# Křivoklát

A Gothic royal castle above the Berounka forests, with prisons, a chapel and a great tower, an hour from Prague by car or on a train that follows the river.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/czechia/krivoklat · Revisado: 2026-11-12

Křivoklát is one of the oldest royal castles in Bohemia. The Přemyslids built it as a hunting lodge, the Luxembourgs and the Jagiellons enlarged it, and in the sixteenth century it became a feared prison: the bishop of the Czech Brethren Jan Augusta was held here, as was the English alchemist Edward Kelley, of the court of Rudolf II. Today it is visited with a guide and holds a late Gothic chapel, two knights' halls with medieval painting and sculpture, the Fürstenberg library with about 50,000 volumes, the dungeons with their collection of torture instruments and the round Great Tower. It stands about 55 km west of Prague, on a spur between the Rakovnický stream and the Berounka valley, surrounded by the protected area of Křivoklátsko, one of the largest forests in central Bohemia.

## How do you get there from Prague?

By car, about an hour, leaving Prague westwards on the D6 motorway or on the D5 and Beroun, and then following minor roads through the forest. You park in the village, at the foot of the castle, and walk up for a few minutes.

By train, from Prague's main station to Beroun and there the regional train towards Rakovník, which follows the Berounka through the forests and stops at Křivoklát. Allow about two hours in all, depending on the connection; the last stretch is one of the prettiest in Bohemia. The station is in the village, about ten minutes' walk from the castle. On holidays special steam trains run from Prague and Plzeň: check the calendar on the castle website or on the Czech Railways site.

## Which tour should I choose?

The castle has three tours, all guided in Czech and with texts in other languages.

Tour 1, Gothic palaces (60 minutes, 260 CZK): the second courtyard, the silversmith's workshop, Augusta's prison, the dungeon, the chapel, the two knights' halls and the stables. It is the one open on the most days.

Tour 2, the long one (80 minutes, 300 CZK): the same plus the library, the picture gallery and the Fürstenberg museum. It is the best value if you come from Prague.

Tour 3, the grand tour (100 minutes, 360 CZK): everything above plus the walls and the Great Tower. Only from May to September and for 30 people per slot.

With children, 1 or 2: the dungeon and the torture instruments appeal from a certain age, but little ones find it hard to last more than an hour.

## What else is nearby?

The Berounka valley is the great canoeing river around Prague: in summer you can rent canoes and float down between forests and crags, portaging round the weirs on foot. Half an hour away by car, the Lužná u Rakovníka railway museum holds the largest collection of steam locomotives in the country, in a depot with a roundhouse and turntable. And the train journey itself from Beroun, hugging the river, is already a treat.

## When to go

From May to September, Tuesday to Sunday, all three tours are open and the village is livelier. In April two are open, from 10:00 to 16:00 or 15:30. From November to March the castle stays open, but only at weekends and with short hours: from 11:00 to 15:00 in January and February. On Mondays almost everything is closed for most of the year. Canoeing runs from June to August.

## Is it worth staying overnight?

Křivoklát can be seen in half a day, but the village is small and quiet, and in the evening, when the cars have gone, the floodlit castle above the forest can be seen from the hotel terraces. Stay if you want to canoe down the Berounka the next day, walk in Křivoklátsko or carry on to Plzeň. There are three guesthouses at the foot of the castle, all with breakfast.

## How much does it cost?

Tour 2 costs 300 CZK per adult and 90 CZK for ages 6 to 17; under-6s go in free. A meal in the village comes to around 300–500 CZK per person. A two-seater canoe for a day, about 600–700 CZK, plus transport. A double with breakfast, from 1,890 CZK.

