Here is my guide to the most beautiful churches in Prague. They are among the most visible things to see in Prague, and among the most fascinating.
Whatever your Prague sightseeing plans may be, make time to visit some churches in Prague during your time there. It’s known as the City of a Hundred Spires, although there aren’t quite that many Prague churches to visit.
My guide to the best churches in Prague takes you on a city-wide tour. No Prague guide is complete without visiting Prague Castle and St Vitus’ Cathedral, one of four cathedrals in Prague in all.
I’ll also take you around the narrow streets of the Stare Mesto, Old Town Prague, where we’ll discover many a Prague church and chapel. We’ll also venture to some Prague suburbs, where we’ll encounter more recent Prague architecture.
Catholic churches in Prague are predominant, but I’ll also show you Orthodox, Ruthenian and Hussite churches to visit in Prague. The churches of Prague are a great introduction to Prague history, spanning almost a millennium from the earliest to the most recent.
Many of the top Prague attractions are architectural, so my Prague churches guide doubles as suggestions for some of the best things to do in Prague.
Most Beautiful Churches in Prague – My Top 5
1. Our Lady Before Tyn Church Prague
The Church of Our Lady Before Tyn is one of the most prominent landmarks of Prague. Its twin towers and spires are unmistakable, giving the Old Town Square Prague – which the church overlooks – its fairytale feel.
It’s one of the most recognisable Prague sights, yet doesn’t get anything like the flood of visitors the Square outside gets. The interior windows are clear and the Gothic roof vault is quite plain – this is offset by more elaborate Baroque paintings and decorations.
The Tyn church looks especially beautiful during the Prague Christmas Markets every December.
Address: Týn Church, Celetná 5, 110 00 Prague 1
Opening hours: (usually March – December)
Tuesday – Saturday inclusive: 10:00 – 13:00 and 15:00 – 17:00
Sunday 10:30 – 12:00
Entry Fee: Free however recommended donation amount: 40,-CZK (1,5, euro).
2. St Nicholas Church Prague, Mala Strana
St Nicholas Church in the Lesser Town is one of the top attractions in Prague for architecture lovers. It’s a gorgeous Baroque church, dominating the Mala Strana Prague skyline. The Mala Strana district seems to focus around it, surrounded by the busy hub of Malostranské Namesti (Lesser Town Square).
This isn’t a place for Hussite austerity and simplicity. Instead, you get Baroque bombast, a feast of elaborate murals and marble statues. It’s pretty impressive inside, but I prefer its simple exterior, with its green dome and matching adjacent belfry.
The bell tower is one of the best viewpoints in Prague, offering views of Mala Strana and across to the Old Town. It’s one of the most interesting towers in Prague to visit, as it has several rooms fitted out, including the tower keepers’ living quarters.
The tower also served as a spy listening post during the Cold War, with Soviet spies regularly eavesdropping on the numerous embassies in the Mala Strana area.
Address: Malostranské námesti, 118 00 Malá Strana, Czechia
3. St Vitus’ Cathedral
St Vitus Cathedral dominates the Prague skyline. It’s the centrepiece of the Prague Castle complex, and the outstanding church in the whole of the Czech Republic.
It is the nearest thing the country has to a ‘national church’, housing the tombs of several Bohemian kings and Holy Roman Emperors. It is to Prague what Westminster Abbey is to London.
Much of St Vitus’ Cathedral (also dedicated to St Wenceslas and St Adalbert) dates from the 14th and 15th centuries. The second lead architect was Petr Parler, who was also responsible for the Charles Bridge down the hill, and his sons took over the project after his death.
It’s a late Gothic masterpiece, with some of the finest Prague architecture, one of the most beautiful churches in Europe.
The Cathedral also has relics purportedly belonging to St Vitus, a martyr from Sicily, and St Adalbert. The latter’s relics were pilfered from Gniezno in Poland, though the Poles insist they got the wrong bones, stealing those of another saint, Gaudentius, instead.
Top tip: Don’t miss the exquisite Wenceslas Chapel, which houses the shrine of St Wenceslas (of ‘Good King’ fame).
4. SS Peter & Paul Basilica Vyšehrad
The twin spires of the Gothic Revival church of Saints Peter and Paul in Vysehrad Prague are the most prominent feature on the southern Prague skyline.
