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Karlstejn Castle - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Karlštejn Castle: How to visit & what to see

• David Angel
• Czech Republic , Prague

About the author: David Angel is a British photographer, writer, and historian with 30+ years of experience exploring Europe. His work is regularly featured in the BBC, the Guardian and Conde Condé Nast Traveler. He currently lives in Prague.

Karlštejn Castle is one of the best places to visit in the Czech Republic, and one of the easiest day trips from Prague. It’s also one of the mightiest castles you’ll ever see.

From wherever you see it, Karlštejn Castle is a fearsome, forbidding sight. It does exactly what any decent medieval Castle should do, frightening the wits out of anyone who dared approach.

It’s one of the greatest castles in Europe  and its proximity to Prague makes it a great day trip and one of the most popular Czech castles to visit.

My Karlštejn Castle guide shows you everything you need to know before you visit, with details on tour content, how to get there from Prague, and other things to see in pretty Karlštejn village below the ramparts.

I’ll also guide you to what is possibly the best viewpoint of Karlštejn Castle, from the forests above the village.

Table of Contents

Karlštejn Castle – An Introduction

Karlstejn Castle was begun by Bohemian King and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV (Karel IV in Czech) in 1348 – he was also responsible for the famous Charles Bridge in Prague

It’s of great significance to Czechs as it’s where Charles decided to store the Bohemian Crown Jewels

Karlštejn Castle is only 30 km (19 miles) from Prague , making it one of the easiest Prague day trips

Along with Křivoklat and Konopiště , Karlstejn is one of the three principal Bohemian castles near Prague 

It is also known by its German name, Karlstein Castle

The pronunciation of Karlštejn in Czech differs considerably from the German (‘Karl-shtine’). the ‘a’ is sounded the same as in the word ‘flat’, the ‘r’ is rolled with the front of the tongue and the letter ‘š’ is sounded as ‘sh’. So it’s pronounced ‘Karrl-shtain’.

Karlštejn Castle History

Karlštejn Castle was founded by Charles IV in 1348, initially as a residence for himself and later as the depository for the Bohemian Crown Jewels. It took 17 years to complete, and this included digging out a (state secret) water supply which originated from a nearby stream.

Charles IV died in 1378, but the Crown Jewels remained in situ for much of the next few centuries, and were only removed when the castle was considered to be in danger. The first time this happened was in 1421, in advance of a prolonged siege by Hussite forces.

During this siege the Hussites resorted to launching dead bodies – both human and animal – and copious amounts of dung and excrement at and into the mighty Karlštejn Castle, but to no avail.

Karlštejn Castle was partly rebuilt in late Gothic style towards the end of the 15th century, and further changes were made in the 16 th century Renaissance period.

Swedish forces fared considerably better than the Hussites in 1648, entering the Castle but, finding precious few treasures to pillage, left the Castle without bothering to take the Great Tower. 

The most recent restoration was at the end of the 19 th century, when architect Josef Mocker sought to return Karlštejn to something approaching its original Gothic appearance. 

Karlštejn Castle Tours

There are three tours of Karlštejn Castle, all of which are guided.

Tour 1: Takes you around the Imperial Residence of Charles IV, including the Imperial Palace and the adjacent Marian tower. The chambers that you visit have an austere grandeur about them, all very impressive in size and scale.

Some of them are decorated with beautiful medieval wall paintings – worth the admission price alone – while others are lined with a series of portraits, mainly of noblemen, some of which date from after the Middle Ages. 

T our 2: is the highlight of any Karlštejn Castle visit, and to give you some idea of its prestige and prominence among castles in the Czech Republic , admission costs more than for the entire Prague Castle complex.

This tour covers the extraordinary Karlštejn Castle Chapels, including the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, St Catherine’s Chapel and the famous Holy Cross Chapel in the Great Tower, where the Crown Jewels were kept.

This tour is exclusive, and as they state on their website , they prefer to take bookings by phone (+420 311 681 617). It’s a long tour, clocking in at 1 hour 40 minutes, and at 520 CZK (US $24) is one of the highest prices you’ll pay for a tour in the Czech Republic.  

But it’s worth every koruna, as you get to see some of the greatest Gothic ecclesiastical art of the Middle Ages.

Tour 3 : is the shortest of the three Karlštejn tours, and probably the best one for kids. this one takes you to the viewing gallery at the top of the Great Tower.

My 7-year-old son and I stood at the base of the massive tower, some of whose walls are an astonishing 7 metres thick, looking up at the formidable, awe-inspiring building above us. “So we’re climbing that ?” he asked.  I answered that we were, and he couldn´t wait to start the climb.

The first part of the climb is the hardest, up a steep set of deep stone stairs. Our Little Man left us all trailing as he stomped his way up past a series of original 14th century murals to two halls, before the brief final climb to the wooden gallery.

You can open the windows to admire the amazing views down onto the rest of the Castle and the village.  It’s a 289-step climb in all, but it gets easier the higher you go.

Karlštejn Castle Tours From Prague

It’s also well worth considering a Karlštejn Castle tour from Prague, especially as something else is often included in the package.

One way to experience it is to join a small guided bike tour to Karlštejn Castle, following a predominantly flat route through the bucolic Bohemian countryside, travelling back to Prague by train.

