Hradcany Prague: Best 13 attractions & things to do

Whenever friends come to visit me here in Prague, one of the main attractions they want to visit is a Prague Castle. And of course, why not, I say, but let me show you other parts of Hradcany too, because I don’t want you to be disapointed! I usually don’t say the last bit out loud and just take them to the tram number 22 explaining we need to get up the hill first. And then as the tram approaches Prague Castle stop and deliberately forget to get off, saying something like, oh never mind we get off in a couple of stops instead.

But, after we get off at Vyhorelec and walk down through Loreta Square, New World, visit the Czernin Garden and I show them my other favourite hidden attractions in Hradcany, everyone is so excited and happy, they forget my evil ploy of not taking them straight to the castle gates.

I love that Hradčany feels like a completely different world compared to the bustling streets down below. It’s a place of noble palaces, historic monasteries, mysterious holy sites and some of the best views you’ll ever find if you’re willing to explore a little off the beaten track.

I’ve put together this list of my absolute favourite spots, which I also think are the best 13 attractions in Hradčany to help you to fall in love with this area as much as I have.

1. Prague Castle (Pražský hrad)

If you’ve ever seen a photo of the city’s skyline, that large complex dominating the hill is Prague Castle. I honestly think it’s one of the most breathtaking historic sites in Europe, holding the Guinness World Record for the largest castle complex in the world! It has been the seat of Czech kings, emperors and presidents for over a thousand years.

When you walk into the main courtyards, the sheer scale of it is just… wow. Within the walls, you’ll find the iconic St. Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, St. George’s Basilica and Golden Lane.

What I really like about this place is the incredible mix of architectural styles. You can walk from a Romanesque basilica straight into a Gothic cathedral and then past Renaissance halls. There are also modern fountains, sculptures and parts of the buildings that were re-designed in 20th century.

My Local Tip: You can actually stroll through the castle courtyards and grounds for free without buying a ticket! If you want to visit the interiors, buy your ticket online in advance to skip the long ticket office queues and make sure to catch the ceremonial changing of the guard at the main gates at noon.

• Location: Hradčany, 119 08 Prague 1
• Opening Times: Castle grounds daily 6:00 – 22:00; Historical buildings daily 9:00 – 17:00 (April–October) / 9:00 – 16:00 (November–March)
• Ticket Cost: Grounds free; Main Ticket Adults 450 CZK; Seniors & Students 300 CZK

2. St. Vitus Cathedral (Katedrála svatého Víta)

Dominating the central courtyard of Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral is the spiritual heart of the Czech Republic. Construction began back in 1344 under Charles IV, but it took nearly 600 years to fully complete!

When you step inside, the interior is just breathtaking. Soaring Gothic vaulting, intricately decorated chapels and dramatic stained glass windows fill the space with amazing light. My favourite is the stunning window designed by famous Art Nouveau artist Alphonse Mucha.

A real treat is to see the St. Wenceslas Chapel, lined with semi-precious stones and medieval frescoes. It sits right above the royal crypt, which has the tombs of Bohemian kings and Holy Roman Emperors.

My Local Tip: Don’t miss out on climbing the Great South Tower of the cathedral! It takes almost 300 steep steps to reach the top, but I think the view across the red rooftops of Hradčany and Malá Strana is easily one of the best in the city.

• Location: III. nádvoří 48/2, Prague Castle
• Opening Times: Mon–Sat 9:00 – 17:00, Sun 12:00 – 17:00 (Slightly shorter hours in winter)
• Ticket Cost: Included in the Prague Castle Main Circuit ticket (Tower requires a separate ticket, 200 CZK)

3. Golden Lane (Zlatá ulička)

Tucked away against the northern wall of the Castle complex, Golden Lane really feels like stepping directly into medieval film set. Built in the late 16th century, these tiny, colourful houses were originally constructed to house the castle guards of Emperor Rudolf II.

Later on, goldsmiths moved into the small dwellings and legend even says that the Emperor’s alchemists worked here trying to turn lead into gold!

House number 22 is particularly famous because writer Franz Kafka worked here for a few months between 1916 and 1917, finding the quiet street the perfect place to write.

