Prague for The Family Explorers: a Friday-to-Monday weekend

The funicular on a transit ticket, then the little neo-gothic castle of mirrors on the hill, five minutes of laughing and the view for free.

Children's Island, a long playground on a river island reached by a footbridge, swings over the water and benches for the parents.

A big Neapolitan pizza room near the river where a child's margherita arrives in minutes and the high chairs are already at the table.

One of Europe's best zoos on a river slope, a chairlift between the levels, gorillas and elephants; arrive at opening and leave before the heat.

After the nap: the big park next to the zoo, two playgrounds, ducks on the ponds and flat paths for a scooter.

Model trains deliver the drinks along tracks between the tables, which is the whole point; schnitzel and chips for the passengers.

The one-hour river cruise from the Čech Bridge, under the Charles Bridge and back, with a deck for the children and a bar for the adults.

A hall of aeroplanes hung from the roof, steam engines and vintage cars, and a mine to walk through underneath; open Sunday until six.

A pub with vaults and long tables by the Charles Bridge, dumplings and fried cheese in child portions, dinner done by seven.

Thirty statues and a stall of puppets, the castle ahead and swans below; early enough for the children to run between the lamp posts.

Three thousand models on the way to the bridge, from a Star Wars fleet to a Prague in bricks, and a play room at the end.

The 1911 pastry shop restored, a slice of cake and a lemonade at the marble counter before the airport bus from the main station.