A quicker option is a half-day tour from Prague to Karlštejn, which includes pick-up and drop-off. This includes tour 1 of the Castle – see the section above for more information on that.

If you want to try something a little different, this tour departs Prague in the morning and as well as Karlštejn Castle takes you to the nearby Koněprusy Caves and Velka Amerika quarry (see below).

Karlštejn Castle Opening Times

Unlike many castles in Czech Republic, Karlštejn Castle remains partly open in autumn and winter. From November through to the end of April, the Castle is open from 1000 to 1500, Tuesdays to Sundays in November and Fridays to Sundays in December and January, and tour 1 is the only one running – the Royal Chapels tour is only available between May and October.

During spring and summer the Castle is open from 0930 to 1730. Check the Castle opening hours web page for specific information.

The Famous View of Karlštejn Castle    

A short, popular Karlštejn Castle hike leads high above the village to give a superb view of the Castle, surrounded by mountains and forests.

At the junction in the village, just below the Pod Hradem restaurant, turn right up the hill and continue along the shaded path until you reach an open field, with more woodland on your right.

Walk across the field and turn around and you’ll get the spectacular view of the Castle. The first time I walked up there, I met a couple from India seeking out the same spot, where a scene from the Bollywood movie Rockstar was shot. 

It is very close to a statue of the Crucifixion of Christ, and Google Maps currently mark a ‘Vyhlidka na Karlštejn’ very close to this spot. Click on this link and you won’t go wrong – you can also reach it by climbing the hill through the residential part of Karlštejn. 

How To Get To Karlštejn Castle From Prague

Travelling from Prague to Karlštejn Castle is straightforward, with hourly trains (21 minutes past the hour at the time of writing) making the 40-minute journey from Prague main train station (Praha hlavni nádraži).

The train also calls at Prague-Smichov station (Praha Smichovske nádraži) seven minutes later – the final destination is usually Beroun .

Once you arrive in Karlštejn, most visitors walk up from the station to the Castle. It’s roughly 25 minutes between the two – head right out of the station, then left towards (and then over) the bridge.

Then turn right, continuing 200 metres to the entrance to the village, where no cars are allowed.  So if you’re driving, this is where you’ll need to park.

The walk up to the imposing Castle continues through the village, which is full of souvenir shops, a couple of quirky exhibitions and a few hotels, cafes and restaurants.

The latter part of the walk is steep, and on a hot summer day if you’re not fairly fit you could be in for a struggle. One option (with a tired child in tow, I took this) is to take a shared carriage ride from the car park to the Castle.

Near the top of Karlštejn village the road swings left, passing the Pod Hradem restaurant on the right. Within 50 metres or so, level with the Adamu restaurant, a wide, paved footpath branches left off the road. this path takes you very close to the Castle – from the top, it’s only around 150 metres to go.  

The ticket office is in the courtyard, a short walk along the walls.

As for getting back from Karlštejn Castle to Prague, trains leave from the far platform, which you can only access via the subway.

They tend to leave every 30 minutes – at 27 and 57 past the hour at the time of writing (March 2023). Check the Czech Railways – Ceske drahy – site for up-to-date information.

Other Things To Do in Karlštejn

Karlštejn is a very touristy, chocolate box village (think   Betws-y-Coed in Wales, or Rudesheim in the Rhine Valley) which largely owes is existence to the mighty Castle looming above i t .

In the shadow of the Castle, there is a small wax museum which delves into Bohemian history, with figures of Charles IV, his four wives and figures from the legendary Golem to the last Habsburg Emperor, Franz Josef I. The same people also run the Wax Museum in Cesky Krumlov .

Down in the village, t he Bethlehem Museum ( http://www.muzeumbetlemu.cz/ ) has the largest collection of Nativity scenes in the country, with the added attraction of alchemists at work. The Museum is open every day in July, August and December, and on weekends the rest of the year.

Across the river from the Castle, Zoopark Karlstejn is open through spring and summer, and is home to a white lion, two white tigers, several other big cats, camels, bison and many more.

Many who visit Karlštejn Castle also seek out the nearby Velka Amerika (Big America), an abandoned quarry sometimes referred to as the Czech Grand Canyon.

We are yet to visit it, and according to the Czech tourism website access to the quarry is banned, but you can see it from close to the car park. Nonetheless many decide to descend, completely ignoring the warnings. We’d just get our shot from the top and go.

Karlstejn Castle in Winter

It’s open Tues-Sun in Nov and Fri-Sun in Dec-Jan. Only Tour 1 runs; the Royal Chapels tour is May-Oct only. In December they ofen run special advent tours on the weekend. There is also a traditional Christmas mass of Jan Jakub Ryba held in the Knight’s Hall of the Imperial Palace of Karlštejn Castle. This usually happens in the first week or two of December.

You can also visit the Nativity Museum Karlštejn in the village. You can see gingerbread nativity displays in our museum from early December to early January.

Karlštejn Castle – Final Thoughts

My son and I thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Karlštejn Castle. It really captured his imagination, probably more so than any other castle we have visited except Česky Krumlov and Kokořín .

I’ve been visiting castles for over 40 years, and Karlštejn is an absolute monster of a castle. For sheer size and the impression of intimidation I had the moment I first saw it, very few come close to it – Malbork Castle in Poland , Caernarfon Castle in Wales and Krak des Chevaliers in Syria.

