UBC July 2026 - Prague Castle

Photo by Alice on Unsplash

 

Having grown up in Switzerland, I’m quite spoiled when it comes to medieval castles. In our small country, we have around 300 of them, many beautifully perched on hills or surrounded by streams and lakes.

That’s why I didn’t have particularly high expectations when we set out to explore Prague Castle.

Much like here in our region, the first thing we encountered was a steep climb.

Out of breath by the time we reached the top, we were rewarded with a wonderful view over the city, though not without having to weave our way through dozens of people taking selfies.

Prague Castle is considered the largest ancient castle complex in the world according to Guinness World Records. The grounds are enormous, covering about 70,000 square meters, roughly the size of 13 football fields, and include several souvenir shops, restaurants, and even Starbucks locations, which blend surprisingly well into the historic surroundings.

In my eyes, the highlight of the complex is St. Vitus Cathedral, the largest and most important church in Prague. In addition to religious services, the coronations of Czech kings and queens were once held here.

Photo by Yogendra Negi on Unsplash

For centuries, Prague Castle served as the seat of Bohemian Kings and later the rulers of the Habsburg Empire. The Czech lands remained a monarchy for hundreds of years, long before the country became the modern Czech Republic following the collapse of Austria-Hungary in 1918. Walking through the vast complex today, it is easy to imagine the political and royal power once concentrated on this hill above Prague.

Photo by Felix Mittermeier on Unsplash

Here are a few fun facts you may appreciate:

• The castle has its own tiny picturesque street called Golden Lane (pictured above), where colorful little houses were originally built for castle guards and goldsmiths. Even Franz Kafka briefly worked there.
• Defenestration (yes, you read that correctly) is very much a Prague thing. In 1618, angry Protestant nobles threw Catholic officials out of a castle window, helping to trigger the Thirty Years’ War. Amazingly, the men survived the fall.
• Unlike many castles that mainly function as museums today, Prague Castle is still politically important: it remains the official office of the Czech president.
• Prague even has its own version of royal guard ceremonies, just with a little less international hype than London.

For many tourists, visiting the interiors of the castle buildings and the cathedral is a top priority. Admission is not outrageously expensive (around $22), but the queues were enormous. Personally, I preferred simply wandering through the grounds and soaking up the atmosphere without paying an entrance fee or standing in line for ages.

Have you ever visited a place where the outside experience felt more memorable than paying to go inside?