10 Coming Attractions to Look Forward to In Prague This Spring

Direct Trains Routes to Paradise

Beginning March 24, Czech Railways launched direct routes (with same day return) to a number of day-trip-worthy destinations including a special cycling train to the rugged hills of Brdy, an express train to Bohemian Paradise and Prachov Rocks, and a number of historic locomotives calling at scenic attractions. Trains run regularly every weekend and on holidays until October 28th. See the complete schedule here.

A Mythical Virtual Reality Experience

Czech start-up DIVR labs will launch the biggest virtual-reality attraction in Europe to date this spring, teleporting visitors to 16th-century Prague to experience the awakening of the mythical golem via the magic of VR. The Golem VR Experience, debuting the first week of May, will be comprised of a unique multisensory game covering 300m2 at Hamleys toy store in Old Town. More information here.

A Food Tour Approved by Locals

While no one wants a tour group invading his or her natural habitat, knowing about a good tour is a must for locals because, visitors. A new one showcasing the best of the Czech capital’s dynamic food scene will be launched this spring by the Food Events team, creators of popular food festivals such as Street Food and Asia Food Fest. Their guided tour of Prague 2 & 3 includes a stop for shots at Palace Akropolis, as well as the cafes, markets, and pubs of Žižkov and Vršovice. More information here.

Skate Park In the Urban Jungle

The Plechárna community center, the group behind some of the more unusual initiatives in the Czech capital of late (including the upcoming Blaf Food Festival) has teamed up with Mystic Constructions and Prague 14 to build a new skate park amid the concrete jungles of Černý Most. Opens this afternoon with competitions and give aways. More information here.

More Free Art than You Can Handle

Spring is shaping up to be a good time for art lovers in the Czech capital. MeetFactory hosts its annual Public House event April 13, a series of gallery tours, films, and events; 200 Years of the National Museum sees free admission to a number of NM properties April 14-15. Dozens of galleries, art spaces, and workshops in Prague 7  are inviting the public in for We’re Open 2018  (April 26); while Prague Gallery Weekend (April 27-29) highlights the gallery scene. The first ever Art Week (April 23-29) offers a number of free exhibitions and talks. Galerie Rudolfinum debuts a new free exhibition from April 11, Mat Collishaw, Standing Water.

Open-Air Karel Zeman Tribute Exhibit

Called Panorama Karel Zeman, this new attraction will be focused on the film tricks used in Zeman’s 1955 science fiction feature film Journey to the Beginning of Time (Cesta do pravěku). Twelve scenes from the film will be strategically mounted on wooden poles around the paths of Prokopské údolí and Dívčí hrady to create the optical illusion of vivid prehistoric scenes. Installation is due to begin in spring 2018 with the exhibition opening later this spring or early summer. More here.

Thousands of Bikes In the Streets of Prague

Bejing-based station-free bike-sharing provider, Ofo, has announced that it will launch in Prague soon, bringing an as of yet undisclosed number of bicycles (a company spokesperson says thousands) to the streets of the Czech capital this spring. Established Czech provider, Rekola, will increase its numbers to 500 bikes this year. Let’s see how the bike sharing movement does under the current ban on bikes in the tourist center.

A Rare Garden Light Show

On April 22 from 8 pm to 10 pm the Baroque splendor of the Vrtbovská Garden, located on the slope of Petřín Hill in the Malá Strana, will be festively lit for an illuminated view of Prague by night. The lighting of this magnificent palace garden (est. 1720) takes place only two times a year, in spring and autumn, making the event a must-see for anyone who won’t be around to catch it again in the fall. More information here.

Touchy-Feely Fun for Grown Ups

Last August VOAYER, an exhibit that lets visitors don plastic gloves to touch real-life nudes debuted in Prague to great success. It makes another appearance April 17-21 at the Dancing House. If you prefer your fun on the G-rated side, British singer Verity Standen will bring her project HUG, a series of concerts where concert-goers are blindfolded and hugged by a singer, to Colloredo-Mansfeld Palace. In Prague from April 11-15. Ticket information here.

Bonus Tip: Czech Republic’s First Museum of Illusions and Trick Art

The Czech Republic’s first museum dedicated to illusions and trick art, the Illusion Art Museum Prague, opened this week on Old Town Square. The exhibits here bring historical techniques of creating optical illusions into the age of the selfie, encouraging visitors to practically jump right into its unique paintings and sculptures. IAM Prague occupies two full floors in the historic Dum U Červené lišky on Staroměstské nám. 480/24, directly opposite the Orloj (and while we loved the tricks, the view of the Astronomical Clock was the biggest treat of all)!

What are you looking forward to this spring?