Prague Castle dominates the entire city, and no visit to Prague would be complete without a trip to this extremely important and interesting place. However, it can be difficult to find your way around everything Prague Castle has to offer. That’s why I’ve prepared this guide for you, in which you’ll find everything you might be interested in.
Prague Castle is, of course, a very touristy place, so it’s worth heading there first thing in the morning to get ahead of the crowds.
Prague Castle tickets
You don’t need a ticket to enter the Prague Castle grounds themselves, as admission is free. So if you’re happy just admiring most of the buildings from the outside, you don’t have to pay anything for your visit.
Prague Castle also offers several visitor tours that you can take to see the individual sites (see below for a description of the different parts of Prague Castle). The following rules apply to all tickets:
- Tickets are valid for two days
- Each building can only be entered once
Prague Castle ticket types
There are several types of tickets you can purchase. Tourists most often use the Main Tour (HlavnĂ okruh), which includes access to the following sections:
- Old Royal Palace (Starý královský palác)
- St. George’s Basilica (Bazilika sv. JiĹ™Ă)
- Golden Lane (Zlatá ulička)
- St. Vitus Cathedral (Katedrála svatĂ©ho VĂta)
You can also purchase a ticket for the permanent exhibitions (includes the Story of Prague Castle exhibition, the Main Guard exhibition, the Prague Castle Picture Gallery, and the Rosenberg Palace).
This year, tickets cost:
| Type of ticket | Adult | Discounted ticket | Family ticket |
| Main Tour (HlavnĂ okruh) | CZK 450 | CZK 300 | CZK 950 |
| Permanent exhibitions | CZK 300 | CZK 200 | CZK 700 |
| Prague Castle Picture Gallery | CZK 200 | CZK 150 | CZK 500 |
| St. Vitus Cathedral Tower (Velká jižnà věž) | CZK 200 | CZK 150 | CZK 500 |
Discounted admission is available for children aged 6 to 16, students with a valid ID card up to the age of 26, and seniors over 65. A family ticket includes 2 adults and 1–5 children traveling with them. Children under 6 years of age are admitted free of charge.
Where to get admission tickets?
Admission tickets to Prague Castle can be purchased at all information centers at Prague Castle.
You can also purchase tickets online for the main tour at this link.
Prague Castle opening hours
The Prague Castle complex is open to visitors from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
The buildings themselves are open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (until 4:00 p.m. in winter). St. Vitus Cathedral is open every day, just like the other buildings, but on Sundays it opens at 12:00 noon.
The Prague Castle gardens are open every day from 10:00 a.m. to at least 5:00 p.m. (often longer in the summer). The gardens are closed to the public from November to February.
How to get to Prague Castle?
There are several ways to get to Prague Castle, so it depends on where you are coming from. It is definitely better to use Prague public transport than a car. You can use the following stops:
- Pražský hrad tram stop – the closest stop directly to Prague Castle, served by trams 22 and 23, from where you can reach the castle via the Powder Bridge
- Malostranská metro station – line A will take you to the Malostranská station, from where you can climb the Old Castle Stairs with views of Prague Castle
- Pohořelec tram stop – a leisurely walk will take you to the 4th courtyard from the stop, where lines 22 and 23 stop
- Malostranské náměstà tram stop – from the stop for lines 5, 15, 20, 23, 12, and 22, you can climb steeply through Malá Strana via the New Castle Stairs.
Prague Castle entry
Entry to the Prague Castle complex is free. In the past, it was necessary to pass through a security check, but this rule was abolished by the new Czech president, Petr Pavel.
Accommodation near Prague Castle – Best hotels
I would not recommend staying near Prague Castle, as the entire area is very busy and touristy.
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as cheap accommodation in this area. If you still want to stay here, I recommend the Boutique Hotel Green Lobster.
Prague Castle Map
This map shows all the places mentioned in the article.
Prague Castle Tour
Prague Castle offers a number of organized tours with local professional guides. A tour in a foreign language costs CZK 250 per person per hour. You can view the tours on offer at this link. Due to high demand, I recommend booking a tour in advance.
What to see at Prague Castle?
As already mentioned, Prague Castle is huge and there are a huge number of interesting things to see here. In this section, I will introduce you to the places and things that you should definitely not miss at Prague Castle.
