National Theatre Prague: tickets, box offices and tours of the halls

The National Theater in Prague opened in 1881 on Národní Street. It is the country's main stage, where operas, ballets, and dramas are performed today.

Choose your performance date in advance. Tours of the halls are conducted in English.

Below is the history of the building, the interior of the main hall, current box offices, the route from the train station, and answers to frequently asked questions.

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History: built with public money

💡 In short:

• Address: Národní 2, Prague 1, New Town.
• Box offices: Mon-Fri 9:00-18:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-18:00.
• Tickets go on sale six months in advance, tours are conducted in English.
• Getting there: tram to the Národní divadlo stop.
• Prices and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the theater box office page.

© Miroslav Hurt · CC BY-SAPhoto: Miroslav Hurt, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

The building was built with money from ordinary Czechs. Construction was overseen by a special commission headed by the patron Jan Harrach, and the design was prepared by architect Josef Zítek in the Neo-Renaissance style (according to the Prague tourist office).

The cornerstone was laid on May 16, 1868. Beneath it lie stones brought from sacred sites in Czechia and a handful of soil from Mount Říp (according to the city tourist office).

The country's finest masters took part in the decoration: Mikoláš Aleš, Josef Václav Myslbek, Václav Brožík. Only local materials were used for the finishing, and local workers were hired.

The theater opened in 1881 with the premiere of Bedřich Smetana's opera "Libuše." Soon after, the building caught fire: the flames destroyed part of the auditorium, the stage, and the copper dome. Czechs saw the fire as a national tragedy.

Money for the restoration was raised by the whole community, with nearly half of the city's residents contributing. Already in 1883, the theater reopened with the same Smetana opera (according to the tourist office).

Interior: the hall, the chandelier, and "The Nation to Itself"

The main facade is crowned by an attic with a figure of Apollo, muses, and quadrigas. The ceiling of the main foyer is decorated with the triptych "The Golden Age, Decline, and Revival of Art." Other rooms display portraits and busts of figures associated with the theater.

© Lehotsky · CC BY-SAPhoto: Lehotsky, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

The auditorium seats nearly a thousand people. The acoustics hold up on every tier: even in the upper rows you will hear every word. So you don't necessarily need to buy expensive seats for the sound.

A chandelier with 260 lamps and weighing about two tons hangs above the orchestra level (according to the National Theatre website). Above the stage is carved "Národ sobě," which means "The nation unto itself."

This inscription is a reminder that the building was built with public money. The same theme is repeated on the curtain. On the ceiling of the auditorium, František Ženíšek depicted eight allegories of art as female figures: painting, architecture, sculpture, poetry, music, dance, mime, and ethics.

The Imperial and Mayor's boxes are not positioned in the center, as in other theaters. The builders believed that the best seats should go to those who support the theater, meaning the people.

Tickets, box offices, and tours

Box office hours differ on weekdays and weekends.

As of 09/2026, theatre website.

The main box office is now located at Ostrovní 225/1: the New Stage building has been closed for renovation (as of 09/2026, theatre website). The evening box office operates at the main entrance on Národní Street.

Tickets go on sale six months in advance. Performances from September 2026 through February 2027 are currently on sale, with a new batch released on the 1st of each month at 9:00 (as of 09/2026, theatre website).

The price depends on the production, the day of the week, and the seat location. The cheapest seats cost a few hundred crowns, while boxes are more expensive. Check the schedule for prices before purchasing (as of 09/2026, theatre website).

• The catch: The New Stage is closed for renovation, and some productions have been moved to the theatre's other stages.

Tours of the historic building are available in English for individual visitors and for groups of 11 or more (as of 09/2026, theatre website). Groups meet at the main entrance on Národní Street 5 minutes before the start.

Book performance and tour tickets in advance: National Theatre tours on GetYourGuide.

• Who it's for: those interested in historic interiors, classical opera, and ballet.
• Not for: those looking for a modern stage: the New Stage is currently closed.

How to get to the theatre

The theatre is located in the New Town at Národní 2, Prague 1. The main entrance faces Národní Street, where the evening box office also operates (as of 09/2026, theatre website).

Trams stop right at the entrance; the stop is called Národní divadlo. From the Národní třída metro station (line B) it's about a 5-minute walk to the doors (according to the map).

From the main train station, Praha hlavní nádraží, to the theatre is about 2 km. That's a 25-minute walk or a few tram stops (according to the map).

From Václav Havel Airport, city buses and the Airport Express go to the center. With luggage, it's more convenient to get to the center by transfer or taxi.

If you're planning to drive around the Czech Republic, compare rental options in advance: car rental in Prague.

National Theatre on the map

Below is an interactive map. The building stands on the Vltava embankment, between the Legion Bridge and Národní Street.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much does a ticket to the National Theatre cost?

The price depends on the production, the day of the week, and the seat location. The cheapest seats cost a few hundred crowns; orchestra and boxes are more expensive (as of 09/2026, theatre website). Check the exact price in the schedule when purchasing.

When are the box offices open?

Box office hours are listed in the table above (as of 09/2026, theatre website). The main box office is now at Ostrovní 225/1; the evening one operates at the entrance on Národní Street.

Can you see the building without attending a performance?

Yes, guided tours of the historic building are available in English for individual visitors and groups (as of 09/2026, theatre website). Book in advance; the group meets at the main entrance.

How to get to the theatre?

The closest stop is the Národní divadlo tram stop right at the entrance. From the Národní třída metro station (line B) it's about a 5-minute walk (according to the map). From the main train station to the theatre it's roughly 2 km on foot or a few tram stops.

Do you need to book tickets in advance?

Seats for popular operas and ballets sell out quickly. A new batch of tickets goes on sale on the 1st of each month at 9:00 (as of 09/2026, theatre website). Get your seats as soon as the schedule is released.

In short: what's worth booking

The National Theatre rests on two things: the historic hall and the repertoire. If you want to see the building without a performance, book a daytime tour in English. If you're going to an opera or ballet, reserve your seat as soon as the schedule comes out.

If you're arriving in Prague from the airport, arrange your transfer in advance. If you're planning trips around the country, compare car rental options.

The main step: pick an evening, check seat availability, and get your ticket. Don't put off buying until the last week. Tours and tickets on GetYourGuide.