Charles Bridge

Karlův most

A 600-year-old stone bridge that is at its best before 7am or after 10pm

⚠ Pickpockets: carry bags in front

Hours

Bridge open 24 hours. Old Town Bridge Tower: Oct–Nov 10:00–18:00, Dec 10:00–19:30, Jan–Mar 10:00–18:00, Apr–May 10:00–19:00, Jun–Sep 09:00–20:30

Tickets

Bridge free. Old Town Bridge Tower: adults CZK 250, reduced (6–15, over 65) CZK 170, 16–26 CZK 200, family CZK 500; combined with the Lesser Town Bridge Tower CZK 340. Buy at the tower or on prague.eu

Address

The Old Town end starts under the Old Town Bridge Tower; the far end runs into the Malá Strana towers

Step through the arch of the Old Town Bridge Tower and two rows of soot-blackened saints line the parapets, with the castle and the spires of St Vitus sitting on the hill at the far end. By day, portrait painters, jazz bands and souvenir stalls squeeze the crowd into a slow shuffle, so an early start is the usual advice. At sunrise the swans are out on the river, the roofs below the castle catch the light first, and the bridge belongs to a handful of photographers. After dark the lamps come on and the castle floats above the water in yellow floodlight.