Tyn Church in Prague: opening hours, entry and what to see inside

The Church of Our Lady before Týn stands on Old Town Square, and it is visible from anywhere in the city. Admission is free, there are no ticket offices, but getting inside is harder than it seems: the door is tucked away in a passage between buildings, and the church is closed on Mondays. We have put together the current opening hours (as of 09/2026), visiting rules, and directions from the metro so you don't waste time.

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History: from a merchant courtyard to a Hussite church

💡 In short:

• Admission is free, voluntary donation of about €2 (as of 09/2026, official website)
• Closed on Mondays, summer and winter hours differ
• Prices and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the official website

The Old Town of Prague lived by trade from the 12th century. From around 1100 a market bustled here, and nearby a fenced-in inn with a tavern was built. It was called Týn, and Czechs still say "Ungelt" today. Foreign merchants stayed there with their goods.

Foreigners paid duty on the spot and handed their goods over to local merchants, because they had no right to trade in Prague themselves. The courtyard contained everything needed: warehouses, stables, a hotel, a hospital, and a small Romanesque basilica of the Virgin Mary.

From the mid-14th century, a Gothic cathedral was built on the site of the parish church. The building was widened and lengthened, three naves appeared, a polygonal apse with a vaulted ceiling, and a western tower with a bell. The construction was led by the masters who, after 1344, were building St. Vitus Cathedral. Completion dragged on due to church disputes.

In the early 15th century, the basilica became the center of the Hussite movement. The Latin cross on the tower was replaced with a large golden chalice, the symbol of the Hussites, and a statue of King Jiří z Poděbrad was installed. In 1511 the south tower and the western facade were built. After 1620 the Hussite chalice was removed: a sculpture of the Virgin Mary appeared between the spires, and the interior was decorated with gold and marble.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, the church burned several times from lightning strikes. The facade and halls were reconstructed, and the main nave became lower. The north spire, portals, and roof suffered the most damage and were later restored to their original appearance (according to the parish website).

Description: Gothic outside and Baroque inside

The Church of Our Lady before Týn is a three-nave Gothic basilica with polygonal apses. The unplastered stone facade is supported by long pointed windows with grilles, four portals, and a red tile roof. The north entrance deserves special attention: it was designed by Peter Parler in the late 14th century.

© Ricardalovesmonuments · CC BY-SAPhoto: Ricardalovesmonuments, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The north entrance portal looks like an open porch with an arcade and a central relief. On it you can make out scenes from the Passion of Christ: the crowning with thorns, the flagellation, and the crucifixion. The building is crowned by two towers about 80 meters high with pointed windows, balustrades, and sharp spires.

Inside, baroque grandeur is combined with austere gothic canopies, a pulpit, and frescoes. The halls are divided by arches with pilasters, and the ceiling is supported by ribbed vaults. The basilica has 19 altars with wood carvings, paintings by Karel Škréta, and two 16th-century works by Girolamo Romanino. The organ from 1673 is considered the oldest in Prague (as of 09/2026, Prague tourist office).

A separate relic is the tin baptismal font from 1414. It is shaped like an inverted bell and stands on a tripod of lion paws, while the bowl is decorated with reliefs of the apostles. The font is still used today for baptizing newborns.

Interesting facts and legends

During the Hussite era, storks took a liking to the golden chalice between the towers. The birds built a nest there and kept bringing toads and worms that fell on the heads of Praguers. The Hussites did not remove their symbol until Catholicism returned, after which the chalice was melted down and made into a sculpture of the Virgin Mary.

The church roof was assembled from logs that had been prepared for a knightly tournament arena. A wedding for a young king was planned on Old Town Square, but the monarch died suddenly, and the timber was used for the basilica roof.

The basilica serves as the burial place of nearly 60 people, including bishops, military officers, nobles, and scholars. During the German occupation, the medieval bell was removed from the north tower, and a new bronze bell weighing more than 900 kilograms was hung only at the end of the 20th century.

Remember the main rule: inside you may not take photos, shoot video, or talk. Custodians strictly maintain order, and telling the history of the church is allowed only outside (according to parish rules).

Opening hours and admission (as of 09/2026)

Admission to the church is free, and there are no mandatory tickets. At the entrance there is a box for voluntary donations, with a recommended amount of 50 CZK, about 2 € (as of 09/2026, official website). The schedule differs in winter and summer, and Monday is closed all year round.

In the morning the church often hosts masses, weddings, and baptisms, and visiting is not possible at those times. So it is more convenient to come after 15:00. You may not bring food or drinks inside, and men enter without headwear. If you want to see the Old Town with a guide, choose Prague tours on GetYourGuide in advance.

How to get there and where it is

The church stands in the eastern part of Old Town Square, in the Old Town district. Look for the basilica entrance in the passage between the buildings on the square side: the two towers are a good landmark, but there is no door in the facade. Not everyone knows this, and many people walk around the church in vain.

The closest metro is Staroměstská station, about 500 meters away, roughly a 7-minute walk (according to the map). Trams and buses stop near Old Town Square. If you are coming from the Malá Strana district, it is more convenient to get off at Staroměstská and walk across the square.

Church of Our Lady before Týn on the map

Below is an interactive map that will help you quickly plan a route from your hotel.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to enter the Church of Our Lady before Týn?

Admission is free, and there are no mandatory tickets or time slots (as of 09/2026, tyn.cz). A voluntary donation goes toward church repairs and is not required.

When is the Church of Our Lady before Týn open to visitors?

The schedule depends on the season. From December to February the church is open Tuesday through Saturday with a lunch break, and on Sunday only in the morning. From March to November Sunday is closed. The church is closed on Mondays all year round (as of 09/2026, official tourist office).

Can you take photos inside the church?

No. Inside, taking photos, shooting video, and talking are prohibited, and a silence policy is in effect. If you need interior shots, use official parish materials.

How do I find the entrance to the Church of Our Lady before Týn?

The entrance is tucked away in the passage between the buildings on the Old Town Square side. The closest landmarks are the Old Town Hall and Týn Courtyard (Ungelt).

Who is buried in the Church of Our Lady before Týn?

The basilica holds the remains of nearly 60 people: bishops, nobles, military officers, and scholars. The most famous is the astronomer Tycho Brahe, whose grave is behind the gothic pulpit. He developed methods for observing stars and calculating planetary trajectories.

What makes the Church of Our Lady before Týn different from other churches in Prague?

It is one of the key buildings of Czech gothic architecture. Inside, baroque decoration is combined with gothic vaults, 19 altars, and paintings by Karel Škréta, and the organ from 1673 is considered the oldest in Prague (as of 09/2026, prague.eu). Its two towers, about 80 meters high, have served as a symbol of the square for centuries.

In short: what to book

Plan your visit for the second half of the day, after 3:00 PM, when the morning masses end. You will need 30-40 minutes to see the interior, plus about 10 more minutes for photos outside.

• If you have one day in Prague: start at Old Town Square and enter the church before 5:00 PM
• If you want a guide: book an Old Town tour in advance
• If you are staying in the center: walk there, you do not need the metro

One practical step: check out Old Town tours on GetYourGuide.