How to Get to Prague Castle

Founded in the 9th century by Prince Bořivoj, Prague Castle is located in the historic centre 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 highlight of your trip to the Czech Republic.

Many visitors choose to walk, as the walk is very beautiful, but if you're not in shape, don't hesitate to opt for one of the various means of transport available.

If you are staying in the centre 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 possibility to enjoy a wonderful walk around the city where you can visit the Loreto Church, which dates back to the 17th century or the Strahov Monastery which has an amazing library.

You will also 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 the 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 take a closer look at this monumental enclave before your visit.
• From the Astronomical Clock to 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 easily get there on foot to enjoy your Prague Castle tickets, you can also opt for the convenience of public transport. This is another ideal way to reach the upper part of Hradčany, the district in which the fortification is located. In this case, the best option is to take the tram. Line 22 passes through this monumental complex 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 walk 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 above the monument 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.

Tram line 22 is the most used by tourists, so you have to be careful, as pickpockets are not common, but sometimes they do occur. This line, which runs from 4:30 am to midnight, allows you to reach certain places that the metro does not have the possibility to reach, going up to the Hradčany district.

Prices start at 30 Kc (approximately €1.30) for a single ticket, or you can buy a daily ticket for 110 Kc (€4.50) for 24 hours.

If you have booked a guided tour of Prague Castle, another option is to go by metro. To do this, take line A, marked green, and get off at the Malostranska stop, which is about 500 metres away. If you are not in shape, you can take tram line 22 to go up, but my recommendation is that you take a walk, which will take between 10 and 15 minutes, to the monumental complex. The walk will take you 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 12: 00 a.m. and has a frequency of about two minutes during the peak hours of the day and about ten minutes in the evening.

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

Taxis are a very common way of getting around Prague, but they are not recommended because they are expensive, especially considering the economic level of the city. Fares are regulated. On the one hand, the price for the flag-down fare starts at 40 Kč (1.60 €) and, on the other hand, the price per kilometre starts at 28 Kč (1.10 €). If you decide to take a taxi, I recommend calling the company rather than taking one on the spur of the moment.

Be aware that it' s not uncommon for taxi drivers to get cocky and try to charge you more. Before taking a taxi, check that one of the doors indicates the number of the licence, as well as the name of the company, that the taximeter is at zero at the beginning of the journey and after the journey, do not hesitate to ask for the receipt.

On the other hand, it is also possible to take an Uber, but this is not recommended. Keep in mind that public transport works very well to get you to your Prague Castle tour booking and around Prague Castle on time.

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

Another option to get to the castle is the Prague City Sightseeing 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 find out all the details for your visit.
• The castle grounds are open from 5am until midnight from April to October and from 6am until 11pm 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 information about opening hours of 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 go early in the morning to avoid queuing for too long.
• If you are sure about the day of your visit, don't hesitate to buy your ticket online to avoid unnecessary time at the ticket office.
• The Prague Castle complex has bars and restaurants so you can take a break or have a snack. Even so, don't hesitate to read the post where to eat near Prague Castle.
• Also, it is interesting to know the best dishes of Czech gastronomy in our post about what to eat in Prague. And here is some information about the best restaurants in the city.
• You can take pictures all around the castle, but inside the castle you won't be able to use flash.
• And if you want to plan your trip in detail, don't 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 Prague dinner cruise, the most romantic plan!