Why go

Kutná Hora was once the second city of Bohemia, made rich in the Middle Ages by its silver mines and royal mint, and today it is the most popular day trip from Prague. Its historic centre, St Barbara’s Cathedral and the Cathedral of the Assumption in the suburb of Sedlec are listed together as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Trains from Prague take about an hour, so it is easy to see the highlights in a day.

Most visitors come first for the Sedlec Ossuary, the Bone Church, where the remains of tens of thousands of people are arranged into chandeliers, garlands and coats of arms. It is a strange, moving and unforgettable place, a memento mori rather than a horror show, and it sits beneath a small Gothic cemetery church. The town itself is quieter and more beautiful than many visitors expect, with steep lanes, Baroque statues and views across the valley.

What to see

  • The Sedlec Ossuary. The chapel beneath the Cemetery Church of All Saints, decorated with human bones, including a great chandelier and the Schwarzenberg coat of arms.
  • The Cathedral of the Assumption. A Gothic church in Sedlec rebuilt in a unique Baroque Gothic style.
  • St Barbara’s Cathedral. A soaring Gothic church built by the miners’ town, with flying buttresses, painted vaults and a terrace view over the valley.
  • The Italian Court. The former royal mint and residence, where Prague groschen were struck.

Plan your visit

The ossuary has limited capacity, and tickets must be bought in advance for a specific date and time, online at sedlec.info or at the Sedlec Information Centre at Zámecká 279. The parish warns that it is the only official seller and that resellers charge inflated prices. Entry costs 180 CZK for adults, and the Cathedral of the Assumption also costs 180 CZK. On the day we checked, both opened from 9am to 4pm.

St Barbara’s opens daily from 10am to 5pm in November and December, except 24 December, and from 10am to 4pm in January and February. On 28 November 2026 it closes at 4pm because of a Mass. Tickets cost 180 CZK, 140 CZK reduced and 60 CZK for children from 6, and a joint ticket for St Barbara’s and the Sedlec sights costs 360 CZK.

Take a train from Prague’s main station to Kutná Hora hlavní nádraží, walk about ten minutes to the ossuary, then continue by local bus or on foot to the centre, about 3 km away. Allow a full day. Return trains to Prague run regularly into the evening, but check the last departure, especially in winter. If you would rather not plan the connections, guided tours from Prague include transport and entry, and some add lunch in a traditional restaurant in the old town.

Nearby

The Czech Museum of Silver and its medieval mine tunnels are in the old town. Guided day trips from Prague combine the main sights with transport, entry and sometimes lunch. Between St Barbara’s and the town centre, the Jesuit College and a row of Baroque statues line the terrace above the valley, one of the loveliest walks in the region.