Old Royal Palace (Prague) Palace

Address: Prague Castle, Prague 1, Hradčany, Czech Republic

Website: https://www.hrad.cz/en/

Hours: Apr-Oct Daily 6am-10pm (grounds); Castle interiors Tue-Sun 9am-5pm, closed Mondays

The Old Royal Palace is a historic complex within the Prague Castle ensemble on Hradčany Hill, historically the seat of Bohemian rulers and an administrative centre. The palace contains major ceremonial halls and medieval state rooms that reflect several centuries of royal and state use.

Significant interior spaces include large late-Gothic and Renaissance halls used for official ceremonies, most notably the expansive Vladislav Hall, plus former administrative and residential rooms displaying medieval and early modern architecture. The palace forms part of the visitor circuit through Prague Castle and is presented with interpretive displays and access to principal rooms.

The complex developed from medieval stronghold and princely residence into the principal royal palace of the Bohemian crown, with major rebuilding phases in the Gothic and later Renaissance periods. It served as the seat of Bohemian kings and later Habsburg authorities and has been adapted repeatedly for administrative and representational uses over the centuries.

The Old Royal Palace sits within the Prague Castle area overlooking the Vltava River in Prague, adjacent to St. Vitus Cathedral and a short walk from the historic centre of the city.

• Key interior: Vladislav Hall is one of the palace’s most important interior spaces and is often highlighted on visitor routes through Prague Castle.

What to See#

• Vladislav Hall: a late Gothic ceremonial hall completed in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, used historically for coronations and large state gatherings.
• Royal chambers: the sitting rooms and medieval administration spaces that formed the residence of Bohemian rulers and later Habsburg officials, many of which display period architecture and decorative work.

Prague Castle is reached on foot from Malá Strana (a steep walk up the castle steps) or via tram lines 22 and 23 to the Pražský hrad stop. The complex is large - allow time to move between the palace, the cathedral and the Golden Lane.

• Use the Prague Castle complex map to find the Old Royal Palace and avoid queues at the main gate by entering via the southern route from the Lesser Town (Malá Strana) after 17:00 for cheaper tickets.
• Look for the Vladislav Hall's great late-15th-century vaulted ceiling and the marks of historic coronation ceremonies - guided labels make these details legible.
• Photography is restricted in some interior rooms; check signs and respect conservation rules.