## Dónde está
- Cerca: Karlštejn (a 25.1 km), Lidice (a 26.0 km), Prague (a 39.6 km), Plzeň (a 47.9 km)

## Qué hacer
- **Křivoklát Castle tour 2, with the library and the Fürstenberg museum** (1 h 20 · Adults and children from age 8 or 9 · 300 CZK adults; 240 CZK ages 18 to 24 and over-65s; 90 CZK ages 6 to 17; under-6s, free): The castle's basic tour: everything on tour 1, with the chapel, the prisons and the knights' halls, and in addition the Fürstenberg library, with about 50,000 volumes, the picture gallery and the family museum. It lasts 80 minutes. From May to September there are slots Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 16:00; in April, from 10:00 to 15:30; in winter, Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 to 14:00. If you only do one tour, make it this one.
- **Křivoklát Castle tour 1, the Gothic palaces** (1 h · All ages; with children, the shortest · 260 CZK adults; 210 CZK ages 18 to 24 and over-65s; 80 CZK ages 6 to 17; under-6s, free): The short tour enters the second courtyard and covers the silversmith's workshop, the prison where Bishop Jan Augusta was held, the dungeon, the late Gothic chapel, the small knights' hall, the great royal hall and the stables. It lasts an hour, with groups of 40 people at most. It is the tour that opens on the most days: in winter, Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 to 15:00; from May to September, Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00.
- **Křivoklát Castle grand tour, with the walls and the Great Tower** (1 h 40 · Adults and teenagers; many stairs in the tower · 360 CZK adults; 290 CZK ages 18 to 24 and over-65s; 110 CZK ages 6 to 17; under-6s, free): The long summer route: the whole of tour 2 and, at the end, the walk along the walls and the climb up the round Great Tower, with its hunting collections and the view over the forests of Křivoklátsko. It is 100 minutes and 30 people per slot, so in July and August it is best to buy your time slot beforehand. It is open only from May to September.
- **Canoeing on the Berounka between Skryje and Roztoky u Křivoklátu** (6 h · 18 km · Families and beginners with some fitness; children wear a life jacket in their size · Desde 600 € two-seater canoe per day, on weekdays): The Berounka is the quiet river around Prague: it runs between forests and crags, with no large villages on its banks. The classic one-day trip ends at Roztoky u Křivoklátu, 4 km from the castle: from Zvíkovec it is about 18 km with three weirs, and from Skryje about 12. Dronte Berounka, a company from Rakovník that has hired out boats on the river for more than twenty years, delivers the canoe in the morning and collects it at the end; with low water you move at 2–4 km an hour, so allow the whole day.
- **Czech Railways Museum at Lužná u Rakovníka** (2 h · Families with children and train enthusiasts · 200 CZK; reduced 160 CZK; family 580 CZK): The largest railway museum in Czechia occupies the old Lužná locomotive depot, from 1871, with its roundhouse, turntable and workshops. It holds the country's largest collection of steam locomotives, as well as railcars, diesel and electric locomotives and period carriages. Children can change a signal, lower a barrier or give a train the right of way. It is next to Lužná u Rakovníka station, about 25 km from Křivoklát. From November to March it is closed.
- **The Berounka valley train, from Beroun to Křivoklát** (40 min · Everyone; also with a pushchair): The regional line from Beroun to Rakovník follows the Berounka along the valley floor, between forests, crags and iron bridges, and stops at Roztoky and Křivoklát. It is the prettiest way to reach the castle without a car: sit on the left in the direction of travel from Beroun to see the river. On some holiday days special steam trains run from Prague to Křivoklát; the dates are announced on the castle website and on the Czech Railways site.
- **Private sauna at Resort U Jelena, at the foot of the castle** (1 h · Adults, as a couple or in a group of up to four · 400 CZK for 60 min, 500 CZK for 90 min, 600 CZK for 120 min, per room; towel 30 CZK): Resort U Jelena, at the foot of the castle, hires out its sauna with a rest room privately, for up to four people, also to those who are not staying there. You book by the hour, at least an hour ahead, by phone or email; the last booking is an hour before the restaurant closes. It works well at the end of a day at the castle or canoeing, especially in autumn and winter.

## Dónde comer
- **Restaurace U Jelena** (Restaurant, Křivoklát, €€). Qué pedir: whatever game is in season or the Czech dishes of the day, and wine from its small cellar.
- **Hotel Sýkora restaurant** (Restaurant, Křivoklát, €€). Qué pedir: the menu of the day if you go at midday, or pizza if you are with children.