St. Vitus Cathedral (Katedrála sv. VĂta)
St. Vitus Cathedral is the spiritual and architectural heart of Prague Castle and one of the most important Gothic buildings in Central Europe. As soon as you arrive at the Third Courtyard, you will be captivated by it and won’t be able to take your eyes off it. If you go inside, you will be impressed by the monumental height of the cathedral and the famous St. Wenceslas Chapel.
In the past, part of the cathedral was reserved for free admission, but due to construction work, free admission is no longer possible. You can only get inside with a valid ticket for the main route.
Old Royal Palace (Starý královský palác)
For centuries, the Old Royal Palace was the center of Czech statehood and the seat of monarchs. The largest hall is the Vladislav Hall with its impressive vaulted ceiling, which is one of the highlights of late Gothic architecture and symbolizes power and representation.
St. George’s Basilica (Bazilika sv. JiĹ™Ă)
St. George’s Basilica is one of the oldest preserved buildings at Prague Castle. The foundations of the building date back to the 10th century, and a visit here will leave you with a completely different impression than the more famous St. Vitus Cathedral.
Golden Lane (Zlatá ulička)
In the past, a large number of craftsmen and other ordinary people lived in the castle. These people lived in Golden Lane, a picturesque row of small houses pressed up against the castle walls. The lane looks as if it has jumped out of a medieval legend or story.
Ceremonial changing of the guard
The ceremonial changing of the guard takes place in front of the main gate of Prague Castle and attracts the attention of visitors every day. If you are at Prague Castle around noon (the changing of the guard takes place every day at 12:00), be sure to stop by and watch. You can watch the changing of the guard for free.
Historic mailbox
In the third courtyard, you will find a blue historic mailbox. If you want to send letters or postcards from Prague, you should definitely use this still-functional historic mailbox.
Rožmberk Palace (Rožmberský palác)
RoĹľmberk Palace was originally a noble residence, later serving as an institute for noblewomen. The interiors are reminiscent of aristocratic life and the changes in the building’s use over the centuries. The palace is less visited (it is not part of the main tour) and offers a completely different view of Prague Castle.
Prague Castle Picture Gallery
The Picture Gallery houses part of the original imperial collections, which were started by the Czech ruler Rudolf II. Here you will find works by European masters and rare paintings that testify to the cultural significance of the Habsburg era. A visit to the Picture Gallery is part of the tour with exhibitions, but tickets can also be purchased separately.
The Story of Prague Castle Exhibition
The Story of Prague Castle exhibition clearly maps the development of Prague Castle from the earliest times to the present. If you like history and are curious about the many stories from the time when the castle was built, you should definitely head here.
St. Vitus Cathedral Tower (Velká jižnà věž)
The large south tower of the cathedral offers one of the most beautiful views of Prague. Climbing the spiral staircase is physically demanding, but the reward is a beautiful view – you will see Prague Castle below you, Malá Strana, PetĹ™Ăn Hill, the Vltava River, and much more.
There is an admission fee for the tower, and tickets must be purchased separately (not included in any of the tours).
Powder Tower – Mihulka
Most visitors heading to Prague Castle via the famous Powder Bridge pass by the Powder Tower. It is part of the castle fortifications and recalls the original defensive function of the castle. Today, the tower houses an exhibition focused on the castle guard and its history. This exhibition is part of the second visitor tour.
Prague Castle Gardens
The Prague Castle complex also includes a large number of gardens that you can visit (only during the summer season). The gardens are freely accessible and admission is free.
The gardens of Prague Castle include:
- The Royal Garden (Královská zahrada)
- The South Gardens (JiĹľnĂ zahrady)
- The Deer Moat (JelenĂ pĹ™Ăkop)
Prague Castle visit – My tips
Before visiting Prague Castle, I have a few tips for you that are definitely worth paying attention to:
- Free admission to Golden Lane – Free admission to Golden Lane is available every day, in winter after 4 p.m. and in summer after 6 p.m.
- Arrive as early as possible – Prague Castle is a destination for many tourists, so I recommend going there as early in the morning as possible.
- Buy an audio guide – When you buy your ticket, you can purchase an audio guide in many languages for CZK 350, which will provide you with a lot of information. Keep in mind that you will need to pay a refundable deposit of CZK 500 per guide.
