Entrance fees to Prague Castle have nearly doubled

Prague Castle had recently been ranked one of the world's best deals for tourists, but that may no longer be the case. As of March 1, 2024, visitors to the local landmark will have to dig significantly deeper into their pockets as entrance fees have nearly doubled.

The standard adult ticket for the main circuit at Prague Castle, which covers admission to the Royal Palace, St. Vitus Cathedral, St. George's Basilica, and the Golden Lane, now stands at CZK 450, marking a substantial increase from the previous CZK 250. A family ticket, which covers two adults and up to five children, now costs CZK 950, up from the former CZK 500.

Other admission tickets to Prague Castle attractions have seen similar increases; a full price list can be found here. The decision to raise admission prices to the landmark was made by the presidential office back in December, citing various factors including inflation and necessary investments.

"Inflation and the related increase in all costs are to blame, of course. However, the most fundamental reason is the hundred million crowns worth of investments that await us," Pavel Vyhnánek, director of the financial department of the presidential office, said at the time.

"[These investments include] the reconstruction of monuments, such as the Institute of the Nobles, to the necessity update of the technological systems, which date back to the times of socialism."

Despite this considerable uptick, entrance fees for Prague Castle circuits had remained stagnant for years, while several other European monuments saw gradual price hikes. The presidential office asserts that even with the increase, fees for the iconic sites within the Castle premises remain competitive and often lower than their European counterparts.

Prague Castle predominantly attracts foreign tourists, with last year's visitor count reaching an impressive two million. A staggering 97 percent of these visitors hailed from foreign countries, leaving a modest 60,000 domestic tourists. Of the total number of visitors, approximately 1.4 million opted to purchase entrance tickets to access the Castle's monuments.

In a bid to assuage concerns over rising costs for locals, Prague Castle administration has announced plans for periodic open-door events, allowing free access to the Castle's premises and all its monuments.

The first of these open door events is slated for next Sunday, March 10, and will offer visitors not only free access to the castle premises, but also a unique opportunity to explore otherwise restricted areas within the Castle.