Dan Brown's Prague: The Secret of Secrets Places and Netflix
Popular
Dan Brown's novel The Secret of Secrets (2025) opens in Prague, and its Prague scenes take place at real sights you can visit: Charles Bridge, the Klementinum library, Old Town Square, the Jewish Quarter, Prague Castle and Petřín Tower. CzechTourism calls the Crucifix Bastion and the Folimanka shelter under the Nusle Bridge "the heart of Brown's story." Prague City Tourism runs official walks: 999 CZK (about $46) in English, private tours from 4,900 CZK (about $226). On September 4, 2026, Netflix announced that production of a series based on the novel has begun in Prague, with Morgan Spector as Robert Langdon; no premiere date has been announced. Around Prague checked these facts on official websites on November 10, 2026.
The novel in brief
The Secret of Secrets is Dan Brown's new Robert Langdon thriller, published by Doubleday on September 9, 2025. The setup, as Prague City Tourism tells it: Langdon comes to Prague for a lecture by scientist Katherine Solomon, their stay is broken by a brutal murder, Katherine disappears with her manuscript, and the chase later moves to London and New York. No spoilers beyond that.
In Czech bookshops the novel is Tajemství všech tajemství (publisher Argo). Dollar amounts below are rounded at the Czech National Bank rate of November 10, 2026: 1 USD = 21.702 CZK.
Places from the book at a glance
| Place | What happens there in the book | How to visit |
|---|---|---|
| Four Seasons Hotel on the Vltava | The story opens here; Langdon stays in the Royal Suite | A working hotel |
| Charles Bridge | A pivotal scene in snow under gas lamps | Free to walk across |
| Old Town Square, Old Town Hall, Astronomical Clock, Týn Church | Brown takes readers across the square | Square free; Old Town Hall tower ticketed |
| Klementinum (Clementinum) | The Baroque library plays a role in the plot | Guided tour only, 380 CZK (about $18) |
| Josefov: Old-New Synagogue, Old Jewish Cemetery | A walk through the Jewish Quarter and a new take on the Golem legend | Jewish Museum ticket 600 CZK (about $28), closed Saturdays |
| Prague Castle: Vladislav Hall, St. Vitus Cathedral | Langdon admires the 100-meter (330-foot) tower and the 17-ton Zikmund bell | Grounds free, interiors ticketed |
| Petřín Lookout Tower and Mirror Maze | A pivotal scene on the tower; the maze is described in the book | Tower 250 CZK (about $12) plus 150 CZK elevator; maze 150 CZK |
| Memorial to the Victims of Communism | Langdon calls it the most moving work of art in Europe | Outdoors at the foot of Petřín Hill |
| Crucifix Bastion, Prague 2 | "The heart of Brown's story," per CzechTourism | Daily 11 a.m. to midnight |
| Folimanka shelter under the Nusle Bridge | A secret laboratory | Until the end of 2026 only on an official walk |
The official Prague City Tourism map for the novel marks 15 real locations and costs 120 CZK (about $6).
Old Town and Josefov
Brown takes readers across Old Town Square, past the Old Town Hall, the Týn Church, St. Nicholas Church and the Astronomical Clock. The Jewish Quarter walks start at the Guides&Tours desk in the Old Town Hall, where the official souvenirs are also sold.
Brown calls the Klementinum one of the most fascinating places for him in Prague. The Baroque Library Hall can be seen only on a guided tour of about 45 minutes, together with the Meridian Hall and the Astronomical Tower; you view the library from the doorway. Tickets cost 380 CZK; book online, as box-office tickets are not guaranteed. The tower has 172 steps and no elevator. More literary stops: 9 bookish addresses in Prague.
In Josefov the novel passes the Old-New Synagogue and the Old Jewish Cemetery, near the bronze Kafka sculpture. CzechTourism says Brown retells the Golem legend "in a surprising and original manner." The Jewish Museum is closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays; see our Josefov guide.
Charles Bridge and Malá Strana
Charles Bridge hosts a pivotal scene: falling snow, gas lamps and the start of a chain of events. In a Chapter 3 excerpt on danbrown.com, Langdon turns right at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi and sees the bridge's east entrance, on the Old Town side, lit by gas streetlamps. The bridge is free, and both bridge towers are included in the Prague Visitor Pass; more in our Charles Bridge guide.
In Malá Strana, CzechTourism lists the Lennon Wall, the grotto wall in the Wallenstein Garden, the Church of Our Lady Victorious and the Schönborn Palace, home of the U.S. Embassy.
Prague Castle and Hradčany
The novel features Vladislav Hall in the Old Royal Palace and St. Vitus Cathedral. The castle grounds are free, and the cathedral and palace are on the main circuit ticket, which the Prague Visitor Pass covers (see our Prague Castle tickets guide). The official castle walk also stops at the viewpoint where Langdon looked down on the city.
Plan your Prague trip
1. From the airport to the centre
2. Public transport and tickets
3. Money and currency exchange
4. Where to stay
5. What to see in 1, 2 and 3 days
6. What to book in advance
7. Beer halls and pubs
8. Day trips from Prague
9. What is on this week
Petřín Hill
Petřín Lookout Tower is the scene of another pivotal moment, and Brown told CzechTourism he describes both the tower and the Mirror Maze next to it. The tower is 58.7 meters (193 feet) tall, with 299 steps or an elevator; tower, elevator and maze are included in the Prague Visitor Pass. This week the tower is closed November 7–14, 2026, the maze on November 12, and the funicular does not run November 10–13. Our Petřín guide explains how to walk up.