They’ve become very familiar to us as we see them from our tram which passes below the fortress. There have been four churches on the site prior to the current late 19th and early 20th century Basilica.
We were pleasantly surprised to find that much of the interior decoration is Art Nouveau, with a series of rich paintings covering the walls and stone roof vaulting. Vyšehrad is fairly underrated – it should be regarded as one of the best attractions in Prague.
It’s also worth the short climb up the hill for the views down the river to Prague Castle, and the cemetery next to the church, which contains the tombs of many Czech luminaries.
5. Břevnov Monastery
Known locally as ‘Markéta’, this Monastery was founded by Boleslav II and St Adalbert in 993 AD, and is the oldest foundation in the Czech Republic.
The relics of early Christian martyr St Margaret of Antioch (Markéta is the Czech equivalent) were acquired, as were those of St Gunther, and the church became an important pilgrimage site. Its full Czech name is Břevnovský klášter.
The crypt of the Romanesque church – probably from the 11th century – remains, and the splendid 18th century Baroque church that now occupies the site was the work of father and son team Kryštof and Kilian Ignaz Dietzenhofer.
We have visited Břevnov several times, and rate it one of the best things to do in Prague. You can visit the church and monastery on a guided tour, and walk freely around the beautiful gardens.
It’s also possible to stay at the Hotel Adalbert in the monastery precincts, enjoy an exceptional beer from the small brewery, or dine at the excellent Klášterní Šenk, one of the best restaurants in Prague.
Břevnov Monastery is easy to reach. The 22 tram, which is regularly used by visitors to get to Prague Castle without climbing the hill, is the best way to get there – Břevnovský klášter tram stop is seven stops after Prague Castle (Pražský hrad). The Monastery is to the right, slightly downhill 100 metres or so.
Best Churches in Prague – Old Town
1 St Nicholas Old Town Square
The other church overlooking Prague Old Town Square is this Baroque beauty, St Nicholas Church. It replaced an earlier Gothic church on the same site. It was designed by the Bohemian Baroque architect Kilian Ignaz Dietzenhofer, who also designed the Kinsky Palace over the river in Smichov.
Its grand exterior doesn’t quite prepare you for the ornate Baroque blow-out within. It’s just a few metres away from the statue of church reformer Jan Hus in Old Town Square, and indeed is affiliated to the Hussite Church. One of a good number of must sees in Prague.
2. St Giles Church
If you love Baroque architecture and art, seeing the interior of St Giles Church – Kostel Sv Jilji – should be one of your top Prague things to do. The Gothic exterior doesn’t begin to hint at what’s inside, but walk in and you’re transported to another world.
The church was given to the Dominican Order in 1625, and they maintain it to this day. They stripped out the interior, changing it beyond recognition. The walls and ceiling are a series of amazing frescoes by Wenzel Lorenz Reiner on a light blue background, bearing a passing similarity in its overall pleasing effect to the Annakirche in Vienna.
3. St Salvator
St Salvator Church is one of the top things to see Prague has, but most probably don’t realise it. One of the best things to see in Prague is the unforgettable view of the Old Town from Charles Bridge, with the church spires and dome forming one of the most beautiful skylines in the world.
Well, St Salvator church – part of the large Klementinum complex across the street from Charles Bridge – is a major part of this view, with its spires, lantern tower and many statues. If you are planning on photographing Prague, you’ll be seeing plenty of this fine church through your viewfinder.
The Jesuits originally built St Salvator’s as a Gothic church in the late 16th century, not that you would know it. Within half a century it was remodelled in Baroque style. It’s subtly beautiful inside, especially the painted lantern tower.
The church is frequently used as a venue for classical music concerts in Prague.
4. Bethlehem Chapel
The Bethlehem Chapel in Prague’s Old Town had an important role in Czech history, as it was where reformer Jan Hus served for 10 years (1402-1412) as rector. He preached against what he saw as excesses of the Roman Catholic Church, and was excommunicated and later executed for propagating his views.
Interestingly, the current building was constructed by the Czechoslovak Communist regime, who weren’t known for promoting religious causes.
It was built to resemble what it would have been like at the time of Hus, shortly after its original reconstruction. It’s like a cavernous Gothic barn, largely unadorned save for a few wall paintings.
5. St Martin’s in the Wall Church
St Martin’s in the Wall is a rare survival in Prague, a medieval church that has stayed largely intact, with only a few small Baroque modifications. It’s a beautifully simple Gothic church built on earlier, Romanesque foundations.
