How to Get to Prague Castle
Prague Castle is a must-visit attraction once in the city. We've created this quick travel guide to make your visit as smooth as possible. Read about all options on how to get to Prague Castle, either on foot or by public transport, and decide which option is the best for you.
Prague Castle. Towering on the hill in its glory, overlooking the historic city, cobblestone streets, river, bridges, and hundreds of spires, there is no wonder that right after Charles Bridge, this is the top attraction in the capital of the Czech Republic.
Without a doubt Prague Castle is the main sight every traveler will visit, no matter if in the city only for a couple of hours or for several days.
We are not afraid to say that there is not a single tourist arriving in Prague without Prague Castle and Saint Vitus Cathedral (which is in the complex) on the itinerary, therefore, we feel it is necessary to provide you with information on what is the best way to get there.
As we've been living in Prague for many years already, we've visited the complex countless times. Therefore, we recommend you to read our Prague Castle: The Complete Guide first.
What we love the most about getting to the city's dominant is the fact, that we always can choose our preferable way to get to the Prague Castle, depending on our mood or weather.
In case you are visiting Prague for the first time, we know it can be confusing to go through all possibilities on how to get to Prague Castle and decide the right option for you.
That's why we've put together this guide focusing on the main ways to reach the Prague Castle, both on foot or by public transport, so you can incorporate this place in your 1-day Prague itinerary or 3-day in Prague itinerary.
Before we dive into it, you might find convenient to read our post on how to get around Prague by public transport, as there is a high chance you are going to need it.
And now, we can finally get to the point.
BEST WAYS TO GET TO PRAGUE CASTLE
First, there is no right or wrong way to get to Prague Castle.
The great thing about getting to the city's highlight is, that you can access it via several entrances, you can even walk all the way from Old Town Square via Charles Bridge, take a metro, or jump on a scenic tram which will take you to the top of the hill.
In this post, we will outline all of the most popular ways to reach the castle.
1) Get to Prague Castle from Pohorelec Station
The easiest way to get to Prague Castle is to take a tram number 22, which will take you to the top of the hill, which means you do not have to walk uphill, plus you will enjoy a ride on one of the most scenic routes in Prague.
Tram number 22 traverses the city center, and we are pretty sure you will stay near one of the stops the tram goes around.
Even though Prague is a quite safe city, watch your valuables on this tram, because wrongdoers know that tourists use this line a lot. But back to the topic.
Take the tram number 22 in direction to Vypich. The tram goes approximately every five minutes, and you must get off at Pohorelec station.
Cross the road to your left, and walk via Pohorelec Street, Loretanska Street (you will go around Loreto Sanctuary, which is also worth a few minutes of your time), to Hradcanske namesti. It is a square lined with many notable historical buildings, and most importantly, it is the square in front of the entrance to the Prague Castle complex.
The walk from Pohorelec station is very pleasant, you will walk around old houses with picturesque arcades, and you should reach Prague Castle in less than ten minutes even when walking leisurely as the distance is approximately 500 meters.
This option is the least demanding one, but no worries, you won't miss anything.
Our tip: It is also possible to get off the tram a bit earlier on Prazsky Hrad station or on Kralovsky Letohradek station, but we think the way from Pohorelec is much more impressive as you will suddenly emerge in front of the complex.
2) Get to Prague Castle from Petrin
Maybe you remember that not that long time ago, we've written our full guide to guide to Petrin Hill, which happens to be the largest green area in the center of Prague, one of the most magical places to get superb views over Prague, therefore one of our favorite attractions in the city.
The good news is, you can easily visit Petrin Hill, and connect the visit of the hill and Prague Castle. Not only you will be able to tick off two must-see attractions from your bucket list, but you will also have a memorable a couple of hours.
First thing, you need to get either on foot or by tram to Ujezd station.
From Ujezd, it is possible either to use the funicular to the top of the hill, but when time allows, we usually prefer walking because the Petrin area is truly beautiful.
