St Nicholas Church
St Nicholas Church
4.5
About
The Church of St Nicholas in Lesser Town in Prague, the most famous Baroque church in Prague, stands along with the former Jesuit college in the centre of the Lesser Town Square. It represents a magnificent example of the "Prague Baroque" period of the 18th century. W.A. Mozart himself played the organ in this church!
Duration: 1-2 hours
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Malá Strana (Little Quarter)
Malá Strana is one of the oldest and the most beautiful neighbourhoods in the city. Nestled underneath Prague Castle it was once a part of the Kings route taken by future kings on their way to coronation - originating in the Old Town, crossing Charles Bridge and leading to Saint Vitus Cathedral. Cobblestone streets are lined with picturesque medieval houses, remarkable palaces, churches, kitsch shops and restaurants. Do not hesitate to turn a corner into any narrow street. You will suddenly find yourself in a calm and charming neighbourhood full of hidden gardens, parks with peacocks, fruit trees and ponds. As the neighbourhood is a home to Czech Parliament and many ministries, you can also run into well-dressed officials. If you are thirsty or hungry, it is the right place to be. Restaurants offer delicious traditional food and of course, the best Czech beers.
How to get there
- Old Town • 4 min walk
- bridge • 7 min walk
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See what travellers are saying
- TravelingSoccerLoonSaint Paul, Minnesota6,233 contributionsInterior is the Most Beautiful Church in Prague and Panoramic Views from the BelltowerThe interior of this Baroque church is arguably the most beautiful in all of Prague and should not be missed. The exterior is also a stunning sight especially when illuminated at night. Located just over the Charles Bridge in the quaint Lesser Town (Mala Strana) which is a neighborhood that is worth exploring. You can also climb the 200 steps of the belltower of the church for some great panoramic views of the city. The best views are actually about halfway up as it is open air as opposed to the small windows that you need to peer out at the top of the tower. From here you have great views of the Lesser Town, Charles Bridge and the Old Town across the river plus views of nearby Prague Castle and Strahov Monastery. On Friday and Saturday nights at 6pm, there are relatively inexpensive classical music concerts offered with tickets that can be purchased on the day of the concert.Visited September 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 10 October 2023
- fobl11Birmingham, United Kingdom719 contributionsA stunning churchMe and my wife thought we'd pop in to have a look at the church while we were in the old town square and we both thought it was stunning inside. The huge amount of detail in the stonework and the paintings. Plus the huge chandelier that welcomes you as you walk in. Free to enter!Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 5 November 2023
- Mari31 contributionsSpectacularBeyond breathtaking and spectacular. Nobody there but us. WAY WAY better than our basic tour of Prague castle, which was ABSOLUTELY HEAVING on the Sunday we went. St Nicholas church was so beautiful and uncrowded,Visited February 2024Travelled with familyWritten 18 February 2024
- TommoMelbourne, Australia56,613 contributionsBaroque church completed in 1755The Church of St. Nicholas is a baroque church. It was built between 1704 and 1755, replaced a Gothic church that was consecrated in 1283. This church is magnificant and includes tours, church services, concerts, and other events.Visited November 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 5 March 2024
- Ebenezer ETexas8 contributionsUncrowded and peaceful, the way I like itWe had the place all to ourselves, which made the experience even more special. It far surpassed our basic tour of Prague Castle, which was incredibly crowded when we visited on Sunday. St. Nicholas Church was particularly beautiful and peaceful, without the usual crowds.Visited October 2023Travelled with familyWritten 29 March 2024
- Robbert LAmsterdam, The Netherlands2,635 contributionsSpectacular ceilingsSpectacular ceilings. You have to pay a small entrance fee but absolutely worth it. The paintings on the ceilings are spectacular. Via a staircase access to the first level with great views. Worth a visit.Visited March 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 3 April 2024
- Flavia d16 contributionsAstonishing!!!A stunning piece of architecture! I was speechless by the beauty and majestic architecture. The old gentleman who work “guard” the interior of the cathedral don’t speak a word of English, but that does not shy away from them being helpful, communicative and just plain lovely. “A must go” place in PragueVisited May 2024Travelled with familyWritten 7 May 2024
- Kristie BKingsley, United Kingdom66 contributionsAbsolutely stunningThe whole church is beautiful, inside and out and is well worth a visit, even if you are not religious. The majority of the church is easily accessible - there's even a stairway at the end of the aisle and to the left with a small gallery of paintings at the top, as well as great views of the painted ceilings. The decorations throughout are so intricate and detailed.Visited May 2024Travelled soloWritten 25 May 2024
- brixton456Indianapolis, Indiana314 contributionsMust visit church in PragueBeautiful church! Panoramic views of Prague from the tower. While this costs extra it is worth it for the views. Be sure to take a look at the hours of operation and how late you can visit the tower so you have time to enjoy. This is the church where Mozart played the organ, and you can get an even better view of it from the second floor. Be sure to visit at night and get some great pictures of the church while illuminated.Visited September 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 28 August 2024
- rosebug4,053 contributionsBeautiful church with stunning glass chandelierThis lovely church is on a corner of the old town square. I have seen some beautiful chandeliers in churches but I don't think I've ever seen a glass one quite like this. You can visit the church for free but I would highly recommend buying a ticket for one of the classical concerts held there in the evenings. A lovely experience.Visited September 2024Travelled soloWritten 30 September 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
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33
Peter Graysinp
Cos Cob, CT168 contributions
Jan 2020
Prague is wonderful during the Christmas holiday season. Prague is practically a mini north pole so we figured that we could meet Santa at the St. Nicholas Church, or at the very least determine whether or not he existed. When we got there, we saw a very Christian looking church with no sign of Santa. We asked the docent that were standing by where Santa was and they just coyly smiled and said "we want to believe too!" So that tells me that Santa does not visit the church dedicated to him in Prague, which is very ungrateful in my opinion. We cannot conclude that he doesn't know about it, though.