It’s famous for a gargoyle of a small boy – the story goes that a boy’s mother saw him clambering on the roof, and shouted,”You’ll turn to stone for this sin!” And so he supposedly did. Enlightened parenting was still some way off, it would seem.
Best Churches in Prague – Hradcany
1. St George’s Basilica
The second church in Prague Castle dates back to the foundation of Prague Castle in the 10th century, and has gone through various vicissitudes like its near-neighbour, St Vitus’ Cathedral.
The original church was rebuilt in 1142, and some of the body of the church and the two eastern towers date from this Romanesque period. Later additions include the Gothic-style chapel housing the relics of St Ludmila, the grandmother of St Wenceslas. The red Baroque façade dates from the 17th century.
The church is now used as a gallery of the National Gallery in Prague, and occasionally as a concert venue.
You can visit St George’s Basilica on the same Prague Castle tour ticket as St Vitus Cathedral.
2. Strahov Monastery
It’s a hike up the hill from Mala Strana, but go out of your way to this Monastery, as it’s one of the top Prague attractions. The stunning Baroque library is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world.
The standard tickets give you access to a hallway from which you can see the two magnificent library rooms – but the doorway is as far as you can go. It may be worth looking at a Strahov Monastery guided tour so that you can see everything from much closer.
The Strahov Monastery church is a little more restrained than some of the other Prague Baroque churches we’ve described, and it’s all the better for it. Most of what we see now dates from a restoration between 1742 and 1758.
The fine series of murals and ceiling paintings depict scenes form the life of St Norbert, who is buried in the monastery. It belongs to the Premonstratensian Order.
The whole complex should be a must see in Prague. The St Norbert beer brewed there is pretty fine too.
3. Loreta Church Prague
The Loreta Church is located in the Hradčany (Castle District) of Prague. It’s a pilgrimage destination, and the main attraction for devotees is the Holy House, reputedly a replica of the house inhabited by the Holy Family (Joseph, Mary and Jesus).
The church is a full-on Baroque bonanza of wall-to-wall frescoes and gilded ornamentation. It’s like Jan Hus, Martin Luther and the Reformation never happened.
There’s also a collection of monstrances (extremely ornate vessels, often sun-shaped, holding objects of veneration) – one of these has an incredible 6,222 diamonds.
Entry is paid. It’s one of the more out-of-the-way points of interest in Prague, at the top end of Castle Hill, but could easily be combined with the Strahov Monastery, Church and Library five minutes’ walk around the corner.
While you’re there, also take a look at Nový Svět, one of the most beautiful and quietest streets in Prague.
Prague Churches to Visit – New Town and Vyšehrad
1. Rotunda of St Martin, Vyšehrad
The Romanesque Rotunda of St Martin is the oldest surviving church in Prague. It dates from the second half of the 11th century, so is around 950 years old. It has subsequently been used as a gunpowder store and shelter for the local poor. It has suffered the depredations of time, and been restored and rebuilt. It is still used for church services.
Unfortunately this remarkable building is rarely open to the public – you need to attend a service or contact the Vyšehrad clergy to arrange a guided tour. Nonetheless, you shouldn’t miss it, as it’s in the middle of one of the most beautiful parks in Prague.
2. St Mary of the Snows Church
Our Lady of the Snows Church (Kostel Panny Marie Snežné) was meant to be the second largest church in Prague after St Vitus’ Cathedral. It was never finished, but is vast, with the highest vault (over 34 metres, or 112 feet) in the city.
It’s somehow impressive for its bulk and is reminiscent of the enormous unfinished cathedral in Beauvais, France, and the huge brick Mariacki church in Gdansk, Poland. Inside, it’s even more impressive, with the vault soaring skyward and a pillared altarpiece reaching nearly as high.
The best view of it is from Frantiskanska Zahrada (Franciscan Gardens), one of the best Prague gardens, a serene spot just behind Wenceslas Square.
See Also: 28 Things To Do In New Town Prague
3. SS Cyril and Methodius Orthodox Cathedral
The crypt of this Orthodox Prague Cathedral attracts far more visitors than the main Baroque body of the church. Fans of the movies Anthropoid and The Man with The Iron Heart will recognise this as the location where the assassins of Nazi ‘Protector’ Reinhard Heydrich were cornered and killed.
