The Most Beautiful Libraries in Prague
Are you wondering how to visit the most beautiful libraries in Prague?
Read on to discover everything you need to know about visiting Prague’s stunning historic libraries. The Czech capital is already the perfect destination for book lovers, with its centuries of history and fairytale-like architecture. Prague is also home to some of the prettiest libraries I’ve ever seen.
As a certified bookworm, I love visiting literary places like libraries and bookstores whenever I travel to new places. And Prague definitely delivered, with several amazing, historic libraries to discover.
You might have also seen photos of these libraries, and now you’re wondering exactly how to visit them on your trip to Prague. And you’re in the right place! This guide will cover visiting the following libraries:
- Strahov Library (Theological Hall and Philosophical Hall)
- Klementium Baroque Library
- Municipal Library of Prague (Book Tunnel)
Each of these unique libraries is worth a visit if you’re a book-lover in Prague. I’ll also talk about tips for visiting and the important information you need to know before you go. Let’s get into it!
Strahov Library: Two in One
The Strahov Library in Prague is actually two gorgeous libraries in one. This library is home to both the Theological Hall and the Philosophical Hall, each of which is incredible in its own unique way.
Both libraries are located inside Strahov Monastery, a hilltop monastery dating back to the 12th century. It’s about a 15-minute walk uphill from Prague Castle. If you’re coming from the Old Town or another area, I recommend taking the tram or a taxi. Otherwise, it will be a very long, steep walk uphill.
You can purchase tickets to visit the Strahov Library (including both the Theological Hall and the Philosophical Hall) online or in person. I personally recommend getting your tickets online in advance.
There are two tickets available to purchase. One includes just the libraries and the Cabinet of Curiosities (an interesting exhibit in the halls between the two libraries.) The other includes a guided tour of the libraries, the Cabinet of Curiosities, the Strahov Gallery, and other areas of the monastery.
I chose the first ticket, which was 190 CZK ($8.50 USD.) The guided tour option is 340 CZK ($15.50 USD.)
It’s important to note that neither ticket includes true access to the library. If you’re wondering why all the photos you’ve seen of these libraries have no people in them, it’s because you aren’t actually allowed inside. You can only peer through the open doorway into the magnificent rooms filled with books.
This is done to preserve the libraries and their books, which are hundreds of years old. Yes, it’s a little disappointing, but it’s still really cool to see these libraries through the open doorway.
If you’re dying to go inside the library rooms, there is the possibility of booking a private tour that includes access to the libraries. But you need to contact the monastery in advance in order to book it.
I highly recommend going first thing in the morning if you want to take your time looking into the library rooms. I’ve heard some people say they shuffled along in a line and only had a minute to look through the doorway into the library rooms, but this was not my experience at all. I went early on a weekday morning, and there were only a few other people there. So I had plenty of time to peruse without feeling rushed.
Theological Hall
The first library room you’ll see inside the Strahov Library is the Theological Hall. Although a library existed at the monastery as far back as the medieval era, when it was established, the current library dates back to the Baroque period. The Theological Hall was built first in the 1670s by Abbot Jerome Hirnheim.
Through the doorway to this hall, you’ll glimpse a beautiful frescoed ceiling and two stories of dark wooden bookshelves, with a wraparound balcony. This is truly a dream library for book-lovers!
Philosophical Hall
The second library room inside the Strahov Library that you’ll visit is the Philosophical Hall. This one was constructed in the 1780s by Abbot Václav Mayer because the first one was full. So you’ll find even more books inside this library, which honestly might be even prettier than the previous one.
The ceiling of this room has even more elaborate, intricate frescoes by the Austrian painter Franz Anton Maulbertsch, and it features lighter-colored wood and more hints of gold.
Klementium Baroque Library
The next stop on our tour of libraries in Prague is the Klementium Baroque Library. The Klementium is a historic complex of buildings in the Old Town, home to the National Library of the Czech Republic.
Visitors can tour a small portion of the Klementium, including the Baroque Library, Meridian Hall, and the Astronomical Tower, which offers amazing 360-degree views of the Old Town. The only way to see the Klementium Baroque Library is on a guided tour. I highly recommend booking this in advance.
You can book the tour on GetYouGuide for $18, which is almost exactly the same price as booking it directly, but with some added advantages. I prefer using GetYourGuide to book things because it gives you the flexibility of rescheduling or canceling for free within up to 24 hours of your tour.
Be aware that, like the Strahov Library rooms, you won’t actually be able to enter the Klementium Baroque Library either. Once again, you’ll have to view it from behind a rope through an open doorway.
It’s still worth it, but just know this before you go to avoid disappointment!
This library was built in the 1720s by Kilián Ignác Dienzenhofer and decorated with frescoes by John Hiebel. The paintings are all related to science and art, and the library is also filled with antique globes in addition to thousands of books across two stories, with a wrought-iron balcony on the second floor.
You’ll also get to see Meridian Hall and its array of old scientific instruments, and climb to the top of the Astronomical Tower, which offers some of the most incredible views of Prague’s Old Town.
Municipal Library of Prague: Book Tunnel
Finally, the last stop of our library tour in Prague is the Municipal Library of Prague. This large public library is famous for the Book Tunnel sculpture in its lobby, officially called Idiom.
This library is a lot different than the previous ones, because it’s much more modern. It’s also a working public library. But the famous Book Tunnel is the reason that many tourists flock here.
Created by artist Matej Kren, this installation features a cylindrical tower of more than 8,000 books. When you peer through the opening on the front of the tower, mirrors make it appear like you’re looking at an endless tunnel of books in both directions. It’s a really cool installation, and it’s totally free to visit.
The Municipal Library of Prague is located right in the heart of the Old Town. It’s open every day of the week except Sunday. You can check the latest opening hours on the library’s official website.
I’ve actually been here twice, and the first time I went, it was on a day when the library didn’t open until 1 PM. There was already a very long line to view the installation before the library even opened, and I’m embarrassed to say that I waited about an hour for my turn to snap photos of the sculpture.
It’s really cool, but it’s not that cool. On my most recent trip to Prague, I visited on a weekday when the library opened at 9 AM. I arrived at about 9:30 AM, and there were only a few other people there.
So if you can, I’d definitely recommend visiting on a weekday and going first thing in the morning. If the line is out the door of the library and extending down the block, it’s really not worth the long wait!
Visiting the Best Libraries in Prague
This guide showed you the best libraries in Prague and how to visit them!
I personally think that the Strahov Library and the Klementium Baroque Library were both worth it, even though you can’t actually go inside the historic rooms. I was content getting a glimpse through the open doorways into these libraries, which are truly some of the most beautiful in the world.
The Book Tunnel at the Municipal Library of Prague is also worth a visit. It’s a really cool public art installation, and since it’s free to visit and in the Old Town, you might as well see it while you’re there.
For the Strahov Library and the Book Tunnel, the early bird gets the worm. I recommend going first thing in the morning when these places open. For the Klementium Baroque Library, the time of day you choose doesn’t really matter, since you’ll be on a guided tour with a small group regardless.
Enjoy your trip to Prague, and enjoy these amazing libraries!
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