kutná hora with kids

Last Updated on June 14, 2019

A town an hour away from our home in Prague, which happens to be a UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Perfect fodder for a family day trip, surely? And yet we had hesitated. For over two and a half years.

I suppose my enthusiasm for visiting Kutná Hora had been curbed by the thought of trying to marshal my two young children around a place famous for its churches and historic centre. Yes – all the photos I had seen of this handsome Czech town made it look wonderful. But, superimpose my children’s bored faces into the images of gothic churches and medieval houses – well, let’s say it dulled the allure somewhat.

I had heard tell of a Lego museum in the town, though. And although I suspected it would be small – I hoped it might buy me enough goodwill to allow a little jaunt around the cobbled streets.

And so, on a mild winter’s day, we set off for an overdue look at this medieval town in Central Bohemia. And not only did we find a picturesque place, but also one bursting with child-friendly attractions.

Our day in Kutná Hora

Sedlec Ossuary

One of Kutná Hora’s most famous sights is a small Gothic chapel around 1.5km from the historic centre. Although unremarkable from the outside, inside is more extraordinary: the church is decorated with 40,000 human skeletons.

The skeletons date back to Medieval times, although the use of the bones as garlands and chandeliers happened in the 1870s. This was when the owners of the vault asked a local woodcarver to order the pile of bones inside. It is fair to say, he threw himself into his work with gusto.

Concerned that it would be a macabre affair, I almost didn’t take our children inside the ‘bone church’. But, after we explained what to expect, they were keen to look around. Rather than gloomy, it all felt strangely fascinating and peaceful.

Tickets are available from the nearby Tourist Information Office.

The Lego Museum

My initial suspicions were correct when it came to The Lego Museum. Situated down the road from the Ossuary, it is compact and not inexpensive (500 CZK for a family ticket of four, approx. 17 GBP or 21 USD).

The exhibition consists mainly of rare sets, displayed in glass cases, across three rooms. However, there is also a small play area, with both Duplo and regular sized Lego, and the chance to complete a short museum trail (available in English). My highlight was the very cool brick replicas of the Ossuary and the Church of St Barbara.

As you might expect, entry to the museum is through a well-stocked Lego shop. There is also a good-sized café onsite if you need a snack.

Of all the attractions in Kutná Hora, this would be the one I would skip if I were short on time or trying to stick to a budget. That said, my Lego-crazy son had it down as a highlight.

The Mirror Maze

Located back in Kutna Hora’s historic centre, the Mirror Maze is worth a stop. Here you’ll find both adult and child-sized mazes and lots of fairground mirrors. Cue lots of gasps of glee.

Compared to other mirror mazes I’ve visited (I’m becoming something of an aficionado), the use of light effects here adds a little extra sparkle. The infinity mirror tunnel and kaleidoscope are also worth a selfie or two.

The maze is open on weekends and school holidays from 10.00 – 16.00. It is reasonably priced at 60 CZK per person (family discounts available).

Lunch at Čtyři sestry (Four Sisters Restaurant)

Generous amounts of natural light and a modern, plant-filled interior makes this an agreeable spot for lunch. The menu consists of modern Czech and international cuisine. There is also a children’s menu with items like chicken schnitzel and mash potato (95 CZK).

During our visit, the service was friendly and helpful despite the restaurant being full (reservations might be wise). There are also highchairs and changing facilities available.

Dačický House

Giving an insight into the history of Kutná Hora, this museum spreads from the basement to the attic of a beautifully restored late Gothic house.

Exploring the passageways provided a fair amount of entertainment, although it was the good number of audiovisual displays which grabbed my children’s attention. The printing stamps, crayons and building blocks were welcome touches too.

Unfortunately for us, many of the audio-visual exhibits were only in Czech. But, watching the animations still gave a good sense of the town’s history and its rise to prominence following the discovery of silver.

The Chocolate Museum

If the Lego Museum was on the small size, then Kutna Hora’s Chocolate Museum is positively bijou. But this isn’t really the point; the one-room museum is free to enter and provides a tasty starter before the main event – browsing the chocolate shop.

The shop comes with friendly, knowledgeable staff, wonderful hot chocolate and the chance to try a few chocolate bar samples before you buy. This is the perfect place to stock up on souvenirs and support a local business.

