Prague Castle Circuit A Basic Tour Tickets
Visit St. Vitus Cathedral, Old Royal Palace, St. George's Basilica, and Golden Lane with our all-in concierge service.
Check availabilityCircuit A is the foundational tour of Prague Castle, granting you access to the four cornerstone sites within the 70,000-square-metre complex. You enter St. Vitus Cathedral, the Gothic masterpiece begun in the 14th century under Charles IV and completed in 1929. You walk the Vladislav Hall in the Old Royal Palace, a Renaissance chamber built by Benedikt Rejt in the late 15th century. You visit the Romanesque Basilica of St. George, the oldest surviving church building in the castle, and you stroll Golden Lane, the row of colourful artisan houses tucked against the northern fortifications. Our concierge tier includes digital tickets delivered instantly by email, confirmed within 2 hours during business hours.
What You See on Circuit A
St. Vitus Cathedral anchors the tour. Construction began in 1344, replacing an earlier rotunda and basilica, and the building rose in stages over nearly six centuries. The nave soars above you, light filtering through stained glass installed in the early 20th century by Czech artists including Alfons Mucha. The hidden room holding the Bohemian Crown Jewels lies within the cathedral, though the jewels themselves are not on public display. You walk past the tomb of St. Wenceslas and the royal crypt where Bohemian kings rest.
The Old Royal Palace served as the seat of Bohemian rulers from the 11th century onward. Vladislav Hall, completed in 1502, is the largest secular Gothic hall in Central Europe. Knights once rode horses up the Riders' Staircase for indoor tournaments. The room witnessed coronation banquets and, in 1618, the Third Defenestration of Prague, when Protestant nobles threw two Catholic governors and their secretary from the window, igniting the Bohemian Revolt and the Thirty Years' War. St. George's Basilica dates to the 10th century, founded under Vratislaus I. The twin white towers frame a Romanesque interior; the adjacent convent, Bohemia's first, now houses the National Gallery's collection of Bohemian baroque and mannerist art. Golden Lane curves along the castle's northern wall. Tiny houses, painted in pastel shades, once sheltered goldsmiths and castle guards. Franz Kafka rented number 22 in 1916 and 1917.
History Layered Across a Millennium
Prague Castle's story begins in 870 with the Church of the Virgin Mary, the first walled structure on the hill. Vratislaus I and his son Wenceslaus I founded the basilicas of St. George and St. Vitus in the early 10th century. A Romanesque palace rose in the 12th century. Ottokar II strengthened fortifications in the 13th century; Charles IV rebuilt the royal palace in Gothic style a century later and launched the cathedral project. The castle stood empty during the Hussite Wars, then Vladislaus II Jagiellon commissioned the great hall in 1485. A fire in 1541 destroyed large sections; the Habsburgs rebuilt in Renaissance style. Ferdinand I added the Belvedere summer palace for his wife Anne. Rudolph II made the castle his main residence, founding the northern wing and the Spanish Hall to display his art collection.
Swedish forces looted much of Rudolph's collection in 1648 during the final act of the Thirty Years' War. Maria Theresa directed the last major rebuilding in the second half of the 18th century. In 1918 the castle became the seat of Czechoslovakia's first president, Tomáš Masaryk. Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik renovated the New Royal Palace and gardens; the cathedral was finally completed on 28 September 1929. Adolf Hitler spent a night here on 15 March 1939 after forcing President Emil Hácha to surrender the nation. Reinhard Heydrich, Reich Protector, used the castle as his headquarters until his assassination in May 1942. After 1948 the communist government occupied the offices. In 1993 the castle became the residence of the Czech Republic's president. Václav Havel commissioned architect Bořek Šípek for post-communist renovations.
Practical Details for Your Visit
Circuit A tickets grant timed entry to all four sites. You move at your own pace once inside; most visitors spend two to three hours completing the circuit. St. Vitus Cathedral draws the largest crowds, especially mid-morning; arriving at opening or late afternoon reduces wait times. Photography without flash is permitted in most areas. The Old Royal Palace includes staircases; Golden Lane involves uneven cobblestones. The castle sits on a hill above the Vltava River; the walk from Malostranská metro station takes fifteen minutes uphill, or you can take tram 22 to the Pražský hrad stop.
The castle attracted 2.59 million visitors in 2024, making it the most visited site in the Czech Republic. According to the Guinness Book of Records, it is the largest ancient castle in the world, stretching approximately 570 metres in length and averaging 130 metres in width. Security screening at the entrance mirrors airport protocols; large bags are not permitted. The neighborhood surrounding the castle is called Hradčany. Our concierge price includes all operator fees and service; you receive digital tickets instantly by email, confirmed within 2 hours during business hours. All sales are final. The one exception: in the rare event we are unable to secure your tickets from the operator, a full refund is issued within 24 hours.