Getting There
How to Get to Prague Castle: Tram, Metro, and Stairs
Tram, metro, or one of two historic stairways. Here's each route, plus a reminder to check tram routing before you travel.
Check dates and availability ↗Routes to Prague Castle
| Route | Details |
|---|---|
| Tram 22 / 23 | To Pražský hrad stop, ~5 min walk to Second Courtyard; Tram 23 uses historic tramcars |
| Tram stop closure (check before travel) | Tram stops near the castle can close for track work, so confirm current routing before you travel |
| Metro A to Malostranská, Old Castle Stairs | ~100 m to Staré zámecké schody, steep climb to the Na Opyši gate |
| Metro A to Malostranská, New Castle Stairs | Via Malostranské náměstí, Zámecká & Thunovská streets, up to Hradčanské náměstí and the Gate of the Giants |
| Metro A to Hradčanská | Alternative approach from the upper/opposite side, near Pohořelec |
Tram 22 and Tram 23
Tram 22, and the parallel Tram 23, both run to the Pražský hrad stop, leaving about a 5-minute walk to the Second Courtyard entrance. Tram 23 has an added bonus for transit fans: it runs historic tramcars on the route, so the ride itself is part of the experience rather than just a means of getting there. For most visitors coming from central Prague, this is the most direct route to the castle's main entrance area, dropping you close enough that the walk barely registers before you reach the courtyard gates.
Important: check current tram routing before you travel
Tram stops near the castle are sometimes closed for track work, and trams are then diverted to nearby stops. The castle's own page lists Pohořelec as a downhill way in. Closures like this are temporary, but they affect which stop you'll actually use. Check current tram routing immediately before your trip rather than relying on an old map or an out-of-date description of the "usual" tram stop for the castle.
Metro to Malostranská — Old Castle Stairs
From Metro Line A, the green line, get off at Malostranská station. One option from there is a short walk along the tram route to the Old Castle Stairs (Staré zámecké schody), a steep, historic staircase that the castle's directions say climbs to the Na Opyši gate. This route is shorter in distance than the alternative through Malostranské náměstí, but it's a genuine climb, the stairs are old and uneven in places, and atmospheric rather than convenient, so it suits visitors who don't mind stairs over a smoother but longer walk.
Metro to Malostranská — New Castle Stairs and the Gate of the Giants
The other option from Malostranská station goes via Malostranské náměstí, then up Zámecká and Thunovská streets to the New Castle Stairs, which the castle's directions say lead to Hradčanské náměstí and the Gate of the Giants, the castle's main, iconic entrance. This route is longer than the Old Castle Stairs option but arrives at the more famous, more photographed entrance, flanked by the statues that give the gate its name. If arriving at the postcard entrance matters more to you than the shortest route, this is the one to take on your way up to the castle.
Metro to Hradčanská — the other side
Metro Line A also stops at Hradčanská, on the opposite side of the castle complex from Malostranská, closer to the Pohořelec area. This is a useful alternative if you're approaching from a different direction, or if you want to see the castle from the upper end near Pohořelec before working your way down through the grounds rather than up from below. It's a genuinely different approach to the site than either of the Malostranská routes, arriving from the side rather than climbing up from the valley floor below the walls.
Choosing your route
If you want the simplest option, Tram 22 or 23 to Pražský hrad is the most direct, just confirm the stop is running normally before you go, given the 2026 construction diversions. If the trams are disrupted, or you'd rather walk a historic stairway, Metro Line A to Malostranská gives you a choice between the shorter Old Castle Stairs and the longer but more iconic New Castle Stairs to the Gate of the Giants. Hradčanská is worth considering if you're coming from that side of the city or want to start from the upper end of the complex.