Karlstejn Castle: tickets, tours and how to get there from Prague
Karlštejn Castle stands on a cliff above the Berounka River. It is located 40 km southwest of Prague (as of 09/2026, official castle website) and remains the most visited Gothic castle in the Czech Republic. The 14th-century interiors inside have survived almost unchanged. You can only enter with a guided tour, so on weekends, without a ticket in advance, you risk leaving empty-handed.
Below you will find what to see inside, how much admission costs, and how to get there from Prague by train.
💡 In short:
- The castle was founded in 1348 by Emperor Charles IV.
- The basic tour costs 300 CZK, a child ticket costs 90 CZK (as of 09/2026, castle price list).
- On weekends, get tickets online in advance, popular time slots sell out.
- Prices and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the official castle website.
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Construction history
💡 In short:
- The castle was founded in 1348 by Emperor Charles IV.
- The basic tour costs 300 CZK, a child ticket costs 90 CZK (as of 09/2026, castle price list).
- On weekends, get tickets online in advance, popular time slots sell out.
- Prices and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the official castle website.
The castle was founded in 1348. For a long time, Matthias of Arras was named as the architect, but he died as early as 1352. Most likely, there was no single author of the project. The work was supervised by an experienced engineer, and Emperor Charles IV personally oversaw the finishing work and issued instructions. Construction was completed almost twenty years later, in 1365, when the Chapel of the Holy Cross was consecrated.
© Jürgen Regel, Marian… · CC BYPhoto: Jürgen Regel, Marian…, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), Wikimedia CommonsDuring the Hussite Wars, the imperial regalia were taken to Nuremberg via Hungary in 1421. In 1422, during the siege of the castle, catapults on Sigismund's orders hurled the bodies of those who had died of infection at the besiegers. Later, the Czech coronation jewels were kept in the castle for almost two centuries. During that time the building was rebuilt: in the late Gothic style after 1480, then in the Renaissance style in the last quarter of the 16th century.
In 1487, the Great Tower was damaged by fire. In 1619, the crown treasures and the archive were moved to Prague, and in 1620 the castle was handed over to Ferdinand II. After the Swedes occupied Bohemia in 1648, Karlštejn fell into decline. The castle acquired its present appearance between 1887 and 1899, when it was reconstructed in the neo-Gothic style under the direction of J. Mocker.
Several legends are connected with the castle. According to one of them, Charles IV set the castle aside for secular and spiritual needs and forbade women to enter its grounds. Another tells of a blind lute player and his faithful dog. Prince Brunšvik was staying at the castle together with a treacherous steward, who served him a poisoned cup. The prince decided to offer it to the musician, but the dog jumped onto its master's lap and drank the poison, saving him.
Architectural features
© RedledHexafunk · CC BY-SAPhoto: RedledHexafunk, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsKarlštejn is built as a multi-level structure set into the rock terrain. The tallest building, the Great Tower, rises 60 meters, and its walls are up to 7.5 meters thick. Inside the tower is the heart of the castle, the Chapel of the Holy Cross, which has no direct parallels anywhere in the world.
The core of the castle consists of three parts. At the top is the imperial palace, above which rise the Marian Tower and the Great Tower. The middle level contains the inner courtyard and the burgrave's residence, while the lower level is given over to the well tower. The well is about 80 meters deep, and at least two people are needed to raise the water.
Construction began with the well tower. The water source was strategically important, so only the emperor and the burgrave knew about the underground channel leading to the well. According to legend, the builders of the channel were ordered to be killed to keep the secret.
What to see
Three areas inside the castle are open to visitors, but access to them depends on the tour you choose. You will see the Chapel of the Holy Cross only on the chapels tour.
Chapel of the Holy Cross
© Pedro Krtička · CC BYPhoto: Pedro Krtička, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe chapel is located in the Great Tower and was so dear to Charles IV that he entered it barefoot as a sign of humility and secured it with three iron doors with nine locks. Its decoration recalls the Jerusalem of the biblical book of Revelation.
The chapel served as a repository for coronation valuables and relics of saints, which Charles IV collected personally. Its four windows are partly glazed with precious stones. The interior is decorated with frescoes from the life of Christ and 129 panels by Master Theodoric depicting heavenly warriors.
Marian Tower
The cube-shaped tower formerly served as a warehouse, treasury, and even a prison. On its walls, remnants of the original painting survive, showing flying angels playing musical instruments. It also houses a small Church of the Virgin Mary, which was attended by the emperor and his close associates.
© Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia · CC BYPhoto: Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia CommonsImperial palace
The palace stands in the inner courtyard, which is reached through massive gates bearing the coat of arms of Jan Bořita, one of Karlštejn's burgraves. Inside you will see the emperor's private rooms, the halls of ancestors, and the audience chamber, as well as the noble and vassal halls.
