Prague Castle: 7 Hints For Your Stress-free Visit

Prague Castle, number one highlight of Prague and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Even if you are coming to Prague just for a short trip, Prague Castle is the place you definitely shouldn’t miss. I am not going to explain the history now – that’s what you can find all over the internet. I will rather share with you some practical tips. For example how it works with tickets, opening hours, whether to visit the castle interiors or not, where to eat at Prague Castle, and much more.

Tips from a local guide – August 2023

Who is writing this blog for you? My name is Dana and I am the owner of a small local touring company called Prague Behind The Scenes. Besides showing travellers around Prague in a less touristy way, I also like writing about my hometown. Especially about practical things and less known topics related to tourism in Prague. If you wish to see Prague with me, please drop me a line at dana@praguebehindthescenes.com or contact me via Facebook or Instagram.

*Dana, owner and guide for Prague Behind The Scenes. Author of this blog post.*

1. What is the best time to visit Prague Castle?

One of the best things about Prague Castle is that the opening hours are very generous: 6am – 10pm. Every single day! The best time to visit Prague Castle is until 9am or after 5pm. In the morning you will only meet locals, few photographers, castle employees or people leaving the morning service at St. Vitus Cathedral. In the evening, everything will be lighted up, tranquil, peaceful.

Mornings / evenings, highly recommended times. When knowing this, you can perfectly avoid the peak hours and large noisy tour groups. Besides this – Golden Lane will be open for free after 5pm (during the day time it´s paid entry).

*St. Vitus Cathedral is standing on the 3rd courtyard of Prague Castle.* *Many people think that it´s standing somewhere else in the city – no, the Cathedral is part of Prague Castle complex and if you want to see it, you need to enter Prague Castle.*

2. How much does it cost to enter Prague Castle?

Prague Castle grounds (courtyards, gardens, Deer moat) are open for free. You don´t need any tickets to get in, there are no such things as skip-the-line tickets, etc. The castle exteriors are free for all! You only need a ticket if you plan visiting interiors. No pre-purchase is needed. You will find the ticket offices on the 2nd and 3rd courtyard. Please don´t believe anyone who tells you that you need some skip-the-line tickets or to buy everything ahead of time, blah blah blah….don´t get stressed by this. Just stay flexible and enjoy your holiday. Whenever you plan to visit the interior, just come and get the tickets.

The paid interiors are: St. Vitus Cathedral, Old Royal Palace, St. George Basilica and Golden Lane. For visiting these places you will need a ticket called Basic circuit (250 CZK / pp, there are discounts for seniors 65+ and children). It´s a combined ticket that allows you to enter all of the above mentioned interiors. You will easily buy it in the ticket office at Prague Castle (2nd and 3rd courtyard). There are no single tickets e.g. just for the cathedral, or just for the Golden Lane.

The current price list you can check here. The Basic circuit ticket is valid for two days so you can split the visit. However, every interior can only be entered once!

*To enter Prague Castle you don´t need a ticket! It´s for free! The only paid parts are the interiors.*

3. Visit Prague Castle interiors: yes or no?

This is one of the most frequestly asked questions of my clients 🙂 And I always answer that it all depends on their time – how much time they have for Prague. To make it clearer, if you wish to see all the interiors and paid parts of Prague Castle, you should definitely count with at least 2,5 hours. And that´s just for the interiors, then there are also exteriors: viewpoints, gardens…From my experience, most of the people skip the interiors visit. I am not saying it´s fine but I absolutely understand their time limit. Lot of visitors are also expecting Prague Castle to be more “romantic”, with oppulent baroque interiors and great photo opportunities…nope, the interiors are way too old and quite austere. You might be a bit disappointed in this way.

In the castle complex you can also visit a lovely observation deck at the top of the Great South Tower of St. Vitus Cathedral (150 CZK) or interior of Lobkowitz Palace, the only privately owned palace at the castle (290 CZK). It still belongs to Lobkowitz family, one of the oldest Czech noble families!!

*Sunrise in front of the St. Vitus Cathedral – and no one around!*

4. What is free to see at Prague Castle?

St. Vitus Cathedral. If you don´t want to buy the combined ticket for Prague Castle interiors, you can still see the St. Vitus Cathedral for free. Not so many people know about it, but the front part of the cathedral is open for free. Just for the idea how it looks inside it´s absolutely fine. Daily services are open for free to anyone (please just respect the whole ceremony and don´t leave before it ends and don´t take pictures!!!).

Prague Castle Gardens: The most beautiful ones are the south gardens (entrance through the 3rd courtyard via Bull stairs).

Golden Lane. This picturesque street with tiny colorful houses is the paid part of the castle – but only during the day time, after 5pm it stays open for free.

All courtyards and exteriors.

*Views from the South gardens of Prague Castle.* *During the high season I finish my off-the- beaten-path tours here.*

5. Opening hours of Prague Castle: exteriors, interiors, gardens

Prague Castle grounds: 6am – 10pm

Interiors of the historical buildings (St. George Basilica, Golden Lane, Old Royal Palace): 9am – 5pm

St. Vitus Cathedral: Mo-Sa 9am – 5pm, Su 12 – 5pm (last entrance 4:40pm)

Great South Tower of St. Vitus Cathedral: 10am – 6pm (last entrance 5:30pm – because there are 300 steps to the top 🙂

Prague Castle Gardens + Stag moat:

October – February: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
March – April: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
May – June: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
July – August: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
September: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm

Official website of Prague Castle here.

6. Where to eat at Prague Castle?

Prague Castle attracts a lot of tourist. Therefore there are many touristy and cheesy restaurants, shops, cafés and bars in the neigborhood. You really need to know where to go. All of my recommended places are local and authentic businesses not owned by some anynomous companies.

Kuchyň na hradě: (“Kitchen at Prague Castle”) right by the main entrance to Prague Castle at Hradčany square. This place is perfect for a lunch/dinner and fresh beer. They specialize in Czech meat meals, but there are always some vegetarian / lighter options, too.

Kafe a hrnky: (“Coffee and Mugs”) cozy place located on Nerudova street. Former souvenir shop. Now friendly Czech coffee shop and ceramics workshop with secluded garden in the backyard. They serve small meals, coffee and beer. Simple hideaway place with very reasonable prices.

Kavárna Nový Svět: (“Coffee shop New World”) a small family café located just 10 minutes from Prague Castle. Tiny, clean and cozy place, serving small meals, cakes and high-end coffee. The menu is written on a board by a counter, no printed menu. As long as you don´t meet one unfriendly barista there, this place is super sweet. People keep complaining about the barista in reviews and I can just echo them. Very sad, but I still do recommend visiting this place because when he is not there, it´s simply great spot! Closed on Mondays.