🏛️ Hluboka nad Vltavou Castle: how much is entry and how to get there

Hluboká nad Vltavou Castle stands on a cliff above the Vltava River. It rises over South Bohemia, not far from České Budějovice. The castle owes its neo-Gothic appearance to a mid-19th-century reconstruction. An adult ticket to the state rooms costs 300 CZK (as of 09/2026, official castle website).

What you should know before visiting: the castle is open almost year-round, entry is by guided tour only and at a scheduled time, and tickets are cheaper if you buy them in advance. You can get there by train or bus via České Budějovice. Below you will find opening hours, prices by tour route, visitor rules, and travel tips.

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Castle history

💡 In short:

A ticket to the state rooms costs 300 CZK for adults and 90 CZK for children aged 6 to 17 (as of 09/2026, castle price list).
Climbing the tower costs 180 CZK; 245 steps lead to the viewing platform (as of 09/2026, castle information).
The winter tour is open from November 3 to December 20, closed on Mondays (as of 09/2026, opening schedule).
Prices and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the prices page.

The castle was founded in the mid-13th century as a watch fortress of the Bohemian kings (according to the castle history section). At that time it bore the name Frauenberg. Over the centuries the building was repeatedly pledged and transferred to various noble families, so its appearance changed.

The castle acquired Renaissance features in the second half of the 16th century. In the early 18th century it was rebuilt in the Baroque style. Its current appearance took shape between 1840 and 1871: the owners from the Schwarzenberg family turned the fortress into a romantic neo-Gothic castle (according to the reconstruction timeline). The model for the reconstruction was England's Windsor Castle. Architects Franz Beer and Damasius Deworetzky worked on the project.

Today the castle belongs to the state and operates as a museum. Tours run along several routes, and each has its own schedule.

Landscape park and old garden

Winter park with shrubs and Hluboká Castle

An English landscape park spreads around the castle. Rare trees and shrubs grow here, and paths wind between ponds and lawns. In the park you will see a two-flight staircase with a fountain in the neo-Gothic style and a round pool framed by shrubs.

The old garden occupies the central part of the park. It looks like a fairy-tale set and is often featured in Czech films. In the movie "The Proud Princess," the heroine falls into this very garden pool. Take a walk along the side paths: it is quieter there and there are almost no tour groups.

Castle tower and viewing platform

View from the tower of Hluboká nad Vltavou Castle over the surroundings

The 52-meter tower rises above the castle roofs. It takes 245 steps to reach the observation deck (as of 09/2026, castle website). The climb follows a narrow spiral staircase, so wear comfortable shoes.

An adult tower ticket costs 180 CZK (as of 09/2026, tower rates). In September the deck is open from 10:00 to 16:00. You can only go up in good weather: the observation deck closes in rain and strong wind. From the top you will see the Vltava valley, Ceske Budejovice, and the Sumava mountains.

State rooms and ceremonial chambers

Masaryk Street in Hluboká nad Vltavou, historic house

The main tour route goes through the ceremonial halls used for receptions. Here you will see tapestries, a collection of hunting weapons, and an antique mirror. According to legend, anyone who looks into it will stay young forever. On the second floor are the chambers of Princess Eleonora and a large library. A separate room was set aside for smoking, because smoking on the balcony was considered bad manners among the Schwarzenbergs.

You can only enter the castle interior with a guide and at a scheduled time. A ticket to the state rooms costs 300 CZK (as of 09/2026, tour prices). The private apartment chambers cost 220 CZK, and the guest suites cost 320 CZK (as of 09/2026, castle price list).

Castle kitchen

© The original uploader was Sgbeer at German Wikipedia . ( Original text: Sgbeer ) · CC BY-SAPhoto: The original uploader was Sgbeer at German Wikipedia . ( Original text: Sgbeer ), CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/), Wikimedia Commons

The castle kitchen operates as a separate tour. It is a rare example of a large 19th-century noble household kitchen. It still has dumbwaiters for serving dishes, a potato peeler, and spits that turned on their own. The space is divided into three zones: for cold, hot, and sweet dishes.

A kitchen ticket costs 180 CZK (as of 09/2026, kitchen pricing). The kitchen is located in the basement of the castle's north wing, so no daylight reaches it.

