Obecni Dum

Prague's Beautiful Municipal House, One of Many Prague Attractions

Obecni Dum is one of the most beautiful buildings in Prague. It's known in English as the Municipal House and is a must-see kind of place on the border of Old and New Town - just a short walk from Old Town Square.

Please take some time to visit this monumental Art Nouveau building. It's a place that we love to just walk by and gaze at its many features.

Even if you don't go inside, it's definitely worth the little time it takes to find the Municpal House. That's why we've added it to our top Prague attractions.

Obecni Dum stands on the old site of what was once called King's Court. This was a former residence of King Wenceslas IV, who had new fortifications built in the area to protect Prague. One part of these fortifications can be found next to the Municipal House. This dark tower is called Powder Tower (Prasna Brana). It was a former storage place for gunpowder.

Today there is an incredible contrast between the Municipal House and the Powder Tower. Obecni Dum on the one hand is this magical place with beautiful detail while the tower is seemingly holding tight to the darker elements of history from the 14th century.

Either way, they are both worth visiting. Interestingly enough the two buildings were connected physically to add to the intrigue here.

The current form of the Municipal House took shape in the early 1900's. And, it was finally opened in 1912. The opening actually followed years of work and controversial city commissions. But thankfully its culmination was well worth it.

The design and art of the building you see today is a combination of many artists of the time. The design itself was a surprising cooperation of artistic elements including the work of many well known Czech artists such as Alfons Mucha and Mikulas Ales. Their details are on show here, from the little faces peering down at us to the splendid mosaic above the main entrance.

Take a Tour of Obecni Dum

There's no getting around it - for a full idea of the Municipal House you really should take a tour inside. This is true especially if you have any interest in the arts or even Art Nouveau. There's artsy splendor and cool decadence inside for sure!

The admission is a bit more than other attractions, but this is really the only way to see what's inside. The tour gives you access to all sorts of halls and rooms that the general public cannot access.

The tour costs 270 CZK with cheaper options for students, seniors and families. The tour takes about 1 hour and covers various concert halls, the confectionary, Mayor's Hall and other remarkable spots. You also get a token for a free drink in the American Bar with tour ticket.

If you have a Prague card, then your ticket will be only 243 CZK. Photography is prohibiited unless you buy a photo pass for 55 CZK.

Don't Want the Tour?

Feel free to step inside without planning to do the tour. You can peek in a few places without paying that will give you an idea of what's inside. We love the spacious cafe (kavarna) with big picture windows and the interesting American Bar downstairs. The stairs to the bar and tiles through the halls are pretty fun all on their own.

You might also consider seeing one of the many concerts performed at Obecni Dum. They have a number of different concerts ongoing and you generally can find a seat on the spot. Tickets and more info are just inside the main entrance on the left.

Where Is Obecni Dum?

Obecni Dum is located just down from Old Town Square via Celetna Street. Just follow the street from the edge of the square for about 2 minutes and you will come to the Powder Tower with the Municpal House on your left. You can't really miss it.

You can also find it by metro or tram. The metro station just outside is called Namesti Republiky - it's on the B line. The tram stop has the same name. Trams 5, 8, 14 and 26 stop here.  Here's a map.

More Prague Attractions

If you liked this article about Obecni Dum, please consider our related articles on sights in Prague.

Prague Castle is the crown jewel of the city. It's the largest functioning castle in the world.

Old Town Prague is the heart of the city with Old Town Square the central point of it all.

Charles Bridge Prague is your key connecting point between Prague's Mala Strana and Old Town.

Petrin Park is that large green area you see above Mala Strana. Great views of the city from here.

Mala Strana: Lesser Town is our favorite part of Prague. Less tourists and plenty of charming streets and good restaurants.

Vysehrad Castle might be the most overlooked of all main Prague attractions. If you have the time, we highly recommend a visit.

Strahov Monastery and its surprising library is a must-see.

Infant of Prague is another overlooked sight in Mala Strana.



P.S. And, don't forget our Prague Hidden Sights series.