How to photograph Prague Castle: best spots and tips

Photograph Prague Castle from 9 different spots with this guide!

When my flight to Prague was approaching the airport, I got the opportunity to see Prague from a bird’s eye view. Besides the excitement that it produces to see a new place for the first time, I remember immediately recognizing one building: the Prague Castle. Its imponent shape, the gardens, grounds, Saint Vitus Cathedral… It was obvious from the air that it was one of the main buildings in the city.

Once in the area, after a few days of exploring the city, I realized that there was one specific building that could be seen from almost anywhere in the city: viewpoints, towers, streets, promenades… the Prague Castle.

As a travel photographer, it meant that it was a great opportunity to see and capture the same building from different angles and locations. Moreover, it was a way to discover other areas and tourist attractions of the city.

Prague Castle is a very photogenic building. Not only Saint Vitus, the main cathedral of the city and the tallest building in the complex, but also the rest of the structures merge very well with each other.

The only thing you need to take into account is that this is not a Disney-style castle. Instead, it is a big and fortified elevated building, but without many towers or traditional castle-like elements. Nonetheless, there are many places where anyone can photograph Prague Castle from.

No matter if you want an Instagram photo or if you are trying to create a travel photography portfolio, this guide is for you.

Vyšehrad

Is there a better place to take a photo of a castle than from another castle? I don’t think so. Vyšehrad is the other castle of Prague. Even if it wasn’t included on this list, you should not skip Vyšehrad when visiting Prague. However, I will stick to the point, as I could speak about this castle and its grounds for hours.

Within the grounds of Vyšehrad, there are multiple places from where one can see the Prague Castle. Yet, the one I strongly recommend is this one. From there it is possible to take a couple of nice photos of a less common view of the Prague Castle and the city in general. This place will suit both landscape/cityscapes photographers and anyone looking for a nice portrait in Prague.

The best time to visit Vyšehrad is at sunset. If the conditions are great, you will have one of the best views of the city.

Powder Tower

To be honest, this is not the only tower on this list. However, from each of the elevated points listed here, you will get a different view of the castle. The Powder Tower is not the most visited tower in Prague, but it means it has its pros (and cons).

For starters, it does not get as busy as other ones (see below). However, it is quite common to find photographers up there, which means that you have to get there early if you want to take a sunset photo. However, this is the case for all elevated points in Prague.

To photograph Prague Castle from Powder tower, get there at sunset for the best possible light. However, even if you get there earlier during the day, it is still worth it. Note that you will need to pay a small fee to get to the top of the tower.

Old City Hall tower

As I said, plenty of towers on this list. This is (together with the next item on this list) the most visited tower in Prague, without any doubt, as its facade is where the famous Astronomical Clock is located. However, from the top of the tower, one of the tallest in Prague, it is possible to photograph Prague Castle with almost no distractions.

Moreover, unlike other towers on this list, there is quite some space at the upper viewpoint, thus it is a place where one can spend some extra time admiring the views without feeling pressured by all the people around. Additionally, the view from the Old City Hall tower is undoubtedly one of the most famous ones in the city.

Just like the Powder Tower, there is an entrance fee to the tower, that can also include access to the whole building. Although sunrise and sunset are the best times to be up there, good photos can be taken throughout the whole day.

Charles Bridge towers

Although this is listed as a single spot, in fact, there are two towers on the famous Charles Bridge. I have a specific guide on how to photograph Charles Bridge, but there is one clear overlapping spot in both guides: Charles Bridge Main tower. If you scroll Instagram or search on google “Prague”, you will see a photo of this spot.

Charles Bridge with Prague Castle in the background at sunset, this is the view. It is quite an easy photo to take, but the main problem at this tower is the space available. There are two or three arches on the viewpoint from where this photo can be taken. If someone else takes the spot, it is difficult to take a good photo from there. Thus, get early!

The second spot from where you can photograph the Prague Castle is the other Charles Bridge tower, known as the Lesser Town tower. This one is significantly closer to the castle and offers a different view. Given that there is a combined ticket for both towers, it is worth exploring both of them.

Vyšehradský železniční most

This is a truly off-the-beaten-path photo spot. In fact, I bet this is the first time you see a photo like the one below (unless you follow me on Instagram). One thing I like to do on my trips is to randomly walk around the city, sometimes exploring non-typical areas. Although I wouldn’t call this one a non-touristic area, it is not a common spot. This railway bridge that crosses the Vltava river can also be crossed on foot. While crossing it I noticed the greenish metal structure of the handrail and I thought it would make a perfect frame for a Prague Castle photo.

Getting to the bridge is very easy. Just take the promenade by the river (preferably on the east side of the city), and enjoy the views from “Naplavka”. In fact, the castle is visible for the whole promenade, so you can try to find other photo opportunities.

Novotného lávka

If you have read my Charles Bridge photography guide, this spot will sound familiar to you. It is listed as Klub Lávka there, but in fact, it is the same area. A place from where you can get the Vltava river at its best, Charles Bridge and the Prague Castle in the same photo.

The only drawback of this location is that it creates a quite cluttered image, and the river and bridge dominate the scene. However, it is a really interesting spot. Moreover, at night time, the lights of the castle and the bridge get on well with each other. Then, it is possible to take great photos from there.

Note that the best location for this photo is a bar terrace. When I visited the area at sunrise it was closed, but during the day it might be a bit more challenging to take the photo from there.

Charles Bridge

A really nice place to photograph Prague Castle is Prague’s most visited bridge, Charles Bridge. Not only it will give you an undisturbed view of the Castle, but it is a spot where the castle is quite close to you, compared to some of the towers and viewpoints listed.

There is not much secret to this photo spot. It is very easy to find, but sometimes people spend more time admiring the castle than the views you get from it.

The best time of the day to photograph Prague Castle from Charles Bridge has to be the sunset. However, it will be very crowded at that time. Moreover, whether in Prague changes fast. Foggy and misty mornings are also ideal to take a nice photo of both the bridge and the castle.

Petrín Viewpoint

Before I get to the last (and obvious spot) on this list, there is Petrín. Petrín is one of the many parks in Prague. Despite being an old town, there are many green spaces, and one of the most interesting ones is Petrín. From one of its main viewpoints (here), there is a great view over Prague Castle, but also something quite special: vineyards. Next to the path that leads to the most elevated point of Petrín, there are a few vineyards, something quite weird in the heart of a city like Prague.

However, this makes for a great photo, with the vineyards in the foreground and the castle behind. There are more places within the garden from where Prague Castle is visible. Yet, this is the most iconic one. Try climbing to the top of the Petrín tower for a unique view over the city and the castle.

Prague Castle

The final spot on this list is Prague Castle itself. It might seem obvious, but in fact, there are many photography spots within the castle grounds. The abovementioned St. Vitus Cathedral, its towers and interior; St. Jiri, and the old basilica or the Golden Lane are three of its main attractions.

Even just from the outside, the castle is imponent and worth photographing. Besides that, the views over the city are breathtaking. Make sure to not only capture the castle but its small details, gardens, and surroundings.

Are you ready to go take your perfect Prague Castle photo? If not, feel free to send me any questions on my Instagram (@aniolvisuals), and follow me for more travel content! Make sure to visit my full guide about Prague, with many other articles, photo spots, tips on how to photograph the city, and much more. For any other inquiries, send a message at hello@aniolvisuals.com