Written 22 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
George L
Preston, UK665 contributions
Jan 2020
A stunning experience as you enter the church. The Baroque style is breathtaking and with the magnificence of the Cathedral you will experience the awe, wonder and mystery of an exceptional Christian building. The love of the original builders pervade the whole church. Superb.
Written 30 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ali921
Edinburgh, UK1,506 contributions
Jan 2020
This review is for the church situated just off the Old Town Square. Inside is dominated by a magnificent chandelier. The Altar and decoration are impressive as well but there is nothing unique about this church. Concerts are performed in the church which can be very atmospheric. We enjoyed a performance of Vivaldi. Tourist visit because it's (there) on the main square.
Written 10 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lucinda T
Kingman, AZ328 contributions
May 2019
One of the two Late Gothic and Baroque St. Nicolas Churches in Prague built by architect Dientzenhofer. This one is in one corner of the Old Town Square. Services and concerts are held there regularly and the acoustics make hearing the church organ a delight. Interesting trivia: the church was used by the Czech partisan during the 1945 uprising to hide broadcasts of Radio Prague, when the main radio building was under attack by the Waffen-SS.
Written 30 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your comprehensive information, Lucinda T, but your it applies to the St. Nicolas Church in the Old Town Square, but this one is in the Lesser Town Square. Hope we will fight this confusion one day :)
Written 4 May 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ram88doc
Navarre, FL346 contributions
Oct 2022
Don't miss this church in Lesser Town Square when you are in Prague. It is one of the most valuable Baroque churches north of the Alps. When you walk in the size of the building and the statues is almost overwhelming. The height inside the church to the top of the lantern is 187 feet making it the tallest interior in Prague. This is the most ornate church we have ever visited. It took approximately 100 years to complete this church. The artificial marble columns are actually stucco. The are four massive statues of the Eastern Church Fathers below the cupola. The frescos on the ceiling are amazing. You can go to the second floor to see the paintings on the ceiling in more detail. Entrance fee is 100czk for adults and 60czk for children and seniors over 65.
Written 21 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rosebug
beds4,053 contributions
Sept 2024 • Solo
This lovely church is on a corner of the old town square. I have seen some beautiful chandeliers in churches but I don't think I've ever seen a glass one quite like this. You can visit the church for free but I would highly recommend buying a ticket for one of the classical concerts held there in the evenings. A lovely experience.
Written 30 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelingSoccerLoon
Saint Paul, MN6,233 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
The interior of this Baroque church is arguably the most beautiful in all of Prague and should not be missed. The exterior is also a stunning sight especially when illuminated at night. Located just over the Charles Bridge in the quaint Lesser Town (Mala Strana) which is a neighborhood that is worth exploring. You can also climb the 200 steps of the belltower of the church for some great panoramic views of the city. The best views are actually about halfway up as it is open air as opposed to the small windows that you need to peer out at the top of the tower. From here you have great views of the Lesser Town, Charles Bridge and the Old Town across the river plus views of nearby Prague Castle and Strahov Monastery. On Friday and Saturday nights at 6pm, there are relatively inexpensive classical music concerts offered with tickets that can be purchased on the day of the concert.
Written 11 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kate L
8 contributions
Oct 2022 • Solo
Have not seen the inside of the church but accidentally stumbled upon side entrance leading to the thin tall tower and it was the best discovery I made in my own city. The stairs get pretty narrow and you actually come to the absolute top of the tower looking out of the tiny windows which you can barely see from the ground. The fact that communist state security (StB) had its lookout here to observe diplomats and other “objects of interest” tells you how much you can see from the top even though the windows are small. There is a neat animation inside the top lookout. Below is a narrow observation deck. The tower also shows historical lodgings of people living inside and ensuring operation of the tower (18/19th century). Very much worth the entrance fee of CZK 150 and helps you get in your daily steps!
