Dominating the southeastern end of Wenceslas Square (Václavské Námesti), the grand 19th-century National Museum is worth visiting for its beautiful architecture alone—the old wing is a national cultural monument. This, and an interconnected modern wing, house a vast collection of exhibits related to the history of the Czech lands, from the eighth century until today. It gets busy on weekend afternoons, so buying a skip-the-line ticket in advance is wise.

Like much of Central Europe, Prague once had a large Jewish population that was targeted during World War II. Learn more about Prague’s Jewish culture and history at the Jewish Museum (Zidovské Muzeum) in Josefov, the Jewish Quarter. This narrow area between the Old Town and the Vltava River is packed with other historic attractions, such as the Old New Synagogue (Staronová Synagoga), the Spanish Synagogue (Spanelská Synagoga), and the Old Jewish Cemetery (Starý Zidovský Hrbitov).

One of Prague’s most famous Jewish sons was German-language writer Franz Kafka (1883–1924), the author of the seminal surrealist novella, The Metamorphosis, among other works. See his correspondence, diaries, first editions of texts, photographs, drawings, and more at the Franz Kafka Museum (Muzeum Franze Kafky), one of the most popular museums in Prague. It’s tucked away in the Lesser Quarter (Mala Strana), on the west bank of the Vltava.

The gorgeous baroque Troja Chateau (Trojský Zámek) contains something for everyone, with decorative frescoes, manicured French–style gardens, temporary art exhibitions presented by the Prague City Gallery, and proximity to the Prague Zoo to keep the kids happy. It’s only open in the summer season, so come on a warm, sunny day to explore inside and out. The Troja Chateau is north of central Prague and surrounded by parklands as well as the zoo; e-bike tours offer a fun way to explore the area.

The Museum of Communism presents a period of Czech history that’s still fresh in the minds of many older Czech people: when Czechoslovakia (the former union of Czechia and Slovakia) was ruled by a communist regime, within the Soviet Union’s sphere of influence. Peruse photographs, film reels, various pieces of propaganda, busts of communist figures Marx and Lenin, and more at one of the must-see museums in Prague.

The 13th-century St. Agnes Convent (Kláster Sv. Anezky Ceské) is Prague’s oldest Gothic building, which contains a wonderful collection of medieval art. You don’t need any prior knowledge of art history—or Christianity, for that matter—to appreciate the gilded icons and carved statues of a religious nature. The convent is a bit tucked away and can be tricky to find, so taking a walking tour of the Old Town area can help you get your bearings.

Classical music has long been part of the fabric of Czech culture. Find out more at the Czech Museum of Music (České Muzeum Hudby). You can see hundreds of musical instruments, including pieces made in the Czech lands or by Czech craftspeople, while listening to music recordings on headsets as you walk around. Pair your museum trip with a music-themed tour of Prague—many tours visit sites related to Amadeus Mozart, including where he lived, performed, and composed in the city.

There are many top museums in Prague where you can learn about Czech and European culture, but the ethnographic Náprstek Museum of Asian, African, and American Cultures is the only museum in Czechia to focus on non-European civilizations. Part of the National Museum network, the museum presents the collections of 19th-century Czech “explorer” Vojta Náprstek, including masks, clothing, ceramics, and jewelry. It isn’t one of the most popular museums in Prague, so you can generally browse in peace.

If you're traveling with kids, give them a break from Gothic churches at the Museum of Fantastic Illusions, where you can pose with realistic, 3-dimensional paintings to create fun photos. You’ll find many generic (albeit funky) paintings—think giant octopuses and green monsters—as well as Prague-centric backdrops. This is the place to go if you want to photograph yourself atop Prague’s Astronomical Clock without actually scaling the medieval structure.