Karlštejn is one of the easiest day trips from Prague , and one of the very best. Don’t miss it.

Discover more Czech Castles and historic sites in our guides below:

Take a look at my Czech Republic Travel Guide to see all the guides I have written on Prague and the Czech Republic.

• Křivoklát Castle – awesome royal castle in picturesque forest country near Prague
• Konopiště Castle – medieval castle-turned-palace, the favoured residence of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
• Vyšehrad Prague – gorgeous park, Basilica and Cemetery full of Czech notables, within the walls of a citadel founded over a thousand years ago
• Troja Castle Prague – splendid Baroque palace with gardens to match
• Kutna Hora Bone Church – The Amazing Art of the Sedlec Ossuary
• Mělník  – beautiful Bohemian wine town with fine Castle owned by the Lobkowicz family
• Kokořín Castle  – romantic castle surrounded by forest and landscape with amazing sandstone rock formations
• Hluboká Castle  – ornate white ‘wedding-cake’ castle in South Bohemia
• Lednice Castle  – superb English-inspired chateau rebuilt by the Princes of Liechtenstein in the 19th century
• Blatna Castle – beautiful South Bohemian water castle with a wonderful deer park

Explore these beautiful Czech towns in our series of guides:

• Telč Czech Republic  – A Gorgeous UNESCO World Heritage Town in Moravia
• Mikulov  – A Beautiful Moravian Wine Town Near The Austrian Border
• Things To Do In Mariánské Lázně  – A Splendid Bohemian Spa Town and World Heritage Site
• Best Things To Do In Český Krumlov  – Possibly The Most Beautiful Town In The Czech Republic
• České Budějovice  – South Bohemia’s Undiscovered Capital
• Holašovice  – The Unique Folk Baroque UNESCO World Heritage Village
• Slavonice  – Border Town With Incredible Renaissance Sgraffito Townhouses

And While You’re In And Around Prague…

• 17 Prague Streets Not to Miss
• 20 Most Beautiful Churches In Prague
• Vltava River In Prague – Everything to See And Do Along the River
• Vyhlidka Maj – Astonishing Viewpoint Over A Horseshoe Bend In the Vltava River South Of Prague

David Angel is a British photographer, writer and historian. He is a European travel expert with over 30 years’ experience exploring Europe. He has a degree in History from Manchester University, and his work is regularly featured in global media including the BBC, Condé Nast Traveler, The Guardian, The Times, and The Sunday Times.  David is fluent in French and Welsh, and can also converse in Italian, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Czech and Polish.

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Karlstejn Castle Tour

The tour is a guided visit to one of the most picturesque Gothic castles in the Czech Republic. We offer a great historical culture trip with a guide and admission to the castle included. Located just 35km southwest of Prague Karlstejn Castle is one of the most famous castles in the Czech Republic. This is a most outstanding example of a gothic style medieval castle. It is easy to understand why, sitting high above the town of Karlstejn. Built between 1348 to 1355 by Charles IV, King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor. The Castle served as a depository for the safekeeping of royal and Empire coronation jewels, relics of saints and an archive of state documents.

The journey to Karlstejn Castle from Prague should take about 35 to 45 minutes depending on traffic. The drive will take you through some nice scenic Czech countryside to the town of Karlstejn. On arrival the coach will park at the bottom of the hill and with the guide you will enjoy a lovely walk up to the castle past many little quaint shops and restaurants. The tour includes entry to the historical interiors of the 1st and 2nd floors of the Imperial Palace and the 1st floor of the Marian Tower.

The tour comes in a choice of standard languages which are English, German, Russian, French, Italian, Spanish and Czech. you should let us know which language you prefer when booking.

Karlstejn Castle Tour main details :

Minimum group size – 2 people Start time and length of tour   – The Karlstejn Castle Tour is available in the summer season   (1st April to 31st October) from around 09.30am everyday except Monday. It lasts about 5 hours, including transportation. In the winter season   (1st November to 31st March)   it is closed.   Price per person   – Adults 1390 CZK, children from 3 to 6 years old: 1090 CZK, students from 7 to 18 years old: 1290 CZK. Transfers and guide included   – Yes, you will be picked up at your accommodation and dropped back in the center of Prague. To book or to find available dates: Just fill the BOOKING ENQUIRY FORM below or send an EMAIL. We will reply as soon as possible.

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Enjoy a day on the Skoda Car Factory tour, this includes a visit to the Skoda car museum and then a trip to the factory to see the production of these iconic cars.

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Karlovy Vary Spa Tour

The Karlovy Vary spa tour will take you through the picturesque West Bohemian countryside.  We offer the tour either using a smart phone app and an audio guide, or with an official guide in person . This world famous spa has been known for its 12 medicinal mineral springs which attract many tourists yearly.

Kutna Hora Bone Church Tour

The Kutna Hora Bone Church tour is a 7 hour excursion including the baroque ossuary in nearby Sedlec. With a choice of either using a smart phone app and an audio guide, or with a qualified guide in person . Kutna Hora is a UNESCO listed town and a popular Czech Republic tours selection.

