Escape Boredom: Top Tour Destinations and Where to Stay!

Prague Palaces and Senate

Would you like to explore the Hrzán Palace? This palace is currently utilized for representational activities by the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic. In 2025, the Czech Government Office will open the Hrzán Palace on three specific dates: May 17 and 18 (part of Open House Prague), and July 6 and November 17. Tours will be conducted in organized groups, with each tour lasting around 40 minutes. The Palace will be open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, with the final tour starting at 4:00 pm.

Additionally, the Liechtenstein Palace will welcome visitors on several dates: May 1 and 8, June 7, and July 5 in 2025. Visitors will see highlights such as the Blue Lounge, Kampa Lounge, Golden Hall, Brown Hall, and the Garden Lounge. The tour will conclude in the garden, offering a beautiful view of the river and Charles Bridge.

On public holidays, namely May 8 and October 28 in 2025, visitors can also explore the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic. This includes not only the historic parts of the Wallenstein Palace but also areas usually closed to the public, like the Meeting Hall and Kolovrat Palace. On the national holiday of Victory Day, the upper chamber will be accessible from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.. In Wallenstein Palace, you can see stunning historical spaces including the Knights’ Hall and Mythological Corridor. Kolovrat Palace will present spaces like the Green and Pink Lounges, and you can view the offices of Jitka Seitlová and Jiří Oberfalzer. Visitors may also get a glimpse inside the typical Senator’s office.

Visit to Kramář’s Villa

If you wish to visit Kramář’s Villa, the official residence of the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, you will need to wait until the latter half of this year. This remarkable neo-Baroque villa, which also features Art Nouveau elements, was constructed on the site of St. Mary Magdalene’s bastion by Karel Kramář, the first Prime Minister of independent Czechoslovakia, and his wife Naděžda. The villa will be open to the public just three times this year: August 2, September 6, and October 4, 2025. Those interested can enjoy guided tours of the interiors along with the expansive garden, featuring expert commentary not just about the villa’s history but also about the Kramář family. While the architectural style of the villa is difficult to classify due to its mix of neo-Baroque and Art Nouveau elements, it is celebrated as one of the distinctive buildings in Prague’s villa architecture.

Straka Academy with a beautiful garden

On Saturday, May 3, 2025, the garden of the Straka Academy will open for the first time this season, welcoming guests from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. every Saturday until mid-October. An audio guide will be available for your exploration, accessible via QR codes placed throughout the garden. You can enter from Kosárek’s Embankment.

During public holidays on September 28 and October 28, 2025, visitors can also tour the Straka Academy. Access to the main offices of the Czech Government is traditionally allowed on these public holidays. Various areas of the office will be open, especially the government meeting room, the press rooms, and many other intriguing spots within this significant building. The spectacular structure, built in 1896, originally served as a student dormitory for less fortunate sons of Czech nobility, as envisioned by Count Jan Petr Straka, the Imperial Privy Councillor. Since 1939, it has served as the Government’s headquarters.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Open Day

On Saturday, May 17, 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will hold an Open Day as part of the Open House Prague festival, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.. This offers a unique chance to explore the grand spaces of the Czernin Palace, including Jan Masaryk’s apartment. Visitors can also see the late statesman’s death mask, personal seal, briefcase, and other belongings. Additionally, there will be informational stands in the MFA garden showcasing key areas of Czech diplomacy. This event allows the public to directly engage with Ministry representatives and discuss foreign policy issues. Expect interactive elements, games, and a rich program for the whole family. Admission is free, but please remember to bring a valid ID.

Government Villa in Brno aka Villa Stiassni

If you mention the Government Villa in Brno, everyone refers to the Villa Stiassni located in Pisárky. The villa earned its distinct name similarly to Villa Tugendhat, being constructed at around the same time. It was built for Alfred Stiassni, a notable figure in the textile industry and proprietor of a woolen goods factory on Přízova Street. He engaged the popular Brno architect Ernst Wiesner to design the villa, which was erected between 1927 and 1929. The villa boasted a large garden, where a rare catalpa tree flourishes, utilized by the family for merely ten years before they emigrated to Hollywood in 1938. Until the 1990s, it served as accommodation for state visitors, including figures like President Edvard Beneš, Nikita Khrushchev, and Fidel Castro. Since 2014, Villa Stiassni has been open to the public as a classic heritage site, allowing visitors to explore both the interiors and the garden, along with exhibitions.

