Prague Castle is the sprawling hilltop citadel above the Vltava River and, by area, the largest ancient castle complex in the world. Founded around 880, it has been the seat of Bohemian kings, Holy Roman emperors and, today, the Czech president, and dominates the city’s skyline with its spires and palace walls.
The complex is a city in itself, centred on the soaring Gothic St Vitus Cathedral with its stained glass and royal tombs. Other highlights include the Old Royal Palace, the Romanesque St George’s Basilica, and the colourful little houses of Golden Lane, where craftsmen and, briefly, the writer Franz Kafka once lived.
The castle grounds are open daily and free to wander, while the main historic buildings require a ticket and keep shorter hours that shift between summer and winter. Arrive early to catch the changing of the guard at the gates and to explore the courtyards before the tour groups arrive.