Prague Palace and Castle Tours

If you plan to visit Prague and want to live a complete experience through the architectural beauty of the city, you can't miss visiting its palaces and castles. One of the most fun ways to do this is to participate in a guided tour with a local, which will allow you to learn the anecdotes and curiosities of each site.

Visiting the Prague Castle and its surroundings, taking a private tour of the Lobkowicz Palace or getting to know the Karlstejn Castle are some of the best activities you can do in the Czech capital Below, I tell you everything you need to know about these and other tours so you can choose the option that best suits your budget and your travel plan.

Prague Castle, located on top of Vysehrad Hill, is the tourist epicenter of the city and, therefore, a must-see if you want to get to know this destination in depth. Participating in a guided tour of this site and its surroundings will allow you to discover one of the largest and oldest medieval complexes in the world.

During these tours you will be able to explore not only the castle, but also its surrounding gardens, alleys and squares. The guide, who will be able to conduct the experience in different languages, will take you through the most important corners of the place, giving you a unique perspective on the architectural and cultural evolution of this historical jewel that is considered one of the most photographed attractions in the world.

Also, during this tour, which is among the best tours to Prague Castle, you will learn about the history of the building that was built in the ninth century and has witnessed important events in the history of Europe. You will also see St. Vitus Cathedral, the most important Gothic building in Prague and the Old Royal Palace, which houses the Vladislav Hall and St. George's Basilica, an outstanding example of Romanesque architecture.

In addition, the tour also includes a visit to the surroundings of the Prague Castle district, where you will get into the medieval atmosphere of the capital. You will visit the Golden Alley, a narrow passage full of small colorful houses where goldsmiths and writers such as Franz Kafka lived. Finally, the guide will also take you to the Powder Tower, one of the oldest medieval gates of the city, which offers panoramic views of the Czech capital.

Details of interest

• Price: about 31 euros.
• Duration: approximately 3 hours.
• Advantages of this option: You will get to know the main attraction of Prague and also one of the most picturesque medieval quarters in the world. In addition, you will have panoramic views of the city from the top of the hill.

If you are one of those who prefer personalized alternatives and like to get to know one of the most beautiful sites in the Czech capital, then you can opt for a private tour of the Lobkowicz Palace. Located within the Prague Castle complex, this palace houses one of the largest private art collections on the continent. In addition, from its terrace you will have one of the best views of the city.

With an exclusive guide at your disposal, you will enjoy a personalized tour through the different rooms and galleries of the palace, where each work tells a part of the history of the Lobkowicz family and Central Europe. During the tour you will discover works by Canaletto, Velázquez and Brueghel, as well as a selection of musical manuscripts by legendary composers such as Beethoven and Mozart.

The history of the Lobkowicz Palace dates back to the 16th century. The family that gives its name to the building has played a crucial role in European culture and politics, being patrons of famous artists and musicians. Therefore, during the tour you will learn about the special relationship that existed between the Lobkowicz and Beethoven, which is one of Prague's best kept secrets.

On the other hand, the importance of the palace lies not only in its Baroque architecture and the richness of its art collection, which makes its heritage the protagonist of one of the best museums in Prague, but also influences the history of resistance and recovery of the city. Expropriated by the Nazis during World War II, the palace was returned to the Lobkowicz family after the fall of communism in 1989.

Details of interest

• Price: about 120 euros.
• Duration: about 4 hours.

On the outskirts of Prague is Karlstejn Castle, which is located on a hill surrounded by forests and which you can visit on a tour with transfer included. With the assistance of an expert local guide, you can visit this building that was founded by the monarch Charles IV and for years guarded the crown jewels and sacred relics of the Holy Roman Empire.

During these tours you can explore the Great Tower, the Chapel of the Holy Cross and the royal apartments. You will also have the opportunity to discover the surroundings of the building, where you can stroll through the village of Karlstejn, which is filled with craft stores, cafes and panoramic views of the Berounka River valley, making these experiences among the best excursions to do from Prague.

Throughout the tour, the guide will tell you stories about the life of Charles IV, his religious devotion and the spiritual purpose of Karlstejn Castle, which makes it one of the most enigmatic fortresses in Europe. You will also learn about the importance of this site as a symbol of power and faith in the Middle Ages.

Also, if you are one of those who enjoy imperial architecture, you can marvel at this castle that combines Gothic and Renaissance elements, reflecting the grandeur of the era and its evolution over the centuries.

Interesting details

• Price: about 399 euros.
• Duration: approximately 4 hours.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to see some of the most striking wooded landscapes around Prague and take some of the best pictures of your trip.