My Local Tip: If you want to visit without paying for a full Castle circuit ticket, come here after 17:00 (or after 16:00 in winter). The small shops inside the houses will be closed, but the street itself opens up for free public entry and is wonderfully quiet for photos!

• Location: Zlatá ulička, Prague Castle
• Opening Times: Daily 9:00 – 17:00 (Summer) / 9:00 – 16:00 (Winter); Open for free strolls after hours
• Ticket Cost: Included in the Prague Castle Main Circuit ticket; Free entry in the evening

4. Loreta Church & monastery

Located on a peaceful square just a short walk from the Castle, the Loreta Church and Monastery is a magnificent Baroque pilgrimage site. Built in the 17th century, it was designed to mirror the Santa Casa (Holy House) in Italy, surrounding a central shrine with beautiful arcades and cloisters.

Inside the complex, you’ll also find the Loreto Treasury, which holds an incredible collection of liturgical treasures. The star of the collection is the Prague Sun, a stunning monstrance encrusted with over 6,200 diamonds!

Even if you don’t visit inside the Loreta, do stop for a while to listen to the bells from the famous carillon tower. It has 27 bells originally from Amsterdam that play a lovely chime every single hour on the hour, filling the entire square with music.

My Local Tip: Time your visit to arrive at Loretánské náměstí right on the hour so you can hear the famous bell chime before heading inside. Opposite is the Czernin Palace and during weekends you can visit the Czernin Palace Garden next to it.

• Location: Loretánské nám. 7, 118 00 Prague 1
• Opening Times: Daily 9:00 – 17:00
• Ticket Cost: Adults 230 CZK; Seniors & Students 160 CZK

5. Nový Svět (New World)

I’m going to let you in on a secret: this is my absolute favourite corner in the entire Hradčany district. Tucked away just behind the Loreto, Nový Svět is a tiny, quiet neighbourhood that feels like a forgotten village frozen in time.

Historically, this was where the castle’s poorest workers, servants and stonemasons lived during the 14th century. Because they didn’t have much money, they built small, picturesque houses that have been preserved to this day.

What I really love about Nový Svět is the atmosphere. There are no massive crowds, souvenir shops, or noisy traffic, just narrow cobblestone lanes, pastel-coloured houses and old fashioned gas lamps. You’ll also find here charming house signs here, like “At the Golden Pear” or “At the Golden Cannon”.

My Local Tip: Grab a drink or a slice of cake at Kavárna Nový Svět, a lovely little family-run cafe hidden in one of the historic houses along the street. It’s one of the cosiest spots in Prague to relax away from the busy tourist routes.

• Location: Nový Svět street, 118 00 Prague 1
• Opening Times: 24 hours (It’s a public street)
• Ticket Cost: Free

6. Hradčany Square (Hradčanské náměstí)

This grand, impressive square is directly outside the main entrance gates to Prague Castle. Historically, this was where aristocratic families built their lavish palaces so they could be as close to the royal court as possible.

Surrounding the square, you’ll find monumental noble residences like the Renaissance Schwarzenberg Palace (with its amazing black-and-white sgraffito pattern), the Archbishops Palace, and the Sternberg Palace.

In the centre of the square is a very grand Plague Column from 1726 and also historical gas lamps that are still lit by hand on special occasions!

If you happen to be here around the noon, you can watch the changings of the guards in front of the castle gates.

The square is also very popular with filming companies and since they can’t really close the whole square off, you can even watch them filming the scenes!

My Local Tip: Walk over to the edge of the square near the entrance to the South Gardens ramp. The panoramic lookout point here gives you an incredible panoramic view over the red roofs of Malá Strana and all across the Vltava River!

• Location: Hradčanské náměstí, 118 00 Prague 1
• Opening Times: 24 hours (Public square)
• Ticket Cost: Free

7. Schwarzenberg Palace (Schwarzenberský palác)

You simply cannot miss this building when walking across Hradčany Square. Built between 1545 and 1567, it is one of the grandest Italianate Renaissance palaces in the entire city.

If you look at the building closely you will notice that it has optical illusion facade! The dark pattern covering the walls looks like raised, three-dimensional pyramid stones, but it is actually a technique called sgraffito, scraped plaster painted to create a 3D effect!

