Prague

Prague is one of the better-value capitals in Europe and one of the most walkable. Very little requires advance booking, which makes it an easy city to visit on short notice — with a few specific exceptions worth knowing about.

This page compares live ticket prices and availability for Prague attractions across our booking partners.

When to visit Prague

May, June and September are the best months. Warm, long days, and the beer gardens are open. Peak season, but Prague handles crowds better than most.

July and August are hot and busy, with Charles Bridge shoulder-to-shoulder for most of the day.

April and October are good value with mild weather and noticeably thinner crowds.

December brings Christmas markets in Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, and the city looks its best. Cold, but the markets are among the best in Europe.

January to March is the cheapest and quietest period. Genuinely cold, occasionally snowy, and the castle without crowds is worth the weather.

Prague Castle

The castle is not a single building but a large complex, and the ticketing reflects that.

Walking through the castle grounds and courtyards is free. What you pay for is entry to the specific buildings — St Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, St George’s Basilica and Golden Lane.

Circuit tickets bundle these together. The standard circuit covers the main sights and is what most visitors want.

Security screening at the entrances creates queues in peak season. Going early, before 9am, avoids most of it.

The changing of the guard happens hourly, with the main ceremony at noon at the first courtyard.

Allow three hours minimum for the complex.

Charles Bridge and the Old Town

Charles Bridge is free and open at all hours, which is exactly why timing matters.

Between 10am and 6pm it is extremely crowded. Before 8am it is nearly empty and the light over the river is at its best. This single piece of timing improves a Prague trip more than any ticket.

The Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square performs on the hour. It is brief and the crowd is large — worth seeing once, and not worth arriving early for.

The clock tower can be climbed for a paid ticket and gives the best view over Old Town Square.

Jewish Quarter

Josefov holds several synagogues and the Old Jewish Cemetery, which are administered together by the Jewish Museum.

A single combined ticket covers the synagogues, the cemetery and the ceremonial hall. Individual entry is not generally sold.

Closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays.

The Old Jewish Cemetery has around 12,000 visible gravestones layered over centuries, and is one of the more affecting sites in the city.

Booking ahead vs walking up

Prague is unusual among major European cities in that most attractions can be booked on the day. Concerts in the historic churches and specialist experiences are the main exceptions.

Getting around

The historic centre is compact and walking is the best way to see it. Old Town Square to Charles Bridge is five minutes; Charles Bridge to the castle is a twenty-minute uphill walk.

Trams are cheap and frequent. Tram 22 runs up to the castle and saves the climb.

Buy tickets before boarding, from machines or kiosks, and validate them on entry. Inspectors do check and fines are issued on the spot.

Cobblestones are everywhere. Comfortable shoes matter here more than in most cities.

A first-timer’s three days

Day one — Old Town. Old Town Square and the Astronomical Clock, the Jewish Quarter, then Charles Bridge at sunset.

Day two — the castle. Charles Bridge before 8am, walk up through Malá Strana, castle complex for the morning, Petřín Hill in the afternoon.

Day three — the rest. Wenceslas Square and the New Town, Vyšehrad for views over the river, evening concert or a traditional beer hall.