🏛️ Prague astronomical clock and town hall tower: when to go and ticket prices

The astronomical clock on Old Town Square chimes every hour, and there is always a crowd under the tower. To avoid standing around for nothing and overpaying, it is worth knowing in advance when to go and what is included in the ticket.

The Old Town Hall is not one building but a whole complex of structures that the city assembled over centuries. Here you will find the Prague astronomical clock, Gothic halls, and an observation deck with a view over the rooftops of the Old Town. The town hall is about 300 meters on foot from the Staroměstská metro station (on the map).

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What the Old Town Hall is

💡 In short:

The complex on Old Town Square includes the tower with the astronomical clock, a chapel, ceremonial halls, and a Romanesque underground.
Prices and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the official website.

The town hall was founded as a place where city affairs were handled: the council, the court, and the chancellery all worked here. It began with a single house on the corner of the square. Gradually the city bought up neighboring buildings until the complex occupied almost the entire block. Under one roof, Gothic, Renaissance, and later additions now stand side by side. The town hall has witnessed key events in Czech history. Today it is one of Prague's main landmarks, and you will easily find it by the clock tower.

What it is: a complex of several buildings on Old Town Square with a tower and an astronomical clock.
Who it's for: those who want to see the astronomical clock and go up above the Old Town.
Not for: those looking for quiet, there are people around the tower all day.
The catch: at noon, tour groups come to the astronomical clock, and there can be a line at the ticket office.

History of the Old Town Hall

The Old Town received city status back in 1232, but its own town hall building appeared only a century later. Residents obtained permission to build from King John of Luxembourg in 1338, and the city then acquired the house of the merchant Wolf Kameník. A tower was later added to the house, and on it was installed the astronomical clock, which has been running since 1410 and is considered the oldest working clock in the world (history of the Old Town Hall).

Renaissance window with a coat of arms on the facade of the Old Town Hall

The Prague astronomical clock is more complex than an ordinary clock. It simultaneously shows the phases of the Moon, the position of the Sun among the constellations, and the main Christian holidays. Every hour a small show takes place on the tower: the apostles pass before the audience, and at the end a rooster crows.

The town hall kept its role into modern times. At the end of the war, the eastern wing was destroyed by shells, and it was never rebuilt. Today the surviving part houses a wedding hall, and the facade is still decorated with a Gothic portal bearing the coats of arms of Bohemia and the Old Town.

Interior and historical halls

Inside, the town hall is no less interesting than outside. The city council meeting hall served for the most important decisions for many centuries, and many Gothic paintings have survived here. The ceiling of the hall is richly painted, and the walls are decorated with the coats of arms of craft guilds and noble city families.

Ceremonial hall of the town hall with a painting and flags

Among the hall's main treasures are a depiction of the goddess of justice Themis and a sculpture of Christ with an inscription about just judgment. The paintings in the halls are complemented by canvases by Václav Brožík depicting key events in Czech history. Below, in the Romanesque underground, goods were once stored, and later prisoners condemned to execution were held. Today you can see images of the patron saints of Bohemia here.

The tower and observation deck

The main reason to go up the tower is the panorama of Old Town Square and the tiled rooftops. The observation deck has been operating here for a long time and remains one of the most popular in Prague. An elevator and stairs lead to the top, so you can go up even without being in athletic shape. It is best to come at opening time or closer to the evening, when there are fewer groups.

Old Town Square with the Jan Hus Memorial from above

Opening hours and tickets

The town hall is open every day, but the hours change by season: from January to March it is open from 10:00 to 19:00, from April to December from 9:00 to 20:00. The apostles on the astronomical clock appear every hour, and you can watch them for free. A full adult ticket costs about 350 crowns, and in the first hour after opening there is a 50% discount (Prague City Tourism, as of 09/2026).

The ticket includes the tower, the chapel, the ceremonial halls, and the Romanesque underground. A ticket with a time slot is convenient to buy in advance so you do not have to stand in line at the ticket office: tickets with a time slot on Tiqets.

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How to get there from Staroměstská metro station

The closest station to the town hall is Staroměstská on green line A. From the exit you walk straight along Kaprova Street and in a couple of minutes you come out onto Old Town Square. Trams also stop here, and it is better not to drive into the Old Town by car: parking is limited and expensive.

Old Town Hall on the map

The complex stands in the southeastern part of Old Town Square, next to the Church of Our Lady before Týn. The map below makes it easy to see how to walk from the metro and what is nearby.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much does a ticket to the Old Town Hall cost?

A full adult ticket costs about 350 crowns, for others the price depends on age. In the first hour after opening there is a discount on the full ticket. Tickets with a time slot are sold online, and then you enter without waiting in line at the ticket office.

When does the Prague astronomical clock chime?

The apostles appear every hour, and the show runs from morning until late evening. The best viewing spots are right on Old Town Square. The crowd gathers a few minutes before it starts, so it is better to take your spot in advance.

Do I need to buy a ticket in advance?

In high season, lines at the ticket office can be long, especially at noon when tour groups come to the astronomical clock. An online ticket with a time slot solves this problem, and you enter at your chosen time. If you are visiting in winter or on a weekday, you can buy a ticket on the spot.

Can I go up the tower without taking the stairs?

Yes, an elevator leads to the observation deck, so the ascent is accessible to elderly people and parents with strollers. The elevator operates during the complex's opening hours. The historical interiors cannot be seen without steps, but you can see some of the halls without a long climb.

Is the town hall open on Monday?

The town hall is open every day, including Monday, and it has no day off. Only the opening and closing times change by season. So check the hours on the official website before your visit, especially on holidays and at the end of December.

In short: what is worth booking

The Old Town Hall is suitable for those who want to see the astronomical clock and go up above the Old Town. The tower offers the best view of the square, and the interiors show how medieval Prague lived.

If you are short on time: with a single ticket, start with the tower and watch the astronomical clock from the square.
If you are with children: take the elevator up the tower.
If you are staying in the city for a couple of days: take your time and use the same ticket to see the underground and the council hall.

A ticket with a time slot will save you from the line, and city tours are convenient to book in advance: see tickets and tours in Prague on GetYourGuide.

Old Town Hall in Prague: opening hours, tickets and view from the tower