How to Get to Prague Castle

Founded in the ninth century by Prince Bořivoj, Prague Castle is located in the historic center of the city, on the banks of the Vltava River, at Hradčany, 119 08 Prague 1. It has been the residence of monarchs and presidents throughout history, making it the stellar plan of your trip to the Czech Republic.

Many visitors choose to walk, as the walk is very nice, but if you are not in shape do not hesitate to opt for any of the different means of transport available.

If you are staying in the center of Prague and you have already booked your tickets for the Castle, do not hesitate to walk to the castle, as you will have the chance to enjoy a wonderful walk through the city where you can visit the Loreto Church, dating from the seventeenth century or the Strahov Monastery which has an amazing library.

In addition, you will enjoy the tour of the peculiar district of Malá Strana. To get to the castle, my recommendation is to walk up from Malá Strana Square (Malostranské náměstí) and take Nerudova Street or the Old Castle Stairs that go up to Na Opyši Gate.

• From Charles Bridge to Prague Castle: 15 minutes on foot. Feel free to read the post Charles Bridge: what to see and do and delve into this monumental enclave before your visit.
• From the Astronomical Clock to the Prague Castle: 20 minutes on foot.
• From Prague Cathedral to Prague Castle: 1 minute walk.
• From Danzate House to Prague Castle: 35 minutes on foot.
• From Old Town Square to Prague Castle: 20 minutes on foot.
• From John Lennon Wall to Prague Castle: 14 minutes on foot.
• From Prague National Museum to Prague Castle: 34 minutes on foot.
• From Vysehrad to Prague Castle: 55 minutes on foot.

Although you can get there perfectly on foot to enjoy your Prague Castle tickets, you can also opt for the convenience of public transport. Another ideal way to reach the upper part of Hradčany, the neighborhood in which the fortification is located. In this case, the most advisable is to opt for the streetcar. The line that passes through this monumental complex is the 22 and the three possible stops where you can get off are Pražský hrad, Pohořelec and Malostranské náměstí. This way, if you are not in shape you can comfortably climb up to the top and take advantage of the ride on your way down.

• From the Pražský hrad stop: This is the closest stop and is approximately a five-minute walk away.
• From the Pohořelec stop: This stop is located further up the monumental complex so it is very convenient and you can take a downhill slope to the Castle Square (Hradčanské náměstí).
• From the Malostranské náměstí stop: This is the most beautiful walk, but it requires fitness.

Streetcar line 22 is the most used by tourists so you have to be careful, as, although it is not usual, sometimes there are pickpockets. This line, which runs from 4:30 h. to 24 h., allows you to reach certain enclaves to which the metro does not have the possibility, going up to the Hradčany district.

Regarding prices, you have the single ticket from 30 Kc (about 1.30 €) or you can also purchase the daily ticket for about 110 Kc (4.50 €) and a duration of 24 hours.

If you have booked a guided tour of Prague Castle, another option is to go by metro. To do this, you have to take line A, identified with the green color, and get off at the Malostranska stop, which is about 500 meters away. If you are not in shape you can take streetcar line 22 to go up, but my recommendation is that you take a walk, which will last between 10 and 15 minutes, to the monumental complex. The walk will take place through the picturesque Malostranska district. To do so, take the Old Castle Stairs and walk up to the Na Opyši Gate.

The metro is one of the fastest and most comfortable means of transport in Prague. Specifically, line A crosses the city from northwest to southeast, from the Nemocnice Motol area to Depo Hostivař. The service is available daily from 5:00 a.m. to 24:00 a.m. and has a frequency of approximately two minutes coinciding with the peak hours of the day and about ten minutes at night.

The single ticket that you can use for 90 minutes from the moment you validate it is priced from 30 Kč (approximately €1.30). You can also opt for a limited ticket that lasts 30 minutes and offers the possibility to travel up to five stations. In this case, the ticket price is approximately 24 Kč (€1) and is an ideal way to save on the cost of certain journeys.

Cab is a very common way to move around the city of Prague, but it is not recommended because it is expensive, especially considering the economic level of the city. Fares are regulated. On the one hand, the price for the flag down is from 40 Kč (1.60 €) and, on the other hand, the price per kilometer has an amount from 28 Kč (1.10 €). If you decide to take a cab I recommend you to call the company instead of taking one on the spur of the moment.

Keep in mind that it is very common for cab drivers to act smart and try to charge you a higher amount. Before taking a cab, check that one of the doors indicates the license number, as well as the name of the company, that the meter is at zero at the beginning of the trip and after this do not hesitate to ask for the receipt.

On the other hand, it is also possible to take an Uber, but it is not recommended. Keep in mind that public transportation works very well to arrive on time to your Prague Castle tour reservation and surroundings.

And if you go on your own by car, you have to keep in mind that parking spaces are limited, so I recommend you to arrive as early as possible. The closest public parking to the monument complex is located next to the Pražský hrad streetcar stop.

Another option to get to the castle is the Prague City Sightseeing tourist bus, which includes a stop at the castle grounds.

Prague Castle is one of the essential visits on your trip to Prague. Therefore, it is important that you take into account this series of recommendations so that your visit is perfectly planned:

• The castle grounds are free, but you need to buy your ticket to enter the various buildings, as well as to see the exhibitions. Read the post Prague Castle tickets and learn all the details of your visit.
• The castle grounds are open from 5 a.m. to midnight from April to October and from 6 a.m. to 11 p. m. the rest of the year.
• The opening hours of the museums and exhibitions are from 9 a.m. to 6 p. m. or from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in winter. In the following article you can read all the info about opening hours of the Prague Castle.
• This visit is included in the Prague Card. However, in the following post you can read more information about the prices of the Prague Castle.
• There are guided tours in different languages every day and they are announced at the ticket offices of the monumental complex.
• I recommend that during your visit you take the opportunity to see the changing of the guard.
• It is the most visited place in the city so I recommend you to go early in the morning to avoid excessive time in the queue.
• If you have clear the day of the visit, do not hesitate to buy your ticket online and thus avoid unnecessary time at the box office.
• The monumental complex of the Prague Castle has bars and restaurants so you have the possibility to take a break or have a snack. Still, do not hesitate to read the post where to eat near the Prague Castle.
• Also, it is interesting that you know the best dishes of Czech gastronomy in our post about what to eat in Prague. And below, I leave you information about the best restaurants in the city.
• You can take pictures all around the castle, but inside the castle you will not be able to use flash.
• And if you want to plan your trip in detail, do not hesitate to read the post about what to see and do in Prague and get the best ideas.
• I also recommend you to book your tickets for Prague Castle as soon as possible.

After your visit to the Prague Castle, if you are looking for an original proposal I recommend you to take a boat trip on the Vltava River. You can also opt for a dinner cruise in Prague, the most romantic plan!