The Prague Astronomical Clock at night at a glance
The clock stands on the south side of the Old Town Hall tower, on a public square. You do not need a ticket to look at it after dark. The apostle show runs on the hour from 08:00 to 23:00, so the last show is at 23:00.
The building closes much earlier. In April to December the tower is open from 09:00 to 20:00, and from January to March from 10:00 to 19:00. If you want both the tower and a late show, treat them as two separate plans. For an evening with a guide, look at the Prague evening guide for the river side and at the Old Town tours for the streets around the clock.
Our picks: the Old Town after dark
Our take: the nightwatchman walk ends on the square. The ghost walk has actors on the way, and the night walk starts right by the clock.
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.
Nightwatchman of Prague walking tour
- Guide in nightwatchman costume
- 90-minute Old Town walk
- Horn call demonstration
Ninety minutes with a guide in nightwatchman costume, ending on Old Town Square.
Check availability →
Ghost walking tour where legends come to life
- Guide
- Walking tour
- Ghost actors
An evening walk with actors along the way, past Old Town Square and the clock.
Check availability →
Ghosts and legends night walk
- Old Town walk
- Costumed storytelling guide
A costumed storyteller leads you through the Old Town after dark, starting on the square.
Check availability →Evening tours and Old Town walks in Prague
Lantern walks, Old Town evenings and day trips from Prague, with live prices and availability.
Plan the evening
The show times and the building hours are separate.
Watching the apostles after dark
A crowd gathers before each hour. Arrive a few minutes early to find a spot, and come back between shows to look at the dials in detail. The show can change at short notice if repair or restoration work is under way, so check on the day.
Show times →The tower in the evening
The tower can only be visited during its opening hours. In the first opening hour of the day, the ticket costs half the regular price, except on special openings and public holidays.
Tower hours and view →Christmas days 2026
The tower has special hours on 24 December (09:00 to 15:00), 25 December (11:00 to 18:00), 26 December (09:00 to 20:00) and 31 December (09:00 to 16:00).
A simple evening
Eat early, watch a show on a full hour, then join a lantern or cellar walk that starts afterwards. Finish with the 23:00 show if you still have the energy. Book the walk for a date that suits you, because each departure is tied to its own timetable.
Lighting
Do not plan a trip around a set switch-on time for the facade. Photograph the clock when you pass, and judge the light on the evening.
Evening tours and the Christmas market
Two seasonal and guided ways to spend the hours after the tower closes.
| Evening option | What it is | Season | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lantern legend walk | A costumed guide leads through the Old Town and the Jewish Quarter with ghost and revenge stories | Check the current timetable | The stories are legends, and the staging is theatre |
| Cellar walk | Medieval cellars and passages with a dungeon exhibition, run by a separate operator | Check the current timetable | Separate from the hall's own routes |
| Christmas market | Stalls on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, open daily 10:00 to 22:00 | 28 November 2026 to 6 January 2027 | A lit Christmas tree belongs to the market |
| Watching the show alone | The 23:00 apostle show from the square | Regular hours of 08:00 to 23:00 | No ticket needed from outside |
For most visitors, an evening on the square works best when it starts with a show on the hour. Then walk to a lantern or cellar tour that starts afterwards. Take the last show at 23:00 only if you are happy to be out late.
Getting back after dark
Staroměstská is the nearest metro stop.
Metro and tram
Staroměstská is on metro line A. Trams 2, 17 and 18 also serve it. From there it is a walk to the square. Můstek, on lines A and B, is the other nearby stop. Check the timetable for the last connection of the evening.
Getting there →Tickets
A 90-minute PID ticket costs CZK 50 on paper or CZK 46 in the app, and the 24-hour ticket CZK 150 or CZK 140 (2026). Stamp a paper ticket once at the start of the trip.
Pickpockets and money
Crowds on the square are where pickpockets work. Keep valuables closed and close to your body, and spread cards and cash. If you change money, check the final amount before you hand anything over and ask for a receipt.
After the show, walk once around the square. Týn Church stands behind the clock, and the Jan Hus monument by Ladislav Šaloun was unveiled in 1915. Crosses in the paving by the hall remember the executions of 1621. They mark a place of memory and are not graves. The Kinský Palace on the square has been closed to the public since June 2025, so enjoy it from outside only.
The Prague Astronomical Clock at night: frequently asked questions
Does the clock run at night?
The apostle show runs on the hour from 08:00 to 23:00. It does not run all night. Outside those hours you can still see the dials, but no figures move.
Can I go up the tower after dark?
The tower closes at 20:00 from April to December and at 19:00 from January to March. The show can therefore end hours after the building has closed.
Is the clock lit up at night?
You can see the dials on the square after dark, but there is no fixed lighting time to plan around. Check on the evening itself.
When is the Christmas market on Old Town Square?
The announced season runs from 28 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, daily from 10:00 to 22:00, on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square.
Is it safe to wait for the 23:00 show?
The square is a busy tourist spot, so use the usual care with bags and phones. Keep valuables closed and close to your body.
Is this the official website of the Old Town Hall?
No. This is an independent guide. It is not the official website of the city or of the Old Town Hall, and it is not connected to any tour company.