Written 28 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Neil K
Liverpool, UK829,161 contributions
Dec 2022 • Friends
One of the most beautiful squares in Prague is Malostranske Namesti ,great architecture on all sides and one of the most beautiful buildings on this square is St Nicholas Church.
The Church Of St Nicholas ( Kistel Svateho Mikulase ) is a well established church constructed between 1704-1755 and was built on the site of a religious building that had stood since the 13th century .
This church was designed by architect Christoph Dientzenhofer ,a great example of Baroque architecture ,this church is most definitely a big tourist attraction ,hardly surprising as the interior is stunning ,it's a fabulous looking church building and most definitely well worth checking out if you're near Malostranske Namesti.
The Church Of St Nicholas ( Kistel Svateho Mikulase ) is a well established church constructed between 1704-1755 and was built on the site of a religious building that had stood since the 13th century .
This church was designed by architect Christoph Dientzenhofer ,a great example of Baroque architecture ,this church is most definitely a big tourist attraction ,hardly surprising as the interior is stunning ,it's a fabulous looking church building and most definitely well worth checking out if you're near Malostranske Namesti.
Written 14 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
starlightShanghai
Victoria, Canada4,609 contributions
Mar 2022
There are at least two St. Nicholas Churches in Prague. This one is in Lesser Town.
It’s one of the most important buildings of Baroque Prague, with a dominant dome and belfry. The interior decoration of the church is an outstanding example of Baroque architecture. The dome has an impressive diameter of 20 m. and an interior height of over 49 m. - the highest interior in Prague. During Mozart’s stay in Prague, he played the organ here.
Very easy to access, as it pretty well dominates the skyline in the Lesser Town. Small admission fee - not uncommon in Prague for churches - but well worth it.
When I visited this beautiful church, I was the only visitor there. (9 a.m. on a Wednesday morning in early March. I expect the usual hordes of tourists were still sleeping.)
Very worthwhile to visit!
It’s one of the most important buildings of Baroque Prague, with a dominant dome and belfry. The interior decoration of the church is an outstanding example of Baroque architecture. The dome has an impressive diameter of 20 m. and an interior height of over 49 m. - the highest interior in Prague. During Mozart’s stay in Prague, he played the organ here.
Very easy to access, as it pretty well dominates the skyline in the Lesser Town. Small admission fee - not uncommon in Prague for churches - but well worth it.
When I visited this beautiful church, I was the only visitor there. (9 a.m. on a Wednesday morning in early March. I expect the usual hordes of tourists were still sleeping.)
Very worthwhile to visit!
Written 2 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is there a dress code? Can shoulders and knees be exposed? I know cathedrals in Italy were strict so jus want to be prepared
Written 19 May 2024
Is there a dress code? Can shoulders and knees be exposed? I know cathedrals in Italy were strict so jus want to be prepared
Written 19 May 2024
Can you view the church (the one in lesser town) without the tour? I prefer a tour but I don’t know if I have enough time for it, or be there at the right time for it.
And how long is the tour?
Written 22 February 2024
No need for a tour. The church can be enjoyed on your own.
Written 24 February 2024
How long does it take to view the St Nicholas church in Old Town Square?
Written 28 December 2023
To clarify, there are 2 St Nicolas Churches in Prague. My response applies to the one at Old Town Square. There is more to experience at the St Nicolas Church across the river in Lesser Town. It has the most impressive baroque interior in the city. We walked around the church for 20-30 minutes plus there is a bell tower that can be climbed which would add another 30 minutes.
Written 2 January 2024
Is it possible to take pictures without flash inside the church?
Written 3 February 2022
Здравствуйте, уважаемые админы и путешественники! Подскажите, пожалуйста, в покое время звучит орган в церкви св. Николая в Праге. Спасибо.
Written 24 November 2019
Дело в том, что в Праге 2 церкви святого Николая. Одна находится в самом центре города, а другая на холмах. О какой Вы спрашиваете? На холмах часто проходят концерты.
Written 24 November 2019
Seo N
The Hague, The Netherlands
This picture is wrong pic.There are 2 St. Nicholas churches in Prague. Please make correction
Written 4 October 2019
Kostel sv. Mikuláše na Malé Straně
Prague, Czech Republic
We did, thanks for letting us know. You are right, this Church is the one in Malá Strana.
Written 19 March 2020
Am coming over to Prague later on this year. What denomination is this church?
Written 7 April 2019
There are 2 St Nicholas churches but both are Roman Catholic.The one in Malostranke Nam which has a wonderful interior whilst the one next to the Old Town Square has a lovely facade but is mainly used for concerts.
Written 22 April 2019
Salve, sapete per caso dirmi se in estate è possibile salire sulla cupola? O il pagamento del biglietto è solo per l interno della chiesa? Grazie a chiunque mi risponderà :)
Written 7 June 2017
Per salire fino alla cupola si paga un biglietto a parte e si entra di lato, sulla via Malostranské náměstí 29, di fronte al ristorante U Glabicu
Written 8 June 2017
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