invme Place
Everywhere
All cities · Everywhere →
EN
ENEnglish RURussian FRFrench DEGerman ITItalian ESSpanish PTPortuguese PT-BRBrazilian Portuguese ES-MXLatin American Spanish FR-CACanadian French EN-GBBritish English UKUkrainian PLPolish JAJapanese NLDutch KOKorean SVSwedish DADanish NBNorwegian FIFinnish CSCzech HEHebrew ELGreek ZH-HANTTraditional Chinese HUHungarian RORomanian HRCroatian SKSlovak SLSlovenian ETEstonian LVLatvian LTLithuanian BGBulgarian TRTurkish

Staromestske náměstí

Old towns ·Prague
4.8178K
#1Old towns in the Czech Republic#1Old towns in PragueTravelers' Choice 2026
Make a plan here
Directions Website Call Bookmark

Sign up free — See who's going and message them.

Is this your place? Get the badge for your website

About

Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí), Prague's historic central square in the Old Town, beside the Old Town Hall and Týn church.

More photos 9

1 / 9
Staromestske náměstí

Staromestske náměstíStaromestske náměstíStaromestske náměstíStaromestske náměstíStaromestske náměstíStaromestske náměstíStaromestske náměstíStaromestske náměstíStaromestske náměstí

Why go

  • The Prague Orloj on the Old Town Hall, the oldest astronomical clock still in operation in the world: figures above the zodiac, a calendar below.
  • The viewing gallery in the Old Town Hall tower, open to visitors, with views over the Old Town roofs.
  • The Christmas markets on the square, the largest in the Czech Republic, with a tall decorated tree.
  • The twin towers of Týn church, 80 m high; astronomer Tycho Brahe, who died in 1601, is buried inside.

Don't miss

  • 27 crosses in the paving27 white crosses in the paving mark the executions of the leaders of the 1621 uprising; an art group added a 28th in 2011.In the paving along the Old Town Hall1621 On the map
  • Jan Hus memorialLadislav Šaloun's 1915 monument stands mid-square. Jan Hus was burned at the stake in Konstanz for his beliefs, which led to the Hussite Wars.Middle of the square1915 On the map
  • Marian Column replicaSculptor Petr Váňa made the replica, set up on the column's original site.Original site on the square2020 On the map
  • Golz-Kinsky Palace balconyIn February 1948 Klement Gottwald announced building socialism from the Golz-Kinsky Palace balcony.On the square1948 On the map
  • Meridian lineA line in the paving marks the city's meridian, 14 degrees 25 minutes east of Greenwich, and where the column cast its noon shadow.Paving of the square On the map

Photo spots

  • Jan Hus memorialShoot the reformer's monument from the edge of the square, with the surrounding buildings behind it. They range in style from gothic to rococo.Centre of the square On the map
  • Meridian lineFind the line in the paving that marks the city's meridian, and frame it with the buildings around the square.Paving of the square On the map
  • Marian Column replicaPhotograph the replica on its original site, where the column was set up again in 2020.Original site on the square On the map

Tips for your visit

  • The Old Town Hall tower is open to the public and stands 69.5 metres tall.
  • Read the plaque near the 27 crosses in the paving; it lists the names of all 27 victims and dates from 1911.
  • Yellow-black concrete blocks along the edges of the square have been there since 2017, placed as protection against terrorism.
  • Horse-drawn carriages for tourists park along the tree alley behind the town hall.
  • The Christmas market draws hundreds of thousands of visitors, so expect crowds on the square during the market.

Best time to visit

  • The Christmas and Easter markets on the square resemble medieval markets, with a musical stage.
  • The seasonal holiday market is held on the square, and the tradition of holiday markets has been revived here in recent years.

Interesting facts5

1/5
  1. 1895

    Locals casually call the square Staromák, though its official name dates from 1895.

    Staroměstské náměstí - Wikipedia

  2. The house A La Minute is decorated with Renaissance sgraffiti.

    Place de la Vieille-Ville (Prague) - Wikipedia
  3. 9,000 square

    The square covers just over 9,000 square metres.

    Old Town Square | Prague City Tourism

  4. The Baroque St. Nicholas Church also stands on the square.

    Old Town Square - Wikipedia
  5. 1962

    The square was declared a national cultural monument in 1962.

    Old Town Square | Prague City Tourism

Shorts

History

The square began as a marketplace at the crossroads of European trade routes. It lay near Ungelt, the old customs house where imported goods were cleared. Royal coronation processions passed through it on their way to the Castle. In 1338 King John of Luxemburg granted the old town permission to build its own town hall. Later, the last Hussite captain, Jan Roháč z Dubé a ze Sionu, was executed on the square in 1437.

  1. 11th centuryA marketplace with regular fairs stood here.
  2. 1338Citizens won the right to build their own town hall.
  3. 1410The astronomical clock on the town hall was first installed.
  4. 1458Jiří z Poděbrad was elected King of Bohemia on the square.
  5. 1650A Marian column was raised here to give thanks for the liberation of Prague.
Show all
  1. 1915A monument to Jan Hus by Ladislav Šaloun was unveiled.

Accessibility

  • Public car park The public car park on the square was abolished in 1979.

Sources: Old Town Square - Wikipedia · Prague/Old Town and Josefov - Wikivoyage (see) · Old Town Square | Prague City Tourism · Staroměstské náměstí - Wikipedia · Altstädter Ring - Wikipedia · Place de la Vieille-Ville (Prague) - Wikipedia · Staromestske namesti: description (its own site) · checked 17 Oct 2026

Where
Staroměstské Nám., Prague

Plan from here: A day out →

Questions and answers

Where is Old Town Square in Prague?

Old Town Square lies in Prague's Old Town quarter, between Wenceslas Square and Charles Bridge. It is in the Historical Centre, which includes most of the city's major sites.

Can you go up the Old Town Hall tower on Old Town Square?

Yes, the medieval tower of the Old Town Hall is open to visitors. It stands 69.5 metres tall, and the tower was built onto a house that once belonged to Volfin de Kamen in 1364.

What is the Prague Orloj on Old Town Square?

The Prague Orloj is a medieval astronomical clock on the Old Town Hall. It was made in the early 15th century by Mikuláš z Kadaně, to a design by Jan Šindel.

Is there a Christmas market on Old Town Square?

Yes, a seasonal holiday market is held on the square. The tradition of holiday markets has been revived here in recent years.

Can trams or buses cross Old Town Square?

No. The square is a pedestrian zone, and no tram or bus line has crossed it since the 1960s.

How invme works
  1. See who's going — faces, not ticket counts.
  2. Write to someone who shares your interests — no swipes, no matches, no paywall.
  3. Pick the event or the place to meet at — and go together.
Join free

Reviews on invme

Sign in to review
Comment Share
Loading comments…