The Historic Centre and Church of St Barbara

Compact and colourful, Kutná Hora’s historic centre provides a beautiful backdrop for a stroll. That said, I imagine its quiet charm may get lost on a busy summer weekend. So, if you want to have a relaxed potter, it might be best to visit outside the main summer tourist season.

For jaw-dropping beauty, head to the Church of St Barbara, towards the south of the town. A wonderful example of late Gothic architecture, it is possible to tour the inside of the church as well as admire its pointy exterior. With our two kids, we stuck to walking around the pedestrianised grounds outside. There is also lots of green space here, which would be perfect for a picnic.

GASK

Art galleries and young children can often feel like a tricky combination. But not so in this museum – based in a handsome Early Baroque Jesuit College.

On the ground floor, there is a free playroom, which is equipped with a smattering of toys. The main attraction though is a cool central climbing structure containing tunnels and hatches. Perfect fare for toddlers and preschoolers.

If you buy a ticket for the Education Centre on the 2nd floor, more surprises await. Here kids aged under ten can scale a wall disguised as a Piet Mondrian painting. And there is the chance to create masterpieces with large foam shapes as well as a whole room full of large, colourful blocks. I can’t think of a gallery more suited to young children or a soft play room which is so creative and beautiful.

Coffee and snack at Café 21

Kutná Hora appeared to have many cute cafes and, on a warm day, Zmrzlinárna is well worth hunting down for ice cream. But during our February trip, coffee and cake at the cosy and reasonably priced Café 21 provided an excellent finale.

A final note on our route

If I’m honest, I probably tried to cram too much into our visit. Unless you are feeling energetic, picking two or three attractions would provide a more relaxing family jaunt.

I should also point out, we drove from the area near the Sedlec Ossuary to the historic centre. If you don’t have a car, it is about a 30-minute walk between the two. Parents of young children might want to bring a pushchair or skip the Ossuary entirely. It is possible to get a train from Kutná Hora-Sedlec to Kutná Hora mesto, but this still doesn’t save you all the walking and the trains appear to be fairly infrequent. During the tourist season, a bus also runs between the two.

A video of some of our highlights

More Kutná Hora kid-friendly attractions

Bobsleigh Track – at 1565 metres long, Kutná Hora is home to the longest bobsleigh track in the Czech Republic. Parents can ride with children on two-seater sleighs and there are bouncy castles and trampolines on site. The track is open May until October daily, during April and November only at the weekend, and is closed during the winter months. It also closes during the summer in bad weather.

Kutná Hora Swimming Pool – with slides, a paddling pool and a wild river, this open-air swimming pool looks like the perfect place to cool down during the summer. It is open June – August.

Photo courtesy of Kutna Hora Swimming Pool

Heroland – about 10km from Kutná Hora, this children’s amusement park looks like for fun for younger children. Don’t expect fairground rides – rather a good-sized playground with trampolines and a small farm. The park is open from mid-April until mid-October.

Getting to Kutná Hora

Kutná Hora is just over an hour from Prague, both by car and train. It takes around 1.5 hours by bus.

If you drive, you can park on the outskirts of the town centre for free and walk in – although during the tourist season it may prove more difficult to get a spot. Alternatively, here is a list of parking places in the town. The car park at Václavského náměstí is conveniently located and costs a very reasonable 100 CZK for the day.

My Czech Republic gives lots of advice about getting to Kutná Hora from Prague by public transport.

Where to stay in Kutná Hora with kids

Just to let you know that this section includes affiliates links. If you choose to make a purchase using one of these links, I will receive a small amount of money for the upkeep of the blog, at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

Although Kutná Hora is a perfect day trip from Prague, it would also make a good weekend away – especially if you intend to visit the bobsleigh track or aqua park too.

Penzion Apartments Benešova 6 looks like a good overnight family option – with triple rooms, suites and two-bedroom apartments. It also has an onsite restaurant with seating in the garden, overlooking a small playground.

Photo courtesy of booking.com

Whereas these apartments, next to the Church of St Barbara, would be hard to beat for location.

If you are looking for a hotel, Hotel U Kata is well rated, has triple rooms and has a restaurant and wellness centre.

If you have any Kutna Hora tips to share, I’d love it if you would leave a comment.

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