Vyšehrad and Nusle: the Crucifix Bastion and Folimanka
The places at the center of the plot lie between Karlov and Vyšehrad. Bastion XXXI, called U Božích muk (the Crucifix Bastion), is a Baroque fortification from around 1700 on the Gothic walls of the New Town. Prague City Tourism places the novel's fictional PRÁH laboratory inside it. The bastion is open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight; the entrance faces the Ztracenka garden gate, reached from Horská street, from Na Slupi, or by a spiral staircase from Folimanka park.
Under the Nusle Bridge, Folimanka park hides a Cold War civil defense shelter for almost 1,300 people, the secret laboratory of the book. It is closed to the public from August until the end of 2026 for construction work; the only way in is the Hidden Laboratory walk.
Official Dan Brown walks and souvenirs
Tickets for Prague City Tourism's walks are sold in advance only on prague.eu; dates are in each tour's booking calendar.
| Walk, 2 hours | Language | Price | Meeting point |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Golem and the Secrets of the Jewish Quarter | English | 999 CZK (about $46) | Old Town Hall |
| The same walk, cemetery and synagogue admission included | Czech | 666 CZK (about $31) | Old Town Hall |
| The Codes of Prague Castle, admission included | Czech | 666 CZK | Third courtyard of Prague Castle |
| Hidden Laboratory: bastion and Folimanka | Czech | 666 CZK | St. Apollinaris Church, Apolinářská 439 |
| Private: Jewish Quarter or Prague Castle | 26 languages incl. English | 4,900 CZK (about $226) for 1–2 people, up to 15,800 CZK (about $728) for 16–20 | Old Town Hall or Prague Castle |
- Group walks take up to 20 people and close for sale one hour before the start, private tours 24 hours before. The private Jewish Quarter tour does not run on Saturdays.
- The bastion walk is physically demanding, partly on unpaved paths, and is not suitable for limited mobility, strollers or claustrophobia.
Official souvenirs with the book's cover art are sold at the Prague Gift Shop in the Old Town Hall and online: magnet 150 CZK (about $7), bookmark 55 CZK (about $3), notebook 170 CZK (about $8), map 120 CZK, medal 350 CZK (about $16). Other options are in our Prague walking tours guide and Prague Visitor Pass guide.
The Netflix series: what is officially known
On September 4, 2026, Netflix Tudum reported that production has begun in Prague on a series set in the world of The Secret of Secrets. It has no official title yet.
- Cast: Morgan Spector (Robert Langdon), Rebecca Hall (Katherine Solomon), Cherry Jones, Corey Stoll, Rob Delaney, Abbey Lee, Mamoudou Athie, Ben Levi Ross, Anamaria Marinca, Richard Sammel and Elena Saurel.
- Creators: Carlton Cuse is co-creator, showrunner, writer and executive producer; Dan Brown is co-creator and executive producer. Cuse calls it an "eight-hour series."
- Premiere: not announced.
Where filming was reported (press reports)
Netflix and the city have not published a list of filming locations. The places below are press observations, not an official list.
- Charles Bridge and Barrandov Studios: on November 2, 2026, Expats.cz, citing the Czech news site Novinky, reported that Dan Brown toured sets at Barrandov Studios and watched scenes being filmed on Charles Bridge before leaving Prague on October 25.
- Municipal House (Obecní dům), Josefov, Jan Palach Square and Čech Bridge (Čechův most): shoots in early September, documented by The Prague Reporter and summed up by Expats.cz on November 4, 2026.
- Mariánské náměstí: closed for filming on November 4–5, 2026, according to the same Expats.cz report, which also links the Petřín funicular closure on November 10–13 to the shoot.
Dan Brown's Prague: frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Which Prague places appear in The Secret of Secrets?
Charles Bridge, the Klementinum, Old Town Square, Josefov, Prague Castle, Petřín Tower, the Crucifix Bastion and the Folimanka shelter; the official map marks 15 locations.
Is there a Dan Brown tour in Prague in English?
Yes: a 2-hour group walk through the Jewish Quarter for 999 CZK (about $46), or a private tour from 4,900 CZK (about $226) for one or two people.
Where in Prague is the Netflix series being filmed?
Netflix has confirmed only that production is under way in Prague and has published no list of locations. Press reports mention Charles Bridge, Barrandov Studios, Municipal House, Josefov, Jan Palach Square, Čech Bridge and Mariánské náměstí; see the section above.
When will the Netflix series come out?
No premiere date has been announced, and the series has no official title yet.
Can you visit the Folimanka shelter?
Until the end of 2026 only on the Czech-language Hidden Laboratory walk for 666 CZK (about $31).
Sources: Press reports: Expats.cz, November 2, 2026, Expats.cz, November 4, 2026; Netflix Tudum: production begins in Prague, Netflix Tudum: Morgan Spector and Rebecca Hall, danbrown.com: first look and Chapter 3 excerpt, CzechTourism: places in the novel, CzechTourism: interview with Dan Brown (Dutch), Prague City Tourism: Prague, City of Secrets, English walk, private Jewish Quarter tour, private Prague Castle tour, Hidden Laboratory walk, Folimanka shelter, Crucifix Bastion, Klementinum, Petřín Tower, Mirror Maze, Jewish Museum, Prague Visitor Pass, Czech National Bank. Checked on November 10, 2026; check walk dates and closures on prague.eu before you go.
See also: Charles Bridge, Astronomical Clock and Old Town Hall, Prague Castle tickets and hours, Jewish Quarter (Josefov), Petřín Hill, Vyšehrad, 9 bookish addresses in Prague, Prague walking tours, Prague Visitor Pass.
Photo: Baroque Library Hall of the Klementinum. Václav Jiroušek, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comments (0)
Please be polite. Spam and insults will be removed.