Castles of Czechia — a list of Europe's finest fortresses and palaces, all within easy reach of Prague: from the Gothic Karlštejn (Karlstein) to the fairy-tale Hluboká. This roundup covers the 25 best castles in the country, grouped by distance from Prague, with 2026 prices and opening hours plus tips on getting there by train or car. Many of them make a perfect day trip from Prague.
How to choose. Most state-run sites are managed by the Národní památkový ústav (National Heritage Institute), and their pricing tends to follow the same pattern: typically 180–300 Kč for adults, 140–240 Kč for seniors 65+ and young people aged 18–24, 50–90 Kč for children 6–17, and free for kids under 6. Most castles are open April–October, usually closed on Mondays, with last entry 30–60 minutes before closing. For the more popular tours (like the chapel at Karlštejn), it's best to book tickets online in advance. Prices and hours can change, so check the official site before you go.
A Gothic castle founded by Charles IV in 1348 to house the coronation jewels and holy relics; its crown jewel is the Chapel of the Holy Cross in the Great Tower (Tour 2 — book ahead). Where: Střední Čechy (Central Bohemia), about 30 km southwest of Prague. Getting there: train from Praha hl. n. toward Beroun to Karlštejn station (~40 minutes), then a 20–30-minute uphill walk. 2026 price/hours: main tour 300 Kč (adult), 240 Kč (seniors/youth), 90 Kč (children 6–17); open in season May–October, Tue–Sun 9:00–17:00.
The palace of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, famous for its extraordinary weapons collection, hunting trophies, and rose garden. Where: Střední Čechy, about 50 km from Prague near the town of Benešov. Getting there: train to Benešov u Prahy (~1 hour), then a bus or a 2-km walk. Price/hours: 4 tour routes, admission 300/240/90 Kč; in October–November usually weekends only — check ahead.
One of the oldest royal Gothic castles, with a striking chapel and an old library, surrounded by protected forests. Where: Střední Čechy, about 45 km west of Prague. Getting there: Praha–Rakovník train to Křivoklát station (change at Beroun). Price/hours: 260/210/80 Kč; open nearly year-round, with limited winter hours — check the website.
A Gothic castle above the Sázava river that has belonged to the Sternberg family since the 13th century — a rarity in Czechia. Where: Střední Čechy, about 55 km southeast of Prague. Getting there: train on the Posázavský Pacifik line to Český Šternberk, or about 1 hour by car. Hours: summer Tue–Sun 9:00–18:00; check the website for current prices.
A romantic castle in the wooded valley of the Kokořínsko protected area, rebuilt in the early 20th century, with a lookout tower. Where: about 55 km north of Prague, near the town of Mělník. Getting there: easiest by car (~50 minutes); the nearest station is Mšeno. Price/hours: tours 60–120 Kč, lunch break 12:00–13:00, closed Mondays.
A stark early-Gothic fortress built by King Přemysl Otakar II atop a hill — the steep climb is rewarded with a panorama of the Máchův kraj (Mácha Region). Where: about 80 km north of Prague. Getting there: train to Bezděz station (line toward Doksy/Česká Lípa), then a walk uphill. Price/hours: 180/140/50 Kč; open Fri–Sun in April and October, Tue–Sun May–September.
A royal castle built by King Wenceslas IV in the early 15th century; nearby on an adjoining hill stand the picturesque ruins of Žebrák, easily combined into a single trip. Where: about 50 km southwest of Prague, near the town of Beroun. Getting there: train to Zdice or Žebrák, then on foot; by car via the D5 highway (~40 minutes). Check the website for current prices and hours.
One of the best-preserved Gothic castles in Czechia, featuring a grim medieval torture chamber and an exhibition on the Kinský family. Where: Český ráj (Bohemian Paradise), about 100 km from Prague. Getting there: easiest by car (~1.5 hours) or bus via Jičín/Sobotka. Price: tours 190–250 Kč, free for children under 6.
A legendary ruin with two towers, Baba and Panna, perched on volcanic rock — the signature landmark of Bohemian Paradise and one of the country's most photogenic silhouettes. Where: Český ráj, about 100 km from Prague. Getting there: about 1.5 hours by car, or train to Ktová followed by a walk. Self-guided visits; open season April–October — check current prices.
A neo-Gothic palace of the Rohan family with lavish interiors and a park where rhododendrons bloom in spring. Where: Liberecko (Liberec Region), about 90 km from Prague. Getting there: train to Sychrov station (line toward Turnov/Liberec). Price: 260/210/80 Kč. Note: due to filming, the whole complex will be closed May 2–17, 2026 — plan around those dates.
A unique combination of a medieval fortress and a Renaissance palace in one complex; in 1801 it became home to one of the first castle museums in Central Europe. Where: northern Czechia, Liberecko. Getting there: train toward Liberec with a change at Frýdlant, or about 1.5 hours by car. Check the website for current prices and hours.
A snow-white neo-Gothic palace in Windsor style — many consider it the most beautiful castle in Czechia, set in an English-style park. Where: Jihočeský kraj (South Bohemia), about 140 km from Prague. Getting there: train to České Budějovice (~2 hours), then a local train/bus. Price/hours: 300/240/90 Kč; open year-round (with a cozy winter tour available).
A UNESCO World Heritage site and the second-largest castle complex in Czechia; don't miss the unique 18th-century Baroque theater or the tower with views over the bend of the Vltava. Where: South Bohemia, about 170 km from Prague. Getting there: direct bus (RegioJet/FlixBus) ~3 hours, or train via České Budějovice. Price: interior tours 260–300 Kč, tower museum 280 Kč, Baroque theater 400 Kč, courtyards and gardens free.
