Prague Loreta: tickets, opening hours and the chime of 27 bells
Prague Loreto stands in a quiet corner of Hradčany, next to Prague Castle. Once an hour, a carillon of 27 bells sounds over the courtyards, and passersby slow their pace. Behind the modest facade lies one of the richest church complexes in Czechia.
An entrance ticket costs 280 Kč, and for children aged 6 to 15 it is 130 Kč (as of 09/2026, official Loreto price list). Seeing everything takes about an hour. Come in the morning, while the halls are still quiet.
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History
💡 In short:
- Prague Loreto is open every day from 10:00 to 17:00.
- A full ticket costs 280 Kč, a child ticket for ages 6 to 15 costs 130 Kč.
- The carillon of 27 bells plays every hour from 10:00 to 17:00.
- Prices and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the official website.
© VitVit · CC BY-SAPhoto: VitVit, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe complex grew up around the Holy House (Santa Casa). The first stone was laid by the aristocrat Kateřina of Lobkowicz in 1626. It was built to a design by the Italian Giovanni Orsi, and some elements were brought from the Italian Loreto. The complex was consecrated on March 25, 1631 (as of 09/2026, Prague tourist office).
The walls were decorated with sculptural scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary and Old Testament prophets. The Baroque facade around the House appeared in the 18th century. Over time, the complex outgrew its Italian prototype and became the largest in Czechia.
What to see
The complex brings together the Holy House, the Church of the Nativity of Our Lord, the treasury, the chapels, and the bell tower. They are easy to see in order, from the entrance to the tower.
Chapels
© Jerzy Strzelecki · CC BY-SAPhoto: Jerzy Strzelecki, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe chapels surround the Holy House and are dedicated to well-known saints. Each has its own legend, and it is told during the tour.
Pilgrims walk to the House past these chapels and sit down on the benches. The ceiling paintings were done by Felix Scheffler, and they create a mood of quiet reflection.
Look up: stucco and frescoes cover the vaults completely. Seeing all the chapels will take you about half an hour.
The inner courtyard is decorated with fountains featuring sculptures of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and the Resurrection of Our Lord. City noise is barely audible here, and this is the best place to hear the bells.
Holy House
© Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia · CC BYPhoto: Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe Holy House (Santa Casa) serves as the spiritual center of the entire complex. Kateřina laid the first stone precisely in its foundation. According to tradition, this is the house of the Virgin Mary from Nazareth, carried here by angels.
The interior rooms are finished in artificial marble using the stucco technique. Bas-reliefs tell the story of the Virgin Mary's life, and along the second-floor gallery hang portraits of the building's sponsors. Above the entrance stand statues of Saints Joseph and John the Baptist, designed by Quitainer.
Church of the Nativity of Our Lord
© Jerzy Strzelecki · CC BY-SAPhoto: Jerzy Strzelecki, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe church was built with money from Maria Markita of the Waldstein family and consecrated in 1737. The first organ was created by Leopold Spiegel in 1718, and a new instrument appeared in 1739 (as of 09/2026, Prague City Tourism). The crypt is located directly beneath the organ loft.
The main altar and two side altars hold the skeletons of the third-century martyrs Agapitus and Felicissimus. Their faces are covered with wax masks. Above the altar hangs the painting "Adoration of the Child" in a chased silver frame. The church walls are covered with rich frescoes.
Treasury
The Loreto Treasury is considered the second largest in Prague. The first exhibits were donated by Kateřina, but some of the valuables disappeared during the Turkish War of 1705, under Napoleon, and during World War II. Today it holds about 300 artifacts (as of 09/2026, Prague City Tourism).
© Bradley Weber · CC BYPhoto: Bradley Weber, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe museum's main exhibit is the diamond monstrance known as the "Prague Sun," dating from 1698. Its rays are adorned with 6,222 diamonds, and a sculpture of the Virgin Mary stands at its base. Nearby you will see a Gothic silver chalice from 1510 and an ebony altar (as of 09/2026, Prague City Tourism).
Bell tower
The carillon bells were cast in 1693 in Amsterdam and donated to the shrine. By the number of bells, this carillon is considered the largest in Europe: it has 27 instruments. Every hour from 10:00 to 17:00, the Marian hymn "A Thousand Times I Greet Thee" plays (according to Prague City Tourism, 09/2026).
© Bogdan Migulski · CC BYPhoto: Bogdan Migulski, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/), FlickrOpening hours and ticket prices
The museum is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00, with the last visitors exiting at 17:30 (as of 09/2026, the official Loreto website). Tickets are sold until closing, so arrive at least an hour before. Prices are effective from January 1, 2026, and do not apply to one-off events.
Category | Price |
|---|---|
Adults | 280 Kč |
Children 6-15 years | 130 Kč |
Students with ID | 180 Kč |
Seniors 65+ | 180 Kč |
Family ticket (2 adults + children) | 650 Kč |
Prague Visitor Pass holders | free |
Children under 6, ZTP and ZTP/P | free |
Prices: 09/2026, price list on the property's website. It's better to buy your ticket in advance so you don't have to wait at the ticket office: check tickets on Tiqets. The catch: photography costs extra, and tripods and flash are not allowed inside the halls.
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Where it is and how to get there
Loreta is located at Loretánské náměstí 7 in Hradčany, about 400 meters from Prague Castle. Tram 22 goes to the Brusnice stop, and from there it's a couple of minutes on foot to the entrance (according to Prague City Tourism, 09/2026). By metro, take green line A to Malostranská station, then it's about 10 minutes uphill.
Prague Loreta on the map
Below is a map you can use to easily plan your route from the Brusnice stop.
⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter Prague Loreta?
A full ticket costs 280 Kč, students and seniors over 65 pay 180 Kč (as of 09/2026, Loreta official website). Children aged 6 to 15 get in for 130 Kč, while younger children and Prague Visitor Pass holders enter free. Photography is paid separately, and tripods and flash are prohibited.
When can you hear the bells ring?
The carillon of 27 bells plays every hour on the hour from 10:00 to 17:00. It plays the Marian hymn "A Thousand Times I Greet Thee." Arrive at the start of the hour and stand in the inner courtyard: that's where the sound is best, and you won't miss the first notes.
How to get to Prague Loreta?
The complex is in Hradčany at Loretánské náměstí 7. Tram 22 stops at Brusnice, and from there it's a couple of minutes to the entrance. By metro, take line A to Malostranská, then walk about 10 minutes uphill.
How much time do you need for a visit?
The whole complex takes about an hour. With an audio guide, the visit takes roughly 80 minutes (as of 09/2026, Loreta official website). The treasury and the church take up the most time, so it's worth lingering there.
Is it worth buying tickets in advance?
On a weekday, the line at the ticket office is usually short. In high season and on weekends, it's better to buy your ticket online (as of 09/2026, Loreta official website), so you don't waste time on site. It's worth checking the opening hours before your trip.
In short: what to book
Prague Loreta doesn't take up much space, but it leaves a big impression. Here's a quick cheat sheet for planning your visit.
- If you only have an hour: get a full ticket and head straight to the treasury and the bell tower.
- If you're traveling with kids: the family ticket for 650 Kč is already a better deal with just one child, since two full tickets plus a child's ticket cost 690 Kč.
- If you value quiet: come at opening time, by midday there are more groups in the courtyard.
It’s more convenient to get tickets in advance: tickets to the Prague Loreta.
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.