Is Prague Castle Free?

Partly. The castle grounds are free: the courtyards, St George’s Square and Hradčany Square are open to everyone from 6:00 to 22:00, every day of the year (hrad.cz Visitor Regulations, read November 2026). The buildings are not. St Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, St George’s Basilica and Golden Lane need the Main circuit ticket, 450 CZK for adults, and the free front part of the cathedral has been closed since 25 October 2023 until further notice. If you want to go inside, the castle’s own ticket is sold online as Prague: Official Entry Ticket to Prague Castle, from US$21 (checked November 2026).

What costs nothing

So a walk through the castle costs nothing, at any hour from early morning to late evening. You see the cathedral’s west front and its height from the Third Courtyard, the palace façades, the Matthias Gate and the view from the ramparts by Hradčany Square. What you do not see is any interior.

What only the ticket opens

The cathedral is the one most people regret missing. Until October 2023 you could step into the west end of the nave without a ticket; hrad.cz states that because of building works the free part is closed until further notice and the cathedral can only be visited with a circuit ticket. Pilgrims and people attending services are not charged, but there is no sightseeing during the services themselves.

The Main circuit then adds the Old Royal Palace with Vladislav Hall, St George’s Basilica and the little houses of Golden Lane, one entry each, for two days. Prague Castle tickets has the full price list.

Is going inside worth it?

For a first visit, yes. The free walk shows you the outside of a castle; the ticket shows you why it matters, starting with the cathedral where the kings of Bohemia were crowned. At 450 CZK, about US$20.70 at the Czech National Bank’s rate of 2 November 2026, it covers four buildings and lasts two days.

Check dates for the castle ticket

It is less worth it if you arrive late in a winter afternoon. The buildings open at 9:00 and close at 16:00 or 17:00 (hrad.cz prints both for the winter season on different pages), so after about 15:00 there is no time for all four; walk the free courtyards that evening and use the ticket the next morning.

The free walk, with a guide

If the courtyards and the stories are what you want, two guided walks keep to the outside and cost less than the tours that go in:

Prices, ratings and review counts from the listings (GetYourGuide checked November 2026). Operators price by date and season, so treat the figures as the shape of the market, not a quote.