Prague Castle is considered to be the largest castle in the world and covers approximately 110 acres (45 hectares). It dates back to the year 880 when established by Prince Bořivoj. At that time, the compound had a moat, ramparts and the Church of the Virgin Mary.
Basilica St. George and Basilica St. Vitus were added in the 10th century. During this time, a Benedictine convent was also built on the grounds.
The castle garden is a tranquil place to wander.
The 12th – 14th centuries lead to more rebuilding and expansion including Romanesque and Gothic structures. Even more expansion and reconstruction occurred over the next centuries including modern architectural developments. Today, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is the most visited historical site in the Czech Republic. For a detailed history, click here. Tickets start at €18, depending on what you want to include in your tour. We spent three hours there and saw just a few locations. Be sure to arrive early, as the crowds are intense by early afternoon.
The medieval, stone arch Charles Bridge was also on our itinerary. King Charles IV commissioned the construction of the bridge in 1357 which spans the Vltava river. It was the only bridge across the river until 1841.
The bridge is 1693 feet (516 meters) long, and 33 feet (10 meters) wide and is flanked with statues.
Today, it is a place for buskers, venders, wedding photographers and throngs of tourists. We arrived around 9am while it was still quite empty.
However, less than an hour later, it was packed with tourists. So get an early start if you plan on visiting.
Views from the bridge.
We of course, had some delicious meals in Prague. TheTravelsketcher enjoyed some meaty dishes.
In Prague, pork is King. Welcome to Porkopolis, the land that vegetables forgot. Anthony Bourdain
I’m not a fan of pork, or meat in general, but I was easily able to find some vegetarian and pescatarian options.
The ancient splendor and beauty of Prague, a city beyond compare, left an impression on my imagination that will never fade. Richard Wagner
As a side note, public transport is free in Prague for senior citizens! There was a checkpoint at one of the tram stops, and the very friendly officers simply asked to see our passports, and waved us on after chatting a bit.
I hope you enjoyed this post about a few of Prague’s famous places. As always, I would love to hear from you, so leave a message if you’d like.
Wishing you grand adventures,
Tricia
Travels Through My Lens 
Thanks for the revisit..I was there several years ago and remember that the castle was large, but not that large, wow. We may be there again in the next month as we’re in Poland now. Public transit is free for seniors in Krakow, Poland too, but I think it starts at 70. Maggie
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You’re most welcome. The castle is quite an impressive place. I think multiple visits to Prague would be wonderful, as there is so much to see and do there. Yeah for free public transport for seniors! Thanks, Maggie.
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Am truly sorry we never made it to Prague and not at all surprised at its popularity tho’ the obvious crowds would now rob some of the charms . . . Am smiling > my on-line food delivery arrived just a few hours ago . . . guess what tomorrow morning’s breakfast is with a big mug of strong black coffee . . . an exact copy of those two open sandwiches . . . the Czechs are definitely not the only ones to love smorrebrod . . . 🙂 !
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Maybe someday! Enjoy your sandwiches, and thanks for commenting.
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That 9am tip is gold — we learned the hard way that Charles Bridge an hour later is a completely different experience, shoulder to shoulder. Arriving early is the single best thing we do as a family at popular spots; it buys you that quiet half hour before the throngs. And I had no idea the castle covered 110 acres or dated all the way back to 880. The free senior transit chat with the officers is such a lovely detail too.
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Yes, getting an early start is the key to avoiding crowds. Sounds like you had an enjoyable time in Prague as well. Thanks for commenting!
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Oh how lovely. The stain glass windows are so beautiful 🙂 It’s such a shame about the crowds, I went about a decade ago and it was still relatively undiscovered. I also love the look of that salmon (?) tagliatelle, I could eat that right now!! 🙂
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We thought it wouldn’t be so crowded in mid May, but the locals say it’s always crowded there; oh well. Good thing you visited when you did. Yes, that was salmon tagliatelle, and it was yummy! Thanks, Hannah!
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The largest castle in the world – I didn’t know this honour belonged to Prague. You took so many beautiful pictures of the castle – and I agree with Hannah, those stain glass windows are stunning. I love an ancient bridge and it’s always nice to see what you guys ate! This is such a beautiful post, Tricia – you make Prague look like a city we should visit.
