Prague opens facility symbolising how it is cultivating tourism. Old Town Hall renovates ground floor and new tourist facility

“Today, following sensitive renovation, the stone passageway leading from the area in front of the astronomical clock to the rear part behind the Old Town Hall was opened to the people of Prague. The medieval groin vault on the ground floor of the town hall has also been restored. One of the city’s priorities is to restore and rehabilitate cultural monuments, because in this way we are preserving them for future generations,” says Bohuslav Svoboda, mayor of Prague. 

The reconstruction work has allowed a new tourist information centre and a souvenir shop to be installed in the Old Town Hall. Besides the tourist service, a new stone passageway between the Old Town Hall and Mikulášská Lane is being opened to the public. It links up with a passageway that the oldest surviving photographs, from 1969, suggest was probably no longer serving the public at that time. Now, however, the entire passage will be open to the public. Plus, the rear part of the passage will provide completely barrier-free access to the town hall. 

“Investment in Prague’s prominent landmarks is absolutely essential if tourism in the metropolis is to be refined. Not only will the new tourist facility be convenient for visitors and comfortable for employees, but it will also allow the people of Prague to pass directly from the Old Town Square to the area behind the town hall, without having to walk around it,” says Jiří Pospíšil, deputy mayor responsible for culture and tourism. 

The city’s sensitive approach to the renovation of the Old Town Hall and the look of the new tourist facility exemplify the gradual culturing of tourism in the metropolis. The architects took a very minimalist approach to the interior so as not to detract from the prevailing historical features of the building.

The attention to detail, quality and visuals is reflected in all the activities of the city’s destination organisation. Since the beginning of July, for example, all staff at tourist information centres and Prague towers managed by Prague City Tourism have been proud to adopt a new dress code from a Czech designer and Czech family-owned businesses. Similarly, the gifts on offer in the new shop are exclusively made by Czech artists. High aesthetic value has been respected in their production. 

“I am delighted that we have been able to expand the town hall’s tourist operations by adding another facility on the site of the medieval cloister. This is, after all, one of Prague’s most visited sights, annually averaging half a million visitors from all over the world,” adds Jan Wolf, chairman of Prague City Tourism’s supervisory board. 

Over the last few years, the Old Town Hall has been gradually revitalised. Now that the town hall tower and the space on the ground floor have been completed, the city will focus in the coming years on the Romanesque-Gothic underground, which is older than the building itself. 

Besides using the new tourist information centre and exploring the newly opened passageway, visitors can also browse the brand new souvenir shop. “The new premises include the opening of the first brick-and-mortar shop with our high-quality souvenirs, ensuring that they have a dignified place to be displayed. The tourist information centre will provide greater visitor convenience and enhance the overall impression. This is another tangible step we are taking to deliver on our Inbound Tourism Policy,” says František Cipro, Prague City Tourism’s board chairman.

The renovation of the Old Town Hall’s ground floor began in March 2022 and was completed in August 2023. The City of Prague allotted CZK 40 million to the restoration work. The furnishings were designed by Olgoj Chorchoj, while the building work was handled by the architectural studio SGL Projekt – the general project designer was VPÚ Deco Praha a.s. and the contractor was POHL CZ a.s.