Prague Castle Opening Times
Are you preparing your visit to Prague Castle? Take note of all the schedules of the attraction so you don't miss anything.
Prague Castle | ©Ian Kenn
Prague Castle is one of the most beautiful and important monuments in the Czech Republic. A must-see attraction on your tour of Prague.
But to organize your visit, in addition to knowing what to see in the Prague Castle district, you also need to know the prices of tickets to Prague Castle, how to get to Prague Castle and above all the opening hours of the monumental complex. We talk about it in detail in this post, read on!
What are the opening hours of Prague Castle?
The opening hours of Prague Castle vary depending on the time of year and are divided into winter and summer season.
Winter opening hours
The winter season in Prague runs from November 1 to March 31. During that period the Prague Castle grounds are open from 6 AM to 10 PM and its buildings remain open between 9 AM and 4 PM.
Summer opening hours
The summer season runs from April 1 to October 31. During this period, as in the winter, the complex is open from 6 AM to 10 PM, but this time the buildings extend their opening hours by one hour, from 9 AM to 5 PM.
How long does it take to visit Prague Castle?
In general, tours to Prague Castle usually last between 45 minutes and 1 hour but if you have a little more time in your schedule, my advice is to stay a little longer to explore this Prague treasure in depth.
If your trip to the city coincides with the summer in Prague you will surely want to tour the Lány Palace Park, which will make your visit longer. Even more so if you go in the afternoon after lunch and stay for the sunset and views of the Malá Strana district.
What are the opening hours of other places inside Prague Castle?
Winter opening hours
During the winter the historic buildings within the Prague Castle complex are open from 9 AM to 4 PM such as:
- The former Royal Palace
- St. George's Basilica
- The Golden Alley
- The Daliborka Tower
St. Vitus Cathedral is open Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 4 PM and on Sundays from 12 PM to 4 PM. The last time to enter the Cathedral is at 3:40 PM but if you want to enjoy the visit I recommend you to go a little earlier to take advantage of it.
Finally, the opening hours of other places of interest related to St. Vitus Cathedral are as follows:
- Exhibition "The Treasure of St. Vitus Cathedral": open from 10 AM to 5 PM.
- The South Tower of St. Vitus Cathedral: open from 9 AM to 5 PM. The last entrance is at 4:30 PM.
As for the Prague Castle gardens such as the Lány Palace Park or the Deer Moat, they are closed during the winter. Only Garden on the Bastion is open from 6 AM to 10 PM.
Summer opening hours
During the summer, the historical buildings within the grounds are open from 9 AM to 5 PM, extending the opening hours by one hour compared to the winter season. These are:
- St. George's Basilica
- The Old Royal Palace
- The Daliborka Tower
- The Golden Alley
St. Vitus Cathedral is open from Monday to Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM and on Sundays from 12 PM to 5 PM with the last entry time at 4:40 PM.
The opening hours of other sites of interest related to St. Vitus Cathedral are as follows:
- The South Tower of St. Vitus Cathedral: open from 9 AM to 6 PM. The last entrance is at 5:30 PM.
On the other hand, during the summer you can visit the Prague Castle Gardens. The Royal Garden, the South Gardens and the Deer Moat are open from 10 AM to 6 PM. Garden on the Bastion is open from 6 AM to 10 PM.
Unlike the winter period, the Lány Palace Park is open during this season and you can take a pleasant stroll there on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 2 PM to 6 PM and on weekends and holidays from 10 AM to 6 PM.
When is the best time to see Prague Castle?
If you decide to go on your own
In case you want to see the Prague Castle on your own, my advice is to buy tickets to go early in the morning. To enjoy a quiet visit try to go on weekdays instead of weekends and a little before 9 AM. This way you will avoid the crowds, there will be less queues to enter the main buildings of Prague Castle and the tour will be more enjoyable.
If you choose to take a guided tour
As with self-guided tours, if you are looking to avoid the crowds, the morning is the best time to take a guided tour of Prague Castle.
However, the views of the castle at sunset are a marvel so do not hesitate to come back at another time to contemplate them.
How can I save time in the queues at Prague Castle?
At the ticket office
Prague Castle is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city and therefore it is common to see long queues at the ticket office.
If you do not feel like standing there waiting for a long time, I advise you to buy tickets online and in advance. This way you will save time and avoid the endless queues at the ticket office.
At the attraction
Another way to save time in the queues at Prague Castle is to buy a skip-the-line ticket that gives you quick and direct access to the attraction by skipping the lines that normally form. However, all visitors will have to go through the security check.