How to Get to Prague Castle

The easy way up is the one Prague Castle recommends: tram 22 or 23 to the stop Pražský hrad, then turn left over the Powder Bridge: 393 m on foot to the castle information centre by the cathedral, about five minutes and almost level. Most visitors then leave down the Old Castle Steps to Malostranská metro (line A). If you would rather be taken up, Get Prague Guide’s Prague Castle 2.5-Hour Tour Including Admission Ticket starts on Charles Bridge (standard option; the meeting point depends on the option you pick), rides the tram from Lesser Town Square and includes entry to the four buildings, from US$56 (checked November 2026).

The calendar above is that tour, with 9,788 reviews (checked November 2026); the tram ticket is included.

Four ways up

Walking distances are routed on the footpaths between the points named, and match the map. The castle’s own directions agree: “less than 5 minutes” from Pražský hrad to the fountain on the Second Courtyard, and “10 minutes’ walk” from Pohořelec to Hradčany Square (hrad.cz, read November 2026).

By tram: 22 and 23

Both lines stop at Pražský hrad, Královský letohrádek and Malostranská, the three stops round the castle; the 22 also serves Pohořelec in both directions, while the 23 stops there only on its way out to Královka (DPP timetables, read 3 November 2026). From the city centre the 22 runs through Národní třída and Národní divadlo, across the river, past Malostranská and up the hill, and it is the line the castle’s own directions name first. The line was closed at the castle for rebuilding from 21 March to 17 July 2026 and has run normally since; DPP planned to lengthen the outbound Pražský hrad platform and make it step-free during those works.

Pražský hrad is the stop for the Second Courtyard and the cathedral. Pohořelec, two stops further up, is for Hradčany Square and the First Courtyard at noon, with a downhill walk instead of a flat one. Královský letohrádek is for the Royal Garden, which is closed from November to February.

By metro and the Old Castle Steps

Malostranská on metro line A is the station at the foot of the castle. Walk about 100 m along the tram tracks, turn sharp left on to the Old Castle Steps (Staré zámecké schody), and climb to the east gate by the Black Tower, Na Opyši: 472 m in all, most of it steps. That brings you in at the Golden Lane end, so the circuit runs backwards from there. Most people do it the other way: tram up, steps down, finishing at the metro. Hradčanská, one station further out on line A, is a longer walk and only worth it for the Royal Garden in season.

On foot from Charles Bridge

From the Lesser Town Bridge Tower at the end of Charles Bridge it is 1,059 m up Nerudova street to the castle gate on Hradčany Square, about a quarter of an hour, all uphill. A slightly shorter walk turns off through Thunovská street and up the New Castle Steps (Zámecké schody). Either way you arrive at the Matthias Gate end, which suits the guard at noon.

Check dates for the tour from Charles Bridge

At the gates

The castle no longer runs full security frames at its entrances; since April 2023 there are random checks by the police and the Castle Guard (hrad.cz). It asks visitors not to bring bulky luggage at all, so leave a suitcase at the hotel. Enter only at the marked entrances: the gate from Hradčany Square into the South Gardens is exit-only. Drones, bicycles and scooters are not allowed in the castle grounds.

After the castle, Letná is the neighbourhood on the plateau to the north-east, and beerbathsletnaprague.com covers the trams and the walk there for the beer spa in Prague 7. Prague Castle tickets has what to buy before you go in.