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I didn’t realize that either; but it certainly is an impressive place to see! The stained glass was particularly gorgeous. Thanks so much, Corna, I hope you get to visit someday!
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Thank you for sharing this wonderful travel blog. I really enjoyed reading about Prague and seeing all the beautiful photos of the city, including the gardens, historic buildings, churches, and local food. Your descriptions and practical information about prices made the destination feel much more accessible and easy to plan for.
Even though I have been living in Europe for many years, I have never visited Prague. After reading your post and seeing your amazing pictures, I have definitely added it to my travel list. You did a great job capturing the beauty, history, and atmosphere of the city. Thank you for the inspiration, and I look forward to reading more of your travel experiences.
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Thanks so much for your lovely comments; I’m glad you enjoyed the post and photos, and found it helpful as well. Like you, we lived in Europe for several years, but it took us a long time to get to Prague. We’d go back in a heartbeat!
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A wonderful post about that wonderful city, Tricia. 🙂 The Travel Sketcher is definitely right about that scaffolding! It’s such an enormous site that maintenance has to be continuous. I have explored Prague several times and took the approach of taking in smaller pieces of the castle on each visit. It’s so large that it can become overwhelming. Your photos are gorgeous!
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Thanks so much, Lynette, for your kind words. Your approach to the castle is spot on; it’s too much to cover in one visit. If we return to Prague, we’ll definitely want to see it again. T&T’s Scaffolding! 😂
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That’s a great name!
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Fabulous photos, Tricia. Every time I see a great article about Prague like this one I wonder why I haven’t been yet. But you can’t go everywhere… or so my husband says xx
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Thank you, Jo. It took us a long time to finally get there, but we’re so glad to have visited. That’s true; we can’t go everywhere!
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A lovely revisit.. I was there in October 2009 and although there weren’t so many crowds the weather wasn’t so great. But it is a fabulous city.
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Yes, it is a gem of a city. Thank you!
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People speak highly of Prague and having read your post, I can see why. A fine set of pictures.
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Thank you!
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Prague is stunning as always, Tricia! Even more so that you visited during warmer months, with more clear, blue-sky days to behold. I’ve visited the grounds of Prague Castle, and I was especially enamored with Basilica St. George– not as glitzy as St. Vitus Cathedral, but lovely in its own right (particularly its frescoes)! I love Prague, and I’m glad you got to see what it was all about!
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Thank you, Rebecca! If we return, we’ll definitely visit the castle again, there’s just so much to see there. Prague truly is an amazing city that rivals even Paris!
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Fabulous photography Tricia, the atmosphere of this wonderful neighbourhood (and indeed the wider city at large) really shines through. Your captures of cathedral and Charles Bridge really took me back to 2002, I’m glad to hear the buskers are still there doing their thing. Terry’s quip about scaffolding is on the money! Hope you guys are happy and safe wherever you are currently.
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Thanks so much, Leighton, Prague truly is a wonderful city with an impressive history. I’m glad the post and photos brought back some nice memories for you. We’re currently having a wonderful time in Marseille with my cousin and his partner. I hope all is well with you and Sladja!
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That is great to hear about the free public transport for us oldies! Lovely set of photos.
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Yes, we were pleasantly surprised. Thank you!
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You could easily spend the entire day exploring Prague Castle … if it weren’t for the crowds. You’re absolutely right to recommend arriving early!! Lovely captures. And my mouth is salivating over some of the food you ate!
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That’s true; it’s a huge place and a full day would probably be enough time to take it all in. We did have some great meals. Thank you!
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Fun little trip down memory lane. I remember standing right at that archway!
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I’m glad it brought back some nice memories. Thank you for commenting.
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Beautiful pictures! They make me want to go back to Prague in warmer months because the sunshine really brings out the beauty in the buildings, especially in the stained glass windows. We were there when it was cold and rainy and the windows didn’t pop with color like that
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Thank you! I thought of you several times while we were there and thought it would be nice to visit during the winter and enjoy the Christmas markets, like you did. 😊 Prague is probably lovely in every season.
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