The functional and enormous complex 15 minutes away from Prague’s city centre offers one to look at art from the 18th to 21st century and the long and painful history of its unique building.

Veletržní Palác is one of the many Prague Gallery buildings scattered all over Prague – some near Prague castle, some near Old Town and a few in other places of the capital. This particular building can be found near Stromovka park and an Expo building only a few minutes by tram from Prague city centre.

What you can see

Veletržní Palác is the main building of the National Gallery, and it offers several things; At the same time, it’s the primary place for fans of contemporary and modern art; it also provides a look at some of the most famous paintings of National Gallery has in its depositary – such as Picasso, van Gogh, Klimt or Kupka.

On the top floor, you can visit an extraordinary archive of art landed or acquired from Asia; unlike many other countries, the Czech national gallery has all its work landed or bought, not raided. The top floor also often offers special and time-limited exhibitions.

On the floor below, you can walk through the long 20th century, discovering art from swift and quite insane jumps this country has made – coming from Monarchy on top of the century to First republic, Second republic, Protectorate under nazi rule, to totality and Independence again. But, of course, all of that affects many forms of art.

A new permanent exhibition will make its home on the 2nd floor, looking back at the architecture during the 50s-80s Czechoslovakia. The collection called Architecture For All is full of specially made models, remastered clips and information about the country’s unique modern architectural history.

1st floor offers a brand new service called ATLAS, a special unique and creative place with access to literature and many other tools. ATLAS will be available until December 2027 and is a great place where you can work, study or play in the atmosphere of the National Gallery and take a break to explore art on other floors.

The ground floor offers unique contemporary art from both local and international artists, usually politically or socially driven art, using its many forms and scales.

What else you can do

Veletržní Palác offers some more things you can do. For example, on the grand floor, you can find the art café where you can have a nice cup of coffee or tea with something sweet, but you can also take photos in a classic and historical photo booth that will give you unique black and white photographs.

Right across, you can find gallery stories where you can buy souvenirs or special publications for ongoing and past exhibitions, art books or books for children in many languages.

Each exhibition in each gallery building is usually accompanied by a unique program, lectures or commentated walkthrough. You can check specific programmes on the official website.

How to get here

Veletržní Palác is located in Prague, Czech Republic, in a district called Holešovice. The location is very convenient as it is only 15 – 20 minutes away from the city centre. The best way to get to the National Gallery is using public tram transport with a stop right in front of the gallery building.

You can use trams number 6 or 17.

Using Wenceslas square, the easiest way to get to the National Gallery is taking tram nr. 6, which goes directly from Wenceslas Square to the National Gallery. As you get off the tram, the gallery building will stand across the road on your left. It is a substantial functionalist building; you must take it.

What else is there

Holešovice is a unique district in the old times, especially the 18th – 20th century. Many old structures were refashioned for new use in a very Czech spirit. Once you’re done with the Gallery, there are plenty of other things to do.

Five minutes away is the most significant Prague park – Stromovka. You can take a long walk towards the park lake, enjoy a picnic or visit Planetarium, located just 2 minute walk into the park.

On the right side of Stromovka park is the Prague Expo, a vast pavilion that offers several entertainment options, including occasional fairs, sea world, Expo events or Křižíks singing fountain. Further, on the right, you can spot music arena, date but still at use for acts who usually don’t sell out O2 arena – in the past, this is where Simple Plan, Denzel Curry or George Ezra would have their live shows.

Suppose you decided to go back towards the city centre to Strossmayerovo Náměstí. In that case, you can find a small traditional cinema, the Church of St. Antonín, and plenty of tea rooms, restaurants or unique café places. This square is also crossroads for several tram lines, and you will find trams going in all four directions.

Overview

Admission: Depending on exhibition, kids under 15 have free entry
Location: Prague 7 – Holešovice
Accesibility: Accessible for disabled through special ramp/lift
Type: Concemporary, Modern, Surrealism, Cubism
Website