## By plane: Fly to Prague and the train through the Berounka valley
Křivoklát is about 55 km west of Prague. You fly to Prague, with direct flights from Madrid, Barcelona and other Spanish cities, and continue by train with a change at Beroun, about two hours from the main station, or by hire car from the airport, in about an hour: the airport is already on the west side of the city.
### Dónde dormir if you're flying
- **Hotel Sýkora** (Hotel): The house
A family hotel on Křivoklát square, a few minutes' walk from the climb to the castle. It has a restaurant, a large room for celebrations, billiards, darts and a children's corner, and in summer a terrace with a view of the castle. On the land beside the Rakovnický stream there is a fire area for roasting sausages in the evening.
The rooms
All are renovated and look onto the forests. There are doubles with a double bed or twin beds, a triple, a family triple that admits a cot and extra bed and a quadruple of two rooms, with the bathroom in one of them, designed for families. Breakfast is included. If you book on its website you pay nothing in advance, cancel free up to 48 hours before and from three nights there is a 7% discount.
Getting there and parking
By car, an hour from Prague. By train, with a change at Beroun, the station is a few minutes' walk away.
- **Resort U Jelena** (Small hotel): The house
A guesthouse with a restaurant right below the castle, beside the stream, with the castle peeping over the roof. As well as the rooms it hires out whole houses for six and for twelve people, and has a private sauna with a rest room and a small gym.
The rooms
Doubles of 14 and 17 m², some with a balcony, a triple and family rooms of three and four beds, from 24 to 29 m², one of them with an extra bed. The large house, of 200 m², has a balcony, a terrace with a fireplace and room for twelve. You can ask for breakfast every day or half board, with breakfast served and a dinner of soup, main course and drink, on the days the restaurant is open, Wednesday to Sunday.
Getting there
By car, an hour from Prague; by train, with a change at Beroun, the station is a few minutes' walk away. The castle is round the corner.
- **Penzion v Budech** (Small hotel, desde 1890 € / night): The house
A family guesthouse in Budy, the district below the castle, with eleven places. It has a terrace with a view of the castle, a barbecue, a small pool in summer, a cellar with Czech and Moravian wines and a bike store where e-bikes can be charged. The station is 300 m away and the tourist office 200.
The rooms
Doubles, a triple and a quadruple, all with a bathroom, television and wifi. Breakfast is served on the ground floor from 8:00 to 10:00 and, if requested, there is half board of home-style Czech cooking. A double with breakfast costs 1,890 CZK, the triple 2,290 and the quadruple 2,790. Animals are admitted for 200 CZK a night.
For the river
The guesthouse organises the Berounka trip: a boat for two, with transfer to the start point and pick-up, for a 17 km stretch, for 1,050 CZK.
### Servicios
- **Křivoklát station**: Regional trains on the Beroun – Rakovník line through the Berounka valley; from Prague, a change at Beroun. The castle is about ten minutes' walk away.

## By car: By car, an hour from Prague through the forest
By car it is about 55 km, an hour or so, on the D6 or on the D5 and Beroun, with the last stretch on roads through the forest. You park in the village and walk up. With a car you can add the Lužná railway museum or Karlštejn on the same day.
Presupuesto orientativo: 60–120 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir if you're driving
- **Hotel Sýkora** (Hotel): The house
A family hotel on Křivoklát square, a few minutes' walk from the climb to the castle. It has a restaurant, a large room for celebrations, billiards, darts and a children's corner, and in summer a terrace with a view of the castle. On the land beside the Rakovnický stream there is a fire area for roasting sausages in the evening.
The rooms
All are renovated and look onto the forests. There are doubles with a double bed or twin beds, a triple, a family triple that admits a cot and extra bed and a quadruple of two rooms, with the bathroom in one of them, designed for families. Breakfast is included. If you book on its website you pay nothing in advance, cancel free up to 48 hours before and from three nights there is a 7% discount.
Getting there and parking
By car, an hour from Prague. By train, with a change at Beroun, the station is a few minutes' walk away.
- **Resort U Jelena** (Small hotel): The house
A guesthouse with a restaurant right below the castle, beside the stream, with the castle peeping over the roof. As well as the rooms it hires out whole houses for six and for twelve people, and has a private sauna with a rest room and a small gym.
The rooms
Doubles of 14 and 17 m², some with a balcony, a triple and family rooms of three and four beds, from 24 to 29 m², one of them with an extra bed. The large house, of 200 m², has a balcony, a terrace with a fireplace and room for twelve. You can ask for breakfast every day or half board, with breakfast served and a dinner of soup, main course and drink, on the days the restaurant is open, Wednesday to Sunday.
Getting there
By car, an hour from Prague; by train, with a change at Beroun, the station is a few minutes' walk away. The castle is round the corner.
- **Penzion v Budech** (Small hotel, desde 1890 € / night): The house
A family guesthouse in Budy, the district below the castle, with eleven places. It has a terrace with a view of the castle, a barbecue, a small pool in summer, a cellar with Czech and Moravian wines and a bike store where e-bikes can be charged. The station is 300 m away and the tourist office 200.
The rooms
Doubles, a triple and a quadruple, all with a bathroom, television and wifi. Breakfast is served on the ground floor from 8:00 to 10:00 and, if requested, there is half board of home-style Czech cooking. A double with breakfast costs 1,890 CZK, the triple 2,290 and the quadruple 2,790. Animals are admitted for 200 CZK a night.
For the river
The guesthouse organises the Berounka trip: a boat for two, with transfer to the start point and pick-up, for a 17 km stretch, for 1,050 CZK.

