Prague Castle - Frequently Asked Questions
Article updated on: September 9th, 2022
Here are the answers to the most frequent questions about Prague Castle.
Visited by over 2 million people every year, Prague Castle, or Pražský hrad, is the most popular tourist attraction in the Czech Republic. On this page, you will find answers to the most frequent questions that people ask us about the Castle before their visit.
ADMISSION & SIGHTS OF PRAŽSKÝ HRAD
Is Prague Castle free?
Yes, the Castle is free of charge, but you will need to buy a ticket if you wish to enter the exhibitions.
The areas available for free are the historical courtyards, the Neo-Gothic part of the Cathedral of St. Vitus and the Golden Lane (after 4 or 5pm depending on the season). During the summer you can also enjoy the free access to the royal gardens. We visit the free part of the castle on our daily free Charles Bridge & Castle tour. You can check the schedule for this free tour here.
What is in the paid part of Prague Castle?
For the paid visit in the Castle you can choose from 3 circuits:
Circuit (A) (CZK350) includes the old part of the Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, the exhibition “The Story of Prague Castle”, the Basilica of St. George, the interiors of the houses of the Golden Lane, the Daliborka Tower (old prison with dungeon) and the Rosenberg Palace. [update in 2022: currently this option is not available]
Circuit (B) (CZK250) includes everything above except the exhibition “The Story of Prague Castle” and the Rosenberg Palace.
Circuit (C) (CZK350) includes just the Treasure of St. Vitus Cathedral (in the Holy Cross Chapel) and the Prague Castle Picture Gallery. Both admission tickets can be bought separately for CZK250 and CZK100 accordingly. [update in 2022: currently this option is not available]
How much time to spend in the Castle: circuits A or B will take 2-4 hours depending on your general pace and interest, circuit C can be done within 1-1.5 hours. [update in 2022: currently only circuit B is available]
Our favorite is circuit B, as it includes the most important sights. We also recommend climbing the Great South Tower of Saint Vitus Cathedral (CZK150) and visiting the Lobkowicz Palace (CZK 290).
The tickets are valid for 2 days and can be purchased in the information centres of Prague Castle, as well as in the Old Royal Palace, in the Golden Lane or in the Castle Picture Gallery. Buying skip-the-line-tickets on the Internet will not save you much time, as most of the time the only big queue is the security check outside.
See the official website of Prague Castle for more detailed information.
WHEN TO VISIT PRAGUE CASTLE
What is the best time to visit the Castle of Prague?
It depends how much time you wish to spend in the Castle and if you want to buy the tickets or just enjoy the free part. For the free part, we recommend coming around 17:00, so that you can enter the Cathedral before it closes at 17:40* and then, when the castle museum is closed, you can enter the Golden Lane for free (after 18:00*). Just please note that in the winter season (1 November-31 March) the museum closes at 4pm and the Cathedral at 3:40pm.
If you don’t mind buying the ticket to the exhibitions, we recommend coming in the morning before the arrival of the organized tour groups. The Prague Castle museum opens at 10:00am (9:00am in the winter season), the earlier you visit the better. You will find more information about the opening hours of the Castle here.
What time is the changing of the guard in Prague Castle?
The changing of the guard happens every hour from 07:00 to 20:00 in the summer season and from 07:00 to 18:00 in the winter season. The ceremonial changing of the guard with fanfar and banner exchange takes place in the First Courtyard of Prague Castle at 12:00.
OTHER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CASTLE
Can I take a selfie with the castle guards at the entrance gates of Prague Castle?
As per the official rules and regulations of the castle you must stay at least half a meter away from the Castle guards. It is forbidden to touch, interfere with or ridicule the guards. So rather not.
Are there public toilets in Prague Castle?
Yes, one is next to the entrance of the Cathedral of St. Vitus (map) and the other one closer to the East Gate between the Golden Lane and Jiřská street (map). The cost is CZK 10.
Where can I buy water in Prague Castle?
There are a couple of cafés in the castle complex selling drinks but they tend to be very expensive. The average price of a small bottle of water in the castle complex is CZK100, which is 4 euros. We recommend to buy water before entering the castle grounds. Alternatively, if you have a valid castle ticket, there is a drinking fountain in the Golden Lane in front of the house no 23 [unavailable in 2022].
Is it possible to attend a holy mass in the Cathedral of St. Vitus?
Of course. The Cathedral of Saint Vitus is an active Roman Catholic church and the fateful can attend the services every day from Monday to Thursday at 07:00, on Fridays at 07:00 and 18:00, on Sundays at 08:30 and 10:00.
Check for any updates of the current schedule on the website of the Cathedral.
Is it possible to enter the Prague Castle complex with a dog?
It is not forbidden to enter the castle grounds with a dog if the pet has a muzzle and is on a leash. Walking into any interiors and entering the royal gardens with a dog is not allowed.
What should I know about the security check in Prague Castle?
The security check was introduced in 2016 as the result of the growing terrorist threat in Europe in order to protect the president. The metal detector scan is quick and shouldn’t take more than half a minute per person, but due to the huge popularity of the castle, long lines in the summer season are inevitable.
If there is anything else you would like to know about the Castle of Prague, please feel free to send us a message at [email protected].