DXR · CC BY-SA 4.0 · edited
The Czech crown jewels are on public display in Vladislav Hall at Prague Castle until Monday 28 September 2026, and entry is free. The exhibition, titled Bohemian Crown Jewels: Habsburgs 500, is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm, according to Prague Castle.
Queues have been long. On opening day, Saturday 19 September, the line stretched across almost the whole South Gardens by about 9 am, Blesk reported. The castle warns that daily capacity is limited and the queue can close early.
It is one of several autumn changes for visitors heading to Central Europe. If you are travelling on by train to Slovenia, see our report on the Lake Bled rail closure until 12 November.
- Dates: open to the public until Monday 28 September 2026.
- Hours: 9 am to 5 pm daily, but the queue can close early once capacity is reached.
- Price: free, with no reservations.
- Entry: from Hradčany Square through the South Gardens and up the Bull Staircase.
- Status date: Prague Castle exhibition page and Czech press, read 24 September 2026.
Czech Crown Jewels at Prague Castle Until 28 September
The centrepiece is the St. Wenceslas Crown, made in 1347 for Charles IV, shown with the Royal Sceptre and Royal Orb, a coronation robe from 1653 and historic keys from the guardians of the Crown Chamber. This year’s display marks 500 years since Ferdinand I of Habsburg took the Bohemian throne in 1526. E15 reports that visitors can also lift a gold replica of the crown weighing 2,358 grams, the same as the original.
The jewels are normally kept in the Crown Chamber of St. Vitus Cathedral behind seven locks, with the keys held by seven senior figures of the Czech state, church and city, Expats.cz reported. They were shown only on rare occasions until 2024, when President Petr Pavel began an annual display around St. Wenceslas Day on 28 September.
Expect a Long Queue in the South Gardens
Last year the average wait was 30 to 45 minutes on weekdays and about two hours at weekends, according to figures from the castle cited by E15. The waiting area is in the South Gardens, and the castle says the daily capacity depends on how many people that space can hold, so entry may stop well before 5 pm.
The last three days fall on a weekend and a public holiday: Saturday 26, Sunday 27 and Monday 28 September, St. Wenceslas Day in the Czech Republic. Friday 25 September is the last weekday. Prague Castle posts capacity updates on its social media channels.
Security Checks and Access Rules
All visitors pass through security screening with metal detectors and X-ray checks of bags. Flash photography is not allowed. Prams cannot be taken into Vladislav Hall or the waiting areas.
The waiting area is not wheelchair accessible. Wheelchair users with valid documentation enter directly from the Third Courtyard instead of queuing in the gardens, the castle says.
Old Royal Palace Reopens From 2 October
The Old Royal Palace, which houses Vladislav Hall, is closed to regular visits during the exhibition period, apart from the jewels display itself. It is fully closed again from 29 September to 1 October and reopens for regular visits on 2 October, according to the castle’s closures notice. St. Vitus Cathedral also has shortened hours on some days, including 12 pm to 4 pm on 28 September and a morning closure on 29 September.
| If you are | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Free on Friday 25 September | The last weekday. Last year’s weekday waits averaged 30 to 45 minutes. |
| Going on 26, 27 or 28 September | Weekend and holiday crowds. Last year’s weekend average was about two hours. |
| Travelling with a pram | Prams are not allowed in the hall or the waiting area. |
| Using a wheelchair | Enter from the Third Courtyard with valid documentation. |
| Visiting the Old Royal Palace as usual | Wait until it reopens on 2 October. |
Free and rare. The crown jewels are on show only until 28 September.
Long lines. Weekend waits averaged about two hours last year, and entry can close early.
Palace closed after. The Old Royal Palace reopens for regular visits on 2 October.
When can I see the Czech crown jewels in 2026?
From 19 to 28 September 2026, daily from 9 am to 5 pm, in Vladislav Hall at Prague Castle.
Do I need a ticket to see the crown jewels?
No. Entry is free and there are no reservations. You join the queue in the South Gardens.
How long is the wait?
Last year it averaged 30 to 45 minutes on weekdays and about two hours at weekends, and the queue can close early.
Where is the entrance?
From Hradčany Square through the gate to the South Gardens, up the Bull Staircase to the Third Courtyard and into the Old Royal Palace.
