Charles Bridge: Visitors Guide
In this travel guide, we've put together all the things you should know before visiting Charles Bridge, Prague's top attraction for the first time. Read what to expect, history of the bridge, useful information on entrance fee, Old Town Bridge Tower, artists, statues, crowds, safety advice, and tips on how to get there.
We know that the first visit of Charles Bridge, the must-visit attraction in Prague, might be quite overwhelming. Although the bridge is immensely beautiful and perfect for a leisure stroll as it's been a pedestrian zone for some time now, it's almost always crowded with tourists, and it's better to come prepared and know what to expect, to enjoy your visit as much as possible.
Charles Bridge is 516 meters long and 10 meters wide stone bridge across the Vltava River that connects two popular Prague districts, the Old Town and Lesser Town.
The well-worn cobblestone bridge is one of the most famous sights and landmarks in Prague, and you shouldn't miss it out while exploring the capital of the Czech Republic.
Charles Bridge is the main connection for both locals and tourists between the two banks of the Vltava River, and also an essential link between two popular Prague districts.
As several centuries ago the whole kingdom flourished under the rule of Charles IV, many fascinating buildings and structures were built during this time, and Charles Bridge together with St. Vitus Cathedral, are among the top of them.
Charles Bridge was also the only stone-made connection between the two banks until 1841 when a new bridge was built.
Millions of tourists visit Charles Bridge every year and if you are planning your first trip to Prague, you have to include it on your 1-Day Prague Itinerary or 3-day Prague itinerary too.
Also, the bridge is popular among Hollywood production scenes from some films or tv-series such as Mission: Impossible, or most recently the Carnival Row were shot on Charles Bridge.
Simply stated, Charles Bridge is one of the must-visit places in Prague, and that's why we've created this complete guide with useful tips and information for first-time visitors.
HISTORY
Prague became an important city in the region in the 9th century, though its history stretches to the 6th century.
What we know now is that at the beginning a wooden bridge was standing a bit north of current Charles Bridge as early as the 10th century. But the wooden bridge was prone to floodings, and it didn't survive the great flood in 1157 when was completely destroyed.
Later on, during the reign of King Vladislav II, the first stone bridge was built and was known as Judith Bridge. Despite the fact, that the newly built bridge was made of stone and more rugged, it didn't last more than two centuries.
In 1342, a catastrophic flood destroyed the Judith Bridge (named after king's Vladislav II wife), the only stone bridge in the kingdom. Prague desperately needed a new one, so in 1357, the new king, Charles IV decided to build a replacement for Judith Bridge.
According to a legend, the construction of the bridge started exactly at 5:31 on July 9th (a numerical sequence calculated by the royal astronomers that can be read the same way from the beginning and the end: 1-3-5-7-9-7-5- 3-1), and was not complete until 1402, almost 50 years later. Here you will find more Prague facts.
The bridge was badly damaged several times throughout the centuries but is still standing, and withstands the test of time.
Recently, researchers busted old-myth, that the builders added eggs into the mortar as a secret ingredient to make the structure stronger. However, at the same time, they discovered traces of wine and milk in the mixture.
The bridge was known as Stone Bridge (or Prague Bridge) until 1870, and in this particular year was renamed to Charles Bridge, as a tribute to one of the greatest rulers of the Bohemian Kingdom.
At the end of the 19th century, firstly the horse trams were allowed to cross the bridge, and later on were replaced by fully electric trams with a unique design using special tracks. Soon architects found out, the trams are too heavy and damage the bridge, so they replaced them with buses.
Finally, in 1965 the traffic one the bridge was banned, and we can now enjoy the bridge free of cars.
STATUES
Charles Bridge is adorned with 30 beautiful baroque statues, and the incredible two lines of statues depicting saints and patron saints create a fascinating open-air gallery.
In other words, statues mounted on the sides are one of the main reasons, why Charles Bridge is so appealing to tourists, and why is this sight one of the most visited attractions in Prague.
Together with the old-fashioned street lights and the medieval towers peering from the distance, the bridge has a unique atmosphere and provides its visitors with an unforgettable experience.
The statues were not part of the original structure and were added more than 300 hundred years later on the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries.
We won't talk about all the 30 statues you can admire along the way, as we are not history experts on this topic, though we are going to mention some of the most notable and most famous statues on Charles Bridge.
One of the most prominent sculptors, Jan Brokoff, sculpted the statue of St. John of Nepomuk, one of the most well-known and popular statues on the bridge, which brings luck, if you put your hands on it, at least according to a legend.
The statue Dream of Saint Lutgardis sculpted by Matthias Braun is one of the most valuable sculptures.
There is one more statue that is worth mentioning, but this one is better to be seen from a boat, the statue of the knight Bruncvik.
The sandstone statues deteriorate, and as the result of damage caused by weather, time, and vandalism, many statues were replaced with copies.
You can still see the originals in the National Museum though.
By the way, Prague is known for many old statues. But the modern statue Head of Franz Kafka near Narodni Trida is a pretty cool thing to see as well.