Beneš Villa in Sezimovo Ústí

The elegant Benes Villa will welcome visitors from May to the end of September, open six days a week from Tuesday to Sunday. The visitor experience begins at the Dr. Edvard Beneš Memorial and continues through the nearby park, leading to the Beneš family villa. With the help of an audio guide, visitors can explore various stops in the Upper Gardens and inside the villa, hearing fascinating stories about the presidential couple, the history of the villa and its grounds, the displays on exhibit, and many other intriguing facts. Built between 1930 and 1931, the villa of Hana and Edvard Beneš was designed by architect Petr Kropáček, featuring a unique style influenced by Southern French architecture, accompanied by an extensive beautifully maintained garden. Today, the villa also serves as a representative space for the Prime Minister. However, respecting Hana Benešová’s wishes, it is accessible to the public.

Accommodation in a government villa in Luhačovice

With its impressive ornamental garden and private parking, this Government Villa sits at the edge of the spa park, offering great access to the centre of Luhačovice and being just a short walk from Jurkovič’s House and Villa Jestřabí. This villa, which has had a personalized approach for discerning clients, has stood for over 110 years.

The villa was originally constructed after 1906 as a summer retreat for Alois O. Samohrd, an esteemed building council member (1865-1917), and was thus called Villa Samohrd. The beautiful frescoes by painter Ládi Novák, inspired by Mikoláš Alš, catch the eye immediately. He also painted the house U Rott, now the Hotel Rott located on Small Square in Prague. Later, it became the summer residence of Josef Ander’s family, a collector, arts patron, and owner of ASO – Ander and Son, which during the First Republic operated numerous department stores worldwide, including in Prague, Olomouc, Ostrava, Vienna, and in Peru’s Lima. After nationalization, the stores were renamed PRIOR, and the Anders family resided in the villa until 1984.

Transformations into the Government Villa were made through extensive renovations. The noble guests of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, once hosted here by Freemason Alois Samohrd, were later replaced by party delegations. After the Velvet Revolution, notable figures such as Václav Klaus and his wife Livia, as well as Thomas George Bata, heir to a significant family empire and director Juraj Jakubisko, also stayed here. Today, you can experience this villa as it has been converted into a boutique hotel with a family-friendly atmosphere. During your stay, you can enjoy the blend of Art Nouveau décor with modern comfort, all within close proximity to the spa park, colonnade, Sun Baths, and other impressive structures designed by architect Dušan Jurkovič.

Open Days at Czech Government Residences

Explore historic government residences and villas across the Czech Republic with exciting tours and exclusive access to normally off-limits areas. Enjoy expert commentary, special exhibitions, and beautiful gardens as part of the Open House Prague festival and standalone heritage events.

Key Dates & Locations

• Hrzán Palace (Prague)
  Accessible May 17–18, July 6, and November 17, 2025

• Open Day at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  Czernin Palace, May 17, 2025 (part of Open House Prague)

Featured Residences & Highlights

Liechtenstein Palace (Prague)
Roam five opulent interiors: the Blue Room, Kampa Room, Gold Room, Brown Room, and the Garden Room.

Wallenstein Palace (Prague)
Gain rare entry to the Knights’ Hall, the Mythological Corridor, and other normally restricted rooms within the seat of the Czech Senate.

Kramář Villa (Prague)
Join guided tours of the villa’s richly appointed interiors and expansive gardens, with commentary on the building’s architecture, history, and its former owner, the first Czechoslovak prime minister.

Straka Academy (Prague)
On public holidays, visit the prime minister’s government meeting room, press briefing rooms, and other notable state-security areas.

Villa Stiassni (Brno)
Experience Brno’s Government Villa as a heritage site—tours of its interiors, gardens, and curated exhibitions bring its modernist architecture and social history to life.

Beneš Villa (Sezimovo Ústí)
View rotating exhibitions on the lives of President Edvard Beneš and his wife, and learn about the villa’s role in Czech political history.

Visitor Information

All events offer free entry; some require advance registration through the Open House Prague website or individual residence portals. Check each venue’s opening hours and book early to secure your preferred time slot.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to step behind the doors of Czech political and architectural heritage—plan your visits for May, July, and beyond!