An elegant palace of the Schwarzenberg family perched right above the Orlík reservoir; in summer you can even arrive by boat. Where: South Bohemia, about 80 km south of Prague. Getting there: easiest by car or bus (no direct train). Off-season it's mostly open weekends only — check prices ahead.
The "King of Czech Castles," perched on a rocky headland at the confluence of the Vltava and Otava rivers — a textbook example of royal Gothic architecture from the reign of Přemysl Otakar II. Where: South Bohemia, near the town of Písek. Getting there: about 1.5 hours by car or by bus. Open season April–October; check the website for prices and hours.
The ancestral seat of the powerful Rožmberk family on the Vltava, with Gothic-Renaissance interiors and the legend of the White Lady. Where: South Bohemia, near Český Krumlov. Getting there: about 2.5 hours by car; easy to combine with a Krumlov visit. Check prices and hours.
The third-largest historic complex in Czechia (after Prague Castle and Krumlov), with Renaissance arcades and the ornate Rondel garden pavilion. Where: South Bohemia. Getting there: train ~2.5–3 hours, or about 2 hours by car. Check the website for current tour routes and prices.
A Romanesque-Gothic fortress perched on a rock within a loop of the Ohře river — hence the name "loket," meaning "elbow." Pairs nicely with a trip to Karlovy Vary. Where: Karlovarsko, about 130 km from Prague. Getting there: train to Karlovy Vary, then a local train/bus. Price/hours: self-guided 145 Kč, guided tour 175 Kč (discounted 120/140 Kč); open year-round.
Home to the Reliquary of St. Maurus — one of Europe's most valuable pieces of Romanesque goldsmithing and the country's second-greatest treasure after the coronation jewels. Where: Karlovarsko, about 2 hours from Prague by car. Getting there: train toward Mariánské Lázně/Karlovy Vary, or by car. The reliquary exhibition is open weekends in April and daily from May to September; the tour costs around 260 Kč (discounted 210 Kč) — check ahead.
A romantic neo-Gothic reconstruction, once a seat of the Teutonic Order — a frequent filming location for fairy-tale movies. Where: Střední Morava (Central Moravia), near the town of Olomouc. Getting there: about 2.5–3 hours by car, or bus from Olomouc/Litovel. Hours: open season April–October, with guided tours at 11:30, 13:00, and 15:30; check current prices.
The largest surviving Gothic-Renaissance castle in Czechia — the "marble castle," never taken by siege — a genuine time machine. Where: Jihomoravský kraj (South Moravia), near the village of Nedvědice. Getting there: Tišnov–Žďár train to Nedvědice, then an uphill walk. Price: 260/210/80 Kč.
A lavish neo-Gothic palace of the Liechtenstein family, with a palm-house conservatory and a minaret in the park; part of the Lednicko-valtický areál (UNESCO). Where: South Moravia. Getting there: train to Břeclav, then a local train/bus to Lednice. Price/hours: 300/240/90 Kč, open season April–October.
A Baroque residence of the Liechtenstein family and home to the Salon vín ČR — the national wine cellar, where you can taste the best Czech wines right in the palace vaults. Where: South Moravia, a couple of kilometers from Lednice. Getting there: train to Břeclav, then on to Valtice. Check the website for prices and hours.
A UNESCO site: the grand Archbishop's Palace, the Podzámecká zahrada garden, and the Baroque Květná zahrada (Flower Garden) with its mazes and rotunda. Where: eastern Moravia. Getting there: train ~3.5 hours via Kojetín/Hulín, or about 3 hours by car. Price: Flower Garden around 30 Kč; check prices for palace interior tours.
A Renaissance palace beside a fairy-tale arcaded square (UNESCO) adorned with sgraffito — one of the country's most cohesive historic ensembles. Where: Vysočina. Getting there: bus ~2.5 hours, or about 2 hours by car. Price/hours: standard Renaissance tour 260/210/80 Kč, with a shorter cellar tour also available (around 100 Kč); open March–October, Tue–Sun, with a lunch break.
Want to keep exploring? After castles, a great follow-up would be Czechia's thermal spa resorts, the best parks in Prague and Czechia, or the best viewpoints in Prague. And in winter, you can add Christmas markets held right beneath castle walls.
Most rankings put Hluboká nad Vltavou (the snow-white Windsor-style palace) and Český Krumlov (a UNESCO site) at the top of the list. The most visited castle, and the one closest to Prague, is Karlštejn — a true symbol of Czechia.
The easiest to reach are Karlštejn, Konopiště, Křivoklát, Český Šternberk, Kokořín, Bezděz, and Točník — all within about an hour. For more ideas, see our guide to day trips from Prague.
At state-run castles (Národní památkový ústav), admission is typically 180–300 Kč for adults, 140–240 Kč for seniors and young people, and 50–90 Kč for children aged 6–17; children under 6 go free. Municipal and privately owned sites (Loket, Kokořín, Špilberk in Brno) set their own rates — check the specific website for exact pricing.
Most operate in season from April to October, Tuesday through Sunday, with Monday as the standard closing day. Larger sites like Hluboká, Loket, and Špilberk stay open year-round. Last entry is almost everywhere 30–60 minutes before closing, so don't cut it too close.
Trains and buses reach almost all of them — see our guide to trains and buses in Czechia. A few castles (Kokořín, Orlík, Kost, Bouzov) are easier to visit by car; if you're driving, don't forget the 2026 highway vignette (e-známka).
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