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Romantic Trip To Prague

A romantic trip to Prague, let us arrange everything for you and your partner. From the airport your private driver in either a private taxi or one of the luxury limousines. The chauffeur will take you to one of our fine Hotels especially selected for a romantic feel and setting, the trip continues from there with more delights. In this section we have listed 4 Romantic Break offers including a Wedding Anniversary offer.

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Karlštejn Castle

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Karlštejn Castle: Insider’s Guide – Perfect Day Trip from Prague

Written by local experts Adriana & Matěj

Adriana and Matěj Halouskovi are travel bloggers behind the successful blog Czech the World .

Matěj was born in Prague and has lived here his entire life and Adriana moved here 6 years ago.

We have traveled to more than 60 countries, but if we could tell you what  place we know the most, it is our city . 

Karlštejn Castle – a majestic Gothic castle, strategically placed on a hill overlooking some of the beautiful forests in Czech Republic. Karlštejn can be easily reached from Prague by train (in 40 minutes).

Karlštejn Castle holds an exceptional position among Czech castles . It was founded 1348 by the Czech king and Roman Emperor Charles IV . as a private residence and a safe place for the crown jewels of the Holy Roman Empire. In a Chapel of the Holy Cross can be found a world unique paint collection of Master Theodoric, the court painter of Charles IV.

Nowadays, Karlštejn is the most visited castle in the Czech Republic , for its beauty, fairy tale look , and rich history.

Table of Contents

How to get to Karlštejn?  

Karlštejn Castle is located above the village of the same name, only 29 km southwest of Prague . Public transport is great in the Czech Republic, so you can get easily from Prague to Karlštejn by train, car or bike.

How to get to Karlštejn Castle from Prague?

Train from Prague to Karlštejn

Getting from Prague to Karlštejn by train is quite simple. There is a train leaving from Prague every half hour (train connection between Prague and Beroun). You can get on the train at Prague Main Station (Praha Hlavní nádraží, Metro station of red C line) or at Praha-Smíchov (Smíchovské Nádraží, Yellow Metro line B). The journey takes 40 minutes and bicycle transport is supported at these trains. We recommend checking   IDOS website, to search for the exact time of the departure. Ticket from the Main station costs 78 CZK, from Praha-Smíchov 54 CZK.

It’s only 25-minute walk to the Castle from the train station . When you arrive at Karlštejn – railway station, go out and turn right. Then turn left to the bridge over the Berounka river. Cross the bridge and turn right and after 50 meters turn left to the castle.

By car from Prague

The best way to get from Prague to Karlštejn is taking the D5 motorway (you need a motorway sticker) and leave it at Exit 10 – Loděnice . Castle is well marked from there. You will pass Bubovice and Hlásná Třebáň on the way.

Another option is to go via Praha – Radotín along the road 115 through Dobřichovice, Řevnice, Hlásná Třebáň to Karlštejn Castle.

Parking is possible only in the lower part of the village (by the river) in the central parking lot. Full-day parking costs 100 CZK.

From the parking lot, it is a 15-minute walk to the castle. There is a pedestrian zone only (from the river towards the castle).

Bike trip from Prague

You can easily get from Prague by bike if you take the cycling path A1 by Vltava River. Later you will continue along Berounka River and cycling path no. 3. It is a nice bike trip around Czech rivers. The other option is cycling path no. 13 starting at Luka Metro Station (yellow B line) in Prague. It is 19 km from there, but the terrain is more demanding than the previous option.

Karlštejn and its surroundings offer beautiful terrains and cycling paths for an active weekend trip. There are bicycle stands in the castle courtyard. Be careful that there is a pedestrian zone only from the Berounka river to the castle, so you need to walk by your bike in this zone.

Admission and opening hours of Karlštejn Castle

Opening hours.

Opening times vary throughout the year . The castle is usually open every day except Monday, from 9.30 am to 5 pm . Detailed and current opening hours can be found on the Castle website .

Admission and tickets

You can buy tickets directly at the castle as well as online . Castle entrance fees vary according to the chosen tour circuit. There are following guided tours you can choose from.

Guided tours

The private and representative rooms of emperor charles iv. (basic tour).

• Price: 320 CZK / 230 CZK (children 6-15 years, seniors and students – don’t forget your ISIC)
• Length of the tour: 55 minutes; max. 55 persons

On this tour, you will see a copy of St. Wenceslas Crown – the medieval crown of Czech Kings. Tour includes two floors of the Imperial Palace and the 1st floor of the Marian Tower . You will visit for example the Knight’s Hall, Charles’s Bedroom, the Chapel of St. Wenceslas and former castle prison.

The sacred rooms of the castle with the Chapel of Holy Cross (Exclusive tour)

• Price: 750 CZK / 530 CZK (children 6-15 years, seniors and students – don’t forget your ISIC)
• Length of the tour: 100 minutes; max. 16 persons

This exclusive tour offers historically most precious rooms and chapels. Tour passes through the Imperial Palace , the upper floor of the Marian Tower and the Great Tower. You will visit the Castle galleries, the Church of the Virgin Mary, the St. Catherine Chapel and especially the most important Chapel of the Holy Cross with precious pieces of Master Theodoric. Tour is designed for smaller groups and is also not suitable for children under 7 years (due to the length and demanding content)

The Great Tower View (Base Circuit)

• Price: 260 CZK / 180 CZK (children 6-15 years, seniors and students – don’t forget your ISIC)
• Length of the tour: 40 minutes, max. 20 people

Tour of the Great Tower without the Chapel of Holy Cross. You will explore the former guardroom, armory, and staircase with Gothic wall paintings. There is a beautiful view from the tower.

