Church & Religious Site

St Vitus Cathedral

📍 III. nádvoří 48/2, 119 01 Prague 1-Hradčany, Czech Republic

No photos yet

4.8/ 5.0

★★★★★

Quick Facts

Location: Czech Republic, Prague
Category: Church & Religious Site
Duration: 1-1.5 hours, or 2 hours with the tower
Opening Hours: Monday 09:00-17:00 · Tuesday 09:00-17:00 · Wednesday 09:00-17:00 · Thursday 09:00-17:00 · Friday 09:00-17:00 · Saturday 09:00-17:00 · Sunday 12:00-17:00 · To 17:00 Apr-Oct and 16:00 Nov-Mar; Sundays open from 12:00; closed 24 Dec; parts close to visitors during Mass
Ticket Price: Adult: CZK 450 (Castle Circuit A) · Child: Family CZK 950 · No cathedral-only ticket: covers the cathedral, Old Royal Palace, St George's Basilica, Golden Lane and Rosenberg Palace; Circuit B CZK 300 excludes the cathedral; valid 2 consecutive days
Address: III. nádvoří 48/2, 119 01 Prague 1-Hradčany, Czech Republic
Coordinates: 50.0909, 14.4005

Introduction

St Vitus Cathedral stands in the Third Courtyard of Prague Castle and is the most important religious landmark in the Czech lands. Charles IV laid its foundation in 1344 and it was not structurally finished until 1929 - nearly six centuries of work, which is why it layers French Gothic bones with Renaissance, Baroque and 20th-century Art Nouveau. The highlight is not the nave but the Chapel of St Wenceslas, where the 10th-century Bohemian duke is buried and behind a door secured with seven locks sits the Bohemian crown jewels, the keys held separately by the President, the Mayor of Prague and other dignitaries. The Great South Tower is ticketed separately: 287 steps with no lift, rewarding a panorama over the rooftops and the Bohemian countryside.

✨ Highlights

St Wenceslas Chapel and crown jewels

Built over the saint's tomb, with the Bohemian crown and regalia behind the seven-lock door next to it - the true heart of the cathedral.

The Mucha window

Alphonse Mucha's 1931 Art Nouveau window in the north nave looks best when southern light enters between 10:00 and 14:00.

The Rose Window

A 10.4-metre window on the west facade by František Kysela, completed 1927, depicting Creation.

The Royal Crypt

Beneath the choir lie Charles IV and other Bohemian monarchs; the circuit ticket includes it and few visitors bother to go down.

The 287-step South Tower

Climbing to about 99 metres is the best view inside the cathedral, passing seven bells including the 15-tonne Sigismund bell.

The choir vaulting

The net vaulting by Parler's workshop is among the finest achievements of Gothic architecture, and most visitors walk past without looking up.

🛈 Practical Info

→Location：III. nádvoří 48/2, 119 01 Praha 1-Hradčany

→Opening：Apr-Oct 9:00-17:00 (Sun from 12:00); Nov-Mar 9:00-16:00

→Time needed：1-1.5 hours, 2 with the tower

→Sunday note：Before 12:00 on Sundays the nave is reserved for Mass and visitor areas close or are restricted

→Transportation：Trams 22 and 23 to Pražský hrad, 5 min walk; metro A Malostranská then 10 min uphill; or 30-40 min on foot from Old Town Square via Charles Bridge

Opening Hours

Opening Hours
Monday	09:00-17:00
Tuesday	09:00-17:00
Wednesday	09:00-17:00
Thursday	09:00-17:00
Friday	09:00-17:00
Saturday	09:00-17:00
Sunday	12:00-17:00

To 17:00 Apr-Oct and 16:00 Nov-Mar; Sundays open from 12:00; closed 24 Dec; parts close to visitors during Mass

Ticket Information

Ticket Information
Adult	CZK 450 (Castle Circuit A)
Child	Family CZK 950
Senior	Reduced CZK 300
Free Admission	Under 18 free; South Tower separate CZK 200

No cathedral-only ticket: covers the cathedral, Old Royal Palace, St George's Basilica, Golden Lane and Rosenberg Palace; Circuit B CZK 300 excludes the cathedral; valid 2 consecutive days

💡 Tips

• Before 12:00 on Sundays the cathedral is reserved for Mass and visitor areas close or are restricted - do not plan on weekday hours.

• A short strip of the nave near the west doors is free, giving a view down the church toward the St Wenceslas Chapel, though the working area and crypt need the circuit ticket (the free section's extent varies during construction).

• The circuit ticket is valid two days with one entry per site, so you can split the cathedral and the Old Royal Palace across two days without rushing.

• The Mucha window needs southern light: enter between 10:00 and 14:00 for the best result, while overcast light actually flattens the glass into an even glow.

• Queues for the South Tower form in the morning, so go at the 9:00 opening or close to closing time.

• Tripods are banned and flash is not allowed in the St Wenceslas Chapel; services still take place, so follow on-site signage.

FAQ

What are the opening hours of St Vitus Cathedral?

Monday: 09:00-17:00; Tuesday: 09:00-17:00; Wednesday: 09:00-17:00; Thursday: 09:00-17:00; Friday: 09:00-17:00; Saturday: 09:00-17:00; Sunday: 12:00-17:00; To 17:00 Apr-Oct and 16:00 Nov-Mar; Sundays open from 12:00; closed 24 Dec; parts close to visitors during Mass

How much is the admission for St Vitus Cathedral?

Adult: CZK 450 (Castle Circuit A); Child: Family CZK 950; Senior: Reduced CZK 300; Free Admission: Under 18 free; South Tower separate CZK 200; No cathedral-only ticket: covers the cathedral, Old Royal Palace, St George's Basilica, Golden Lane and Rosenberg Palace; Circuit B CZK 300 excludes the cathedral; valid 2 consecutive days

Any practical tips for visiting St Vitus Cathedral?

Before 12:00 on Sundays the cathedral is reserved for Mass and visitor areas close or are restricted - do not plan on weekday hours. A short strip of the nave near the west doors is free, giving a view down the church toward the St Wenceslas Chapel, though the working area and crypt need the circuit ticket (the free section's extent varies during construction).

How long should I spend at St Vitus Cathedral?

A typical visit takes 1-1.5 hours, or 2 hours with the tower.

Tickets and hours follow the official Prague Castle site at prague.eu; the extent of the free nave section changes during construction, so check on-site notices.