Only one free day? · Day trip from Prague
Karlštejn Castle or Konopiště Castle?
| Field | Karlštejn Castle | Konopiště Castle |
|---|---|---|
| Travel time | 40 min + uphill walk from the station | 41 min + 2.4 km walk, about 40 min |
| Transport | S7 commuter train | Train + walk |
| Self-guided | – | – |
| Tour | – | – |
| Time needed | 2–3 h | 2–4 h |
| Closed | Monday; Nov to mid-Dec open Fri-Sun only; closed 21-25 Dec | Monday in October; Monday to Friday in November (open Tue 17 Nov); dates after 30 Nov not published |
| Best time | Tue-Sun until 31 Oct; weekends only in November and December | Tue-Sun 10:00-15:00 until 31 Oct; weekends only in November |
| Verdict | Worth half a day | Worth half a day |
Our verdict
Karlštejn is the easier half-day castle.
For a half-day castle, pick Karlštejn. The S7 runs every 30 minutes and takes about 40 minutes, then you walk uphill through the village. Konopiště is 41 minutes by the fastest train, but then 2.4 km on foot, about 40 minutes each way. Both charge CZK 300 for the basic tour. Pick Konopiště if you prefer apartment routes and a large park to Gothic walls, or if you have already seen Karlštejn. Check the calendar either way: in November Karlštejn opens Friday to Sunday, Konopiště only Saturday and Sunday.
Last checked: · Travel times from FlixBus, Trainline and local transport guides, because the České dráhy planner could not be reached on the check date; opening days and prices from each attraction's official site.