The fairytale turrets and spires of Prague Castle are as iconic a feature of the city’s skyscape as, say, the Eiffel Tower is to Paris. Or the Statue of Liberty to NYC. But it’s older, so much older, with a long and storied history that reaches back through the mists of time to the 9th Century, nearly 1,200 years ago. Read on for our complete guide to Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral, including when to visit, what to expect, and how to get tickets.
Prague Castle: The Lowdown
Prague Castle is the catch-all term for the sizable hilltop complex perched high above the west bank of the Vltava. A fortress first and foremost when it was built in the late 9th Century, it has served as the Czechian seat of power for centuries. It continues to fulfil this function as the presidential seat today and boasts a mixture of early Romanesque ruins and picture-perfect Gothic medieval additions among its many attractions, including the majestic St Vitus Cathedral and Old Royal Palace, two of the castle’s most-visited (and photographed) buildings.
The castle complex spans some 750,000 square feet (70,000 square meters, taking in several palaces, towers, gardens and religious buildings. That’s enough real estate to earn it a listing as the planet’s largest preserved ancient castle in the Guinness Book of Records. With so much to explore, it’s no wonder it’s also one of Prague’s most popular tourist attractions, attracting just shy of two million visitors annually.
Prague Castle: Must-See Highlights
St Vitus Cathedral
You’ll recognise St Vitus Cathedral from its soaring twin spires, visible from pretty much everywhere in Prague. Built in the 14th Century, this Gothic masterpiece remains the largest and most important place of worship in Czechia, and is the last resting place of countless Holy Roman Emperors and kings of Bohemia. Check out its trademark flying buttresses, beautifully mosaiced Golden Gate, and those awe-inspiring Art Nouveau stained-glass windows, designed by 19th-century Czech artist Alphonse Mucha. And there’s plenty more to ogle in the cathedral’s cavernous interior, including an enormous baroque and neoclassical pipe organ, gothic chapels, and sacred tomb of St Wenceslas. Suffice it to say that, if you only visit one of Prague Castle’s many attractions, make it this one.
The Old Royal Palace
Star of the show at Prague Castle’s Gothic and Renaissance style Old Royal Palace is the frankly epic Vladislav Hall. If walls could talk then, boy, would this vast vaulted space have some stories to tell, having borne witness to everything from royal coronations to industrial-scale banquets, knights’ tournaments and luxury-goods markets down the centuries. How the other half live, eh? The hall is still used for some state ceremonies to this day, but you’ll probably be more interested in the stunning views from the observation gallery, taking in the castle’s lush Garden on the Ramparts, the russet-red rooftops of Malá Strana and the broad Vltava beyond. There’s also an exhibition – The Story of Prague Castle – on the palace’s Gothic floor, which brings this extraordinary complex’s history to life for adults and kids alike.
Golden Lane
This one’s for fans of the ’gram, thanks to the rows of colorfully painted houses that are sure to make your social feeds pop. Golden Lane takes its name from the goldsmiths who lived here in the 17th Century, but the camera-friendly color scheme is a little more modern, dating back to the 1950s. The houses, which also have historical connections to legendary Czech writers including Kafka and Jaroslav Seifert, are now mostly occupied by souvenir shops, perfect for all your St Vitus Cathedral fridge magnet and Daliborka Tower dishtowel needs.
St George’s Basilica
The castle’s oldest church was largely rebuilt following fire damage sustained in an 1142 siege, but retains the Romanesque additions (most notably it’s two towers) from this era. Highlights to look out for include a bas-relief of St George slaying the dragon on the Baroque west facade, a quite unbelievably creepy statue of a rotting corpse in the crypt, and the aforementioned (and rather more photogenic) towers, nicknamed Adam and Eve.
Best of the Rest
It would be very easy to while away half a day or more at Prague Castle. There are several more things to see and do here in addition to the essential attraction highlights listed above. Climb the 287 steps of the Great South Tower of St Vitus Cathedral for a peep at Zikmund, the enormous 16th-century cathedral bell, and expansive views of the castle grounds and city beneath. And check out the Renaissance-style Royal Garden, home of Queen Anne’s exquisite Italianate summer palace (pictured above) and a tropical Orangery.
Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral: When to Visit
The castle complex is open from 6AM-10PM year round. During the summer season (April 1 to October 31), the historical buildings – St Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, Golden Lane and so on – and Royal Gardens are generally open between 9AM and 5PM, with last entry at 4.40PM. During winter season (November 1 to March 31), it’s 9AM-4PM, with last entry at 3.40PM. The exception is the Great South Tower of St Vitus Cathedral which opens 10AM-6PM in summer season, and 10AM-5PM in winter, with last entry 30 minutes before closing time. You can check the latest opening and closing times for your visit here.
If you’re not all that fussed about going inside the various palaces, towers and cathedrals at Prague Castle, the best times to visit are definitely before and after attraction hours, when the expansive grounds and courtyards are free to stroll and tourist crowds are at a minimum. Outside of that, you’ll find it a lot less busy mid-week than on weekends, and especially so in winter – you’re far more likely to get your perfect ‘alone at St Vitus Cathedral’ selfie on a freezing February morn than a sizzling June afternoon.
Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral: Tickets
There are various ways to book Prague Castle tickets online. But one of the best ways to do it is with a Prague pass from Go City, which gives you access to a number of the complex’s historical attractions, including St Vitus Cathedral, Golden Lane and the Old Royal Palace, plus many more Prague attractions, tours and activities, including river cruises, bus tours, museums and the Jewish Quarter. It’s a great way to save money if you plan to visit a number of attractions during your vacation. Find out more and bag your pass here.
Save on Prague’s Most Popular Attractions
Save money on Prague attractions, tours and activities with a pass from Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stu caught the travel bug at an early age, thanks to childhood road trips to the south of France squeezed into the back of a Ford Cortina with two brothers and a Sony Walkman. Now a freelance writer living on the Norfolk coast, Stu has produced content for travel giants including Frommer’s, British Airways, Expedia, Mr & Mrs Smith, and now Go City. His most memorable travel experiences include drinking kava with the locals in Fiji and pranging a taxi driver’s car in the Honduran capital.
