Prague Castle

The largest ancient castle complex in the world, on the ridge above the river

Area Hradčany
Type Castle
Time needed 3h

Prague Castle is a walled complex of palaces, churches and courtyards on the Hradčany ridge, founded in the ninth century and still the official seat of the Czech head of state. It is not a single building: the ticketed circuit takes in the Old Royal Palace, St George's Basilica, Golden Lane and the chancel of St Vitus Cathedral, while the courtyards, the lanes between them and the ramparts walk are free to enter. Most visitors give it half a day and still leave something out.

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Getting there

Tram 22 is the direct route: ride it to Pražský hrad, which drops you by the Royal Garden and the back gate, or to Pohořelec, which is higher still and lets you walk downhill through Hradčany to the main gate at Hradčanské náměstí. From the Old Town Square the tram takes roughly twenty-five to thirty minutes including the walk to the stop. On foot it is about thirty-five minutes: across Charles Bridge, up Nerudova, then the hairpin steps at the top — a steady climb of about a hundred metres of height. Metro line A green to Malostranská is the other option, from which you either take tram 22 one stop or climb the Old Castle Steps, which are long and uneven.

What you see

You pass through security screening first, then into the second courtyard with its Kohl fountain and the chapel of the Holy Cross. The third courtyard opens suddenly onto the south flank of St Vitus Cathedral, which is the single most photographed wall in the city and very hard to fit in a frame. From there the Old Royal Palace gives you Vladislav Hall, a late Gothic room with a ribbed vault that fans out like branches, and the window of the 1618 defenestration that started the Thirty Years War. St George's Basilica next door is the oldest surviving church in the complex, Romanesque and almost bare after the baroque front. Golden Lane runs behind, a row of small cottages set into the fortification wall. Finish on the terrace or the ramparts path at the eastern end, where the whole city lies below in one sweep.

What to pair it with

St Vitus Cathedral and Golden Lane are inside the circuit, so count them as part of the same visit rather than separate stops. The Royal Garden is just across the bridge from the north gate, and Strahov Monastery and Loreta sit a short walk west along the ridge. Downhill, Nerudova Street and Malá Strana lead naturally back towards Charles Bridge.

When to go

Go at opening or in the last two hours of the afternoon. Between about ten and three the courtyards fill with coach groups and the cathedral doorway becomes a bottleneck. The changing of the guard at the main gate happens on the hour, with a longer ceremony and a fanfare at midday, which draws a crowd worth either joining deliberately or avoiding. Late afternoon light on the cathedral's south side and on the view from the ramparts is the best of the day. Winter is far quieter and the courtyards are genuinely cold and windy; the gardens below the castle close for the season.

What is hard about it

The queue you see at the entrance is the security screening, not the ticket desk, and it moves steadily but can take twenty minutes or more in high season. Several circuits are sold with different combinations of buildings, so it is easy to buy more or less than you wanted — read what each one includes and check current arrangements before you go. Interiors are not included in any walk-around of the courtyards, which means people sometimes arrive, wander the yards, and leave without seeing anything ticketed. The whole site is cobbled and stepped, and there is no way to avoid the climb to it. In the busiest months the Old Royal Palace and Golden Lane can feel like a shuffling queue rather than a visit.

Common questions

How long do you need at Prague Castle?

Three hours is a sensible minimum for the main circuit, and a leisurely visit with the cathedral tower and the gardens fills most of a day. If you only want the courtyards and the views, an hour will do.

Do you need a ticket for Prague Castle?

The courtyards, the lanes and the ramparts walk are free, and so is the front part of the cathedral nave. A ticket is needed for the Old Royal Palace, St George's Basilica, Golden Lane and the cathedral's chancel; booking a timed slot online is normally the quickest way in.

What is the easiest way up to the castle?

Tram 22 to Pohořelec, then walk downhill through Hradčany to the main gate. That way the tram does the climbing and you finish the visit heading downhill into Malá Strana.