Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, is home to some of the most beautiful sites in all of Europe. The local castle is likely among the top contenders for that spot, attracting hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. Today, we’ll briefly go over the basic information you’re going to need to visit the castle yourself. Let’s take a look!
Prague Castle
The Prague Castle is the largest castle complex in the world (according to the Guinness Book of World Records), nearing a staggering size of 70,000 m2. Its origins date back to the 9th century AD, so you can expect various architectural styles to be present across the complex, from Romanesque to Gothic. While it used to be the seat of kings and emperors prior, it’s currently the office of the President of the Czech Republic. Notable sights that you don’t want to miss are the Old Royal Palace itself, the Royal Garden, the Cathedral of St Vitus, St George’s Basilica and the Golden Lane.
Tickets
We have to note from the get-go that simply entering the castle area and strolling through its courtyards is free of charge – it would be difficult to gatekeep 70,000 m2 behind a paywall. If you actually want to see more, meaning the exhibitions, you’ll need a ticket. You have a couple of options:
- The “Main Circuit”: basic tour including the Old Royal Palace, St George’s Basilica, St Vitus’ Cathedral and the Golden Lane
- The “Permanent exhibitions”: tour including the Prague Castle Picture Gallery, the Rosenberg Palace, the Castle Guard Exhibition and the Story of Prague Castle
- A standalone ticket specifically for the Prague Castle Picture Gallery
- A standalone ticket for the Tower of the Cathedral
You can check the current prices here. Be aware that the sightseeing offer may change in the future, though you’ll then find the updated offer on the ticket list as well. There, you can also find information about the costs of tours: currently, an audio guide costs 350 crowns per three hours while a standard guided tour costs 250 crowns per hour. If you’re visiting with children under the age of 6, they’re given free admission anywhere.
Opening hours
Lastly, let’s take a look at the opening hours. The Prague Castle operates on a two-season rotation: in the summer tourist season, from April 1 to October 31, the whole complex is open from 6am to 10pm while the historical buildings generally open at 9am and close at 5pm. In the winter tourist season, from November 1 to March 31, historical buildings close an hour earlier.
Given the presence of ecclesiastical buildings in the mix, some objects have their own opening hours. If you’d like to check the current schedule, you can find it here (in the full description).
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