Interesting facts from Karlštejn history

• The largest collection of panel paintings by Master Theodoric can be found in the Chapel of Holy Cross.
• Chapel of Holy Cross was locked by 9 locks and protected by four thick iron-plated doors.
• Replica of St. Wenceslas crown of Czech kings is still at the castle
• By the command of Charles IV. no one was allowed to “sleep or lie” with any woman, neither his lawful wife in the Great Tower.
• Castle Well is 78 m deep and didn’t have its own spring, water was led there from the Budňany stream.

Map of Karlštejn and surroundings

For better orientation, we have prepared for you a map , which you can download to your phone with all the important points, parking, and side trips. The map is available here. You can export this map and import it to your mobile application such as Maps.me or Locus Map.

Accommodation at Karlštejn

Karlštejn town offers several accommodation options. The most popular and best rated is Hotel Karlštejn with a swimming pool and a beautiful view of the castle. Another lovely hotel is Romantic Hotel Mlýn Karstejn by the Berounka river. Karlštejn Apartments offers affordable prices.

For those, who are searching for a camp, there is one by the Berounka river called Autokemp Karlštejn.

Food and Restaurants

You can choose from many restaurants in the castle area, there is also a stand with delicious pancakes. Our favorite is the restaurant U Adama .

Side trips from the castle

Karlštejn area (Karlštejnsko) is a beautiful nature area with a lot of hiking and cycling trails for your perfect trip. Local forests are a popular destination for cyclists, tourists, hikers, and runners. Don’t worry, you won’t get lost, the Czech Republic has the best trail marking system in the world. You can stop to grab some map at the information center near Berounka river.

Hike to quarries Malá a Velká Amerika (“Little and Great America”)

Flooded quarries Malá and Velká Amerika (Americas) are a traditional trip from Karlštejn. They are part of the Bohemian karst. Several films have been filmed there and we called it the Czech Grand Canyon.

• The Velká Amerika quarry is an 800 m long limestone quarry with clear water lake. It’s up to 100 m deep. You can park on its eastern side from Mořina village.
• Malá Amerika quarry – slightly smaller, also flooded limestone quarry. Both quarries are connected with the surroundings by former mining tunnels. It is forbidden to access these tunnels for safety reasons.

You can get to the Malá Amerika quarry from castle by following the red marked trail, which will take you to the Dub sedmi bratří (The Oak of Seven Brothers), from where you will follow the yellow trail. It is only 2.4 km from Karlštejn to Malá Amerika (Little America). And from there it is less than 2 km to the Velká Amerika (Great America) quarry, (again you will follow the yellow markings).

Check our complete article: Velká Amerika – Day Trip from Prague to Czech Grand Canyon

Svatý Jan pod Skalou

Svatý Jan pod Skalou is a picturesque village, with a church of Svatý Jan under the huge rock massif, which rises above village up to 150 meters high. It is a popular climbing destination. There is also a Benedictine monastery nearby.

Baroque church of Svatý Jan is open from April to October at weekends (between 10 – 13h and 14 to 17h), during July and August it’s open all week through , except Mondays.

There is also a nature trail around the village of Svatý Jan (4.5 km long). It starts at the village square and leads to the top of the rock with the cross. You can visit the open-air museum of Solvay’s quarries on the way (open at weekends from May to October).

Koněprusy Caves (Koněpruské jeskyně)

If you are a cave enthusiast, you shouldn’t miss the Koněprusy Caves. It is the longest cave system in the Bohemia. The cave system extends to 3 floors of Devonian limestone. The site was discovered in 1950 by works at a local quarry. 13,000 years old human bones were found there as well as counterfeiting tools and Hussite coins from 1460-1470.

Caves are located about 13 km from Karlštejn (5 km from Beroun). There is a 150 CZK entrance fee and guided tour takes about an hour. Koněpruské jeskyně are open every day from April to October.

Activities at Karlštejn

Golf at karlštejn.

On the other side of the Berounka River, there is a golf course with amazing views of the castle. The golf resort is located in between villages Krupná and Běleč. The golf season starts in April. It is an 18-hole course with natural obstacles like lakes and sand. Thanks to its views of Karlštejn Castle, it is one of the most beautiful golf courses in the Czech Republic.

Zoopark Karlštejn

Especially children will be excited to visit local Zoopark. You can meet lions, tigers, camels, bison, llamas, zebras, donkeys, felines and monkeys there. Children can also ride a pony or even a camel. Admission to the Zoopark is 100 CZK for adults and 50 CZK for children.

Events at Karlštejn

Karlštejn is the venue for many events, ranging from concerts, special castle excursion to the wine festival. Events held at the castle can be seen on the official castle website .

