Why go

St Nicholas Church dominates Malostranské náměstí, the main square of Malá Strana, and its green dome and bell tower are among the landmarks of the Prague skyline. Prague City Tourism calls it the most famous Baroque church in the city and one of the most valuable Baroque buildings north of the Alps. Built for the Jesuits in the 18th century by the father-and-son architects Christoph and Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer, it is a theatrical vision of marble, gold and painted sky.

The scale inside takes most visitors by surprise. The dome measures 20 metres across, and the interior rises almost 57 metres to the top of the lantern, making it the tallest interior space in Prague. Do not confuse it with the other Baroque church of St Nicholas, on Old Town Square across the river.

What to see

  • The dome. Stand beneath it and look up at the frescoes rising towards the lantern.
  • The nave ceiling. One of the largest frescoes in Europe, showing scenes from the life of St Nicholas.
  • The statues. Huge white and gilded figures of saints and church fathers stand around the crossing.
  • The organ. Mozart is said to have played this organ when he visited Prague in 1787.
  • The bell tower. Next door, the separate St Nicholas Bell Tower has 215 steps to a gallery 65 metres up. Completed in 1755, it later served as an observation post for the communist secret police watching nearby embassies.

Plan your visit

The church opens every day. In November it is open from 9am to 5pm. In December it opens from 9am to 5pm from Sunday to Thursday and closes at 4pm on Fridays and Saturdays. In January it closes at 4pm, and from February to March at 5pm. Last entry is 15 minutes before closing. Tickets cost 150 CZK for adults and 90 CZK reduced, paid at the entrance.

Concerts of classical and sacred music are held in the church, with separate tickets. A Christmas concert is scheduled for 25 December 2026 at 5pm. The bell tower has its own entrance and ticket, and opens from 10am to 6pm from January to March.

Allow 30 to 45 minutes for the church, or longer with the tower. Trams stop on the square outside, and the church is about ten minutes’ walk from Charles Bridge. Early in the day is quietest, before the walking tours arrive from the bridge. Photography is usually allowed, and the gallery level gives a closer look at the frescoes.

Nearby

Nerudova Street climbs from the square to Prague Castle, lined with houses marked by old house signs. Charles Bridge, Kampa Island and the Wallenstein Garden are all within ten minutes’ walk. The square itself, lined with Baroque palaces and cafés, was the heart of Malá Strana for centuries, and the Czech parliament now sits in two of its palaces. In December a small Christmas market often sets up nearby, and the church makes a fine backdrop for evening photographs when it is floodlit.