🏛️ St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague: what the ticket includes and how to climb the tower

A ticket to tour Prague Castle costs 450 crowns. Inside you will find St. Vitus Cathedral, Golden Lane, and the Old Royal Palace. Seeing the cathedral and climbing to the observation deck takes at least two hours. In the morning, a line of several hundred people forms at the entrance, so arrive right when it opens.

We have gathered the essentials for planning: the price of a combined ticket, opening hours, the paid tower climb, and the route from the metro. Below is a map and information verified in September 2026.

Ad: this text contains affiliate links, we earn a commission from them, the price for you does not change.

St. Vitus Cathedral: the essentials

💡 In short:

A combined ticket to Prague Castle costs 450 crowns for adults, 300 crowns at a discount, and 950 crowns for a family (as of 09/2026, price list on hrad.cz).
The cathedral is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00, on Sunday from 12:00, until 17:00 in summer and until 16:00 in winter (as of 09/2026, official opening hours).
The climb to the Great South Tower is paid separately from the ticket.
Prices and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the Prague Castle website.

Construction history

At first, a pagan shrine dedicated to the fertility god Sventovit stood on the site of the cathedral. Local Slavs brought wine and kalachi here as offerings. Everything changed under Prince Wenceslas, who was raised in the Christian faith. In 925, he built a stone rotunda here to house the relics of Saint Vitus (Prague tourism portal prague.eu).

The rotunda could hold only a few dozen people, while the stream of pilgrims wishing to venerate the relics kept growing. In 1060, it was rebuilt into a spacious three-nave basilica. The building stood until the early 14th century and was badly damaged in a fire on the castle grounds. You can see the foundations of the old rotunda in the underground part of the church (cathedral page on hrad.cz).

A new stage began in 1344, when Prague became the center of an archbishopric. Emperor Charles IV laid the first stone and wanted to build the country's main church. Money for the construction was raised through a tax on silver mining. The first architect was the Frenchman Mathieu, under whom the cathedral grew wider and gained eight new chapels (cathedral page on the Prague portal).

After Mathieu's death, the work was continued by the young Peter Parler from Swabia. He worked on the cathedral until 1399 and defined its main appearance: the net vaults, the main altar, the Golden Gate, and the clock tower. Parler's sons continued their father's work, but the Hussite War and feuds among feudal lords halted construction for a long time. After that, only individual chapels were decorated here.

In the second half of the 16th century, the clock tower was completed and the largest bell in Europe was hung. New troubles came in succession: fires, lightning strikes, and an invasion by the Prussian army. In 1673, Emperor Leopold I laid the foundation for new naves to enlarge the church. In 1770, architect Nicolò Pacassi gave the cathedral baroque features and crowned the tower with a dome. After that, the church stood unfinished for about another hundred years.

The finale came only in the 19th and 20th centuries. In 1861, a committee was created to complete the construction, and architect Josef Mocker began building the western part. The two western towers and the rose window were finished by 1929. Artist Alphonse Mucha decorated the window openings with stained glass. The Gothic cathedral was built from 1344 to 1929, that is, for almost 600 years (cathedral history on prague.eu).

South facade

The south side of the cathedral faces the city and looks the most ornate. It is decorated with tall pointed windows, carved grilles, and vertical ribs with small pyramids. In the lower tier stand the main gates, formed by three arches.

The 96-meter clock tower dominates the south side of the cathedral. The gilded mechanism carries two dials one above the other, and inside hang four bells, the largest of which weighs 18 tons. A narrow spiral staircase of 287 steps leads to the observation deck. From the tower you can see all of Prague and Prague Castle (description of the church on hrad.cz).

West facade

The western part was built from 1873 to 1929 in the neo-Gothic style. Here stand three bronze portals decorated with intricate carved panels. The panels depict scenes of the church's construction and episodes from the life of Prince Wenceslas.

Carved Gothic portal tympanum with the Crucifixion

Above rise two pointed towers 80 meters high. Between them glows a round rose window 10 meters in diameter. Its stone petals look identical from both sides of the church (official cathedral page).

