A Complete Guide to Prague Castle, Prague, Czech Republic

Many people are under the false impression that Prague Castle is nothing but the cathedral they can see from afar. But that’s not Prague Castle, that’s not even a quarter of it. The beautiful gothic spires you see in the distance belong to St. Vitus Cathedral, which happens to be inside Prague Castle. But the entirety of the castle grounds includes the massive wall of buildings that surround St. Vitus. Prague Castle is, after all, the third largest in the world.

The Royal Garden opens for Summer Tourist season on April 1. This entrance is a good one to avoid long security lines.

Until last year, the castle grounds were constantly open and accessible on foot from any of the four main entrances. In the summer, you can also enter the grounds through the Royal Garden. But since last fall, visitors to the castle have been required to pass through security, creating long lines at the most popular entrances. Though wait times vary depending on the time of year and time of day, you can expect to wait in line at least 15-20 minutes, and sometimes more than an hour. You may be better off skipping the main castle entrance to the first courtyard and taking the Old Castle steps which are closest to the Malostranska Metro station. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).