The Astronomical Clock and the Old Town Hall — what’s free and what costs money
The Prague Astronomical Clock (Orloj) is installed on the southern face of the Old Town Hall tower on Staroměstské náměstí (Old Town Square). The clock itself — the hourly procession of the Apostles, the Death figure ringing his bell, the crowing rooster — is visible and free from the square below. No ticket required.
What costs money is going up the tower. And it’s worth doing.
What the tower ticket covers
Old Town Hall tower admission (250 CZK / ≈ €10) includes:
- Tower viewing gallery: a glass-enclosed platform at approximately 65 metres offers a 360° panoramic view of the Old Town Square, Týn Cathedral, and the dense red-roofed cityscape toward Prague Castle. This is one of the best vantage points in Prague that does not require climbing significant stairs (there is an elevator).
- Gothic Hall and exhibition rooms: on the lower floors, permanent exhibitions cover the history of the Old Town Hall and the construction of the clock.
- Council Chamber: the historical Gothic Chamber where Prague city council met; now used for ceremonies and accessible on guided tours.
Old Town Hall with audio guide (350 CZK / ≈ €14): includes the tower plus a downloadable or rental audio guide covering the history of the clock mechanism, the astronomical dial, and the building’s medieval origins. Good value if you want context.
With Underground tour (selected slots, approximately 450 CZK / ≈ €18): a guided descent into the Gothic cellars and tunnels beneath the Old Town Hall, which includes remnants of an even older Romanesque structure discovered during post-WWII reconstruction. The tunnels are genuinely interesting and not widely visited — usually requires advance booking.
2026 prices at the Old Town Hall tower
| Option | Adult | Child (6–15) | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tower only | 250 CZK (≈ €10) | 150 CZK (≈ €6) | 200 CZK (≈ €8) |
| Tower + audio guide | 350 CZK (≈ €14) | 200 CZK (≈ €8) | 280 CZK (≈ €11) |
| Tower + Underground (guided) | ~450 CZK (≈ €18) | ~280 CZK (≈ €11) | — |
Children under 6: free. Prague Visitor Pass: tower included at no extra charge.
Important: the western wing of the Old Town Hall was destroyed by the Nazis in May 1945. Reconstruction is ongoing. Parts of the building complex may be closed for restoration work in 2026 — check current status at the ticket desk.
Where to buy tickets
On-site: ticket desk at the main entrance to the Old Town Hall, Staroměstské náměstí 1. Queue can be 10–20 minutes in peak summer. An automated kiosk outside the main door accepts card payment for tower tickets only.
Pre-book via GYG (avoids ticket desk queue):
- Prague: Old Town Hall Tower entry ticket — standard tower admission, skip the queue.
- Prague: Astronomical Clock Tower entry ticket and audio guide — tower + audio guide bundle.
- Prague: Old Town, Astronomical Clock, and Underground tour — the most complete option, includes a guided tour of the underground spaces.
- Prague 3-hour tour with Astronomical Clock admission — guided walking tour of the Old Town including tower access.
The Astronomical Clock: how to watch the hourly show
The famous hourly procession happens every hour, on the hour, from 09:00 to 23:00. Here’s what to expect:
- The Death figure (a skeleton on the right side of the clock) begins the sequence by pulling a rope to ring his bell.
- The twelve Apostles appear in the two small windows above the clock face, rotating slowly as a carillon plays.
- The rooster crows and flaps its wings to signal the end of the procession.
- The clock strikes the hour.
The whole show lasts about 45 seconds. On a clear day, this is charming; on a rainy grey morning, the atmosphere is genuinely medieval. The square below gets extremely crowded for the hourly show — arrive 5 minutes early for a clear view. The best viewing position is directly in front of the clock, slightly offset to the south.
The astronomical dial below the Apostles’ windows shows the position of the sun and moon in the sky, the time in three different systems (Bohemian time, German time, Italian time), and the zodiac sign. The calendar dial below that shows the months and feast days.
No ticket needed to watch the clock from the square. The tower ticket is for going up.
Practical tips for visiting the tower
Best time to go up: 09:00 (opening) or after 16:00. Midday queues for the elevator can stretch 25–30 minutes. The view at golden hour (1 hour before sunset) is exceptional.