## Car-free: Without a car, on the train that follows the Berounka
Křivoklát is one of the castles that is best done without a car: train to Beroun and a regional train towards Rakovník, with the last stretch hugging the river. The station is in the village, ten minutes' walk from the castle, and the three places to stay are a short stroll away.
Presupuesto orientativo: 50–100 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir without a car
- **Hotel Sýkora** (Hotel): The house
A family hotel on Křivoklát square, a few minutes' walk from the climb to the castle. It has a restaurant, a large room for celebrations, billiards, darts and a children's corner, and in summer a terrace with a view of the castle. On the land beside the Rakovnický stream there is a fire area for roasting sausages in the evening.
The rooms
All are renovated and look onto the forests. There are doubles with a double bed or twin beds, a triple, a family triple that admits a cot and extra bed and a quadruple of two rooms, with the bathroom in one of them, designed for families. Breakfast is included. If you book on its website you pay nothing in advance, cancel free up to 48 hours before and from three nights there is a 7% discount.
Getting there and parking
By car, an hour from Prague. By train, with a change at Beroun, the station is a few minutes' walk away.
- **Resort U Jelena** (Small hotel): The house
A guesthouse with a restaurant right below the castle, beside the stream, with the castle peeping over the roof. As well as the rooms it hires out whole houses for six and for twelve people, and has a private sauna with a rest room and a small gym.
The rooms
Doubles of 14 and 17 m², some with a balcony, a triple and family rooms of three and four beds, from 24 to 29 m², one of them with an extra bed. The large house, of 200 m², has a balcony, a terrace with a fireplace and room for twelve. You can ask for breakfast every day or half board, with breakfast served and a dinner of soup, main course and drink, on the days the restaurant is open, Wednesday to Sunday.
Getting there
By car, an hour from Prague; by train, with a change at Beroun, the station is a few minutes' walk away. The castle is round the corner.
- **Penzion v Budech** (Small hotel, desde 1890 € / night): The house
A family guesthouse in Budy, the district below the castle, with eleven places. It has a terrace with a view of the castle, a barbecue, a small pool in summer, a cellar with Czech and Moravian wines and a bike store where e-bikes can be charged. The station is 300 m away and the tourist office 200.
The rooms
Doubles, a triple and a quadruple, all with a bathroom, television and wifi. Breakfast is served on the ground floor from 8:00 to 10:00 and, if requested, there is half board of home-style Czech cooking. A double with breakfast costs 1,890 CZK, the triple 2,290 and the quadruple 2,790. Animals are admitted for 200 CZK a night.
For the river
The guesthouse organises the Berounka trip: a boat for two, with transfer to the start point and pick-up, for a 17 km stretch, for 1,050 CZK.
### Servicios
- **Křivoklát station**: Regional trains on the Beroun – Rakovník line through the Berounka valley; from Prague, a change at Beroun. The castle is about ten minutes' walk away.

## As a family: Dungeons, steam trains and a canoe on the river

Křivoklát works with children if you choose the tour well: the dungeons and the torture room make an impression, and tour 1 lasts only an hour. Arriving on the Berounka train is already part of the day, and in summer the canoe trip down the river is the great adventure. Children under six go in free to the castle.

### What works best
Tour 1, 60 minutes, 80 CZK for ages 6 to 17

The Berounka valley train, from Beroun

Lužná railway museum, with steam locomotives and signals you can touch

Canoe on the Berounka, with children's life jackets

### Where to sleep
Hotel Sýkora, with a family room, a quadruple and a play corner

Resort U Jelena, with four-bed rooms and whole houses

Penzion v Budech, with a small pool in summer

### Where to eat
Hotel Sýkora restaurant, with a children's menu and pizza

### Keep in mind
The castle tours are in Czech

The Great Tower on tour 3 has many stairs and lasts 100 minutes

The Lužná museum is closed from November to March

### Qué hacer as a family
- Křivoklát Castle tour 2, with the library and the Fürstenberg museum
- Křivoklát Castle tour 1, the Gothic palaces
- Canoeing on the Berounka between Skryje and Roztoky u Křivoklátu
- Czech Railways Museum at Lužná u Rakovníka
- The Berounka valley train, from Beroun to Křivoklát

## Consejos

### Buy your slot on the website
Groups are 40 people at most and 30 on the tower; on summer weekends they fill up.

### Choose tour 2
With the library and the museum, it is the one that best explains the castle.

### Come by train
The stretch from Beroun to Křivoklát runs right beside the Berounka.

### Check the winter hours
From November to March it opens only on Saturdays and Sundays.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How long does it take to get from Prague to Křivoklát?
About an hour by car; about two hours by train with a change at Beroun.

### Which tour is best?
Number 2, of 80 minutes, if you only do one; number 3 if you want to climb the Great Tower, from May to September.

### Are there tours in Spanish?
No; guided tours are in Czech, with texts in other languages.

### Is it open in winter?
Yes, at weekends and with short hours; at Christmas, a few more days.

### Can you go with children?
Yes: under-6s go in free and ages 6 to 17 pay 80–110 CZK. What they like best is the dungeons.

### Can you combine it with Karlštejn?
By car, yes: Karlštejn is about 40 km away, via Beroun.