// CZECHIA // PRAGUE //
prague castle
truly the castle on the hill
Prague is Prague Castle. In a city full of formidable towers, and several beautiful bridges, the monument that looms large is the castle perched on the hill, standing through centuries, looking over the city.
Like many other 21st century Americans that grew up on Disney’s version of a castle, it’s hard to shake the allure of a real life castle. And this one truly captures the grandeur that only centuries of history can deliver.
Prague Castle is the biggest castle complex in the world, with history that traces all the way back to the 9th century. Within its walls is a city until itself, a nearly 70,000 square meter composition of palaces, towers, churches and gardens. Through its history it has been home to many regimes. But today, it’s basically the Disneyland of Prague. Color coded maps of the different regions and icons for wayfinding. Teeming with tourists guided in half a dozen languages from one building to the next.
The main character is the the St. Vitus Cathedral. A Gothic masterpiece that was built over six centuries, with enough of a commanding presence to hush the hundreds of tourists passing through, awestruck by the intricate stained glass. Among them, the stunning Mucha Window, an Art Nouveau window designed by Alfons Mucha in the 1930s. The original 14th century façade, The Golden Gate, features a massive Last Judgment mosaic made of over 40,000 glass pieces.
At the heart of the cathedral is St. Wenceslas Chapel, encrusted with over 1300 semi-precious stones and 14th century frescoes that depict colorful scenes framed in gold.
Next door, the Old Royal Palace is a walk through history with royal portraits and the King’s Throne. Vladislav Hall, with its late-Gothic vaulted ceiling, is the setting of the Defenestration of 1618 that prompted the Thirty Years’ War.
Across the courtyard on the other side of St. Vitus Cathedral is the oldest church within the complex, St. George’s Basilica, a sturdy Romanesque style build behind a Baroque red façade.
Beyond the grand builds, there’s the Golden Lane, Zlatna ulička, a tiny little street with colorful cottages once occupied by castle guards and goldsmiths (and one of them, House No. 22, a writing retreat for Franz Kafka). Today, it’s little shops and galleries that you can duck in and out of. And then at the end, a much different vibe, a torture chamber.
And then, of course the gardens. The Royal Garden spans the length of the castle grounds, a manicured garden flanked by Queen Anne’s Summer Palace on one end and the President’s House on the other.
And on the other side, the Garden on the Ramparts, panoramic views of the city below.
the details
| Address | HradÄŤany, Prague |
| Website | https://www.hrad.cz/en/prague-castle-for-visitors |
| Hours | the castle grounds are open from 6am to 10pm daily, the buildings open from 9am to 5pm in the summer, 9am to 4pm in the winter |
| Price | it’s free to explore the grounds and surrounding gardens, entry into the buildings require a ticket, which vary in price based on the circuit you choose |
| Aesthetic | an architectural delight that spans from Romanesque and Gothic to Renaissance and Baroque |
good to know
Go here for: history, culture, architecture, and an incredible view of the city
Don’t miss: the views atop the great south tower of St. Vitus Cathedral (287 steps), and a peaceful walk through the Royal Garden
Amount of time to spend: 3-4 hours to see the main sights, longer if you want more of a leisurely comprehensive tour
When to come: early (before 9am) to avoid the crowds
Getting here: take tram 22 to Pražský hrad and enter through Prašný Most (Powder Bridge), or metro A to Malostranská and walk up through the east gate (this one is a longer and steeper uphill walk)
Other things to note: Be sure to explore the areas surrounding the castle, including the picturesque Hradcany Square. Take Zámecké schody, stone steps that lead down to the old town.
Last visited: August 2025
Last updated: January 2026