Titian, Rubens, Bruegel: The art lover's guide to visiting Prague Castle

Tourist season is upon us, and soon the quiet squares and scenic overlooks of Prague Castle will be packed with visitors angling for a selfie that fits in the whole of St. Vitus's spire.

For locals with a been-there-done-that attitude, the castle still holds much to marvel at, specifically in its overlooked art collections.

With a new exhibition devoted to the St. Vitus treasury now open, there's no better time to explore the museums and galleries both on the castle grounds and around it, including some of the National Gallery's powerhouse collections of Baroque and Renaissance masters.

For its largest and most ambitious exhibition of 2026, Prague Castle presents a unique collection of Medieval and Renaissance relics, paintings, sculptures and textiles from the treasury of the St. Vitus Cathedral in connection with works of prominent and world-famous modern and contemporary artists, from Francis Bacon or Josef Koudelka to Gerhard Richter.

A beautiful reflection on how past and present communicate, and how varying interpretations of ancient objects can inform us about our present and future.

From March 27 to July 26; Prague Castle Riding Hall

Have a behind-the-scenes peak at the obscure, opaque and fascinating world of diplomacy, protocol and etiquette: for the second time around, Prague Castle displays a selection of gifts received by President Petr Pavel and First Lady Eva Pavlová throughout 2025 by foreign leaders and statesmen, local representatives and citizens.

An original glimpse into how national traditions and local craftsmanship mix with art and politics.

From Jan. 31 to Dec. 31; Rosenberg Palace

Under the patronage of First Lady Eva Pavlová, the Czech Nature Photo exhibition is back this year showcasing the best, most bizarre and most exquisite nature pictures taken, from around the world, by photographers from Czechia and Slovakia.

From May 20 to Sept. 13; Theresian Wing of the Old Royal Palace

Lectures, workshops and outdoor concerts are held throughout the year in various areas of the castle, which also takes part in various Prague-wide cultural festivals like Open Garden Days (June 12-13), Architecture Day (Oct. 4) or Designblok (Oct. 7-11).

Visit, for free, spaces normally closed to the public on April 18 as part of the Open Days.

In October and November, the multi-genre Václav Havel Festival at the Prague Castle Riding School will honor the first president of the Czech Republic, playwright and political dissident, to mark what would have been his 90th birthday.

On the grounds of the castle, the Lobkowicz Palace, the only privately owned building in the Castle complex, exhibits a world-class collection of art. Over 100 paintings are housed here, including works by Bruegel the Elder, Canaletto, Velázquez, and hand-annotated manuscripts by Mozart and Beethoven. Until October 29, the temporary exhibition From Inkwell to Typewriter explores the evolution of writing tools and the written form throughout history.

Open daily year-round. From now until Oct. 29, see from Inkwell to Typewriter.

The Picture Gallery at Prague Castle is the country’s oldest continuously maintained painting collection, with origins dating back to the reign of Rudolf II in the 16th century. Its permanent exhibition features more than 100 works, among them Titian, Aachen, and Rubens, selected from a broader treasury of over 4,000 pieces. Despite significant losses over centuries, the gallery’s holdings remain of a quality comparable to leading European art collections.

Open daily from 9 a.m. year-round (with winter closing at 4 p.m.; summer at 5 p.m.)