- Want to eat at a reasonable price near the castle? I recommend Hostinec U Černého vola, where they only have a few dishes, but they are all tasty and very affordable.
What to see around Prague Castle?
Set aside about half a day for a visit to Prague Castle. And then what? There are a huge number of other attractions right around the castle; after all, the Malá Strana district is one of the most interesting in Prague.
You can head to Loreta and behind Prague Castle to PohoĹ™elec, from where you can walk to Strahov Monastery and then enjoy beautiful views of PetĹ™Ăn. Or walk down to Malá Strana, visit St. Nicholas Church, and continue towards Charles Bridge or Kampa.
You can also head in the other direction towards Hradčany or enjoy breathtaking views of Letná.
History of Prague Castle
Prague Castle has towered over the Vltava River for more than a thousand years and has been a symbol of power and security since its inception. The first Czech rulers chose a location on a promontory above the river from which they could see far into the countryside and from which they could easily defend access to the emerging city of Prague. The original wooden fort gradually became a stone castle that grew along with the Czech state. Each successive generation of rulers added or altered something.
In the Middle Ages, the castle became the true heart of the country. Czech kings resided here and ruled their kingdom from here. Gradually, representative palaces, churches, defensive towers, and walls were built. The most prominent landmark was St. Vitus Cathedral, which was built over centuries and was intended to be not only a spiritual center but also a symbol of the country’s prestige and self-confidence.
Periods of prosperity alternated with times of decline. Sometimes the castle was full of court life, other times it seemed rather deserted because the rulers resided elsewhere. Nevertheless, it remained an important symbol – a place of coronations, celebrations, and key decisions. Its appearance changed according to the tastes of the time, from Gothic to Renaissance to Baroque.
In modern times, the castle also played a role in dramatic moments of Czech history. It was here that an event took place that started the Thirty Years’ War, when the royal governors were thrown out of a window of one of the castle buildings. Later, the castle witnessed political changes, regime changes, and transformations of society as a whole. However, it always remained the center of power – whether royal, imperial, or later presidential.
After the establishment of independent Czechoslovakia, the castle became the seat of the president of the republic. The new state gave it new meaning – it was no longer a symbol of monarchy, but of democracy and independence. Extensive renovations were carried out to connect the historical appearance of the castle with its modern function. Thanks to this, today it acts as a living organism where the past meets the present.
Today, Prague Castle is not only the official seat of the president, but also one of the most visited monuments in Europe. People come here to admire the architecture, the views of Prague, and the atmosphere of a place where history was written. When you walk through its courtyards, gardens, and alleys, you get the feeling that the individual layers of time are stacked on top of each other. And that is precisely where its charm lies – it is not just a castle, but a chronicle of Czech history carved in stone.
Frequently asked questions – Prague Castle
Is it free to enter Prague Castle?
Entrance to the Prague Castle grounds is free – you can freely move around the courtyards, gardens (in season), and public areas. However, if you want to visit the main sights, such as St. Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, or Golden Lane, you need to purchase a ticket for the selected tour.
Is Prague Castle the oldest castle in the world?
Prague Castle is not the oldest castle in the world, but it is one of the oldest continuously used castle complexes in Europe. Its history dates back to the 9th century, and for more than a thousand years it has been a symbol of Czech statehood.
Why is Prague Castle so famous?
Prague Castle is best known for its size – it is one of the largest castle complexes in the world. It is also famous as the seat of Czech kings, Holy Roman Emperors, and modern presidents, and it dominates the Prague skyline with its distinctive silhouette.
Does anyone live in Prague Castle?
Yes. Prague Castle is the official residence of the President of the Czech Republic. It houses the presidential office and representative rooms used for state visits and ceremonial events, but it is not a normal residential residence in the classic sense.
How long does it take to visit Prague Castle?
It depends on the program you choose. A basic tour of the main sights takes about 2-3 hours, but if you also want to enjoy the exhibitions, the cathedral tower, and the gardens, you can easily spend a whole day there. However, half a day will be enough for most tourists.
What is the best time to visit Prague Castle?
It is best to come early in the morning or later in the afternoon when there are fewer visitors. In summer, the area is usually very busy, while in the off-season you can enjoy a quieter atmosphere and more space for undisturbed exploration.