Visiting rules

Hluboká nad Vltavou Castle with towers and visitors

The castle is state-owned and open to tourists almost all year. You can only go inside with a guide and as part of a group. Touching the exhibits is not allowed, and check the rules on site before taking photos or videos. The full list of restrictions, including drone rules, is published on the rules page.

Tickets and opening hours

Wrought iron entrance gate of Hluboká nad Vltavou Castle

The castle operates seasonally, and each tour route has its own schedule. From September 1 to October 31, the state rooms are open Tuesday through Sunday, from 9:00 to 12:00 and from 12:30 to 16:30 (as of 09/2026, seasonal schedule). Monday is usually a day off. The winter route opens on November 3 and runs until December 20.

Buy tickets online in advance: in summer, sessions with an English-speaking guide sell out first. Below are adult ticket prices by route.

Route	Adult	Children 6-17
State rooms	300 CZK	90 CZK
Private apartments	220 CZK	70 CZK
Guest suites	320 CZK	100 CZK
Castle kitchen	180 CZK	50 CZK
Tower, observation deck	180 CZK	50 CZK

Children under 5 go free (as of 09/2026, children's tickets). You can book a time slot on the castle's official website.

Tours and tickets in Hluboka

Guided tours, skip-the-line tickets and activities — most offers can be cancelled free of charge.

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How to get to the castle

The castle is 10 km north of Ceske Budejovice (as of 09/2026, how to get there). Trains and buses run from the city to Hluboka. From the stop to the gates you walk uphill, so wear comfortable shoes.

A direct bus runs from Prague to the castle. By car, take the D3 highway. Parking lots are in the town below the castle, and from there you walk.

Practical information

Masarykova Street in Hluboká nad Vltavou, overcast day

Castle address: Zamek 142, 373 41 Hluboka nad Vltavou. Phone: +420 387 843 911 (as of 09/2026, castle contacts). You can pay for entry by card or cash. Tickets are sold online and at the ticket office.

Prices depend on the route and the visitor's age, so plan your budget in advance. It's best to check route details on the official website.

Hluboka nad Vltavou Castle on the map

Hluboká nad Vltavou Castle

Places on the map

Hluboká nad Vltavou Castle Neo-Gothic Schwarzenberg castle on a cliff above the Vltava, state rooms and a tower

The map shows the castle itself, the park, and the access roads. Plan your route in advance so you don't have to look for parking in the town center.

Another notable Czech castle is Houska Castle.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to enter Hluboká nad Vltavou Castle?

An adult ticket for the state rooms costs 300 CZK, a child ticket for ages 6 to 17 costs 90 CZK (as of 09/2026, current prices). Individual tours are cheaper: the kitchen and tower cost 180 CZK (as of 09/2026, castle price list). Children under 5 enter free of charge.

Do I need to buy tickets in advance?

Yes, in summer it is better to book a time slot online. In July and August, tours with an English-speaking guide sell out first, and without a reservation you will wait for the next time slot. Tickets are sold on the castle's official website and at the ticket office by the entrance.

How do I get to the castle without a car?

First travel to České Budějovice, from there trains and buses run to Hluboká nad Vltavou (as of 09/2026, directions). There is a direct bus from Prague. From the stop to the gate, you walk uphill.

On which days is the castle closed?

Monday is usually a day off. From September 1 to October 31, the state rooms are open Tuesday through Sunday, from 9:00 to 12:00 and from 12:30 to 16:30 (as of 09/2026, season schedule). The winter tour runs until December 20.

Can I climb the tower and take photos inside?

You can climb the tower in good weather: 245 steps lead to the viewing platform (as of 09/2026, castle tower). Check the photography rules inside the castle on site. Touching the exhibits is not allowed.

In short: what to book

Hluboká nad Vltavou works well for a day trip from České Budějovice or Prague. The state rooms give you a sense of Schwarzenberg family life, the kitchen shows how the servants lived and worked, and the tower opens up a panorama of South Bohemia.

If you have one day: take the state rooms and the tower.
If you're interested in aristocratic daily life: add the castle kitchen and the private apartments.
If you're traveling with kids: start with the kitchen, it's shorter than the other tours.
If you want to combine the castle with other places in South Bohemia: check out tours on GetYourGuide.

Book your time slots in advance, especially in summer. That way you'll get a convenient time and won't have to stand in line at the ticket office.

Hluboka nad Vltavou Castle: tickets, opening hours and what to see inside