This hands-on science center is worth a family day trip from Prague

In Czechia, there's a place where you can control the weather, feel the ground shake beneath you, and hear your pulse beat outside of your body – all in the same day. If the autumn school holidays call for a trip beyond Prague, VIDA! science centre in Brno is an easy bet to help beat boredom with curiosity.

“We want to show that science can be fun,” says Tomáš Mejzlík, director of VIDA! science centre. “You get so caught up in playing and trying things out that you learn something new without even realizing it.”

More than 180 interactive exhibits fill nearly 6,200 colorful square meters where children are encouraged to touch, play, and interact with the exhibits. The programming is often just as fun and fascinating for parents too, so follow whatever catches your eye, take your time and expect plenty of calls of “Come and look at this!”

Look up and you may spot someone pedaling a bicycle along a wire six meters above the exhibition floor. A trained staff member is on hand to help riders try it for themselves, while the rest of the family watches from below.

Back on the ground, press a button to set a tornado spinning, step into an earthquake simulator or enter a rotating room to feel how motion affects your balance. Older children can also find out what a fighter pilot feels in the 3G flight simulator. Like the bicycle, it runs with a trained guide at announced times. 

The permanent exhibition is divided into four main thematic sections: Planet, Civilization, Man, and Microworld. Throughout these themes, children can build a model of Brno from Lego, try to shout louder than a jet and listen to their own pulse inside a giant heart. 

There is enough variety for everyone to find something to try together, taking turns and sharing discoveries along the way. Children aged six and over will get the most out of a visit. Younger children can still find activities of their own, though the children’s area is currently being renovated and some of its exhibits have been relocated.

It’s the perfect antidote for curious kids whose favorite word is “why.” “Parents don’t need to worry about not having all the answers,” says Ema Holobrádek, spokesperson for VIDA! science centre. “They can discover them together with their children as they explore the exhibits.” 

You won’t need to be fluent in Czech either to make sense of the exhibits. Captions are available in English, along with an English-language map on arrival and English-speaking staff who can help as you explore.

When everyone is ready for a change of activity, head to the makerspace, where families can work on small craft projects together using paper and upcycled materials.

Admission to VIDA! science centre also includes live science shows about pressure and weather, with an occasional show about light for the youngest visitors. The performances are in Czech, but before a show begins, you can ask a staff member for an English synopsis explaining the experiments. The ticket desk staff can tell you which shows are on that day.

Most families spend around three to four hours visiting, with time to explore the exhibition, watch a show, try creative activities and take a break for refreshments. VIDA! science centre also offers a refreshment stand serving drinks, meals, soup and desserts, for a midday lunch break or chance to refuel before returning to a favorite exhibit.

The point of visiting is to try things for yourself, whether that means pressing a button, testing an idea or asking what happens next. And when it is finally time to leave, be prepared for negotiations: “Just five more minutes, please!”

Tickets can be bought on arrival without a reservation. Please note: High-wire bicycle riders must be at least 145 cm tall and weigh between 35 and 100 kg.