• Royal Parade of Charles IV. – It is a very unique event when “King Charles IV.” is joining the traditional pilgrimage from Prague-Radotín to the Karlštejn Castle (the event was associated with the exhibition of the Imperial Crown Jewels in Prague at Charles Square. Royal Parade takes place every First weekend of June.
• Karlštejn Vine festival – held annually at the end of September, this festival is ideal for all wine lovers

Karlštejn Guided Tours from Prague

If you don’t want to care about planning and transportation and learn more about Czech history, opting for a tour with a professional guide could be a great idea. You have many options to choose from. We recommend these tours with good reviews:

• Half-day group tour
• Half-day private tour
• Small group bike tour
• Full-day tour with side trip to Malá a Velká Amerika quarries (Czech Grand Canyon)
• Full-day tour with side trip to Koněprusy Caves

More Places to visit in the Czech Republic:

Read our ultimate guide to the best places to visit in the Czech Republic:

• 35+ Best Places to Visit in the Czech Republic: Insider’s Guide
• Vyhlídka Máj (Czech Horseshoe Bend): Day Trip from Prague

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• 65 Most Beautiful Castles in the Czech Republic (by Locals)
• 35 Best Day Trips from Prague - Ultimate Local's Guide (2024)
• 39 Best Places to Visit in the Czech Republic: Insider’s Guide
• 33 Charming Castle Hotels in Czech Republic - Royal Stays!

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Karlstejn Castle in Prague

29km (18 miles) SW of Prague

By far the most popular destination in the Czech Republic after Prague, Karlstejn Castle is an easy day trip for those interested in getting out of the city. Charles IV built this medieval castle from 1348 to 1357 to safeguard the crown jewels of the Holy Roman Empire. Although the castle had been changed over the years, with such additions as late Gothic staircases and bridges, renovators have removed these additions, restoring the castle to its original medieval state.

As you approach, little can prepare you for your first view: a spectacular Disney-like castle perched on a hill, surrounded by lush forests and vineyards. In its early days, the king's jewels housed within enhanced the castle's importance and reputation. Vandalism having forced several of its finest rooms to close, these days the castle is most spectacular from the outside. Unfortunately, many of the more interesting restored rooms are kept off-limits and open only for special guests.

Getting There -- The best way to get to Karlstejn is by train (there's no bus service). Trains leave regularly from either Prague's Main Station (at the Hlavní nádrazí metro stop on line C) or from Smíchovské nádrazí, metro line B, and take about 40 minutes to reach Karlstejn. The one-way, second-class fare is 49Kc. It's a short, relaxing trip along the Berounka River. On the way you pass through Revnice, Martina Navrátilová's birthplace. Keep your eyes open for your first glimpse of the majestic castle. Once you arrive at Karlstejn train station, it's a 20- to 30-minute hike up the road to the castle. While you're at the station, mark down the return times for trains to Prague to better plan your trip back.

You can also drive along one of two routes, both of which take 30 minutes. Here's the more scenic one: Leave Prague from the southwest along Highway 4 in the direction of Strakonice and take the Karlstejn cutoff, following the signs (and traffic!). The second, much less scenic route follows the main highway leading out of Prague from the west as if you were going to Plzen. About 20 minutes down the road is the well-marked cutoff for Karlstejn. (You can tell you have missed the cutoff if you get to the town of Beroun. If that happens, take any exit and head back the other way; the signs to Karlstejn are also marked heading toward Prague.)

A trip to Karlstejn can easily be combined with a visit to Krivoklát .

Visitor Information -- The ticket/castle information booth (tel. 311-681-370 ) can help you, as can any of the restaurants or stores. The castle website at www.hradkarlstejn.cz is easy to navigate and has lots of useful information on the castle's history as well as tours and opening hours. You can also book tour tickets online.

Exploring the Castle

Since Karlstejn's beauty lies more in its facade and environs than in the castle itself, the 20- to 30-minute walk up the hill is, along with the view, one of the main features that makes the trip spectacular. It's an excursion well worth making if you can't get farther out of Prague to see some of the other castles. Seeing hordes of visitors coming, locals have discovered the value of fixing up the facades of their homes and opening small businesses (even if they have gone a little overboard on the number of outlets selling crystal!). Restaurants have improved tremendously. When you finally do reach the top, take some time to look out over the town and down the Well Tower.

To see the interior of the castle, you can choose from one of two tours. The 50-minute Tour 1 will take you through the Imperial Palace, Hall of Knights, Chapel of St. Nicholas, Royal Bedroom, and Audience Hall. Tour 2, which lasts 70 minutes, offers a look at the Holy Rood Chapel, famous for the more than 2,000 precious and semiprecious inlaid gems adorning its walls; the Chapel of St. Catherine, Charles IV's own private oratory; the Church of Our Lady; and the library. Note that you need to make a reservation to visit the Holy Rood Chapel on Tour 2 (tel. 274-008-154; fax 274-008-152; www.hradkarlstejn.cz). You can buy tickets and make reservations online.

The shorter Tour 1 costs 250Kc adults, 150Kc students, 20Kc children under 6. Tour 2 with the Holy Rood Chapel costs 300Kc adults, 200Kc students, free for children under 6. The castle is open Tuesday to Sunday: May, June, and September 9am to noon and 12:30 to 5pm; July and August 9am to noon and 12:30 to 6pm; April and October 9am to noon and 1 to 4pm; November, December, and March 9am to noon and 1 to 3pm; closed January and February.

