Sitting next to the National Museum on Wilsonova, this neo-rococo opera house opened in 1888 as the New German Theatre, serving Prague's German-speaking community. The lavishly decorated auditorium — all gilt stucco, painted ceilings, and plush red velvet — was meticulously restored during a 2017-2020 renovation that also modernized the backstage and acoustics. The company stages a strong repertoire of opera and ballet at prices that make Vienna and Milan look absurd; excellent seats can be had for under thirty euros. Gustav Mahler and Richard Strauss both conducted here. Even from the outside, the building's ornate facade and its position at the foot of Wenceslas Square make it hard to miss.