Prague Castle’s opening hours for 2024, including attractions, gardens and private palaces as well as the best times to visit Prague Castle to avoid the crowds.
Prague Castle is open every day all year round, including Mondays. The opening hours vary slightly during the summer and winter seasons, mainly for the gardens and the castle moat.
The main summer tourist season is from 1 April until 31 October, and the winter season is 1 November until 31 March.
The opening times might be slightly shorter on some of the Czech main public holidays. I have included the opening hours of the whole Prague Castle complex, the individual attractions, gardens and private palaces as well as my top tips on the best times to visit Prague Castle to avoid the crowds.
I should also mention, that the security gates at the Prague Castle complex have been now removed, so there are no longer queues to get in or out and you don’t need to worry about being delayed if you are visiting the inside of the castle buildings.
![](https://www.viewfromprague.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Prague-Castle-Complex-View-from-Prague.jpg)
Prague Castle Complex Opening Hours
6.00 – 22.00 – every day, all year round
The Prague Castle complex is open 6 am – 10 pm every day, all year round. The entrance is completely free of charge, and you are welcome to come in any time you like during the opening hours.
Prague Castle Main Historical buildings
9.00 – 17.00 (summer), 9.00 – 16.00 (winter)
Old Royal Palace, The Story of Prague Castle, St. George’s Basilica, Castle Guard Exhibition, Golden Lane with Daliborka Tower, The Picture Galery at Prague Castle
![](https://www.viewfromprague.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Golden-Lane-at-Prague-Castle-View-from-Prague.jpg)
Golden Lane
Entry with a valid ticket to the Castle Complex during every day is between 9.00 – 17.00 (summer), and 9.00 – 16.00 (winter), when the Daliborka Tower and the various exhibitions at different houses are open as part of your ticket.
16.00 – 22.00 (winter)
17.00 – 22.00 (summer)
The great thing is that historic Golden Lane is also open in the evening after the exhibition’s closing times. You are welcome to browse the shops and visit the cafes (open usually until 5-7 pm) and take photos of the lane. Entry in the evening is free and you don’t need a ticket.
![](https://www.viewfromprague.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/St-Vitus-Cathedral-Prague-Castle-View-from-Prague-1024x1024.jpg)
St. Vitus Cathedral
Mo – Sa: 9.00 – 17.00; Su: 12.00 – 17.00 (summer)
Mo – Sa: 9.00 – 16.00; Su: 12.00 – 16.00 (winter)
These times are for entry with a paid ticket for the Castle Complex. Last entrance is always 20 minutes before the closing time. Visitors without tickets can see the church from the place below the western music gallery.
You are welcome to attend one of the regular services (for free), which take place every day. You don’t need a ticket, just turn up.
Monday – Saturday 7.00 am Service
Fridays 18.00 – extra evening service
Sunday 8.30, 10.00 and 17.00
There are also extra services around the Christmas, New Year and Easter.
Great South Tower of St. Vitus Cathedral
10.00 – 18.00 – every day (summer)
10.00 – 17.00 – every day (winter)
Last entrance is 30 minutes before the closing time.
Exhibitions & Galleries
10.00 – 18.00 – every day, all year round
Prague Castle Riding School, Imperial Stables, Theresian Wing, Royal Summer Palace
![](https://www.viewfromprague.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Pleskot-tunnel-in-Deer-Moat-View-from-Prague.jpg)
Prague Castle Gardens
The main Prague Castle gardens – the Royal Garden, Stag Moat and South Gardens open at different times each month, mainly based on daylight. They are also completely closed from mid November until the end of February, to give the gardens time to rest (and the grounds are just too muddy anyway).
April – June 10.00 – 19.00,
July – August 10.00 – 20.00,
September 10.00 – 19.00,
October 10.00 – 17.00
1st till 12th of November 10:00 – 16:00
13th of November till 28th of February: the gardens are closed to the public
March 10.00 – 17.00
The Garden on the Bastion
6.00 – 22.00 – every day, all year round
Lobkowicz Palace Art Museum & Gallery
Open every day – 10.00 – 5.00 (winter) 10:00 – 6.00 (summer)
The Lobkowicz Palace Museum, including restaurant and cafe is open every day, all year round.
Toy Museum
Temporary closed for renovations from 1 January 2024. Most likely to re-open for the main tourist season at the beginning of April.
Museum of holograms
10.00-16.00 – every day, all year round
![](https://www.viewfromprague.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/The-main-entrance-at-Prague-Castle-View-from-Prague.jpg)
Best time to visit Prague Castle to avoid the crowds
If I want to avoid the crowds and I only want to walk around the castle (not necessarily visit the exhibitions) and take some great photos I get up super early in the morning and try to get to the Prague Castle for 6 am in summer and 7 am in the winter. The Golden Lane is sometimes open before 9 am without paying (before the expositions open), but it’s always open for free after 5 pm in the evening.
This is also the best time to take photos, because the buildings inside the Prague castle complex are very close together and the shade during the day is just too strong.
If you are not an early riser, you can also go for the evening and arrive after 5-6 pm when the historical buildings close. The organised day tours will be long gone and there will be a lot less people there. The bonus is that the Golden Lane is open for free after 5 pm, so you can see it too. Last time I visited during the summer evening, I was quite surprised by how the photos came out – the shadows were not as bad as I though they would be.
If you are visiting the inside of the castle buildings, then you don’t have much choice as you have to visit between 9 am – 5 pm. Saying that, if you aim for Tuesday or Wednesday, these are the least busy days.
After that Thursday is still reasonably fine, but as you get close to the weekend – Friday, Saturday and Sunday are always super busy. Monday is less busy than a weekend, but since most museums and attractions are closed on Mondays in Prague and the Prague Castle isn’t, it’s an obvious choice for most tourists who are staying in Prague for a longer weekend.
My favourite tip:
If you want to see the palace buildings beautifully lit visit after dark. The castle grounds do look very mystical at night and also very peaceful.
If you are interested in seeing the changing of the guard, make sure that you are at the main entrance before noon – 12 o’clock when the changing ceremony starts.
This blog post was originally written on 3 January 2024 and last updated on 3 January 2024
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![](https://www.viewfromprague.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Prague-castle-opening-hours-View-from-Prague.jpg)