A Castle-Viewing Tip -- Karlstejn is probably best seen from a distance, so take time to browse in the stores, enjoy the fresh air, and sit out on one of the restaurant patios or down by the riverside. Buy a bottle of the locally grown Karlstejn wine, a vintage started by King Charles IV, and admire the view.

Tee Time: Karstejn's Championship Golf Course

Golfers may want to try their luck at the North American-designed Prague Karlstejn Golf Club, a course that hosted its first European PGA tour event 10 years ago. This challenging 27-hole, 10,523-yard course on the hill just across the river from the castle offers some pretty views. At the elevated tee on the second hole, you'll hit toward the castle. It's a breathtaking place to lose a ball. If you want a real challenge, see if you can match former Masters winner German Bernhard Langer's four-round total of 264 (24 under par).

Karlstejn is one of the few courses in the Czech Republic that really challenges a golfer's ability -- narrow fairways, long roughs, and lightning-fast greens. Be prepared to walk uphill between holes. The course is open daily from 8am to sundown, and reservations for weekends should be made a couple of days in advance; call tel. 311-604-999 or go online to www.karlstejn-golf.cz. Be forewarned, however, it's not cheap, especially for visitors who may need to rent clubs and carts: greens fees are 2,000Kc for 18 holes Monday to Friday (slight discount if you tee off before 11am), and 3,000Kc Saturday, Sunday, and holidays. Motorized cart rentals are 1,300Kc per 18 holes, while a pull cart is 200Kc per round. Club rental is 1,000Kc per round.

To get here by car from Prague, take Hwy. 116 south through the castle town of Karlstejn. Once you cross the river and a set of train tracks, stay on the road, which veers right and goes up a hill. You'll see the golf course on the left and an entrance soon after. If you've taken the train, you can walk to the course through town, but be warned that it's an uphill hike. Take a taxi, which should cost 120Kc.

Where to Dine

The Restaurace Blanky z Valois (tel. 608-021-075 ), on the main street heading up to the castle, serves pizzas and provide the only alternative to standard Czech fare in the area. Pizzas range from 90Kc to 180Kc. The restaurant is open daily from 11am to 10pm. The long wine list includes French and Italian vintages, but try and sample Karlstejn's own. This light, dry wine is surprisingly good considering it's not from Moravia, and it costs less than half the price of the imports.

Further along the main road, away from town and beyond the castle, you'll find the rustic inn Pod Drací skalou (tel. 311-681-177; www.poddraciskalou.eu). This is a great spot for a traditional pub lunch, including lots of dishes featuring wild game like boar, pheasant, and venison. Main courses are 150Kc to 250Kc. The restaurant is open Monday to Saturday 11am to 11pm, Sunday 11am to 8pm.

Restaurace U Janu (tel. 311-681-210 ), at the top of the village, is another good alternative. If it's hot out, take a seat on the welcoming shady terrace; if it's a chilly winter day, pull up a chair next to the fireplace inside. The menu is basic Czech. The venison specials make a nice change from the usual meat-and-dumpling meals. Main courses are up to 199Kc. It's open daily 9:30am to 10pm.

A Romantic Getaway

If the air and noise of Prague start to grate on your nerves, or if a quiet, romantic, overnight trip to a castle in the country sounds like the perfect getaway, head for the Romantic Hotel Mlýn (Mill Hotel) , 267 18 Karlstejn (tel. 311-744-411; fax 311-744-444; www.hotelmlynkarlstejn.cz).

On the river's edge on the bank opposite the castle, the Mlýn is exactly what its name says -- a mill. Converted into a hotel and recently reconstructed, this reasonably priced country inn takes you away from the hustle and bustle of traveling. Its 28 rooms are a little on the small side, but they're quaint and nicely decorated with rustic furniture. At the outdoor patio bar and very good restaurant, you can relax and enjoy the soothing sounds of the river. Service here is a cut above what it is at the other hotels in the area. If you are here for lunch or dinner when the outdoor grill has been fired up, take advantage of it. Use the hotel also as a base for bike and canoe trips along the river. The staff can help you with local tennis courts and reservations for a round of golf.

Rates average around 2,100Kc for a single and 2,600Kc for a double, though they fluctuate according to the season. Check the website for rates on the day you plan to travel. Credit cards are accepted. To get to the hotel, take the bridge across the river that leads to the train station and turn left at the first street. If you cross the rail tracks, you've gone too far.

Note : This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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Official web presentation

• Opening hours

There are guided tours only.

The last tour starts at the same time like opening hours .

1. Imperial Residence of Charles IV (basic tour)

The last tour starts at the time of the closing hours

The tour includes historic interiors of the 1st and 2nd floors of the Imperial Palace and the 1st floor of the Marian Tower with valuable furnishings from the 14th–19th centuries (Courtiers Hall, Knights Hall with the St. Nicholas Chapel, Marian Tower Courtyard, Karlštejn Castle Deanery,...

Information about starting times of individual tours can be found in their descriptions

2. Karlštejn Castle Chapels (exclusive tour)

Both most valuable and impressive rooms of this medieval castle with original and unique decoration. What will you see? Eastern wing of the Imperial Palace, the 2nd floor of the Marian Tower with the Church of the Virgin Mary and the St. Catherine Chapel, the Great Tower – stairway with...

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Red White Adventures

Everything you need to know about visiting karlstejn castle.