The palace is one of my favourite art galleries in Prague and it’s managed by the National Gallery Prague. It has an incredible collection of Baroque art created in the Czech lands, including paintings and sculpture from the 16th to the 18th centuries.

My Local Tip: If you fancy an upgrade to your lunch sandwiches, pop in to ‘Kuchyne’ or ‘Mysak’ cafe on the side of the palace. The food is great (although a bit pricey) and the views from the terraces amazing. Mysak cafe has a couple of branches in Prague already (Narodni & Holesovice Market) and this branch has only just opened! The cafe also makes a great first stop in the morning, because they make a fabulous breakfasts!

• Location: Hradčanské nám. 2, 118 00 Prague 1
• Opening Times: Tue–Sun 10:00 – 18:00 (Closed Mondays)
• Ticket Cost: Adults 220 CZK; Seniors & Students 120 CZK

8. Royal Garden & Queen Anne’s Summer Palace (Královská zahrada)

You can find the Royal Garden on the northern side of the Castle complex across the Deer Moat and because it’s slightly away from the main area, it’s surprisingly peaceful.

The garden was founded in 1534 by Emperor Ferdinand I and designed as a Renaissance Italian garden. The emperor introduced exotic plants to Prague, including the very first tulips brought to Europe from Turkey!

At the far end of the garden you can find the beautiful Queen Anne’s Summer Palace, which is a pretty Renaissance building completed in the mid-16th century.

My Local Tip: Don’t miss the famous “Singing Fountain” standing right in front of the summer palace. If you lean in close to the lower bronze bowl while the water is flowing, the falling droplets striking the metal create a clear, rhythmic musical ring!

• Location: Mariánské hradby 52/1, Prague Castle
• Opening Times: Open daily April to October 10:00 – 18:00 (Closed in winter)
• Ticket Cost: Free entry to the garden

9. Garden on the Ramparts (Zahrada na Valech)

If you’re looking for the absolute best view of Prague without paying for a tower ticket, this is where you need to go. Part of the South Gardens stretching along the southern facade of Prague Castle, Zahrada na Valech gets its name because it was built directly on top of the old medieval ramparts and fortification walls!

The innovative Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik redesigned it in the 1920s for President Masaryk. He added these grand obelisks, stone viewports and elegant staircases that frame the city below like a living painting.

As you stroll along the gravel paths, the red-tiled roofs of Malá Strana unfold right beneath you. It’s so close you feel like you could almost reach out and touch the dome of St Nicholas Church!

My Local Tip: Over the years all the gardens below the castle were linked together in one large area and there is currently a one way system (guarded by the friendly, but pretty strict castle army). The main entrance is next to the entrance to the main castle complex as you walk from the Malostranska Underground station up to the castle following the Old Castle Stairs.

Also don’t miss the newly opened Hartigova Garden, which is almost hiding under the top level of the garden complex. It’s roughly in the middle and you need to walk down a set of stairs.

• Location: Prague Castle South Gardens, 119 08 Prague 1
• Opening Times: Daily April to October 10:00 – 18:00 (Closed in winter)
• Ticket Cost: Free

10. Deer Moat & the Brick Tunnel (Jelení příkop)

This deep and green ravine runs along the northern side of Prague Castle beneath the Powder Bridge and it’s my favourite way to walk down to the Malostranska Underground Station, if I want to escape the crowds. Historically, Emperor Rudolf II used this valley in the late 16th century to keep and hunt red deer, which is how it got its charming name!

During the Communist era, the entire moat was completely closed off to the public as a high-security zone, so I never knew this area until it’s been restored into this lovely, wild nature walk right in the middle of the city.

The best bit is walking through the modern pedestrian tunnel designed by Czech architect Josef Pleskot in 2002. It’s an amazing tunnel filled with light and built right through the stone embankment of the Powder Bridge that connects the upper and lower sections of the moat. It’s slightly eerie, very cool and a fantastic piece of modern architecture hidden beneath medieval walls!

My Local Tip: Access to the moat can occasionally close after heavy rain or during winter for safety, so enter via the slope near the Royal Garden or from the lower entrance near Klárov.