Once you get to the top and explore the park, Hunger Wall, Mirror Maze or Petrin Tower, you can continue to Prague Castle. When facing Petrin Tower, continue to your left via an unpaved street which leads to Strahovske nadvori Street.
At this time you should already see the signs guiding you to Prague Castle (Prazsky Hrad).
Before you get to the main road, you will see Strahov Monastery on your right.
Then turn right again, and you will see Pohorelec tram station. From this point follow Pohorelec Street and Loretanske Namesti Street, and you will emerge in front of the main entrance to Prague Castle.
This option is a bit longer, but it allows you to see two must-visit sights at once. In case you do not want to walk that much, take a funicular to the top of Petrin Hill, from here it is approximately 1.5 kilometers to Prague Castle.
This option is very scenic, and you will get amazing views of the castle and the rest of the city along the way.
3) Get to Prague Castle via Old Castle Stairs
Do you want to work your way up to the castle and deserve some of the best views the complex has to offer?
You can walk via the famous Old Castle Stairs. The truth is that more convenient and less demanding is to walk the stairs in the opposite direction when you will be leaving the complex, but the decision is only up to you.
To get to the stairs, it is necessary to arrive at the station Malostranska by either tram (many lines including number 22) or by metro line A.
Once you get off, head to Pod Bruskou Street (it is the same street where tram 22 stops and then starts to climb to Letna), and just behind a small park turn left, to an inconspicuous alley which is the beginning of the stairs (Stare zamecke schody in the Czech language).
Do not be afraid, stairs are not that long and that steep, and we believe everyone can use this way, only families with strollers or disabled people may want to avoid this route to Prague Castle as this part is not wheelchair or stroller friendly.
At the foot of the stairs is a small shop selling refreshments and overpriced food, in case you are not starving, we advise you to avoid this one. Sometimes there are artists playing songs on the stairs, and overall this area is very lively but in a pleasant way.
Before you reach the back entrance to the complex, go to a viewpoint, from where you will get absolutely amazing views of Prague.
4) Get to Prague Castle via Charles Bridge
Probably the most wonderful way how to get to Prague Castle is via Charles Bridge and a maze of narrow cobblestone streets.
Unsurprisingly, this option is the most popular one, so we recommend you to go early in the morning before other tourists hit the streets.
The truth is, tourism in Prague is a real thing, and you can hardly expect to be at some places alone, but getting up early definitely helps.
The complex is opened from 6 AM, but galleries, exhibitions, Golden Lane, or St. Vitus cathedral open at 9 AM.
You can devote all day leisurely exploring Prague's Old Town, walk to Charles Bridge on own, and then to get to Prague Castle, but it is also possible to get to Charles Bridge by public transport - the closest metro and tram station is called Staromestska.
From Staromestska, walk along the river for five minutes (400 meters), until you reach the bridge. You simply cannot miss it - firstly because of plenty of people around, secondly because of a gothic Old Town Bridge Tower.
Charles Bridge is one of the top attractions not only in Prague, but in Europe, so enjoy your time here, take plenty of photos of the river, Prague Castle towering on the top and statues lining the bridge.
Once you reach the end of the bridge, walk straight, pass Malostranske Namesti on your right, and get to Nerudova Street which will take you to street Ke Hradu, and in a minute you will appear in front of the castle.
Alternatively from Malostranske Namesti, just before Nerudova Street, turn right to Zamecka, and immediately turn left to Thunovska Street which is a lovely narrow street ending by Castle Stairs (Zamecke Schody).
This way you will arrive at Hradcanske Namesti right in front of the castle the same way you would have when walking Nerudova Street.
Our Tip: Choose two ways to Prague Castle, which seem the most appealing for you, so you can use two different routes, one when you are heading to the castle, and one on the way back.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
BEST PRAGUE CASTLE TOURS
Visiting Prague Castle is one of the best experiences you can get in the city. You can go around the complex on own and buy the ticket on the spot or in advance.
Or you can reserve a Prague Castle Tour with a local guide in advance
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Get Around: Buses and trains are an affordable way to get around the Czech Republic. Regiojet offers clean and modern buses and trains with all the amenities.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
