Prague is one of my favorite cities to visit in Europe. Although wheelchair access is limited at some of the most popular tourist attractions, the majority of them are at least partially accessible. You’ll have just as great a time as your able-bodied peers touring the incredible Prague Castle, visiting the Old Town and Wenceslas Squares and taking in the Prague skyline from the Petrin Lookout Tower.
I was not able to visit every Prague attraction, but I did hit all of the best spots, and can confidently report on their wheelchair accessibility here. As always, I only write about the things I have actually seen and done myself. Please share your own experiences in the comments section at the bottom of this page.
Old Town Square (& Christmas Market)
The Old Town Square is a historic public square in the city’s center and old town quarter. The square is one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions, due in large part to the structures which surround it.
The square also serves as host to Christmas and Easter markets. In the photo above, you’ll see the Christmas market that was still going on in the days after the New Year’s celebration. Markets such as this take the city back to its medieval history, with merchants selling food, drink, and other goods. I passed through the square every day, and enjoyed a sausage and pastry on one occasion.
Nearest Tram/Metro station: 0.9 km from Náměstí Republiky (Trams #5, 8, 14, 24, 26, 51, 54, 56, 91).
Old Town Hall – Observation Tower
An observation area exists at the top of the Old Town Hall’s clocktower. This tower sits at one end of the Old Town Square, directly opposite the Church of Our Lady before Týn. Wheelchairs can get to the top of the tower, but will be forced to take in the sights from behind the glass walls, as the outside viewing deck is far too small to be wheelchair accessible. The trick though, is getting in. The main entrance, to the left of the tower, requires the use of steps. Staff can help you in through another door, and set-up a portable ramp, but you’ll have to figure out how to get their attention. Since I was joined by my sister on my visit to Prague, she was able to go inside and request the help I needed.
There is an elevator to the top of the tower. It was large enough for my power wheelchair and 4 other people, but it required some skillful maneuvering. You’ll have to reach the elevator by way of an electronic stair lift. It handled my heavy power wheelchair (plus me!) quite well. The city has made great effort to open the tower to all, but they were limited by the fact that some of the Town Hall’s original construction dates to the 15th century.
Nearest Tram/Metro station: 0.9 km from Náměstí Republiky (Trams #5, 8, 14, 24, 26, 51, 54, 56, 91).
Astronomical Clock
Mounted on the wall of the Old Town Hall, the Astronomical Clock or Orloj is one of the most unique attractions in the city. The clock dates back to 1410, making it the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest still operating.
The clock consists of three major components: the astronomical dial, which depicts the location of the sun and moon; a calendar dial; and the “Walk of the Apostles” moving show, which displays each of the Twelve Apostles every hour.
Nearest Tram/Metro station: 0.9 km from Náměstí Republiky (Trams #5, 8, 14, 24, 26, 51, 54, 56, 91).
National Museum of Prague
The Narodni, or National Museum, is housed in a beautiful structure overlooking Wenceslas Square in central Prague. The museum was founded in 1818, and its collection has grown to include more than 14 million items and artifacts.
I visited the museum in January 2015, but the main building (pictured above) is currently closed for a multi-year renovation. I was offered complimentary admission to the museum building next door, where the Death exhibit is located. When I found a room lined floor to ceiling with skulls, I had to take a creepy wheelchair travel selfie. It is safe to assume that the reconstructed building will offer complete accessibility to visitors in wheelchairs. You can follow along and get the latest updates on the National Museum’s website.
Nearest Tram/Metro station: 0.2 km from Muzeum (Tram #11).
Prague Castle
The Prague Castle complex dates to the 9th century, but most structures currently existing there were not built earlier than 1880. The castle has served as a residence to kings, emperors and later presidents of the various empires and governments which have ruled the area. The current tenants are the President and First Lady of the Czech Republic. According to Guinness, the Prague Castle is the largest preserved ancient castle in the world.
Pictured above is one of the entry gates to the castle, guarded by members of the Prague Castle Guard. The public is allowed entry into the castle, and can visit many of the exhibits and buildings found on the property. Most areas are wheelchair accessible, and admission is free to persons with a valid disability ID card.
Dedicate some time to a tour of the castle grounds. You may need to take more than one day. If visiting in the winter as I did, please be advised that the majority of the buildings are not heated!
Tickets can include some or all of 10 areas open to the public. These are numbered 1 through 10:
- Old Royal Palace
- The Story of Prague Castle, History Exhibit
- St. George’s Basilica
- The Treasury of St. Vitus Cathedral
- Golden Lane
- The Picture Gallery at Prague Castle
- Powder Tower – Mihulka (NOT accessible)
- St. Vitus Cathedral
- Rosenberg Palace
- Great South Tower of the Cathedral (NOT accessible, 287 steps)
Of those 10 (8 accessible) areas, I recommend that you first stop at The Story of Prague Castle exhibit, as it provides a historical primer that will help you understand questions of when, why and how. Next, I would go inside the Old Prague Castle. The third “must see” component of the castle complex is the St. Vitus Cathedral, which I will discuss below.
Nearest Tram/Metro station: 0.4 km from Pražský hrad (Trams #22, 81).
St. Vitus Cathedral
St. Vitus Cathedral is the preeminent site of worship in the Czech Republic. The site was first associated with a Christian religious structure around the year 925. In 1344, King Charles IV began construction on the present cathedral structure. The church was not officially consecrated until 1929, but has been the site of numerous coronations of Bohemian and Czech kings and queens.
The church sanctuary is wheelchair accessible, with ramps at the front of the building. I attended Sunday Mass, which was celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Karel Herbst, of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Prague. The Mass was offered in Czech language. The video above was made after the Mass, while the beautiful organ was still being played.
The Cathedral’s interior is beautiful, and is well worth a visit, even for those who are not religious. I attended Mass on a morning where temperatures were below freezing, and the Church does not have a heating system. It was the first Mass I’ve ever attended where I could see my own breath in the air!
For Mass times and other information, visit the St. Vitus Cathedral website.
Nearest Tram/Metro station: 0.4 km from Pražský hrad (Trams #22, 81).
Zizkov Television Tower
The Zizkov Television Tower is a relic of the communist era, but it’s not all that old. It was constructed from 1985 to 1992. It stands out in the Prague skyline, as it is made of steel and concrete. The tower was designed primarily for tactical purposes of communication, and perhaps as a station for blocking foreign radio signals.
Today, the tower offers incredible views of the Prague skyline from the observation decks which are fully accessible. As you can see in the photo above, my winter visit didn’t yield very good views of the city, due to the heavy fog and cloud cover. Check the weather before you go, and you’ll be sure to have a rewarding visit. Additional information on tickets and prices can be found at www.towerpark.cz.
Nearest Tram/Metro station: 0.5 km from Olšanské náměstí (Trams #5, 9, 26, 55, 58).
