The Prague Astronomical Clock at a glance
The Prague Astronomical Clock, called the Orloj in Czech, is on the south side of the Old Town Hall tower at Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí). Its origins go back to 1410. Every hour from 08:00 to 23:00 the figures of the apostles appear in the windows above the dial.
This guide covers what you can do around the clock: tickets for the Old Town Hall and its tower, the apostle show, the view from the gallery, Old Town tours and the cellars below the square. It also explains the dials, the history, and practical points such as getting there, the best time to come and where to stay. Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge and Vltava cruises have their own guide at charlesbridge.org.
Our picks: clock tower and Old Town tours
Our take: the three-hour tour includes the tower ticket. The audio guide ticket is the quick way up, and the underground walk adds the Town Hall interiors with its underground option.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Old Town tour with clock tower admission
- Licensed guide
- Clock tower entry ticket
Three hours with a licensed guide, and the tower ticket is included. Inside the tower you go on your own.
Check availability →
Clock tower ticket with audio guide
- Fast-track tower ticket
- English introduction
- Multilingual audio guide
A fast-track tower ticket with a short introduction and an audio guide; bring your own headphones.
Check availability →
Old Town, astronomical clock and underground tour
- English-speaking guide
- Walking tour
- Rain poncho on request
A two- to three-hour walk with a guide. The underground, Town Hall interiors and tower ticket come only with the underground option.
Check availability →Prague Old Town tours and tickets
Old Town walking tours, underground tours and evening tours, with live prices and availability. Check whether a listing includes entry to the Old Town Hall tower, because it is not automatic.
Plan your visit to the Prague Astronomical Clock
Start with the tickets and the show times, then pick the pages you need.
Prague Astronomical Clock tickets
Basic ticket, online ticket, lift and inside tours, with 2026 prices in CZK.
Apostle show times
On the hour from 08:00 to 23:00, and what happens in the windows.
Old Town Hall Tower
Hours, the lift, access and the view from 42 m.
Tours near the clock
Hall tours, Old Town walks and underground tours compared.
Underground
Romanesque and Gothic cellars, and what you can really visit.
How the clock works
The astrolabe, the time systems and the calendar dial.
History
1410, the Hanuš legend, 1945 and the restoration.
Facts about the clock
Age, dials, figures and repairs in one place.
The square and the area around it
Where the clock stands, what is nearby and how to get there.
Old Town Square
The Týn Church, the Hus monument and the seasonal markets.
The clock at night
Evening shows, tower hours and evening tours.
Things to do nearby
Twelve ideas within reach of the clock.
Getting there
Metro, tram and the airport link.
Best time to visit
Hours, weather and the Christmas market.
Where to stay
Which area near the square fits your plans.
A few things to know before you go
Short points that save time on the day.
Watching is free, going in is not
You see the clock and the apostles from the square without a ticket. A ticket is for the tower and the Knights' Hall. The lift and the inside tours are paid separately.
Tickets →Show hours are not building hours
The apostles appear until 23:00. The tower closes at 20:00 at the latest in April to December and at 19:00 in January to March.
Show times →The clock dates to 1410
The clockmaker Mikuláš z Kadaně built it, with astronomical calculations by Jan Šindel. Master Hanuš came later, and the story that he was blinded is a legend.
History →From the airport by trolleybus 59
Take trolleybus 59 to Nádraží Veleslavín, then Metro A to Staroměstská. Allow about 35 minutes, plus the walk and the wait.
Getting there →Kinský Palace is closed to visitors
The palace on the square has been closed to the public since 1 June 2025. You can still admire the facade from outside.
Old Town Square →Figure restoration announced for 2026
A restoration of eight outer figures has been announced for 2026. Check the current state before you visit.
Facts →What you are looking at on the facade
The upper dial is an astrolabe. It shows the sky as seen from the Earth, which sits at the centre of the dial, with the positions of the Sun and the Moon, the zodiac and several time scales. Blue marks day, reddish areas mark twilight and black marks night. Roman numerals and the golden hand show Central European time. The outer ring of Gothic numerals shows old Bohemian time, with the day beginning at sunset.
The lower dial is a calendar, with a picture for each month, the signs of the zodiac and the saints' days. Josef Mánes painted the design in 1866. The dial on the facade is a copy, and the original is kept in a museum in Prague. The page on how the clock works goes through the dials and the figures one by one, and the facts page collects the numbers.
The sculptures beside the dial are of two kinds. Four figures move: Death, the Turk, the Miser and Vanity. Four stand still: the philosopher, the astronomer, the chronicler and the Archangel Michael. The apostles in the windows are a separate part of the show, and not every figure on the facade is an apostle.
More independent guides to Prague
Separate guides from the same team, each focused on one part of Prague.
Prague Astronomical Clock: frequently asked questions
What time does the Prague Astronomical Clock perform?
On the hour from 08:00 to 23:00. See the show times for what happens and how to plan around the crowds.
Do I need a ticket to see the clock?
No. The clock is on the outside of the Old Town Hall. A ticket is for the tower and the Knights' Hall, and the inside tours cost extra. See the tickets page.
How old is the Prague Astronomical Clock?
Its origins date to 1410, so it is about 616 years old in 2026. It was badly damaged in 1945, and the apostles were replaced in 1948, so many parts are newer than the original. A major restoration followed in 2017 and 2018.
How do I get from the airport to the clock?
Take trolleybus 59 from Terminal 1 or 2 to Nádraží Veleslavín and change to Metro A for Staroměstská. The Airport Express goes to the main railway station instead. See getting there.
Is the Prague Astronomical Clock open at night?
The clock is outside, so you can look at it any time, but the apostles appear only from 08:00 to 23:00. The tower has shorter hours. See the clock at night.
Is pragueastronomicalclock.com the official site of the clock?
No. This is an independent travel guide, with no link to the City of Prague, Prague City Tourism, the Old Town Hall, any tour operator or any hotel.