Karlštejn Castle from Prague: Train, Tours and Tickets 2026
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The only direct train from Prague to Karlštejn Castle is the S7 suburban line: 41 minutes from Praha hl.n. (the main station) to Karlštejn station, then a 30–40 minute uphill walk. R16 fast trains do not stop there. The basic tour costs 300 CZK and needs no booking. The tour with the Chapel of the Holy Cross costs 640 CZK, needs a booking or online ticket, and runs for the last time in 2026 on Sunday 1 November; it then stays closed until 30 April 2027. From November the castle mostly opens Friday to Sunday, 10:00–15:00. Around Prague checked hours, prices and booking rules on the castle's website and with the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ), and trains in IDOS and PID, on 30 October 2026.
Karlštejn Castle from Prague by train: S7, not R
The castle stands above the Berounka river, about 40 km from Prague. The S7 runs from Praha hl.n. through Praha-Smíchov (8 minutes later, 33 minutes to Karlštejn) and Řevnice to Beroun. The R16 uses the same tracks but has no stops between Radotín and Beroun, so it will not get you to Karlštejn.
| Route | Departures (November 2026) | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Praha hl.n. → Karlštejn | weekends: at :16 and :46; Fridays: 8:16, 8:46, 9:16, 10:16, 11:16, 12:16, 12:46, then twice an hour | 41 min |
| Karlštejn → Praha hl.n. | weekends: at :26 and :56 until 19:56, then 20:56, 21:56, 23:06; Fridays after 13:00: at :26 and :56 | 42 min |
Fare. Karlštejn is in zone 3. Our calculation: Prague counts as three zones (P, 0, B), plus zones 1, 2 and 3, so an adult needs a 6-zone ticket valid for 120 minutes: 72 CZK in the PID Lítačka app or 78 CZK on paper. The Prague Visitor Pass does not help: the castle is not on its list and trains outside Prague are not covered.
Engineering works. On 31 October and 1, 14, 15 and 17 November the :46 trains from Prague stop at Radotín, but extras leave Praha hl.n. at 7:06, 8:06, 9:06 and 10:06. Coming back, use the :56 trains or extras from Karlštejn hourly from 14:06, the last at 16:06 (18:06 on 31 October and 14–15 November). On 16 November only the :16 trains run from Prague. The annual timetable changes in mid-December, so check idos.cz before you go.
By car. Take the D5 towards Plzeň, exit 10 Loděnice, then go through Bubovice and Hlásná Třebaň. Park only at the central car park below the town: 200 CZK for the day. The town is a pedestrian zone and the castle warns of a 2,000 CZK fine.
Walking from Karlštejn station to the castle
Turn right outside the station, cross the bridge over the Berounka, turn right after the bridge and left after 50 metres, then keep going uphill through the town. The castle's 2026 rules allow 30–40 minutes from the station. Other official pages quote 15–30 minutes from the car park, but plan for 40 if your tour is timed.
Past the first gate the track is dusty and rocky in places. There is no lift, and wheelchair users can reach only the main courtyard without help.
Karlštejn Castle tours
Interiors are guided only, in Czech, English or German. In winter only Tour 1 runs.
| Tour | What you see | Length, group | Adult | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Imperial Residence of Charles IV (basic) | Knights' Hall, emperor's bedchamber, Hall of Ancestors, copy of the St Wenceslas Crown | 55 min, up to 45, 192 steps | 300 CZK | groups of over 10 only |
| 2. Karlštejn Castle Chapels | Church of the Virgin Mary, Great Tower, Chapel of the Holy Cross | 100 min, up to 16, 459 steps | 640 CZK | required |
| 3. Explore the Entire Castle (special) | The whole castle, the chapel, the view from the Great Tower | 180 min, up to 6 | 1,800 CZK | online, selected dates |
| Free grounds | Gate to Well Tower, audio walk in the TourStories app | 40 min | free | none |
Reduced tickets for ages 18–24 and over-65s cost 240 and 510 CZK. Children aged 6–17 pay 90 and 190 CZK. Under-6s go free on Tour 1 but pay 190 CZK on Tour 2, which the castle does not recommend for children under 7.
Photos are allowed only on Tour 1, without flash or tripod. Tour 1 also has an audio guide in seven languages, including English and German, for 120 CZK plus a 500 CZK deposit. The online shop's language filter offered Czech and English on 30 October, so phone if you need German.