© Jan Starec · CC BY-SAPhoto: Jan Starec, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia CommonsTickets and opening hours
The castle can only be visited with a guide, and tickets are sold for specific tours. The basic tour "Imperial residence of Charles IV" includes the first and second floors of the imperial palace, the first floor of the Marian Tower, and the well tower. An adult ticket costs 300 CZK, for children aged 6-17 it is 90 CZK, and children under 5 go free (as of 09/2026, official castle website).
The "Chapels of Karlštejn" tour leads to the east wing of the palace, the second floor of the Marian Tower with the Church of the Virgin Mary and the Chapel of St. Catherine, and the Great Tower with the Chapel of the Holy Cross. An adult ticket costs 640 CZK, a child ticket 190 CZK, and it must be booked in advance (as of 09/2026, castle rates).
The special tour "See the whole castle" lasts 180 minutes and includes the usually closed floors above the Chapel of the Holy Cross. An adult ticket costs 1800 CZK, and online purchase is recommended (as of 09/2026, tour description).
Route | Adult | Children 6-17 | 2026 season |
|---|---|---|---|
Imperial residence | 90 CZK | September-December | |
Karlštejn chapels | 190 CZK | September-October | |
Entire castle | check | check |
Opening hours depend on the season. In September the basic route is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 to 17:30, in October until 16:30, and from November only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 to 15:00 (as of 09/2026, castle opening hours). The last tour starts shortly before closing. The castle is closed on September 29 and does not operate on December 21-25.
2026 period | Days | Basic route hours |
|---|---|---|
September | Tuesday-Sunday | 9:30-17:30 |
October | Tuesday-Sunday | 9:30-16:30 |
November-December | Friday-Sunday | 10:00-15:00 |
On certain days admission to the basic route is announced as free, for example on September 27, 2026, but tickets for those days are already gone (as of 09/2026, free days calendar). An audio guide in English, German and four other languages costs 120 CZK plus a 500 CZK deposit (as of 09/2026, official castle website).
Tours and tickets in Karlstejn
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How to get there from Prague
The castle stands above the town of Karlštejn, about 40 km southwest of Prague (as of 09/2026, directions). Trains from Prague or from Beroun run every 30 minutes.
At Karlštejn station, turn right, cross the Berounka River, turn right again, and after 50 meters turn left. From there the main road leads you straight to the castle. From the town to the gate is about a 15-minute walk; the town itself is a pedestrian zone.
By car, the most convenient route is to take the D5 highway toward Plzeň and exit at junction 10 near Loděnice. The central parking lot is in the town below the castle. Train schedules and tickets on Trip.com.
Karlštejn Castle on the map
Castle address: Karlštejn 172, 267 18 Karlštejn, Beroun district. Below you can see the castle on the map to plan your route from the train station.
⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
How much does a ticket to Karlštejn Castle cost?
The basic tour costs 300 CZK for adults and 90 CZK for children aged 6-17, children under 5 go free. The chapel tour with the Chapel of the Holy Cross is more expensive: 640 CZK for adults and 190 CZK for children. Prices verified in 09/2026 on current rates.
Can you visit Karlštejn without a guided tour?
No, you can only go inside with a guide. You buy a ticket for one of the tours, and the tour start time is tied to the schedule. For the basic tour on weekends, it's better to buy a ticket online in advance. For the chapels and the special full-castle tour, tickets must be booked in advance.
How long does it take to get from Prague to Karlštejn?
By train, the journey takes about 40 minutes, with trains running every 30 minutes from Prague's main station. From Karlštejn station to the castle, you walk about 15 minutes through the town (as of 09/2026, official castle website). By car via the D5 highway, the trip takes a similar amount of time without traffic.
What is worth seeing inside the castle?
The main highlight inside is the Chapel of the Holy Cross with frescoes and 129 panels by Master Theodoric. You will also see the Marian Tower with the Church of the Virgin Mary and the Imperial Palace with private rooms and halls. The Chapel of the Holy Cross is open only on the chapel tour.
When is the best time to visit Karlštejn?
Come on a weekday at opening time: in September and on weekends, lines and groups are longer. From November to December, the castle is open only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and is closed December 21-25 (as of 09/2026, official castle website).
In short: what to book
Karlštejn is small, but without preparation the trip can eat up half a day. If you're short on time, take the basic tour and arrive at opening time. If you want to see the Chapel of the Holy Cross, book the chapel tour in advance: tickets may not be available on site.
- If you have half a day: the basic tour and a morning train from Prague.
- If you want the most valuable part: the chapel tour with the Chapel of the Holy Cross.
- If you're up for a full day: the special full-castle tour lasting 180 minutes.
Train schedules and tickets from Prague are easier to check in advance on Trip.com.
A small editorial team writing guides for independent travel. We travel ourselves, but we haven’t been everywhere, so we check prices, opening hours and how to get there against official sources.