Reading time: 2 minutes 
Summary for: Prague open on Oct. 28: What to see and do for Czechoslovak Independence DayTuesday, Oct. 28, sees Czechia celebrate a second public holiday in as many months: Czechoslovak Independence Day. The observance marks 107 years to the day when former President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk presented a declaration that made Czechia into the country it is today.
The national holiday will see centuries-old, significant buildings across the capital (normally inaccessible to the public) welcome anyone as part of the city's Open Day.
PARTNER ARTICLE
What’s more, well-known cultural institutions such as the National Museum will waive their entry fees for all tomorrow. Here are all the places you can see and enter, including family-friendly activities for children.
City and administrative buildings
The City of Prague can confirm that several Prague City Hall sites will be accessible, including the Mayor’s Residence on Mariánské náměstí, built in 1928 in Art Deco style.
The New Town Hall will also feature a program for visitors of all ages. Activities will include technology demonstrations, a 3D flight simulator, virtual reality, and children’s creative workshops. Yoga and tai chi lessons will also be offered on-site; registration for these activities is available online.
The Škoda Palace (Jungmannova Street), constructed in the 1920s in the Late Cubist style, will open its Škoda Lounges without any reservation requirement.
Historic palaces and government buildings
Mariánské náměstí’s Clam-Gallas Palace, an 18th-century Baroque building that historically served as a noble residence and aristocratic social hub, will open its doors to visitors all day. Tours feature a new guided walk through hidden places in Prague.
The usually publicly inaccessible Thun Palace (9 a.m.– 4 p.m.), seat of the Chamber of Deputies, and the Kolowrat and Wallenstein Palaces, part of the Czech Senate complex, will also be open. The Straka Academy, another seat of the Czech Government, and the Petschek Palace (10 a.m.–4 p.m.), now housing the Ministry of Industry and Trade, will also open.
Museums and galleries
The Municipal House (9 a.m.–3 p.m.), the National Gallery, National Museum buildings across the capital, the National Technical Museum, and the Trade Fair Palace will offer free entry without the need for booking (all 10 a.m.–6 p.m.).
Observe outdoors
This year, Mariánské náměstí hosts the Crystal Valley exhibition. Glassmakers will demonstrate their craft at a mobile glassworks and furnace, creating objects from molten glass for visitors to watch. They will perform music on glass instruments and lead a creative program with glass and costume jewelry activities for families.
For those interested in sport, the Sokol Run of the Republic will take place at Petřín Park from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It features a 6.5-kilometer race, with registration still open. This event celebrates physical fitness and national pride.
What about stores?
On this holiday, retail stores larger than 200 square meters, including general or department stores like Bauhaus or IKEA, must close, while smaller convenience stores (Potraviny shops) may stay open.
Shopping centers themselves aren’t required to close, but stores exceeding the size limit inside must shut. Exemptions include pharmacies, gas stations, and shops at airports, train stations (like Prague’s Hlavní nádraží), and hospitals.
