Square & Landmark

Statue of Franz Kafka

📍 Spálená 2121/22, 110 00 Prague 1 (Quadrio plaza), Czech Republic

1 photos

4.4/ 5.0

★★★★☆

Quick Facts

Location: Czech Republic, Prague
Category: Square & Landmark
Duration: 15-20 minutes
Opening Hours: {"note": "Outdoor public plaza, viewable 24/7; the 42 steel layers rotate only during the first 15 minutes of each hour from 09:00 to 23:00"}
Ticket Price: Free Admission: Free to view · Open-air sculpture, no ticket required
Address: Spálená 2121/22, 110 00 Prague 1 (Quadrio plaza), Czech Republic
Coordinates: 50.0898, 14.4222

Introduction

Prague honours its most famous literary son in striking ways. The most eye-catching is David Černý's kinetic monument: an eleven-metre head of Franz Kafka built from dozens of rotating stainless-steel layers that align and dissolve, a fitting metaphor for the shifting identities in his fiction. A second, quieter statue in the Old Town's Dušní street shows Kafka riding on the shoulders of an empty suit, near the Spanish Synagogue. Seen together, the two sculptures trace a city-wide homage to a writer who never really left.

✨ Highlights

Rotating Kafka Head

Dozens of steel layers spin, assembling and dissolving his portrait; wildly photogenic.

Empty Suit Ride

The Dušní street statue shows Kafka atop a headless suit, echoing one of his short stories.

Literary Landmarks

Link the statues with his birthplace and bookshops for an Old Town literary walk.

Free Public Art

Both sculptures sit in public space, viewable any time at no cost.

🛈 Practical Info

→Best Season：Year-round; it's outdoors, so aim for dry days and early light for fewer crowds.

→Duration：Ten to twenty minutes each; allow 1 to 2 hours with nearby literary sights.

→Transport：The rotating head sits by a metro stop near the National Theatre; the suit statue is 10 minutes from Old Town Square.

→Food：Both locations are central, surrounded by plenty of cafés and restaurants.

→Opening Hours：{"note": "Outdoor public plaza, viewable 24/7; the 42 steel layers rotate only during the first 15 minutes of each hour from 09:00 to 23:00"}

→Transportation：Metro B Národní třída, exit B leads straight to it; trams 2/9/18/22 to Národní třída; on the Quadrio plaza between Spálená and Charvátova

Ticket Information

Ticket Information
Free Admission	Free to view

Open-air sculpture, no ticket required

💡 Tips

• Wait through a full rotation cycle of the kinetic head to capture Kafka's complete face.

• Navigate to Dušní street near the Spanish Synagogue to find the empty-suit statue.

• Add the Kafka Museum and his birthplace plaque for a complete themed walk.

• Crowds build at peak times; early mornings or weekday visits are more relaxed.

• As street art, the statues are poorly lit at night; visit in daylight for the details.

FAQ

What are the opening hours of Statue of Franz Kafka?

{"note": "Outdoor public plaza, viewable 24/7; the 42 steel layers rotate only during the first 15 minutes of each hour from 09:00 to 23:00"}

How much is the admission for Statue of Franz Kafka?

Free Admission: Free to view; Open-air sculpture, no ticket required

Any practical tips for visiting Statue of Franz Kafka?

Wait through a full rotation cycle of the kinetic head to capture Kafka's complete face. Navigate to Dušní street near the Spanish Synagogue to find the empty-suit statue.