The Karel Zeman Museum in Prague is a magical place that takes visitors on a journey through the imaginative world of Czech filmmaker Karel Zeman. This museum is perfect for kids and families, offering a fun and educational experience. So me and my children were very eager to see its collection.
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The museum is located in the beautiful Malá Strana district, near the Charles Bridge. As soon as you enter, you are transported into Zeman’s fantastical universe. The exhibits are interactive and engaging, making it a wonderful place for children. They can explore sets from Zeman’s films, try out special effects, and even step into scenes from the movies. This hands-on approach allows kids to learn about the filmmaking process in a fun and exciting way.
Why visit: to see how Czech films and cartoons were created.
Recommended age for visiting: from 3 years and older.
Opening hours: daily from 10 AM to 7 PM (last entry at 6 PM), on Wednesday from 10 AM to 3 PM.
Entrance fee: adult ticket — 300 CZK, children, students and seniors — 190 CZK, children under 1 meter tall — free; family tickets (2 adults + 2 children) for 690 CZK.
Location & address: Saská 520/3, Malá Strana; it’s near Charles Bridge (map and details on how to get there below in the article ↓↓↓).
Our Review of the Karel Zeman Museum in Prague
The Zeman Museum is officially called the “Museum of Special Effects”. Special effects… Sounds impressive, right? So I was quite excited, anticipating what we would see. We even waited in line for an hour!
My children spent this hour on the swings in the museum courtyard.
Karel Zeman was a pioneering filmmaker known for his innovative special effects and creative storytelling. His work inspired generations of filmmakers around the world. The museum showcases Zeman’s most famous films, including “Journey to the Beginning of Time”, “The Fabulous World of Jules Verne”, and “The Stolen Airship”. These films combined live-action with animation, creating magical worlds that are still captivating today.
I had previously been to Universal Studios in Singapore, where there was an attraction with Hollywood special effects. It was incredible expirience: a storm started right before my eyes, boats exploded, and real fire scorched my face, then everything ended as if by magic. But here, the effects and cardboard decorations were much simpler. The children liked them, though.
One of the highlights of the museum is the green screen experience, where visitors can insert themselves into scenes from Zeman’s films. Kids can ride on a flying machine, dive into the ocean, or travel to outer space, just like the characters in Zeman’s movies. It’s a thrilling experience that sparks the imagination and creativity of young visitors. Mike was very engaged, so it was fun to watch him among all these psychedelic illustrations. I didn’t even know that my son had such drama skills until this moment 🙂
The museum is indeed interactive, meaning you can touch and experiment with many devices.
Moreover, the museum offers workshops where children can create their own animations and learn about the history of special effects. These workshops are a great way for families to spend time together, working on creative projects and learning new skills. Additionally, the museum often hosts film screenings, allowing visitors to enjoy Zeman’s work on the big screen.
The Karel Zeman Museum is not just about films; it also celebrates Zeman’s artistic talents. The exhibits include his original drawings, puppets, and models, providing a deeper understanding of his creative process.
In general, the Karel Zeman Museum in Prague is very unusual and truly unique. It will be of interest not only to family travellers, but especially who are professionally curious about cinema and are looking for inspiration or new ideas.
Museum of Special Effects on the Map of Prague
I marked the Karel Zeman Museum with a blue marker with a film reel icon on this map of Prague’s attractions.
You can also learn more about any other attractions by clicking on the markers.
How to Get to the Museum
The Karel Zeman Museum in Prague is located almost directly under Charles Bridge. Stairs from the Malá Strana Bridge Tower lead to the museum.
The easiest way to get there is to take tram No.12, 15, 20, 22, 23, 41, or 97 to “Malostranské námÄ›stÔ, and then walk towards the bridge towers, it takes 3-5 minutes.
