Škoda Auto Museum

The Škoda Museum in Mladá Boleslav traces more than a century of Central European automotive history in one building, right next to the vast Škoda Auto production plant that still turns out cars a short walk from the display halls. From early bicycles to modern concept cars, the museum lays out the full arc of one of the world's oldest continuously operating car manufacturers.

What is inside the museum?

The exhibition moves chronologically through the company's story, starting with the bicycle workshop that Václav Laurin and Václav Klement founded in Mladá Boleslav at the end of the 19th century. That small workshop grew first into a motorcycle maker and then, in the early 20th century, into a full car manufacturer — Škoda is one of only four automakers anywhere in the world with an unbroken production history stretching back that far, and the museum is built around showing exactly how that continuity happened.

Displays include original Laurin & Klement bicycles and motorcycles, elegant pre-war saloons with their rounded, hand-formed bodywork, and post-war models that generations of Central European drivers grew up with. Racing and rally cars occupy their own section, reflecting decades spent building the brand's reputation on tracks and rally stages across Europe. Alongside the production vehicles sit prototypes and concept cars that never reached series production, offering a glimpse of design directions the company explored but ultimately set aside. Archival material — factory photographs, advertising posters, technical drawings, and documents from across the decades — fills in the human and industrial side of the story.

A more technical section of the museum walks visitors through how cars actually get made, from early design sketches to the modern assembly line, which pairs naturally with the working factory visible just outside. Families travelling with children will find interactive stations scattered through the halls, so a visit does not have to mean simply walking past glass cases.

How do you get there?

The museum sits in Mladá Boleslav, a town roughly 60 kilometres northeast of Prague, right beside the main Škoda Auto plant complex. Driving is the most convenient option — the trip from Prague takes about an hour, mostly along the D10 motorway. Travellers without a car can take a train or bus from Prague to Mladá Boleslav in a similar amount of time; from the station, the museum is within easy walking distance or a short local bus ride.

When should you visit?

The museum is open year-round, and since the entire collection is indoors, the season makes little difference to the visit itself. It is worth checking current opening hours before setting out, as they can vary by day of the week and time of year. Visitors who prefer a quieter walk through the halls should avoid weekend afternoons and peak holiday periods, when tour groups and families tend to arrive in larger numbers.

A trip to the museum pairs well with a short walk around Mladá Boleslav itself — a town whose identity has been shaped for more than a hundred years by a single factory, something still visible in its streets and architecture today.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a visit to the Škoda Museum take? Most visitors need between an hour and a half and two hours to see the full exhibition at a comfortable pace.

Is the museum suitable for children? Yes, alongside the classic car displays there are interactive stations designed to make automotive history engaging for younger visitors.

Is the museum located next to the Škoda Auto factory? Yes, the museum building stands directly beside the company's large production complex, reinforcing the link between the brand's history and its present-day manufacturing.

Can you reach Mladá Boleslav without a car? Yes, the town has direct train and bus connections from Prague, and the museum is easily reachable on foot or by local bus from the station.