Visit the largest ancient castle in the world on our Prague Castle Free Tour. We'll visit the religious buildings, courtyards and palaces within this complex and take a journey through a millennium of Czech history.
Prague Castle Free Tour
At the indicated time, we'll see you at the Malostranská Metro Station. We'll hop on the tram to Pohořelec and start our free tour of Prague Castle.
Once we've arrived, we'll begin by pausing at the statue of the astronomers Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler. We'll then admire Strahov Monastery in the distance and explain the history behind this 12-century abbey.
Next, we'll discuss the impressive Czernin Palace, which is the largest Baroque palace in Prague. Those among us who are interested in religious history will be fascinated by Loreto, a nearby pilgrimage destination surrounded by chapels.
Afterwards, we'll head to the vast Castle District Square to learn about the Toscan Palace, the Carmelite Church of St. Benedict and the Schwarzenberg Palace. While we're here, we'll also discuss the Salm Palace, the Archbishop Palace and the Sternberg Palace. In addition, you'll see beautiful views of the city of Prague.
When the clock strikes 12 noon, we'll see a unique spectacle: the Changing of the Castle Guards. After watching this daily routine, which is accompanied by music, we'll see the castle's first courtyard from outside before visiting the fourth, second and third courtyards as well.
It'll then be time for one of the highlights of our free tour. We'll head inside the part of St. Vitus Cathedral that allows visitors to enter for free. This Roman Catholic Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Prague and is a breathtaking example of Gothic architecture.
Following our visit to St. Vitus Cathedral, we'll visit the outside of the Old Royal Palace and St. George's Basilica. The latter boasts the status of being the oldest surviving church building in the Prague Castle complex, as it was founded in the year 920.
Finally, our tour will take us to Rosenberg Palace and Lobkowicz Palace. In winter, we'll discuss Lobkowicz Palace before admiring the Southern Gardens from outside in the charming Golden Lane, as well as seeing the iconic Black Tower. In summer, we'll be able to visit the Southern Gardens instead of observing them from outside.
We'll then say our goodbyes and conclude our private tour of this fascinating castle complex about 2 hours after meeting. If you're joining us in the summer, we'll conclude our cultural experience at the Southern Gardens with an explanation of the 3rd Defenestration of Prague. Should you be joining us in the winter months, we'll bid farewell by the Castle Steps next to the 10th-century Wenceslas Vineyards, which boast amazing views of Prague.
Summer and Winter Visits
Some of the places we'll visit on this tour vary depending on the time of the year due to seasonal closures. Our summer and winter seasons are as follows:
- Summer season: 1 April to 31 October.
- Winter season: 1 November to 31 March.
Prague Castle Closures
As Prague Castle is the seat of the president of the Czech Republic, there are occasional closures due to important visitors. If this happens, the tour will be cancelled, and we'll let you know well in advance.
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