Franz Kafka is without a doubt the best known novelist of the Czech Republic.  The Praguers are also proud to show him off in all of his absurdist glory! The enigmatic author’s  stories still intrigue  – Metamorphosis, The Trial etc, still intrigue readers today, and Prague offers  a fitting literary pilgrimage. This beautiful city, with its Gothic spires and winding cobbled streets, shaped Kafka’s life and fiction. Though Kafka famously wrote in German and lived a somewhat conflicted relationship with his hometown, Prague remains deeply entwined with his legacy.

You can follow your own path around Kafka must-see’s, or you can take a guided tour.  Prague, although not as cheap a city as when it first freed itself from communism, is still full of bargain accommodation, as well as the more luxurious.  Getting to Prague to easy from all its neighbouring countries by train, coach or air. Prague itself is a very walkable city, and also has a tram network, which can take you most places you’d like to go in the city.

Here are 7 Kafka-related places in Prague that will transport you into the surreal and shadowy world of one of literature’s most intriguing figures:

1. Kafka Museum

Location: Cihelná 2b, Malá Strana

No Kafka journey is complete without a visit to the Franz Kafka Museum. Opened in 2005, this immersive museum offers a rich collection of original manuscripts, photographs, personal letters, diaries, and first editions. The moody, almost dreamlike atmosphere — complete with distorted mirrors, eerie soundscapes, and strange installations — feels like stepping into a Kafkaesque world.

Don’t miss: The bizarre sculpture “Piss” by David Černý in the courtyard outside — a satirical nod to Kafka’s absurdism.

2. Kafka’s Birthplace

Location: Náměstí Franze Kafky 3, Old Town

Kafka was born in 1883 in a house on this very square, though the original building was destroyed by fire in the 19th century. Today, a plaque marks the location, and the reconstructed building hosts a small exhibition space and bookstore. While modest, it’s a moving spot for fans — a physical anchor to the beginning of Kafka’s story.

3. The House at the Minute (Dům U Minuty)

Location: Old Town Square  https://www.prague-guide.co.uk/house-at-the-minute/

Kafka lived here with his family from 1889 to 1896, right next to the Old Town Hall and the famous Astronomical Clock. The stunning Renaissance facade, covered in ornate sgraffito, makes it one of the most photographed buildings in the square. Imagine young Franz gazing out at the ever-busy heart of the city — a place that would later echo in his claustrophobic, bureaucratic nightmares.

4. Charles University (Karolinum)

Location: Ovocný trh 3–5  https://www.czechuniversities.com/

Kafka studied law at Charles University, one of the oldest universities in Europe, from 1901 to 1906. Didn’t enjoy this period but it was formative. He met lifelong friends like Max Brod here. The Karolinum, the historic core of the university, is open to visitors and worth a stroll through for its architecture and atmosphere.

5. Franz Kafka Monument

Location: Dušní Street, near the Spanish Synagogue

This striking statue of Franz Kafka, by sculptor Jaroslav Róna is one of the most iconic Kafka tributes in Prague. Inspired by Kafka’s short story “Description of a Struggle,” it shows Kafka riding on the shoulders of a headless, suited giant — a surreal image straight from his fiction. It’s haunting, thought-provoking, and oddly whimsical — much like Kafka’s own work.

6. Golden Lane (Zlatá ulička) – House No. 22

Location: Inside Prague Castle

Kafka briefly lived and wrote in the tiny House No. 22 on Golden Lane, a fairytale-like street of miniature houses within Prague Castle. He rented the space in 1916–1917, seeking a quiet place to write away from distractions. Though the interior is now a reconstructed exhibit, it’s easy to imagine him hunched over his notebook by candlelight, wrestling with his imagination.

7. New Jewish Cemetery- burial place of Franz Kafka(Nový židovský hřbitov)

Location: Izraelská Street, Žižkov district  www.jewishmuseum.cz

Kafka died in 1924 from tuberculosis. He was buried in this peaceful, tree-lined cemetery alongside his parents. His grave is simple, yet moving — a place of reflection and quiet tribute. For true Kafka fans, this final stop is a pilgrimage in the truest sense.

Another modern Franz Kafka inspired place to visit is The World of Franz Kafka.

Náměstí Franze Kafky 1
Praha 1 https://www.franzkafkaworld.com/en

This museum can only be described as ‘Kafkaesque’. It is underground amongst the ruins of ancient buildings, and rather than being devoted to Kafka’s life as such, it is devoted to the strange world in which he existed and to the strange times he inhabited. There are artifacts and projections of films of his works on the walls, which take you to a very strange place. An unusual exhibition, but one well worth a visit.

Exploring Kafka’s Prague is like walking through a dream — sometimes beautiful, sometimes disorienting, always unforgettable. Whether you’re a literature lover, a history buff, or simply drawn to the city’s moody charm, these Kafka-related sites offer a unique way to experience Prague through the eyes of one of its most complex sons.

Have you visited any of these spots — or do you have a favorite Kafka quote to share? Let us know in the comments!