The elevator: the tower has a small elevator that takes 4–6 people. Walk-ups are also allowed — there are stairs, approximately 150 steps. The elevator queue can actually be longer than the stair time.
Photography: the glass panels of the tower observation deck are clean but can cause glare. Bring a lens hood or a black cloth to press against the glass.
Opening hours: daily 09:00–21:00 (summer); 09:00–20:00 (winter). Last elevator at 30 minutes before closing.
Monday mornings: the tower opening is delayed to 11:00 on Mondays due to cleaning and maintenance. Avoid planning a Monday morning tower visit.
Frequently asked questions about the Old Town Hall and Astronomical Clock
Is the Astronomical Clock the oldest in the world?
It is one of the oldest working astronomical clocks in the world. The original mechanism was installed in 1410, making it over 600 years old. (The oldest astronomical clock in Strasbourg predates it, but Prague’s is older in continuous operation.) The procession of Apostles was added in 1490.
Why does the clock show three different time systems?
The medieval clock was installed when Prague used multiple timekeeping conventions simultaneously. The outer dial shows Central European time (24-hour format, modernised); the inner dials show Babylonian/Italian time (counting hours from sunset) and Old Czech/Bohemian time (counting from sunrise). By the time these systems fell out of use, the clock was too culturally significant to simplify.
What happened to the Old Town Hall in WWII?
On 8 May 1945, the final day of the Prague Uprising, retreating German forces set fire to and destroyed the northern and western wings of the Old Town Hall complex. The ruins were partially cleared; the surviving tower and southern wing were restored. The destroyed wings were never rebuilt — the empty lot is now a small park alongside the Staroměstské náměstí.
Is the tower accessible for people with mobility limitations?
Yes — the elevator provides step-free access from the entrance hall to the observation deck. The ticket desk and building entrance are at street level. Confirm current elevator availability before your visit, as maintenance closures occasionally affect access.
Can I see the inside of the clock mechanism?
Guided tours of the clock mechanism (the internal gears and weights) are occasionally offered, but not as a standard daily ticket option in 2026. Check the Old Town Hall’s current programme on the Prague City Tourism website (pragtour.eu). The Underground tour is the more reliable way to see non-public areas.
Is the Old Town Hall tower better than the Petřín tower for views?
Different views, both excellent. The Old Town Hall tower is in the centre of the Old Town, so you look directly down on Staroměstské náměstí and the dense medieval city fabric — ideal for understanding Prague’s street layout. Petřín is higher (324 metres above sea level vs the tower’s 70m) and gives a broader panorama including Prague Castle, the river bend, and the distant hills — better for landscape photography. If you can only do one: Old Town Hall for urban detail, Petřín for panoramic scope.
How does the Old Town Hall tower compare to the Powder Tower?
Both are medieval towers at the edge of the Old Town. The Old Town Hall tower (65m, elevator available) gives the better panoramic view because of its central position. The Powder Gate / Powder Tower (Prašná brána, at Náměstí Republiky) is taller (65m by stairs) and provides views over the eastern Old Town and the Art Nouveau Municipal House facade — different angle, no elevator. Entry to the Powder Tower: 405 CZK (€16) — Prague: Powder Gate Tower entrance ticket. The Old Town Hall tower is the better value of the two for most visitors.
Is it worth combining the tower with an Underground tour?
Yes — the Underground tour accesses medieval Gothic cellars and Romanesque foundations beneath the Old Town Hall that almost no other tour covers. If you are interested in medieval archaeology or want to see Prague below street level, it is excellent. Book the Underground tour in advance (it runs on timed slots with a guide); standard tower admission does not include it.
When is the worst time to visit the Astronomical Clock tower?
Saturday and Sunday, 10 AM to 2 PM, in July and August. This window combines the week’s peak tourism density with the tower’s most popular time slot. Queues for the elevator extend outside the building. Arrive at 9 AM when the tower opens, or after 5 PM when the day-trip groups have departed.
Does the Visitor Pass include the Underground tour?
The standard Prague Visitor Pass includes tower admission only. The Underground guided tour (approximately €18 including tower) requires a separate booking regardless of pass type. Buy it at the Old Town Hall ticket desk or in advance via GYG.
