to operas or other classical music. These will hold your kids interest for 30 seconds. Avoid these – unless they’re street performers where you can walk away!
    – There are also a lot of classical musical concerts, usually staged in old churches and synagogues. Again, your kids will likely only last a few minutes in this setting, and the audience is expected to be very quiet,so I’d probably skip it. (Although as an adult, the concerts we attended were very good).
    – Beware of pick pockets. I think this has gotten better, but particularly on the Charles Bridge, there was a lot of pick pocket activity when we were there. Be really careful of this with diaper bags and the distractions that come with managing kids.
    Finally, you may want to consider bringing a BoB stroller along. My kids ride tandem on ours all the time as a way to travel longer distances. I’m guessing you may hit a few spots with stairs or rough cobblestones in the city center, but if the girls walk together and you pull the stroller through those sections, you may ultimately be able to cover more ground.
    I hope you go and have a wonderful adventure!

  55. Joy, let me refer you back to the previous post about Skillshare and the second video you highlight – Travel the World! Go for it! These kind of opportunities don’t come around all that often. Have fun and try not to stress about it!

  56. Do it! Can you take a mother or sibling or in law with you? Then you will have some help while Bob is at work, and a travel buddy 😉
    Also, go to Vienna for a few days too! The girls will love the castles and bridges and delicious sweets!

  57. Hi Joy! I’m 23 and I’ve been to Prague twice in the past two years. Once with my friends while studying abroad and more recently (this past December) with my mom and younger brother. It’s a lovely city, easily walkable since all the main attractions are located close together. It’s more of an “adult” city and from a younger perspective, I don’t think I would have truly appreciated and understood the beauty of Prague as a kid as I do now. But it’s definitely not too late to start widening their eager eyes!
    I would definitely visit at least one other city because you can literally see most of Prague in one day. Vienna is amazing, beautiful, and relatively close by. But I would recommend taking a train to Berlin, it’s only a 4 hour ride and it’s such an eclectic city- has so much to offer especially in terms of design and is also very kid friendly!

  58. I lived there for 6 months (in college) and it is SUCH a magical place. There are of course historic things to see, but I think it’s so full of nooks and crannies that kids would find magical. Don’t take cabs. The train and street cars are so easy! You can also stay in a neighborhood just outside the city center, and get a quieter experience. But I think definitely go! And there are a couple of easy train journeys near by as stated above – Berlin, Vienna.

  59. I say never miss an opportunity to travel! My husband and I are taking our two kids (14 months and 33 months) to Brazil in a week. I’ll do a week solo and then a week together. You can do it! And the best part has been talking about the trip with my older daughter. We’ve gotten books from the library and looked at pictures online. She likely won’t remember much, but I love that we are starting her early.

  60. Hi Oh Joy,
    after reading (almost) all recomendation from other readers, your decision will be yes and hope we will see you in Prague this autumn!
    Šárka (with Anna, 10, and Julie, 1.5), your readers from Prague
    Send question if you will need to ask something about Prague 🙂

  61. You should do it. I’ve never been to Prague with kids, but being expats, we’ve travelled all over South America and now Asia with our three young children (7,6,2). We started doing all of this traveling when they were babies and it’s so cool to see their passports all stamped up now. The idea is more daunting than the actual doing and the experience is worth it in the end. I love that my kids can identify countries and cultures and I feel like it’s the best gift we can give them. Have a great time!

  62. I went to Prague on my honeymoon for the architecture, decorative arts,and design. I am currently expecting my second daughter and I would take them there if the opportunity would arise It is a magical city and I know my 2.5 year old would love the castles and the puppets. The Mucha museum is great!

  63. I agree with Em “Karlovy Vary and Cesky Krumlov are excellent day trips from Prague.” and Rachael “Food and Wine Market in Smichov”(though it is Italian haha. My American sister has lived there for 12 years and has three kids 8,6,3yrs, and has taken me to all of these places with happy kids in tow. I think its a great place for the fam. My link is to her air b n b apartment that she offers, in case you’d like to be in touch with an American family for accomodations.

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