The heroism of the two assassins, Jan Kubiš and Jozef Gabčik, and their cohorts is commemorated in a small but detailed exhibition, and there are statues of them in the crypt itself.The Heydrich asssassination site is a half-hour tram ride on the 3 or 10, both of which depart from nearby Karlovo namesti.
See Also: Prague World War 2 Sites – 15 Fascinating Prague Locations to Visit
4. Emmaus Monastery of Na Slovanech
The original Emmaus Monastery church – founded by Charles IV of Charles Bridge fame – was destroyed in an Allied bombing raid in February 1945 (the night after the destruction of Dresden) and was replaced by the eye-catching twisting twin spires designed by F M Cerny in the 1960s.
The modern church stands alongside the magnificent 14th century cloister, one of the great treasures of Bohemian Gothic. It’s decorated with superb frescoes depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments.
This is worth going well out of your way to see. It’s in a quiet area of New Town Prague, close to both Karlovo náměstí Metro and Palackého náměstí tram stops.
Most Beautiful Churches In Prague – Mala Strana
1. Our Lady Victorious Church
One of the landmarks of Malá Strana (Lesser Town Prague), the Church of Our Lady Victorious is an imposing presence on Karmelitská, just south of St Nicholas Church.
It’s believed to be the earliest Baroque church in Prague, and its handsome yellow exterior and green onion spire look especially beautiful from the nearby Vrtba Garden or the lower slopes of Petřin Hill.
This Prague Catholic church is a place of pilgrimage, with many flocking to venerate the famous Infant Jesus of Prague. It’s a wax-coated wooden statue of Christ as a child, holding an orb and cross and usually heavily bedecked in royal regalia. The statue dates from the 16th century and was brought to Prague from Spain.
2. St Michael Ruthenian Church, Kinskeho Zahrada
After all this grandeur, now for a Prague hidden gem. The Kinsky Palace and gardens in Smichov are one of the must-see places in Prague, and if you’re spending anything over four days in Prague I suggest you seek it out.
It’s a hilly park to the south of Petrin Hill, and it contains this wonderful surprise hidden away in the woods.
The gorgeous Church of the Archangel Michael at Petrin is an 18th century wooden church from the Ruthenia region in modern Ukraine. It’s tiny, with a series of three wooden spires. Some of our local friends hadn’t even heard of it.
Sadly, this church was gutted by fire in October 2020, and it’s likely to be several years before it is restored to its former state.
This is worth going well out of your way to see. It’s in a quiet area of New Town Prague, close to both Karlovo náměstí Metro and Palackého náměstí tram stops.
Best Churches In Prague – Vinohrady
1. Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Our Lord, Vinohrady
Many people’s what to see in Prague plans don’t extend beyond the Old Town and Lesser Town. This is a pity, as they miss out on the likes of Vinohrady, the suburb just beyond Hlavni Nadrazi, Prague’s main railway station and one of the favourite neighborhoods to live in Prague.
This striking modernist 20th century church was built by Jože Plečnik, Slovenia’s best-known architect. It’s a striking building inside and out – the first time I saw it I wasn’t quite sure what it was.
It has a distinctive wide tower with the largest clock in the Czech Republic. Inside, look out for the statues of Christ and the six patron saints of Bohemia.
There is also a tunnel-shaped chapel in the crypt.
Check out some of our other articles on churches here:
- Kutná Hora Bone Church – The Amazing Art of the Sedlec Ossuary
- St Barbara Cathedral Kutna Hora – One Of The Great Gothic Churches of Europe
- 14 Beautiful Churches In Venice
- Frauenkirche Dresden – stunning Baroque church rebuilt from the rubble
- Churches In Dresden – 5 beautiful churches on the Florence of the Elbe
- 22 Of The Most Famous Churches In Paris To Visit
- 32 Of The Most Beautiful Churches In Europe
- 15 Best Churches In Santorini To Visit
- 17 Most Beautiful Churches In London To Visit
David Angel is a British photographer, writer and historian. He is a European travel expert with over 30 years’ experience exploring Europe. He has a degree in History from Manchester University, and his work is regularly featured in global media including the BBC, Condé Nast Traveler, The Guardian, The Times, and The Sunday Times. David is fluent in French and Welsh, and can also converse in Italian, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Czech and Polish.