• Location: Jelení příkop, Prague Castle, 119 08 Prague 1
• Opening Times: Daily April to October 10:00 – 18:00 (Closed in winter)
• Ticket Cost: Free

11. Gardens Under the Prague Castle (Palácové zahrady pod Pražským hradem)

If you liked the gardens next to the Prague Castle, you will absolutely love the gardens below the castle. It is a complex of five interconnected Italian-style Baroque terraced gardens, originally created in the 17th and 18th centuries for the wealthy noble families who owned the grand palaces below. The garden complex connects the Ledebur, Small and Great Pálffy, Kolowrat and Small Fürstenberg gardens into one beautiful green paradise.

As you climb the stone staircases from terrace to terrace, you’ll discover hidden fountains, ornate gloriettes, wrought-iron arbours covered in vines and beautiful terracotta vases. Because the terraces cling to the cliffside, every level you go up gives you a completely new, elevated perspective over the sea of red rooftops, church spires, and hidden courtyards stretching down towards the river.

It’s quite a workout for the legs, mind you, there are a lot of steps, but I promise you the peaceful atmosphere and the photo opportunities from the upper loggia are worth every single bit of effort.

My Local Tip: There is no cafe inside the gardens themselves, so make sure to bring a bottle of water with you, especially if you’re visiting on a hot summer afternoon!

• Location: Valdštejnská 12–14, 118 00 Prague 1
• Opening Times: Daily April to October 10:00 – 18:00 (Closed in winter)
• Ticket Cost: Adults 180 CZK; Seniors & Students 140 CZK; Children (7–17 years) 50 CZK

12. The Old Castle Stairs (Staré zámecké schody)

If you’re walking up to the Castle from the Malostranská metro station, these are the stairs you’ll likely take to enter the Hradčany district. They date back to the 17th century although a public path has existed along this hillside for much longer. There are about 121 wide stone steps, leading you straight up to the eastern gate of the Castle.

The best thing about the Old Castle Stairs is the gradual reveal of the city skyline as you climb. It’s a bit of a workout for your legs, but the sweeping views over the red tiled roofs of Malá Strana and the Vltava River make every step worth it. You’ll often find a local busker playing a harp or an accordion along the way, which adds a lovely soundtrack to the climb. Look out for the bronze statue of Karel Hašler, a famous Czech songwriter, near the top!

My Local Tip: If you are taking the stairs down after exploring Hradčany, look out for the little door leading into the Fürstenberg Garden Cafe near the middle. It’s a lovely place for a quick coffee and for a small entry fee you can get into one of the quietest terraced gardens on the hillside. I often use it as a short cut as it’s is the only garden that connects the stairs with Valdstejnska Street close to Malostranska Underground Station.

• Location: Starts near Malostranská Metro and ends at the eastern Prague Castle gate
• Opening Times: 24 hours (The stairs are public, though the Castle gates close at 22:00)
• Ticket Cost: Free

13. St. Wenceslas Vineyard & Villa Richter (Svatováclavská vinice)

Did you know that Hradčany has one of the oldest working vineyards in the entire Czech Republic? You can find it on the sunny slope right beneath the Castle complex entrace above the Old Castle Stairs. St. Wenceslas Vineyard was according to legend founded by Duke Wenceslas (yes, the Good King Wenceslas from the Christmas carol!) way back in the 10th century.

At the top of the vineyard is Villa Richter which is a striking Neoclassical villa built in 1832 with a pretty posh restaurant. The restaurant is open only for a special occasions, when the tasting set menu costs anything from 3000 CZK.

So, for now I suggest you find a seat at the outdoor bistro terrace and treat yourself to a glass of locally produced wine, looking out over rows of lush green vines right in the heart of the city!

My Local Tip: I always take my friends here to try local wine and over the years I’ve also visited all the other vineyards in Prague. There are surprisingly quite a few of them, their history is fascinating and the wine is really good too!

• Location: Staré zámecké schody 6/251, 118 00 Prague 1
• Opening Times: Vineyard grounds and restaurants open daily 11:00 – 23:00
• Ticket Cost: Free to walk through the vineyard paths; drinks and food extra

This blog post was originally written on 29 July 2026 and last updated on 29 July 2026