Fodor's Travel Talk Forums

Fodor's Travel Talk Forums (https://www.fodors.com/community/)
-   Europe (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/)
-   -   Prague Castle (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/prague-castle-1075989/)

CanadianJane Oct 15th, 2015 10:02 AM

Prague Castle
 
We are headed to Prague for 6 days at the end of the month. I am reading different things about Prague Castle about tours vs going it alone. Can anyone share any good advice for making the most of this amazing sight? Any tips or recommendations for where to start the tour and what things are worth the price of a ticket? Also how long should we allow? We have good guide books but often enjoy a good audio tour. We will go on an organized tour if it is worthwhile. Thanks in advance.

Christina Oct 15th, 2015 10:34 AM

You don't really have much choice as to where to start, I think there is only one entrance, but the area near the cathedral is where you have to buy tickets anyway. But after that, I don't think it really matters if you went to the church first or the royal palace. YOu could always do St Vitus cathedral at the end of your visit rather than the beginning, as it's separate from the other buildings.

I personally didn't think Golden Lane was anything very special, but it's included in both tickets so you can't escape it.

There are a couple ticket choices, and each type includes various things, it isn't as if you have to pay for each thing separately. I think both the main ones include the basics, but one doesn't have St George Basilica and has Rosenberg Palace instead. That is more expensive. I don't think one could predict which would be worth it to some and not others, I think Rosenberg Palace is more interesting than St George's which is rather austere and not much, but that's its style. The treasury and picture gallery is a separate ticket from both those circuits. I liked both, again, this is personal interest, you can see a lot of treasuries in various cities. I probably wouldn't go to the picture gallery if you were also doing the national gallery.

didn't do personal tour so can't comment on that

unclegus Oct 15th, 2015 10:50 PM

well I have to disagree with Christina, there are several entrances but the most common one is along from the 22 tram stop/Personally I prefer getting the tram to Poholerec and walking down from there, far less manic.
I last did a full your of the castle area about 18 months ago and did the A tour
https://www.hrad.cz/en/prague-castle.../tickets.shtml
we spent most of the day doing this the Story of Prague castle being the area that took most of our time but it was very good.
As to Golden Lane, it is my favourite, all the houses are set up they way they were used in times gone by some you can get in some you can only see from glass panels but all very intersting, there is a great armoury museum up in the battlements area and my absolute favourite a shooting gallery were you can use an old fashioned crossbow, brilliant. St Georges is a bit austere and has been renovated to such a degree that it just does not look real anymore.it is also very cold in there .They often have late afternoon /early evening concerts in there which are worth considering.
Loads of places to get refreshment but you pay through the nose for the pleasure.
I am back in Prague on the 23rd of this month for a week but won't be around the tourist sites much.
I would suggest you get an early start as by 11.00am it can get crazy busy.
The front area of St Vitus can be visited without a ticket but you need one to go into the main part of the Cathedral and the tower. it is all controlled by scanning your ticket in the automated barriers.

danon Oct 16th, 2015 06:32 AM

I started from the tram entrance ....and walked from there.
The lineup for the Cathedral was huge ( it was July)
I did not find the visit to the Castle particularly memorable, but I am not a " castle person"
The city itself is very beautiful ...

nytraveler Oct 16th, 2015 09:04 AM

Definitely get to the Castle first thing in the am - before the tour groups arrive. Much easier to see what you want - although they will catch up with you since they try to do the whole thing in 2 hours which really isn;t possible.

Agree that we especially like the Golden Lane with all of the commoners' houses organized as when they were in use.

CanadianJane Oct 17th, 2015 09:42 AM

Thanks for all the great tips. Last question might be how much time should we plan on? We like to pace ourselves and not overbook our days. It is a holiday after all!


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 04:27 AM.