Prague Castle

Prague Castle sprawls across 70,000 square meters above the Vltava River, housing nearly 1,000 years of Czech royal history in one massive complex. You'll walk through St. Vitus Cathedral's soaring Gothic nave (free entry), climb the 287-step tower for city views, explore the cramped medieval houses of Golden Lane where Kafka once lived, and wander through the Old Royal Palace's vast Vladislav Hall. The full circuit ticket costs CZK 250 and covers all the main interiors, though you can easily spend hours just in the free cathedral sections.

The experience feels like walking through a living history book, with each courtyard revealing different architectural periods from Romanesque to Baroque. St. Vitus Cathedral dominates the first courtyard, its blackened stone exterior giving way to jewel-toned light filtering through Mucha's Art Nouveau stained glass. Golden Lane gets packed with tourists photographing the tiny colorful houses, while the Royal Palace's enormous halls echo with footsteps on worn stone floors. The complex sits on multiple levels, so you're constantly climbing stairs and discovering new views across Prague's red rooftops.

Most guidebooks oversell Golden Lane, which is essentially a tourist trap with overpriced medieval-themed shops. The real highlights are the cathedral's free sections and the tower climb, though skip the tower if you're doing Petřin Hill later. The CZK 250 circuit ticket is worth it only if you're genuinely interested in royal apartments and historical interiors. Buy online to skip ticket queues, especially in summer when lines stretch across the courtyard.