Visiting Křivoklát Castle in Křivoklát, Czech Republic
Křivoklát Castle is a hidden gem in the Czech Republic. Located only about 1 hour away from Prague, Křivoklát Castle makes for the perfect day trip.
A beautiful medieval fortress, Křivoklát Castle is not as well known to visitors to the Czech Republic, but it definitely should be!
I visited this castle during my family’s 3-day vacation to Prague and was amazed by its well-preserved interiors. As I’ve been known to do, I actually made this day trip into a two-castle day and visited the nearby Karlštejn Castle as well.
This guide will tell you everything you need to know about visiting Křivoklát Castle, how to get there, and interesting castle history.
Křivoklát Castle History
This early-Gothic fortress was built in the 12th century during the Přemyslid dynasty. It was conquered by the Hussites during the Hussite Wars in the 1400s.
The castle was then turned into a formidable prison that held all types of inmates from alchemists (Edward Kelley) to future emperors (Charles IV when he was a child).
In the 19th century, the Fürstenberg family took ownership of the castle. After a fire in 1826, the family had to reconstruct parts of the castle. They owned the castle until 1929.
Getting to Křivoklát Castle
Getting to Křivoklát Castle from Prague is pretty easy. You can choose to go by a guided tour, by train, or by car.
By Guided Tour
If you don’t want the hassle of figuring out Czech transportation yourself, there are several guided tours that will take you from Prague to the castle.
We did a tour with Private Prague Guide to Křivoklát Castle and Karlštejn Castle. This Private Křivoklát Castle Tour with Bohemia Glass Factory & Lunch is also a popular choice.
By Train
Taking the train from Prague to the castle is about a 1.5 hour trip. From Prague’s central train station (Hlavní nádraží), take the train in the direction of Beroun. You’ll change trains at Beroun to a local train in the direction of Rakovník.
When you arrive at the Křivoklát Station, head right down the path, crossing the stream, and then walk up the hill to the castle entrance on the left. This walk is about 15 minutes.
By Car
It is about a 1 hour drive from Prague to the castle. Follow signs for Křivoklát/Beroun.
Parking is available past the castle at Parkoviště Křivoklát-Nad hradem, which also has a pedestrian bridge crossing the road that leads to the castle. It’s only about a 10 minute walk.
Touring Křivoklát Castle
The castles offers four different tours. Some tours are only offered seasonally, so double check your dates before you go.
The Gothic Palace – Long (basic tour) is an 80-minute guided tour that takes you into the Royal Hall (which is the second-largest hall in the country after Prague Castle‘s Vladislav Hall), the Late Gothic chapel, the expansive library with 52,000 volumes, the dungeon and prison, the silversmithery, and the Small Knight’s Hall.
The Gothic Palace – Short tour is a 60-minute guided tour that takes you into the silversmithery, the prison and dungeon, the chapel, the Small Knight’s Hall, and the Royal Hall.
The Castle Grand tour is a 100-minute guided tour that takes you to everything on the Long tour plus onto the ramparts and into the Large Round Tower for an aerial view of the castle.
The On the Ramparts and Tower tour is a 20 minute tour without a guide that lets you look at the castle’s defensive system and the Large Round Tower.
Visiting Křivoklát Castle
The castle’s hours vary by season. Check their website for accurate opening times.
All tours are guided except for On the Ramparts and Tower. Advanced reservations are not necessary.
The Gothic Palace – Long tour ticket costs 240 Kč for adults; 190 Kč for seniors 65+, students ages 18-24, and persons with disabilities with valid ID; 70 Kč for children ages 6-17; and free for children 5 and under.
The Gothic Palace – Short tour ticket costs 220 Kč for adults; 180 Kč for seniors, students, and persons with disabilities; 70 Kč for children; and free for children 5 and under.
The Castle Grand tour ticket costs 300 Kč for adults; 240 Kč for seniors, students, and persons with disabilities; 90 Kč for children; and free for children 5 and under.
The On the Ramparts and Tower tour ticket costs 140 Kč for adults; 110 Kč for seniors, students, and persons with disabilities; 40 Kč for children; and free for children 5 and under.
Top Křivoklát Castle Tours
There’s a lot to see in the Czech Republic! To take some of the stress out of planning your visit, opt for a guided tour. Check out this list of the top tours that include Křivoklát Castle.
- Křivoklát Castle Tour by Private Car
- Private Křivoklát Castle Tour with Bohemia Glass Factory & Lunch
- Křivoklát Castle & Křivoklátsko Day Hike
Castle Count: 38
Want to visit more castles nearby? Check out Prague Castle and Karlštejn Castle! You can even make it a two-castle day by visiting both Karlštejn Castle and Křivoklát Castle together.
Ready to visit Křivoklát Castle in Křivoklát, Czech Republic? Plan your trip with these tips.
- Book Your Flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
- Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels in Křivoklát using Booking.com.
- Start Packing: Check out my packing list resources so you’re prepared for your trip.
Cheers!
Paige
Have you visited Křivoklát Castle? Let me know about your trip in the comments!
