The astronomical dial dates to 1410, when horologist Mikuláš of Kadaň and astronomer Jan Šindel installed the mechanism on the Old Town Hall's southern wall.
See ticket optionsAges 27–64 · Tower entry, valid 30 days from purchase
€26
Ages 16–26 (with photo ID) · same access, reduced rate
€20
Ages 65+ (with photo ID) · same access, reduced rate
€17
Ages 6–15 · must be accompanied by an adult
€17
“We watched the noon Apostles parade with about 1500 other people in the square — exactly as the concierge briefing warned. Worth seeing once.”
“Booked the tower climb for 7pm — the platform at sunset is the best Prague photograph I've taken in eight visits.”
“The 9am parade tip was gold — about 60 people instead of 1500. Could actually see the figures clearly through the upper windows.”
The medieval astronomical clock stands on the southern wall of Old Town Hall, its blue and gold face tracking sun and moon across a mechanical cosmos. Every hour between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m., twelve apostle figures process past narrow windows while a skeleton strikes the time. The mechanism is part astrolabe, part primitive planetarium—showing the universe's current orientation relative to Earth.
The mechanical clock and astronomical dial date to 1410, created by horologist Mikuláš of Kadaň and Charles University mathematics professor Jan Šindel; the first recorded mention appears on 9 October 1410. The calendar dial was added around 1490. During the Prague Uprising in May 1945, Nazi shelling damaged the clock; wooden apostle sculptures burned. The machinery was repaired and the clock resumed operation in 1948.
You stand in Old Town Square watching the golden sun icon move along the zodiac ring. The blue circle at center represents standing Earth; above it, the sky you can see. Red and black zones mark what lies below the horizon. Three overlapping time scales—Roman numerals for Central European Time, curved golden lines for medieval unequal hours, Schwabacher numerals for Old Czech Time—turn this single face into a chronicle of how humans have measured the day.
Prague Astronomical Clock Tickets acts as a facilitator to assist international visitors in purchasing skip-the-line tickets directly from Prague City Tourism, the official operator. We do not resell tickets — we provide a personalised booking and English-language support service. Our concierge service fee is included in the displayed price.
Plan your visit
When the 12 Apostles process across the upper windows, where to stand for the photograph, and which hours have the best light on the clock face.
Both give 360° views of Prague. Here's how the Old Town Hall and the two Charles Bridge towers compare on view, access, ticket and crowds.
Six centuries of one of the world's most extraordinary mechanical clocks: Mikuláš of Kadaň, Jan Růže, the 1945 fire, the Mánes calendar, and the modern operation.
No specific date is required. Your Old Town Hall Tower ticket is open-date and valid for any single visit within 30 days of purchase. You pick a planned date at checkout so we can send you weather forecasts and the audio history at the right time, but operationally you can walk up any day within that 30-day window during opening hours (09:00 to 23:00 daily) and the tower will admit you. No specific time slot — show up when convenient.
Skip-the-line entry to the Old Town Hall Tower — the 42-metre panoramic gallery overlooking Old Town Square and Prague's red-tiled rooftops, plus the platform where you see the working mechanism of the 600-year-old Astronomical Clock from inside. NOT included: the Chapel of the Virgin Mary, the representative halls, and the Romanesque-Gothic underground — those are only accessible as part of a separate guided tour, purchasable on-site at the visitor centre. The Tower ticket does not include use of the lift; visitors climb stairs to the gallery.
The Tower is open daily 09:00 to 23:00 year-round. The Apostles procession — the moving figures of the twelve apostles that the clock is famous for — runs every hour on the hour from 09:00 to 23:00. The procession is visible from Old Town Square below (free, no ticket needed). Our ticket gives you access to climb INSIDE the tower itself, see the clock mechanism, and look out across Prague from the upper gallery.
Because your ticket is open-date for 30 days, small plan shifts often don't need any change at all — just visit a different day. If you need to move beyond the 30-day window, email us and we'll exchange the ticket where the operator allows. Most date shifts are handled on your end without contacting us.
All sales are final. The one exception: in the rare event we are unable to secure your tickets from the operator, a full refund is issued within 24 hours. Once tickets are confirmed, the booking stands. Date changes remain free; cancellations for refund are not offered.
Confirmed within 2 hours during business hours. You receive a confirmation email with your ticket details and any operator-specific instructions. Delivery is digital, instant, by email. Check your inbox and spam folder; if nothing arrives within the window, contact the concierge line.
The tower entrance is on the southern wall of the Old Town Hall in Old Town Square. Your ticket includes access to the tower observation deck, the historical interiors (Gothic chapel, state rooms, Romanesque-Gothic vaults), and views of the astronomical dial and Apostles procession from the square. You may take the elevator or climb the stairs.
Yes. Add the total number of visitors during checkout. All tickets arrive together in one confirmation email. Each person in your party uses the same booking reference at the entrance. Group size does not affect the concierge price structure—the all-in rate applies per ticket regardless of party size.
Bring your confirmation email (digital or printed) and photo ID. Comfortable shoes help if you choose the stairs over the elevator. A camera is welcome for the tower views and the astronomical dial. In winter, dress warmly—the tower observation deck is open-air. No large bags; standard day packs are fine.
A modern elevator installed in the tower provides wheelchair access to the observation deck. The elevator runs from ground level to the top. The underground vaults and some historical interiors may have steps; confirm specific accessibility needs with the concierge team when booking, and we relay details from the operator.
Every hour from 8 am to 11 pm, twelve wooden Apostle figures parade past the two windows above the astronomical dial, accompanied by a skeleton striking the time and a golden rooster crowing. The show lasts roughly one minute. The figures were restored by Vojtěch Sucharda after World War II damage and returned to operation in 1948.
Children of all ages are welcome. The hourly Apostles show captivates younger visitors, and the tower views engage older children. Supervise children on the observation deck and stairs. No minimum age restriction applies. The concierge tier covers children at the same per-ticket rate; confirm any child-specific operator policies when you book.
Yes. Photography and video are permitted throughout the tower, observation deck, and public areas around the astronomical dial. No flash restrictions are mentioned by the operator. Capture the dial's zodiacal ring, the golden Sun hand, and the panoramic Old Town views. Tripods may be restricted in tight interior spaces; handheld shooting works everywhere.
The astronomical dial and Apostles procession are outdoors but covered by the tower facade. The observation deck is open-air, so rain or wind affects comfort but not access. The historical interiors (chapel, vaults, state rooms) are fully enclosed. If severe weather closes the site, we rebook you at no charge to another date.
Budget 60–90 minutes. Ten minutes to watch the hourly Apostles show from the square, 20–30 minutes in the tower and on the observation deck, and another 20–30 minutes exploring the chapel and underground vaults. Arrive a few minutes before the hour to secure a good viewing spot for the procession.
The mechanical clock and astronomical dial date to 1410, created by horologist Mikuláš of Kadaň and astronomer Jan Šindel. The calendar dial was added around 1490. Wooden Apostle statues arrived in 1629 or 1659. The clock suffered heavy damage during the 1945 Prague Uprising; repairs finished in 1948. The 2018 restoration replaced a 1948 electric mechanism with an original 1860s mechanism.
The dial is a mechanical astrolabe displaying the Sun and Moon's position relative to Earth and the zodiac. A golden Sun icon moves around the zodiacal ring, showing its place on the ecliptic. The blue center represents Earth; blue above is sky above the horizon, red and black below. Golden Roman numerals mark Central European Time; curved lines show unequal hours (1/12 of daylight).