Karlstejn is definitely the most popular and maybe also the most beautiful castle in the Czech Republic. This is saying a lot because Czech is known for being the “King of Castles” with over 200 castles and chateaus! After visiting the castle we can say that this is absolutely true.

Walking up the streets and paths towards the castle will bring your imagination back to the medieval days. It almost feels like a fairytale walking up to this enchanted castle if you take away the tourist shops that have popped up over the years.

One of our favourite parts about visiting Karlstejn is that it is out in nature and gives you a completely different experience than the one in Prague. We love Prague and have a list of 38 things to do in Prague you can check out – but it is also fun exploring outside of the city sometimes! Being able to take a train for 50 minutes to end up in such a gorgeous place is just another reason why we love exploring the Czech Republic. 

This ends up being a perfect day trip because along with the castle tour, and exploring the area you can even go for lunch at one of the delicious restaurants down below and see some of Czech’s beautiful countryside. In this post, you’ll find all the information that you need for this day trip from Prague to Karlstejn Castle! 

Table of Contents

How to get to Karlstejn Castle .

One of the reasons why going to Karlstejn is one of the best day trips from Prague is because of its proximity to the city. With public transport, it is less than 1 hour from Prague to Karlstejn. The easiest way to go there is by hopping on a train from the central train station (Hlavní nádraží) in the direction of Beroun.

To buy your tickets, we recommend using an app called Muj Vlak or the one called IDOS . You can also go to the main train station beforehand and purchase your tickets at the office there. We find using the app much easier though.

The trains from Prague to Karlstejn and Karlstejn back to Prague run quite frequently so whenever you get to the station you rarely have to wait for more than 30-ish minutes. During the day and on weekends the train runs every 30 minutes or so. In the evenings it’s less frequent. You can check the train times on Google Maps on your phone or on České dráhy right here .

The stop you will get off at is called Karlstejn so that makes it easy. From there we got you covered down below! =)

Here are the directions to Karlstejn Castle

• Once you get off the train, turn right.
• Follow the trail across the bridge.
• Turn right again and follow the road into Karlstejn.
• From there you can take the road up towards the castle.
• Here are the exact directions from the train station up to the castle. It’s a nice 2.1 km / 1.3 mile walk up to the castle.

Make sure when finding the train tickets, that you search from Praha hl. n to Karlstejn. The train ride should cost 59 CZK or just under $3 each way. So for $6 you can get to Karlstejn Castle and back into the city. Not too bad for a gorgeous day trip.

Information about Karlstejn Tours

Tours run quite frequently Tuesday through Sunday. There are a few different tour options that you can see here. They run more frequently during the summer months and when the tourism season is high.

There are a few different tours you can pick from and the price is slightly more expensive for the tourist (English) version of the tour.

It’s definitely worth it if you love castles and history but we actually found exploring the grounds and the city of Karlstejn was enough for us and we didn’t even need to take a tour to experience the beauty of the castle and the area.

So don’t feel like you’re missing out if you don’t want to take a tour of the inside of Karlstejn. If you do though, do feel free to comment on the post and let us know what you think! Either way, whatever you decide you will have a great time we’re sure.

Exploring the area around Karlstejn Castle

The town of Karlstejn is beautiful in itself and gives such a fairytale vibe to it. We definitely recommend exploring the town and wandering around the streets to try and get a unique picture of the castle. We roamed around and even found a pet pig in one of the backyards (for real).

One thing we wanted to share with you is the backside behind the castle where lots of tourists don’t really visit. There’s a super cool area to explore and also a delicious traditional Czech restaurant that is absolutely worth visiting!

We actually just randomly stumbled upon the path to the restaurant and it’s quite easy to miss if you’re not looking for it. The path is marked with a green diamond. You can see the exact directions towards the restaurant here . It’s a short walk through the forest on this gorgeous path that gives you a feel for medieval times.

You can enjoy lunch at the restaurant mentioned above: Penzion Pod Skalou Restaurant before heading back up to town and back towards the train station. The restaurant even has wifi so it’s a good place to check the train times back to Prague and anything else you may need to do 😉

To get back to the train station, you can take the main road back from the restaurant towards where you started the day trip. To make sure you don’t get lost here are the directions . Or else you can take the marked trail back up to the castle and then back down to town.

Some history about Karlstejn

Here is also a little bit of info you may be interested in before embarking on your day trip from Prague.

• Karlstejn was founded in 1348.
• Served as a place for safekeeping valuable jewels and artifacts.
• This castle is the 5th most visited castle in the Czech Republic.
• Over 200.000 tourists visit the castle every year.

On top of all this, if you go on a tour, you’ll learn a bunch of interesting facts on who ruled the castle during certain eras and the purpose of the castle.

If you didn’t know already, Prague is the perfect place to take day trips from . Now you’ll have another day trip to add to the list. Karlstejn is honestly one of our favourites because of how close it is to Prague and the nature surrounding the area.

In one afternoon you can go see a magical castle and also go explore some beautiful countryside while enjoying authentic Czech food. By the time the day’s over, you’ll only have a short train ride back to the city!

Now you should hopefully have all the information you’ll need to have a fantastic day out in Karlstejn. Feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions about the journey or want any other tips for things to do in the area. We’re always looking forward to sharing information with fellow adventures.

Dom & Jo

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