The official Prague Astronomical Clock information site is prague.eu, operated by Prague City Tourism. Tower and Old Town Hall interior tickets cost 350 CZK (~€13) for adults. A 50% Early Bird discount (175 CZK) applies at the box office during the first hour of opening each day. The hourly Apostles procession (09:00–23:00) is completely free to watch from Old Town Square — no ticket required. Tower open Tue–Sun 09:00–20:00 (Apr–Dec), Mon 11:00–20:00. Under-5 free.
The Prague Astronomical Clock (Pražský Orloj) is one of the most visited monuments in Central Europe: a Gothic mechanical marvel built in 1410 on the south wall of the Old Town Hall in Prague’s Old Town Square. It is the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world still in working order and the oldest still functioning with its original mechanism. Every hour from 09:00 to 23:00, a mechanical procession of the twelve apostles appears through the windows above the clock face — a show that has been running for over 600 years.
Top Tickets
For priority counter entry to the Old Town Hall and tower, the Astronomical Clock admission ticket provides skip-the-queue access. For tower access with audio commentary on the clock’s mechanism and history, choose the Astronomical Clock tower ticket with audio guide. For the most complete experience, the Old Town, Astronomical Clock and Underground Tour covers all three with a licensed guide.
Table of Contents
What Is the Official Astronomical Clock Website?
The official information site is prague.eu, operated by Prague City Tourism. Tickets can be purchased at the Old Town Hall box office on-site or online via prague.eu. GetYourGuide is an official partner and provides priority counter access. Available in Czech and English.
- Official website: prague.eu/en
- Managed by: Prague City Tourism / City of Prague
- Address: Staroměstské náměstí 1, 110 00 Praha 1 (south wall of Old Town Hall)
- Watch from the square: Free. Always. No ticket or booking required.
- Tower / interior ticket — adult: 350 CZK (~€13). Includes tower gallery, Gothic chapel, state rooms, and free underground guided tour.
- Early Bird 50% discount: 175 CZK. At the box office during the first hour of opening each day only. Not available online.
- Reduced (children 6–15, seniors 65+): 230 CZK.
- Youth 16–26: 280 CZK.
- Under 5: Free.
- Family ticket (2 adults + up to 4 children): 750 CZK.
- Tower elevator: Optional supplement: 100 CZK (adults), 50 CZK (seniors 65+).
- Hours (Apr–Dec): Tue–Sun 09:00–20:00; Mon 11:00–20:00.
- Hours (Jan–Mar): Tue–Sun 10:00–19:00; Mon 11:00–19:00.
- Hourly show: Daily 09:00–23:00. Free from Old Town Square.
The 50% Early Bird discount is the best-value option — box office only: The Early Bird discount (175 CZK vs 350 CZK) is available every day during the first hour after opening at the on-site box office. It cannot be booked online. If you can arrive at opening time (09:00 Tue–Sun in Apr–Dec), the Early Bird gives the same access at half the price.
What Tickets Can You Buy?
| Ticket / Access Type | Book Through | What It Includes | Price (2026) |
| Watch the show from the square | No ticket | The hourly Apostles procession is free to watch from Old Town Square. Runs 09:00–23:00 daily. | Free |
| Old Town Hall interior — adult | prague.eu / box office | Tower gallery, Gothic chapel, state rooms, underground (free guided tour included). | 350 CZK (∼€13) |
| Early Bird 50% discount | Box office on-site only | 50% off the standard price during the first hour of opening each day. Not available online. | 175 CZK (∼€7) |
| Reduced — children 6–15, seniors 65+ | prague.eu / box office | Valid ID required. | 230 CZK |
| Youth 16–26 | prague.eu / box office | Valid ID required. | 280 CZK |
| Under 5 | Box office | Free. | Free |
| Family (2 adults + up to 4 children) | Box office | Bundle. | 750 CZK |
| Tower elevator supplement | Box office | Optional lift. 100 CZK adults; 50 CZK seniors. | 100 CZK (adult) |
| Astronomical Clock admission ticket | GetYourGuide | Priority counter entry to the Old Town Hall and tower. Free cancellation. | From ∼350 CZK |
| Tower ticket + audio guide | GetYourGuide | Tower entry with audio commentary on the clock mechanism, history, and tower views. Free cancellation. | From ∼350 CZK |
| Old Town + Clock + Underground tour | GetYourGuide | Guided walking tour of Old Town, clock visit, and the medieval underground passages. Free cancellation. | From ∼550 CZK |
For a complete guide to the clock, the show, and visit planning, see our article on the Prague Astronomical Clock.
The Hourly Show: What Happens and When
The Apostles’ procession is the centrepiece of the Astronomical Clock — free to watch from the square:
- When: Every hour on the hour, daily 09:00–23:00.
- What happens: Death (a skeleton) rings a bell and turns an hourglass; Vanity admires himself in a mirror; Greed counts his money; a Turk shakes his head. Above, two windows open and the twelve apostles pass by in procession. A golden cockerel crows, the bell rings. Duration: approximately 45 seconds.
- Best position: Directly in front of the clock in Old Town Square. Arrive 10–15 minutes before the hour to secure a front-row spot.
