Wenceslas Square

Wenceslas Square is a long, boulevard-like square in Prague's New Town, serving as the city's main commercial and cultural hub. It is a traditional site for public gatherings, celebrations, and demonstrations, and is part of the historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The square is dominated at its southeast end by the grand neoclassical National Museum and a statue of Saint Wenceslas.

Don't miss

• The National Museum building (1885–1891) at the southeast end, designed by Josef Schulz
• The statue of Saint Wenceslas, a gathering point of national significance
• Architectural landmarks like Palác Koruna, the Lindt Building, and Hotel Evropa
• The BAŤA shoe store (1929) and the Peterka Building (1899–1900)
• The Melantrich Building, where Alexander Dubček and Václav Havel appeared during the Velvet Revolution

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Wenceslas Square

Cheapest way inPrague Essential Tour Old Town and Jewish Quarter5★ · 549 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$3 per personSee dates →Most bookedPrague Old Town, Medieval Underground and Dungeon Historical Tour4.7★ · 4,830 travelers~2 hoursFree cancellationFrom$31 per personSee dates →Private & flexiblePrague's Jewish Quarter Private Tour4.9★ · 52 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$169 per personSee dates →

Getting there

Know before you go

• The square is served by Metro line A, with stations Muzeum (lines A and C) and Můstek (lines A and B) having entrances on the street.
• The northwestern end of the square has been pedestrianised since 2012, making it easier to walk.
• Christmas markets are held here annually from early December to the first week of January.

A bit of history

Founded in 1348 by King Charles IV as the Horse Market (Koňský trh), it was one of several market areas in the New Town. Renamed Saint Wenceslas Square in 1848, it has been the site of key historical events: the reading of the Czechoslovak declaration of independence in 1918, protests during the 1938 May Crisis, Jan Palach's self-immolation in 1969, and large demonstrations during the 1989 Velvet Revolution.