ENTRANCE FEE
There is no entrance fee to the Charles Bridge at the moment, and you can cross it anytime, including late night or early morning.
Walking across the Charles Bridge is a perfect activity for backpackers looking for free things to do in Prague.
You can also visit the towers standing on each end of the bridge - Old Town Bridge Tower and The Lesser Town Bridge Tower, but there is an entrance fee of 100 CZK for each.
Fun fact, the construction of the bridge was so expensive, that a bridge toll was paid until 1816.
The re-introducing of the entrance fee had been discussed a few times in the past hand in hand with the growth of tourism, and although there was a great deal of talk, nothing was decided yet.
For now, we believe that Charles Bridge belongs among some of the best attractions in Europe for budget travelers.
TOWERS
The outstanding panorama of the bridge would have never been complete without the towers. You will find a beautiful tower at each end of the Charles Bridge, which serves as the official entrance to the bridge, and you can visit both of them.
OLD TOWN BRIDGE TOWER
An impressive Gothic Old Tower Bridge tower is the more popular one, as it's facing the Prague Castle, so you will have an arguably more beautiful view from the top, though the Lesser Town Bridge Tower is going to be less crowded.
LESSER TOWN BRIDGE TOWER
Another interesting fact is that the Lesser Town Bridge Tower actually consists of two towers connected by the bridge, a smaller tower is the only remaining structure from the Judith Bridge and was decorated with Romanesque reliefs, later on, the taller tower was built under the reign of King George of Podebrady in 1464.
The entrance fee to both of the towers is the same - 100 CZK, which is around 4 EUR. Although you will spend probably only a few minutes at the top, we think it's reasonably priced and worth visiting.
IS CHARLES BRIDGE SAFE TO VISIT?
Charles Bridge in Prague is the top attraction in the city, and it's very safe for tourists, as Prague is safe in general.
However, the sheer number of crowds also attract petty crime. Watch your belongings all the time, and you should be alright.
Here are some tips to avoid being pickpocketed.
If you carry a backpack on your shoulders, don't keep anything valuable inside, especially in the front pockets, and also don't put anything in the back pockets of your trousers, like a smartphone, cash or wallet.
In case you have a feeling there are way too many people around you, it is ok to put your backpack on your belly, so you will see your belongings all the time.
Or use anti-theft daypack and moneybelt.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
ARTISTS
Charles Bridge is not only full of tourists but various artists and painters too. They sell mostly very colorful paintings of magical Prague, do quick portraits, sketch caricatures, or perform music on the public.
If you want to purchase anything, be prepared to pay a lot more than what's worth it, the prices are elevated just because you are on the bridge.
If you want to bring a souvenir to your relatives or buy something authentic, visit one of the small Prague galleries far away from the bridge.
Also, all artists should have a permit publicly displayed, in case you decide to buy something.
HOW TO GET TO CHARLES BRIDGE
It's actually very easy to get to Charles Bridge. The important thing to know is that there are three entry points to the bridge.
You can start your journey across the Vltava River from the east side at Krizovnicke Namesti. To get there, take a tram to Staromestska or Karlovy Lazne.
Getting off the tram at Karlovy Lazne stop is more convenient if you are coming from the south, but Staromestska, which is a bit north off the bridge, also has a metro station on a Green A Line.
This is arguably the most popular way, as you can start on the Old Town Square, Namesti Republiky or Wenceslas Square, and walk all the way to the bridge, which is very handy if you are staying in the Old Town.
If you want to reach the Charles Bridge from the opposite side, take a tram to Malostranske Namesti, and head to Mostecka Street, where you will find the entry point to the bridge.
There is also a third entrance, and you will find it at the west end of the Charles Bridge. It's the beautiful staircase leading from the Na Kampe, which is a smaller square at the Kampa Island.
For more information, read this post on getting around Prague.
CROWDS
Is Charles Bridge overcrowded? Short answer? Yes. Being a top tourist attraction in the popular European city has its cons, and overtourism is for sure one of them.
The situation is the worst in high season during the summer months, when the constant flow of tourists passing through has no end. But that's expected as Charles Bridge is among the best things to do in Prague.
Our only advice is to lower your expectations, as you will definitely not be alone on the bridge. Just enjoy the walk and beautiful views despite the crowds.
If you've been already to other popular European destinations like Paris or Barcelona, you have nothing to worry about as you know what to expect.
If you want to avoid the crowds on Charles Bridge, it is worth getting up early in the morning to wait on the bridge for the sun to come up. Being said that, don't expect it to have all for yourself.
Another possibility is to travel outside the main season. Yes, Prague in winter is beautiful as well. If you are not sure when to visit our city, read this blog post on the best time to visit Prague.
Even though we live in Prague, and we can visit Charles Bridge whenever we want, we usually wait for winter months, get up before sunrise, and then enjoy an hour or two photographing the bridge, statues, river and Prague Castle in distance.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Get Around: Buses and trains are an affordable way to get around the Czech Republic. Regiojet offers clean and modern buses and trains with all the amenities.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
