Prague Castle: What to See, Tickets & Free Areas

Prague Castle is one of the major sights in Prague, with palaces, churches, courtyards, gardens and viewpoints overlooking the Old Town and River Vltava.

The Castle is a complex of fortifications, churches, gardens, and palaces; thus, there is plenty to see. Its architecture is a variety of styles, including Gothic, some of which date back to the 9^th century.

Its history dates back to the 9th century, while the buildings reflect a mix of architectural styles, including Gothic and Romanesque. You can see many of the Castle’s features for free, including the area’s architecture.

Facts About Prague Castle

• The Castle is currently the official office of the president of the Czech Republic. (Hence the security checks.)
• It is the largest ancient Castle in the world.
• It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• It is one of the most visited sights in Prague.
• The Castle was the seat of power for kings of Bohemia and Holy Roman emperors.
• There are 4 palaces in the complex: the Old Royal Palace, the Queen Anne’s Summer Palace, the Lobkowicz Palace, and the New Royal Palace.
• There are four churches in the complex: St Vitus Cathedral, St George’s Basilica, All Saints’ Church and Holy Cross Chapel.
• Hradčany is the name of the neighbourhood around the Castle.
• The Castle contains 5 halls.
• It has 4 towers.
• For garden lovers, the complex has 12 gardens.

Security Check

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Whether you are exploring the complex for free or with a paid ticket, you enter through a security checkpoint. They use body scanners and search bags for all visitors in the area. The guards were pleasant and spoke English, which was handy.

How to Visit Prague Castle with Circuit Tickets

The Prague Castle Circuit Ticket gives you access to some extra areas of the site and is well worth it. You can purchase these at any of the ticket offices in the complex. You can find out prices and opening times on their website. You can also purchase tours on the Viator website.

St Vitus Cathedral

St Vitus Cathedral is stunning to see from the outside, particularly from the courtyard it’s in. The spires are a distinctive part of Prague Castle’s silhouette. The exterior is great to mooch around, and it is a very popular photo spot. The cathedral is an excellent example of Gothic architecture and is the biggest and most important church in the Czech Republic.

The interior of the cathedral is beautiful and interesting to look around in. The stained glass windows are rather impressive, as are the columns on either side of the nave.

Old Royal Palace and Bohemian Crown Jewels

The Old Royal Palace evolved from a wooden residence to a blend of Gothic and Renaissance styles.

The main room inside is the Vladislav Hall, a site of historical significance where inaugurations took place. One feature that stood out to me was the display of Bohemian coats of arms.

A replica of the Bohemian Crown Jewels is also on display in the Old Royal Palace. These are rather impressive. They made the crown for the 1347 coronation of Charles IV, making it the fourth-oldest in Europe.

They made it from 22-carat gold with a variety of precious gems. This included 19 sapphires, 30 emeralds, 44 spinels, 20 pearls, 1 ruby, 1 rubellite and 1 aquamarine; in total, they weigh 2475 g.

St George’s Basilica

St George’s Basilica has a distinctive red fascia and is Romanesque in style. It is the oldest surviving church in Prague Castle. The basilica was founded in 920 and dedicated to St George.

Inside the church are three aisles. At the eastern ends of two of the aisles are the two towers. The church has a crypt to visit, as well as a chapel with historical art on the walls.

Golden Lane

The Golden Lane is a colourful street with lots of interesting buildings to visit. Each building is a themed museum where you can learn about the residents of the lane and Prague Castle.

There is a section dedicated to the Castle’s defence, containing weapons and suits of armour. Some of these are rather interesting in design, including the armour that looks like a bird. You can also visit museums/houses about local tradespeople, including goldsmiths and blacksmiths.

White Tower & Torture Museum

At the end of Golden Lane, in the dungeon of the White Tower, is a torture museum. This highlights the brutality of the times for enemies of the state.

What’s Free to See at Prague Castle?

There are many features that visitors can see for free, including the exterior of many buildings and gardens. The grounds are great for walking around and admiring the Castle. Some areas are suitable for walking a dog, too, except in the gardens, where dogs aren’t allowed.

The Courtyards

There are quite a few courtyards within the complex. From these, you can see the Castle’s main buildings and features such as statues and fountains.

These can get busy with tourists; however, in the mornings and early evenings, they are an ideal spot for a dog walk.

The 2nd courtyard’s centrepiece is the Leopold Fountain. The Leopold Fountain is also known as Kohl’s Fountain or the Lion Fountain because of its decorative features. This fountain is one of the oldest in the city, dating back to 1686. It was built of sandstone and once served as an important part of the Castle’s water supply.

South Garden And Viewpoint

The South Garden is a lovely area to explore and take in all its features. It is an excellent place for views of Prague with some great viewing platforms.

Walking through the garden, you get to appreciate the size of the complex. We enjoyed a walk through the south garden after visiting the St Wenceslas Vineyard near the entrance.

Watch the Changing of the Guard

The changing of the guard attracts quite the crowd at the entrance at Matthias Gate near Hradčany Square. This is an ornate gate that leads into the 1st courtyard of the Castle.

Crowds gather on the hour to watch this; however, the midday change of the guards is the most popular. At noon, there is a flag ceremony with a military band playing.

The Black Tower

The Black Tower is one of many towers to see while exploring the Castle. You can find this at the eastern end of the complex. The tower is one of the oldest remaining buildings in the city, built in 1135. This used to be a gateway too, but it is no longer in use. They named it the Black Tower after a big fire, which left it black.

The Royal Garden

The Royal Gardens are pretty, particularly with the autumnal colours. Unfortunately, this area of the grounds is not pet-friendly.

The gardens are colourful, have many trees, and include a few pleasant features, such as the Hercules statue. On the castle side of the gardens are some fantastic viewpoints towards the Castle.

The area was originally a vineyard and later became a Renaissance garden. Since the 19th century, it has become an English-style garden.

Church of All Saints

All Saints’ Church was first consecrated in 1185. A later Romanesque building was eventually replaced, and the oldest parts of the current church date from the 14th century.

Inside All Saints Church is the tomb of St Procopius. They depict his life in paintings on the building’s walls. If you want to go inside, the church is only open to the public during religious services and concerts.

Hradčany Architecture

The Hradčany area is a nice place to explore and excellent for an architectural dog walk. There are a few palaces, including the Archbishop’s Palace and Toskánský palác.

Hradčany Square has a lovely seating area and many statues and memorials. It’s also a great place for watching sunsets. There are restaurants and bars where you can enjoy a meal or refreshments. For those who like churches, Loreta and its treasury are a great place to visit.

Map

A map is always handy when exploring bigger sites. You can pick up paper ones or use the many information boards in the area. This is pretty handy for finding toilets, ATMs and the ticket office.

Is Prague Castle Worth Visiting?

Prague Castle is well worth visiting and thoroughly enjoyable. There are also optional museums and galleries in the area to visit. The courtyards were fantastic for a dog walk, too. It is somewhere I would definitely return to explore more.