The Nutcracker Ballet Tickets Prague

The Nutcracker ballet: the story and the music

First staged in St Petersburg in December 1892, The Nutcracker tells the story of Clara, who receives a wooden nutcracker on Christmas Eve. At midnight her toys come to life, the Nutcracker leads them in battle against the Mouse King, and then becomes a prince who takes her through the Land of Snow to the Kingdom of Sweets.

The score is one of the most recognisable in classical music, from the March and the Waltz of the Flowers to the delicate Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy played on the celesta. The Prague production follows the classical choreography, with scenes of the Christmas party, the battle, the snowflakes and the national dances, compressed into an evening that is easy to enjoy even if you have never seen a ballet.

The theatre in the Broadway arcade

The ballet is performed in a recently refurbished theatre inside the Broadway arcade, a covered passage that links Na Příkopě, one of Prague's grand shopping boulevards, with Celetná Street in the Old Town. The auditorium is intimate, with stalls, a main balcony and side boxes, so even the back rows feel close to the stage.

Its location is ideal for visitors: it is a five-minute walk from Wenceslas Square, the Powder Tower and Old Town Square, and close to Můstek and Náměstí Republiky metro stations. The venue is wheelchair accessible, and the main entrance opens 30 minutes before the curtain rises. If you come by tram, the stops at Náměstí Republiky and Václavské náměstí are both a short walk away.

Choosing your seats: VIP, A, B and C

Your Nutcracker Prague tickets come in four categories. The VIP ticket, the default on this page, gives numbered seats in rows 5 to 10 of the stalls, the best balance of closeness and full view of the stage. Category A offers numbered seats in rows 1 to 4 and 11 to 15 of the stalls, or in the left and right boxes of the main balcony.

Category B is open seating in rows 16 to 20 of the stalls and rows 1 to 7 of the main balcony, and Category C is open seating in rows 21 to 26 at the back of the stalls. In both open-seating categories your party sits together, so arriving when the doors open gives you the best choice of places.

An evening in central Prague

With an 18:00 start and a running time of about 1 hour 45 minutes, the ballet ends in time for a relaxed dinner. The streets around the theatre are full of restaurants, and Old Town Square is a short walk away, especially magical in December when its Christmas market and tree are lit.

If you are wondering what to do in Prague in the evening, a ballet is one of the city's great traditions: Prague has a long history of music and dance, and a classical performance in a historic centre setting is a memorable way to end a day of sightseeing. Elegant dress is welcome but not required, and a light coat is easy to keep with you since the cloakroom is not included.