- Evening shows (20:00–23:00): The clock is illuminated and the show continues. Evening shows attract significantly smaller crowds than daytime.
The Clock: Two Faces and One Mechanism
The Astronomical Dial
The lower face is the original 1410 astronomical mechanism, showing the position of the Sun and Moon against the zodiac and horizon, the time in three systems (Bohemian time, Old Czech time, and Babylonian hours), and the time of sunrise and sunset. The golden hand pointing to the outer ring shows the current hour in the 24-hour system.
The Calendar Dial
The painted calendar dial above was added in 1490. It shows the 365 days divided by month, with each day marked by a saint’s name. The current version is a restoration: the medieval panels by Josef Mánes (1865) are in the Prague City Museum. The clock was severely damaged by Nazi shelling in May 1945 and restored to full working order by 1948.
What You See with a Tower Ticket
- Tower viewing gallery: 360° panoramic views from 69.5 metres over Old Town Square, Prague’s Old Town rooftops, the Vltava river, and Prague Castle. The highest publicly accessible viewpoint in the Old Town.
- Clock mechanism from behind: The route up the tower passes the working back of the Astronomical Clock — gears, chains, and counterweights visible. Being inside when the hourly procession runs is the most dramatic experience the ticket offers.
- Gothic chapel: The 14th-century Gothic chapel of the Old Town Hall with original vaulting and stonework.
- State rooms: The historic council chambers where Prague’s civic government has met for centuries.
- Underground (free guided tour included): Medieval passages and foundations beneath Old Town Square, accessible via a free guided tour included in the ticket. Tours depart regularly throughout the day.
The Legend of Master Hanuš
According to Prague’s most famous legend, the clock was built by a master clockmaker named Hanuš, and the city councillors — fearful he would replicate it elsewhere — had him blinded to preserve Prague’s uniqueness. In revenge, Hanuš reached into the mechanism and stopped it, causing it to malfunction for decades. The legend is almost certainly false — historical records attribute the clock to Mikuláš of Kadň and mathematician Jan Šindel — but it is the story every guide tells on Old Town Square.
Step-by-Step: How to Visit
- Decide: watch the show only (free, no ticket) or go up the tower and inside (350 CZK).
- For the Early Bird 50% discount: arrive at opening time (09:00 Tue–Sun, Apr–Dec) and purchase at the box office (175 CZK). This is not available online.
- For priority desk access and free cancellation: book online before your visit.
- Position yourself in Old Town Square at least 10–15 minutes before a full hour for the Apostles procession. The square fills quickly in summer.
- Enter the Old Town Hall through the glass entrance doors on the square. GetYourGuide holders proceed to the ‘priority’ counter on the ground floor.
- Choose stairs (free) or elevator (+100 CZK) to ascend the tower. The internal path is a gradual ramp, not a steep staircase. For the underground tour, join the next guided departure from the ground floor.
Quick Reference: Official Box Office vs GetYourGuide
| Official / Box Office | GetYourGuide | |
| Watch from square | Free — always | Same |
| Tower entry price | 350 CZK standard | Same; free cancellation |
| 50% Early Bird | Yes — first hour, box office only | Not applicable |
| Priority counter | Not always | Yes |
| Audio guide | Supplement on-site | Included in audio product |
| Underground guided tour | Included in standard ticket | Included in underground tour product |
| Free cancellation | No | Yes — 24h notice |
| Family ticket | Yes — box office (750 CZK) | Not available |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the official Prague Astronomical Clock website?
The official information site is prague.eu. Tower and interior tickets cost 350 CZK (~€13). A 50% Early Bird discount is available at the box office in the first hour of opening. For a complete visitor guide, see our article on the Prague Astronomical Clock.
Is the Astronomical Clock free to see?
Watching the hourly Apostles procession from Old Town Square is completely free and requires no ticket. The show runs every hour from 09:00 to 23:00. A ticket (350 CZK adult) is only needed to enter the Old Town Hall interior and climb the tower.
What is the Early Bird discount?
A 50% discount (175 CZK vs 350 CZK) applies during the first hour of opening at the on-site box office each day. It cannot be booked online. In Apr–Dec, this means arriving by 09:00 on weekdays and Saturdays/Sundays.
What can I see from the tower?
A 360° panorama from 69.5 metres over Old Town Square, Prague’s rooftops, the Vltava river, and Prague Castle. The route also passes the working back of the clock mechanism — seeing the gears and counterweights activate during the hourly procession from inside the tower is one of the most memorable experiences in Prague.
Is the underground tour included?
Yes. A free guided tour of the medieval passages and foundations beneath Old Town Square is included in the standard tower ticket. The underground preserves remains of Romanesque buildings predating the current Old Town. Tours depart on a rolling schedule from the ground floor of the Old Town Hall.
When was the Prague Astronomical Clock built?
The astronomical mechanism was completed in 1410, making it the third-oldest functioning astronomical clock in the world. The calendar dial was added in 1490. The clock was severely damaged by Nazi shelling in May 1945 during the Prague Uprising and restored to full working order by 1948.
