Where to Go in Pilsen in Gloomy Weather?
You have free time coming up and it is dreary outside. Such weather tempts us to not set foot out of our warm homes, so you might want to wait with a trip to Pilsen until the warmer season. But we can promise you that, thanks to the gloomy days, you can experience something unusual here.
Iconic Sights in Pilsen
Although the stunning St. Bartholomew’s cathedral and the Great Synagogue adorn the historical centre and catch almost everyone’s attention at first glance, exploring their beauty even behind closed doors may not occur to you. In addition to its breathtaking interior, the St. Bartholomew’s cathedral is notable for its tallest church in Czechia – and climbing up 299 steps to the top is really worth it. We promise you that you’ll get the most beautiful view of (not only) the centre of Pilsen.
The Great Synagogue, which you can find just a few steps from the square, has also something to boast about. In Pilsen, we actually have the largest synagogue in Czechia, the third largest in Europe and one of the five largest in the world. You can visit it from Sunday to Thursday.
Interiors by the World-Renowned Architect Adolf Loos
One of the most distinctive architectural treasures in Pilsen is the preserved apartments designed by Adolf Loos. This world-famous pioneer of modern architecture designed them for Pilsen Jewish businessmen, and today, you can visit four of them on regular guided tours, which reveal not only their unique design, but also the stories of their original owners – often affected by dramatic events of the Second World War. The guided tours are held in Czech, but guide texts are available for foreign visitors.
Get Lost in the Passageways of the Pilsen Underground
The Pilsen underground labyrinth, which was built from the end of the 13th century, will surely impress not only you, but also your little explorers. During the one-hour tour around the 800-metre long route, you will enjoy mysterious nooks and crannies, hidden passageways, and stories about Pilsen from a long time ago.
Museums and Cultural Sights in Pilsen (Even for Little Visitors)
There is certainly no lack of cultural and educational experiences in Pilsen. One evidence of this is the numerous museums and galleries. If you’re interested in local traditions, folk customs and crafts, visit the Ethnographic Museum of the Pilsen Region, where you’ll find a vast collection of folk culture. At the Brewery Museum, you can learn about the story of beer from the Middle Ages to the present day and see the smallest beer mug in the world, an old brewing laboratory, or the Gothic malt house. The original Depo Moto Art Museum boasts remarkable historical exhibits from Czech collectors, including historic cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and unique paintings and photographs.
For anyone interested in history, especially the WW2, we recommend a stop at the Patton Memorial Pilsen, the only museum in Czechia dedicated to the journey of the allied forces from the Normandy landings to West Bohemia. Here, you can see a number of original artefacts and personal items of veterans, some of which are directly from real battlefields.
With more than 1 300 items, the armoury of the City of Pilsen belongs to the biggest gems of its kind in Europe. The exhibition, which has just reopened after reconstruction, is located in the main building of the Museum of West Bohemia and will introduce you to the firearms and armours from the end of 14th century to the half of the 17th century. You can view historical photographs of the armoury here, and a film guide will introduce you to the entire exhibition. You will also discover a real rarity here, namely an extensive collection from the time of Thirty Years´ War – you will not find such a comprehensive collection in any other European city.
A visit to a museum does not have to be a cultural experience only for adults; here in Pilsen, museums can delight even the youngest visitors. At the Puppet Museum, children can look forward to lots of characters from fairy tales and the legendary duo Spejbl and Hurvínek. Myths, legends, and ghosts are also an inseparable part of Pilsen. It is therefore no surprise that there is also the Museum of Ghosts and Fairy Tale here. But you don’t have to worry– your children will only experience a slightly scary, yet mainly entertaining spectacle here.
Where to Go for Beer or Sparkling Experiences?
Where else to go in the capital of the golden liquid than to the Pilsner Urquell Brewery? This world-famous brewery is one of the most visited in the world and over half a million tourists come here every year. No wonder – it is the birthplace of the original that is now exported to more than 50 countries, and after which more than 70 % beers around the world are named. If you are not sure where to taste the best “pilsner”, check out our recommendations in the article Where to go for Pilsner beer in Pilsen.
Want to enjoy beer in a truly unusual way? In the beer spas Purkmistr and Beerspa Beerland, you can immerse in it literally from head to toe. A warm bath from beer ingredients will pleasantly warm and relax you and delight you with its beneficial effects – the beer actually contains a whole range of substances that are good for your body, especially for your skin.
For original sparkling wine, head just outside Pilsen to Starý Plzenec, where you can find the renowned Bohemia Sekt. A guided tour with tasting will introduce you to the secrets of producing the most popular Czech sparkling wines, explain historical methods, and show you unique items such as the largest cuvée tank in Czechia, with a capacity of over one million bottles.
Family Adventures
You may have heard a lot about the famous Pilsen zoo, but did you know that you can find its smaller exhibition right in the city centre, near the Great Synagogue? At the Akva Tera, you will discover the exotic world of reptiles, fish, amphibians, and fascinating invertebrates. You can see the endangered radiated tortoise, tree monitors, and predatory piranhas. Everyone’s favourite chameleon will pose for you and a tame bearded dragon will run around you. And in addition, you can watch feedings with commentary.
Interactive exhibits, experiments, a planetarium, or science shows – all of this is waiting for your explores at Techmania Science Center. Here, they can discover the secrets of the laws of physics, natural phenomena, and optical illusions with their own eyes. And when they get tired? They can recharge at the local restaurant while enjoying the view of the exhibition hall.
We all know that entertaining teenagers is often not an easy task. If you want to engage the entire family in the programme, laser game, the game museum Game Station, or a wild go-kart ride are safe bets. Fun, excitement, and adrenaline are guaranteed.
If your children have energy to spare, you can’t go wrong with a visit to the Area D sports and entertainment center, the JUMP FAMILY trampoline center, or the Tyjátr indoor playground. There are also baby-friendly zones and pleasant cafés where you can relax and, of course, get something good to eat.