Chapel of the Holy Cross: how to get in
Charles IV built the chapel in the Great Tower to hold the imperial coronation treasure and relics; it was consecrated on 9 February 1365. Gemstones in gilded plaster line the lower walls, and above them hang 129 panel paintings by Master Theodoric, which the castle calls the largest such collection in the world. Closed in 1981 because of its condition, it reopened in 2000, so groups are small.
- Online: the NPÚ ticket portal. Slots run out late in the season: on 30 October two tours for the next day were sold out.
- By phone: +420 311 681 617 or +420 777 464 726, in winter Tuesday to Sunday 9:30–16:00. Booking is free, but not possible for the same day.
- By email: [email protected], at least 4 days ahead. Give the date, time, language and number of people, including children.
Photos and filming are banned on this tour. The special tours are closed in winter too, so there is no other way in until spring.
Tickets and hours 2026–2027: what closes in winter
| Period | Days | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 1–31 October 2026 | Tue–Sun | 9:30–16:30 |
| 1 November – 20 December | Fri–Sun, plus 16 and 17 November | 10:00–15:00 |
| 21–25 December | closed | — |
| 26 December – 3 January 2027 | daily | 10:00–15:00 |
| from 4 January 2027 | Fri–Sun only | 2027 table not published; 10:00–15:00 in early 2026 |
The closing time is the start of the last tour. Prices for 2027 had not been published on 30 October 2026.
- Tour 2 is closed from 2 November 2026 to 30 April 2027, and the special tours are closed as well.
- In normal winter weeks the free grounds also close Monday to Thursday.
- From 27 November to 3 January, Tour 1 passes through the palace's Advent decorations at the usual price.
Sample day for one adult (our calculation): return train 144 CZK + Tour 1 300 CZK = 444 CZK, or 144 + 640 = 784 CZK with the chapel. Without waits the trip takes 41 + 40 + 55 + 40 + 42 minutes, or 3 hours 38 minutes. On a winter Saturday the latest sensible train from Prague is the 13:16, which puts you at the gate around 14:37.
What to add on the same day
- Velká Amerika quarry. A roadside viewpoint beyond the village of Mořina, about 4 km from the castle on foot. The castle's site allows up to 60 minutes.
- Koněprusy Caves (Koněpruské jeskyně). 620 m, 50–60 minutes, 270 / 210 / 130 CZK. Open daily April–October; in November, February and March Monday–Friday with entries at 9:00, 11:00 and 14:00; closed 25–30 November, December and January. Take the S7 to Beroun (9 minutes), then bus 637 or 638 (about 10 minutes).
- Svatý Jan pod Skalou. The Church of St John the Baptist and St Ivan's Cave open from 1 April to 31 October at weekends, Tuesday–Sunday in the summer holidays, 10:00–13:00 and 14:00–17:00. The former monastery is closed to visitors. Seasonal bus 878 from Karlštejn station takes from 15 minutes and runs at weekends and on holidays until the end of October 2026. On foot it is 8.5 km along the red trail.
In November the castle and caves overlap only on Fridays and on 16–17 November. On Friday 6 November, IDOS shows the 13:27 train and bus 638 reaching Koněprusy at 14:07, after the last entry, so save the caves for the warmer months or go by car.
Karlštejn Castle questions (FAQ)
How do I get from Prague to Karlštejn Castle?
Take the S7 from Praha hl.n. or Praha-Smíchov to Karlštejn station, then walk 30–40 minutes. R16 trains do not stop there.
Do I need to book Karlštejn Castle tickets in advance?
Not for Tour 1 if you are an individual visitor. Tour 2 with the chapel needs a booking or an online ticket.
Can I see the Chapel of the Holy Cross in winter?
No. The tour runs until 1 November 2026 and is closed from 2 November to 30 April 2027.
Is Karlštejn Castle open on Mondays?
Usually not. Exceptions in winter are 16 November and 28 December.
Sources: tours, opening hours, admission, booking, getting here, 2026 rules (PDF, Czech), castle history (Czech), PID: S7, PID: R16, PID fares, parking, Koněprusy Caves, Svatý Jan, IDOS. Checked on 30 October 2026; confirm hours and trains before you travel.
See also: Prague Walking Tours, 12 Best Castles in Czechia, Day Trips from Prague, Kutná Hora Day Trip from Prague.
Photo: Karlštejn Castle in winter. Radomír Šalda, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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