Fun attractions for the entire family

• OREA Hotel Colorado Grand (Zvole)
• Hotel Babylon (Liberec)
• The Gingerbread Cabin - museum of gingerbread and fairy-tales Perníková chaloupka (Ráby)
• Rožnov pod Radhoštěm - heritage village (Rožnov pod Radhoštěm)
• Zoological park of the City of Prague Zoologická zahrada hl. m. Prahy (Praha)
• Botanicus Ostrá - historical village (Ostrá)
• Škoda Automobile Museum Škoda Auto Muzeum (Mladá Boleslav)
• Loučeň Chateau & Chateau Hotel Maxmilián Zámek Loučeň & Zámecký hotel Maxmilián (Loučeň)
• Maze on Petřín Bludiště na Petříně (Praha)
• "Happy World" Resort - natural grounds Areál Šťastná země (Karlovice)
• Museum of monsters Muzeum strašidel (Plzeň)
• Techmania science center (Plzeň)
• DinoPark Vyskov DinoPark Vyškov (Vyškov)
• Aquapalace Hotel Prague (Praha)
• DinoPark Ostrava (Doubrava)
• DinoPark Plzeň (Plzeň)
• Kingdom of railroads - museum Království železnic (Praha)

Science as amusement

Science and technology are in no way boring. The whole family will be convinced of this at the interactive museum Techmania Science Center in Pilsen. There you will see, for example, what goes on in a vacuum, discover magnetic attraction, and, for those of you brave enough, feel the power of 200,000 volts. Plenty of fun experiments also await at another location where science becomes a game-the Liberec science centre iQpark.

If you are looking for something truly one-of-a-kind in the Czech Republic, and even in Europe, head to Chateau Loučeň in Central Bohemia. In the chateau park can be found a vast labyrinth complex in which you will find a total of ten garden labyrinths and mazes. You can also get lost in Prague in the house of mirrors on Petřín hill.

A journey into prehistory

The west Bohemian city of Pilsen and the Moravian cities Vyškov and Ostrava are places where you can journey into prehistoric times. In each of these cities you will find Dinopark, a park with life-size models of prehistoric animals. In an instant you will be transported into the Mesozoic era.

Cars and trains aren't just for boys

If there is a member of your family who is crazy about cars, then definitely pay a visit to the Škoda Auto Museum in Mladá Boleslav. The exhibition will take you through the more than 100 year history of the production of Škoda cars (http://www.skoda-auto.cz). Model train lovers will truly enjoy the Railroad Kingdom in Prague's Smíchov neighbourhood.

To the zoo by steamboat

In the capital, be sure not to pass up a visit to the zoological garden. In addition to several hundred species of animals, the original animal enclosures and pavilions there also will thrill the entire family. You will at once be transported to all possible exotic corners of the world. At the zoological garden, visitors also can take the cable car or climb the steps to the lookout tower. And what's more, the zoo can be reached from the centre of Prague by steamboat.

Our tip

Many places in the Czech Republic offer the possibility to visit a zoo.

Entertainment at a water park

A trip to one of several water parks also will excite the whole family. The largest in the Czech Republic, and even Central Europe, is Aquapalace Praha. Children will love the pirate shipwreck, while parents will take pleasure from the sauna world that is also part of the water park.

What was life like in the past?

At the Botanicus Historical Centre in Ostrá (Central Bohemia), both kids and adults can try their hand at making a pot, candle or even paper in addition to the many other handcrafts presented at the centre. Visitors then can take a rest in the extensive on-site herb gardens. You will be able to acquaint yourself with the history and folk traditions of the Czech lands in a pleasant manner at Czech and Moravian open-air museums. The Wallachian open-air museum in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm boasts of being the oldest museum of its kind in Central Europe.

More tips for families

In the small Western town Šikl's Mill, you will experience for yourself some of the Western disciplines, such as panning for gold or archery. Excitement also awaits at rope centres. At the children's centre "Šťastná země" ("Happy Land") near Turnov, kids will take pleasure from the wooden castle, miniature village, air trampolines and much more. Boys and girls alike will enjoy themselves at Perníková chaloupka ("The Gingerbread Cottage"), located near Pardubice. Where else can you take the family? How about to see ghosts?

Note: Not all attractions are open year round. For information on periods and hours of operation, please visit the individual websites.

Photo: Techmania archive