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Summary for: Want to visit Karlštejn for free? Czech castles announce two free-entry daysMore than 100 state-run castles and chateaux across Czechia will waive admission fees this fall, but visitors will need to reserve tickets online in advance due to limited tour capacity.
Day trippers in Czechia looking for affordable travel tips can mark two dates on their calendars: Aug. 30 and Sept. 27, when many of Czechia’s state-run castles, chateaux, and other heritage sites will open selected tours to visitors free of charge.
The Ministry of Culture announced the initiative as part of an effort to make Czech cultural sites more accessible, following a spring pilot program that offered free admission to selected state museums and galleries.
Among the participating landmarks are some of the country’s most popular destinations, including Karlštejn Castle, Hluboká Castle, Český Krumlov Castle, Křivoklát Castle, Bouzov Castle, and Lednice Chateau.
Adult admission at many of these sites normally costs around CZK 300, meaning the free days could offer a chance to visit some of Czechia’s best-known monuments without paying the usual entrance fee.
Free does not mean walk-in
Visitors hoping to take advantage of the offer should plan ahead. Although admission will be free, tours will run in the normal guided format with limited group sizes.
A free ticket must be reserved online in advance through the National Heritage Institute (Národní památkový ústav) reservation system. Individual castles and chateaux will publish details about available tours, times, and booking options on their own websites.
“Although admission to selected tour routes is free, visitors must secure a free ticket in advance via the online reservation system,” said Oldřich Pešek, deputy director for monument administration at the National Heritage Institute.
The free admission applies mainly to standard tour circuits and selected visitor routes offered by individual sites.
Most heritage sites managed by the National Heritage Institute will take part, including castles, chateaux, monasteries, and technical monuments.
Two exceptions will not participate on both dates. Prague’s Invalidovna will remain closed for planned reconstruction, while Raduň Chateau near Opava will offer its free admission day only in September because filming is scheduled there in August.
Following a successful museum trial
The castle initiative follows a spring pilot program that opened several state museums and galleries for free on the first Sunday of each month.
The Ministry of Culture said visitor numbers at the five largest participating museums roughly doubled during the trial. The biggest increase was recorded at the Silesian Museum in Opava.
Unlike the museum program, however, the castle initiative will not become a recurring monthly event. The free castle days are limited to Aug. 30 and Sept. 27, 2026.
The free admission days are also separate from Hradozámecká noc (Castle Night), the annual evening heritage event taking place on Aug. 22 this year, which features special nighttime tours, performances, and cultural programs at castles across Czechia.