If you want to get to know one of the best imperial buildings in the city but also combine it with a local experience, then one of the most complete alternatives will be the Lobkowicz Palace tours with classical music concert included. This option, which is one of the most interesting activities you will find in the Prague Castle district, will allow you to delve into the artistic profile of the Czech capital.

This palace, located within the imperial complex, has one of the most outstanding art collections in Europe, so on the tour you will get a detailed overview of the cultural treasures accumulated by the Lobkowicz family over the centuries. However, the tour does not end there, because at the end you can attend a classical music concert in one of the halls of the palace.

The concerts usually take place in a hall adorned with frescoes and baroque decoration. These musical exhibitions usually include pieces by Beethoven, Mozart, Vivaldi and other European composers, always following the melodies whose original scores are part of the Lobkowicz collection. The acoustics and the intimate atmosphere of the palace do the rest, especially in winter, which is one of the best times to travel to Prague and live this experience.

Attending one of these concerts is also a way to honor the palace, which has been a place of refuge and preservation of culture, especially during times of war and repression. The Lobkowicz family, known for their patronage of the arts, played a crucial role in the development of European classical music and on these tours you will have the opportunity to enter their world for at least a few hours.

Details of interest

• Price: about 25 euros.
• Duration: about 2 hours.

There are several alternatives. You can either book such a tour in advance online or book it once you are in the city. You should keep in mind that the Czech capital is a very busy tourist destination throughout the year, especially if you are visiting Prague in summer, as it is high season. However, in winter the closed places provide shelter from the cold and also tend to fill up.

This is why you will have better alternatives if you book in advance. In addition, you will be able to get better prices and freeze the rate. On the other hand, this way you will also be able to design a more detailed itinerary, maximizing your time in the city. This will be vital if you are planning a short 3-day stay in Prague or even less.

Finally, several of these palaces are included in the All Inclusive Pass, although in this case they usually only include the entrance ticket and not the guided tours. The advantage of these passes is that they usually include priority entry and no queuing.

On these tours you will mainly discover the imperial side of Prague, because most of the castles in and around the city were built during the Middle Ages and many of them were rebuilt, renovated or remodeled during the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Thus, these buildings are the perfect way to learn about the medieval architecture of the Czech capital and the lifestyle of the local nobility.

On the other hand, as most of these sites are located high up or on top of hills, from the terraces, courtyards and surroundings of the palaces and castles you can also discover some of the best views of the city. From Prague Castle, for example, you will be able to see from the Danube to the dividing line of the Jewish quarter of the Czech capital, which is one of the most famous, visited and picturesque of this destination.

Also, if you opt for the combined options, such as those that include classical music concerts, you can not only discover the architecture of these sites, but also live a magical experience by attending the shows that take place in the majestic royal halls.

• If you plan to visit Prague in August or during peak season months, book early to avoid losing your spot on tours or being forced to choose times that are not beneficial to your itinerary or travel plan.
• When making your ticket purchase, keep in mind the strategic times and highlights of each site. Prague Castle's opening hours, for example, cover a wide range, so if you want to discover the sunset from Vysehrad Hill, you can schedule your visit in the late afternoon.
• The Lobkowicz Palace is located within the imperial complex, so it is an excellent opportunity to combine a tour of this historic building with a tour of the area, which is one of the most popular and visited in Prague.
• If you book in advance and avoid doing it once you are in the city, the prices of tickets for the Prague Castle and its excursions, as with the other buildings in the city, will be cheaper and you can save money.

Prague's castles and palaces are a fundamental part of the city's skyline and are closely related to its history, mainly in the medieval facet of this destination. If you fail to visit them, you will be missing an important part of the local spirit.

In addition, living this experience within the framework of a guided tour will allow you to enjoy the visit more relaxed and you can learn more and better about each site. Being places with a millenary history, the walls of the castles and palaces of Prague hide anecdotes, secrets and palace intrigues that you will love to discover, because they will enrich the tour.

On the other hand, these castles are located in places that offer many nearby attractions. The surroundings of Prague Castle, for example, offer some of the best observation platforms to discover the skyline of the city and in the area you can also find distinguished restaurants that offer the best dishes of Czech gastronomy.

You can tour the city's castles on your own and, if you manage to inform yourself well before the tour, you will be able to enjoy the experience. But if you opt for a guided tour, you will be accompanied by an expert local guide who will not only take care of all the organization, but will also take you to the best places and tell you all the secrets of the place. In addition, these guides are often good advisors of nearby sites!

Often, opting for a guided tour is the best option, because although these experiences have a higher cost than unaccompanied tickets, they put you in contact with people in the city who will know how to recommend the best places to eat, free museums and what you can visit at low cost on certain dates, as well as hidden experiences that you would not otherwise know.