The National Theatre in Prague is more than a place to witness Czech opera performances–it also preserves and showcases fascinating Czech cultural heritage. This magnificent place has been introducing Czech culture to the world for more than 130 years and it’s still going strong for the next generations to come. The National Theatre had its grand opening in June 1881 to honour the royal visit of Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria. Unfortunately, it had to be closed down two months later due to a fire that almost destroyed the majority of the building. The theatre re-opened in 1883 and it served its function as the place for people to enjoy opera and art performances until almost a century later when it had to be renovated, from 1977 to 1983. What you will see in the building today is the latest renovation that was done nearly forty years ago. If you’re planning for a holiday to Prague, check out this guide to Prague National Theatre to make your visit even more memorable.
Things to do/Highlights
There are four stages at the National Theatre of Prague that you can choose to enjoy a performance: The National Theatre, The State Opera, The Estates Theatre, and The New Stage. If you’re more into classical opera, drama, and ballet performances, the three main stages–The National Theatre, The State Opera, and The Estates Theatre–hold them regularly. Meanwhile, The New Stage is more focused on modern and contemporary shows.
The National Theatre
This magnificent building is the pride of the National Theatre institution where acclaimed opera, ballet, and drama performances are featured. Hop over to their website to find out about the shows’ schedules.
The Estates Theatre
Considered as one of the most spectacular historical buildings in Europe, The Estates Theatre was first built to show German drama and Italian operas however, it didn’t close itself from performances in other languages. This theatre was also widely famous due to a figure whose name can be considered inseparable from this magnificent building–composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
The State Opera
Although it’s been under construction since 2016, The State Opera still has its own story to tell. It opened as a Prague German Theatre and was where Wagner’s opera was shown. After World War II, the building was handed over to a theatre that was part of the National Theatre we know today.
The New Stage
It’s the youngest building in the National Theatre series and it was built in 1983. The New Stage focused more on modern performances, such as contemporary dance, interactive performances, multimedia projects, urban culture phenomena, and many others, including the famous Laterna Magika.
What to eat
Sad Man's Tongue Bar & Bistro
Don’t let its name fool you–a five-minute walk from the National Theatre of Prague will bring you to this funky roadhouse restaurant serving some of the best burgers in Prague coupled with excellent service from the staff and a brilliant setlist.
Signor In Cucina
When you feel like having a grub before or after watching the performance at the National Theatre, Signor In Cucina Bistro is literally just a few steps away. It’s a boutique Italian restaurant and they will make sure your table will be ready if you reserve first. Enjoy delicious Italian cuisine with a variety of wine selections to start or to close your night in Prague.
Gran Fierro
Satisfy your meat cravings at Gran Fierro, an authentic Latin American restaurant that’s located just 400 metres (437.4 yards) away from the National Theatre. They serve great steak that will be even more perfect with their Argentinean wine. Enjoy your meal along with the friendly and warm atmosphere at this lovely restaurant.
Travelers tips
Accessibility
Prague National Theatre is a place that’s very accessible to disabled persons, even featuring special seatings and offering assistance from attendants on access paths. However, it would be wise to contact the theatre first and get detailed information about disabled access.
Guided Tours
There are guided tours available for tourists who’d like to see the National Theatre outside of the performing nights. It offers two categories of tours that can be done, either group tours or individual tours. Please refer to the website to learn about the schedule for each category.
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How to get there
By car or taxi
The four buildings of National Theatre in Prague can be reached by driving in the direction of the Dancing House from the Old Town area until you get to Ostrovní Street. You can park your car at the National Theatre car park (50 CZK or 2 USD per hour).
To reach The Estates Theatre, you will have to take a short walk along the Národní street, before getting to Rytířská street, where the theatre is located. You can take the cab from your hotel or use one of the online taxi apps that are available in Prague, such as Uber.
Taking the tram
If you’re taking the tram, then use the Národní divadlo stop to get to the theatres. You can take tram Nos. 2, 9, 18, 22, and 23 for the daytime tram, and Nos. 93, 97, 98, 99 for the night trams.
If you’re going to the Estates Theatre, stop at Národní třída, then continue by foot along Národní street to the direction of Rytířská street. You can also take the daytime trams No. 6, 8, 15, and 26 or night trams No. 91, 94, and 96 to the Náměstí Republiky stop, then walk to Ovocný trh by going around the Municipal House. You can also take daytime trams Nos. 3, 5, 6, 9, 14, 24 or night trams Nos. 91, 92, 96, and 98 to the Jindřišská stop and proceed by foot along the Nekázanka/Panská streets to Havířská street.
Riding the metro
As for metro, you can take the line B (yellow) to the Národní třída station, then go to the Národní divadlo stop using tram Nos. 2, 9, 18, 22, or 23. You can also take the line A (green) and stop at Staroměstská station then continue with trams 2, 17, or 18 to the Národní divadlo stop. Or if you’re going to the Estates Theatre, you can take the lines A and B (green and yellow) to the Můstek station, then walk through Na Můstku street to Rytířská street.
How to get tickets
You can check out their official website to get tickets to various performances. There are several types of tickets that you can purchase, depending on age and the number of people going. Children under 15 years of age can get a 20-percent discount on ticket purchase, while juniors under 26 and students can get 50-percent discounts on selected performances’ seats. As for seniors from 65 and up, they can get a discount of 50-percent for all performances. You can also book for a group that consists of at least 10 people through the website.
Prague National Theatre information
Prague National Theatre
Address: Národní 2, 110 00 Nové Město, Czechia
Official website: National Theatre of Prague
Department of tourism: The Official Tourist Website for Prague
History
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