Toy Museum

The Toy Museum in Prague is a genuine hidden gem tucked inside the grounds of Prague Castle — a two-floor museum housing one of the largest private collections of antique and vintage toys in the world. Assembled by Czech filmmaker Ivan Steiger, the collection spans roughly 200 years of childhood history, from 19th-century tin toys and wooden figures through to the full arc of Barbie doll history, mechanical toys, teddy bears, and early electronic playthings.

For families with younger children, the museum delivers something that's difficult to find in Prague's more history-heavy attraction landscape: a space that's directly relevant to children's own world. Younger kids immediately recognize toys — even very old ones — and the connection to familiar concepts makes the collection more intuitive to explore than abstract historical exhibits. The Barbie section alone occupies an entire dedicated room and is one of the museum's most photographed highlights.

The museum occupies a historic building within the castle grounds, and the setting adds its own magic — narrow rooms, wooden floors, and glass cases full of toys that look both ancient and strangely familiar. It's a slower, quieter pace than an indoor play park, but children aged 3 to 10 are typically happy to move from case to case identifying what they recognize.

Entry to the Toy Museum is separate from the main Prague Castle ticket, keeping costs manageable. It pairs naturally with a stroll around the castle grounds, the Old Royal Palace, or St. Vitus Cathedral as part of a full family morning on Hradčany hill.

Visits typically run one to two hours — enough to cover both floors without rushing.