Golden Gate

The Golden Gate on the south side served as the ceremonial entrance for crowned persons. The portal is covered by a Last Judgment mosaic made of a million glass fragments. The small stones were cut in Venice, and the background was assembled from gilded glass.

At the center of the composition stands Christ surrounded by the apostles. On the left, saved believers rise from their graves; on the right, demons take sinners away; and below, Charles IV and his wife kneel frozen in royal robes.

The gate is closed by a bronze grille with sculptures of the zodiac signs. On it you can make out figures engaged in simple tasks: they hunt, practice crafts, harvest crops, plant a tree.

Interesting facts

The cathedral was built with interruptions for almost 600 years, so it mixes Gothic, Baroque, and Art Nouveau. Chimeras and demons sit on the facades. According to belief, they ward off evil spirits and also serve as drainpipes.

Gothic cathedral with gargoyles against the sky

In the Chapel of St. Wenceslas, the royal regalia are kept: a crown with precious stones, a scepter, an orb, a ring, and a sword. They are held in a hidden room under seven locks. According to legend, anyone who unlawfully takes possession of the crown will be cursed forever.

Below the cathedral is a crypt with sarcophagi of Czech rulers from the Přemyslid and Luxembourg dynasties. Some Habsburg burials were also moved there (Prague Castle sites).

Opening hours and ticket prices

St. Vitus Cathedral is covered by the single Prague Castle ticket; there is no separate admission ticket. The single ticket costs 450 CZK for adults, 300 CZK reduced, and 950 CZK for a family (as of 09/2026, official price list). The ticket is valid for two days, so you can see the cathedral and the palaces without rushing.

In summer, from April through October, the cathedral is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 and on Sunday from 12:00. It closes at 17:00. In winter, the doors close at 16:00, with last entry at 15:40 (as of 09/2026, cathedral opening hours). Data verified on 14.09.2026 on the official Prague Castle website.

Climbing the Great South Tower is paid separately from the ticket. Prague Castle tickets on Tiqets.

Tours and tickets in Prague Castle

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

See offers on Tiqets

The widget loads once you give your consent.

Location and how to get there

The cathedral stands on a rocky hill in Prague Castle, on the left bank of the Vltava. From Malostranská metro station on line A, take tram 22 to the Pražský hrad stop. From there it is about 300 meters on foot to the cathedral. Walking from Malostranská to the cathedral is about 800 meters uphill.

St. Vitus Cathedral on the map

The point on the map below will help you get your bearings at the entrance. The cathedral stands in the third courtyard of Prague Castle, next to Golden Lane.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to enter St. Vitus Cathedral?

There is no separate ticket for the cathedral. You need the Prague Castle combined ticket for 450 CZK for adults (as of 09/2026, hrad.cz price list). It includes Golden Lane, the Old Royal Palace, and St. George's Basilica.

When is the best time to come to avoid standing in line?

Go on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning right at opening time. On weekdays the line is shorter than on weekends. On Sunday the cathedral opens only at 12:00 because of the service, so tourists gather around noon (as of 09/2026, summer and winter schedule).

How many steps are there in the tower and is it worth climbing?

The Great South Tower has 287 steps on a narrow spiral staircase. The climb is paid separately and is not included in the combined ticket. If stairs are hard for you, the observation deck will be tiring.

Can you go inside during a service?

Yes, worshippers enter without a ticket. On Sunday until 12:00 the cathedral is open for parishioners, and tourists are not allowed inside. Check the service schedule on the cathedral's website (Sunday opening hours).

How long does a visit take?

Allow at least two hours for the cathedral and the observation deck.

In short: what is worth booking

If you are visiting Prague for the first time, get the combined ticket and climb the tower in the morning. If you are short on time, come right at opening. If you are with children, the family ticket is a better deal than individual tickets. For exploring the Castle with a guide, Prague Castle tours are a good option.

St. Vitus Cathedral: tickets, opening hours and tower climb