Prague · New Town and the river
Wenceslas Square
A long boulevard rather than a square, with the National Museum at the top. It is free and open at all hours, and it is more a place to cross than to linger.
- 40 min
- Free
- Booking: not needed
- New Town and the river
Data checked on October 5, 2026
Charles IV laid out the square in 1348 as a horse market for the New Town. It is 750 metres long and 63 metres wide at the upper end, and the National Museum closes it at the top, below the statue of St Wenceslas from 1912. Shops, hotels, cinemas and arcades line both sides. A memorial near the statue recalls the students Jan Palach and Jan Zajíc, who died in 1969.
What to look for
- The St Wenceslas statue below the museum
- The memorial to Jan Palach and Jan Zajíc
- The early 20th century arcades that cut through the blocks
- The National Museum facade at the top
Opening hours
Always open.
Open at all times. The Christmas market runs from 28 November 2026 to 6 January 2027.
Source: Prague City Tourism, checked October 5, 2026
Tickets and booking
Free. Free.
Getting there
Metro A or C to Muzeum at the top of the square, or Metro A or B to Můstek at the bottom.
Tip
Walk it from the museum down to Můstek in the evening, when the lit shop fronts and the passages are at their best.