Twelve hours of rain in Prague? Here is what to do

Museums for every taste

The National Museum at the top of Wenceslas Square is an impressive building in its own right, with grand staircases and a domed pantheon, plus collections covering natural history and Czech heritage. The National Gallery spreads its collections across several historic buildings, including a convent with medieval art and a modernist trade fair palace with a strong collection of twentieth-century and contemporary work.

For something smaller, look for the museum dedicated to Alfons Mucha, the Art Nouveau artist, or the Museum of Decorative Arts, which showcases glass, ceramics, fashion and design. Czech glass in particular is a source of national pride.

Arcade hopping

Prague's covered passages are made for wet weather. Around Wenceslas Square and the surrounding streets, you can weave from one arcade to the next, ducking into old cinemas, bookshops and cafés, and barely feel a raindrop.

One of the best known houses a quirky upside-down sculpture of a horse and rider hanging from its glass dome, a playful riff on the statue of St Wenceslas outside. It is a very Prague kind of joke.

Cafés and coffee houses

A rainy afternoon is the perfect excuse to settle into one of the city's historic cafés. Art Nouveau and cubist interiors, marble tables and newspapers on wooden holders make it easy to lose an hour or two over coffee and cake.

Prague also has a thriving specialty coffee scene, particularly in Vinohrady, Karlín and Holešovice, where small roasters serve carefully brewed filter coffee in airy, modern spaces.

Music and the evening

Prague is a city of music, and concerts run almost every evening in churches, palaces and concert halls. Programmes often feature Czech composers such as Dvořák and Smetana alongside the big classical names. Quality varies between tourist-focused recitals and major orchestras, so look at the venue and performers before you book.

Opera and ballet at the city's main theatres are another option, and seats in the upper tiers can be surprisingly affordable. Black light theatre, a distinctly Prague form of visual performance, is a fun alternative if you want something without language barriers.

A cosy end to the day

When the rain finally eases, the city's reflections in wet cobbles make for atmospheric evening walks. Warm up with a hot drink in a café, or settle into a traditional pub with a bowl of goulash and a glass of dark lager. Prague is one of those cities that feels just as rewarding on grey days, as long as you plan around a few indoor anchors.

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