Prague Astronomical Clock

Climbing the Astronomical Tower at the Old Town Hall was one of the highlights of our visit to Prague. The ticketing staff was pleasant and helpful, making the entry process smooth and welcoming. We took the lift up a few floors, but since we didn’t opt for the elevator ticket to the very top, we had to walk the remaining way. The climb was absolutely worth it. You can see the entire Old Town Square below, with its beautiful historic buildings and bustling energy. The Týn Church, Prague Castle in the distance, and rows of charming red rooftops make it a perfect spot for photos and quiet appreciation of the city’s layout and architecture.

The Prague Astronomical Clock is a true masterpiece of medieval engineering and a highlight of any visit to the city. Located on the Old Town Hall, it’s one of the oldest and most beautifully preserved astronomical clocks in the world—and seeing it in action is a unique experience. The hourly show, when the figures of the Apostles emerge and the clock comes to life, draws a crowd for good reason. It’s charming, historic, and genuinely fascinating. Beyond the mechanical display, the clock itself is stunningly detailed, with rich symbolism and craftsmanship that reflects centuries of Prague’s history. It’s worth taking a few moments to learn about the different parts of the clock and what they represent. Whether you’re a history buff or just enjoying the sights, the Astronomical Clock is a must-see and one of Prague’s most iconic treasures.

Main attraction at Prague old town square. You can see people lining up every hour for that bell ring. If you are not that particular about witnessing that event, the best time to visit this place is early morning before 8 am or even 9 am for that matter. Most tourists start showing up only after say 10am. I was staying at a hotel some 50 meters from this clock, so my morning coffee was pretty much with the clock ringing 8am bell every day :)

The Prague Astronomical Clock is an incredible piece of history and craftsmanship. Located in the heart of Old Town Square, it attracts a crowd every hour for a reason. The clock not only tells the time but also features a beautiful display with moving figures and chiming bells that ring at the top of each hour — a charming spectacle that adds to the city’s magical atmosphere. Suggestion: At every hour, when the bells ring and the clock show begins, it would be helpful to have a brief explanation — either through a speaker system or an on-site display — to tell visitors what they are witnessing. Many tourists gather to see the movement, but not everyone understands the meaning behind the figures or the clock’s unique design. A small touch like this would make the experience more informative and engaging. Overall, a must-see attraction when visiting Prague.

I always thought this was ahead of its time and was quite impressive to see it firsthand. We didn’t enter but I know tickets are recommended. It didn’t seem busy when we were there except for a few tours talking about it while walking through the city. Might be difficult to grab a solo photo in front of it due to the amount of people but besides that it’s definitely worth seeing.

Standing proudly on the southern wall of the Old Town Hall, this medieval clock is one of Prague's most iconic sights. I visited both during the day and at night, and the square was always bustling with energy and excitement. The hourly show of the Apostles attracts quite the crowd, so plan to arrive early if you want a good viewing spot. The architecture and detailing on the clock are absolutely fascinating — kids and adults alike were intrigued. Be sure to admire it from various angles: During daylight, the golden mechanisms shine beautifully. At night, the whole area transforms with lighting and ambiance. The surrounding square is lively with musicians, performers, and cafés, making it a great place to linger.

This clock was so beautifully made that the Prague City Council blinded its creator to prevent him from building another clock anywhere else. If we look at the content of this clock that rings every hour, the skeleton on the right signifies death, the dolls on the left symbolize human greed and pleasure, and the twelve apostles seen through the window quietly watch over the joys and sorrows of humanity. When the rooster crows, it is said that dawn has come and this means new life. In other words, doesn't this mean that although humans are weak beings in the face of death, life must continue and the life given is precious?

Must tour in Prague. The clock chimes with groups of people watching oitside and it's quite interesting. The tour is amazing. It shows you the behind the scenes, but also the history of the complex: the courtroom, dining hall, chapel, underground cells, and more. The tower offers amazing views, so get your camera ready. The brisk walk up is modern with open space and rails. There is an easy elevator option as well at a minimal cost. You can explore limited areas on your own with a general admission ticket, but I recommend the tour. Tours are at different times based on launguage offerings. If you're an early riser, there is a 50% discount on the general admission ticket for the first hour of each open day. Purchase tickets at the Clock the day of for tours and for the 50% off first hour general admission. All is all worth adding this tour to your itinerary.

Astronomical clock--this symbol of Prague is seen everywhere in souvenir shops around town. Upon hearing about it, the first question that popped into my mind was: what is it? Even after seeing it in person, admiring its colorful face and intricate details I wasn't quite sure what I was looking at aside from its beautiful design. The internet to the rescue! Its mechanism has three main components: 1) the astronomical dial: this is the upper dial on the clock facade, which shows the position of the Sun and Moon in the sky and displays various astronomical details. The part of the dial with colors represents the earth, the dark navy circle at the bottom represents astronomical night, the orange sections dawn and dusk, and the lighter blue sections daytime. Three pointers rotate around this dial: one for the Sun, one for the Moon and the third for the zodiac. 2) statues: these are located along each side of the clock, and inside the windows at the top of the facade above the astronomical dial. When the clock strikes a full hour, every hour between 8 am and 11 pm, the windows open and viewers can observe "The Walk of the Apostles", moving figures and other sculptures striking the time. 3) a calendar dial on the lower section of the clock facade with medallions showing the day, week, month and year. Around the outer edge of this circular dial are written the names of 365 saints representing each day of the year. The clock shows three different times using the golden hand and Sun over the dial: 1) Old Bohemian time: which is when each new day starts with the sunset, and is shown by the golden Gothic numbers on the outermost ring of the top dial. 2) Central European time (Old German): denoted by Roman numerals on the secondary ring of numbers on the top dial (right inside the ring with Gothic numbers) 3) Babylonian time: which is shown by the curved golden lines dividing the lighter blue parts of dial into 12 parts--marked for unequal "hours". These hours are defined as 1/12 of the time between sunrise and sunset, and vary as the days grow longer or shorter during the year. In addition to above the clock captures an incredible amount of other astronomical changes as a function of time (more than I can comprehend or capture in this already not-so-short review). What an interesting little research project! Other fun facts - - Orloj is mounted on the southern wall of the Gothic styled tower of the Old Town Hall - the earliest recorded mention of its existence was October 9, 1410, - the clock only started to measure Central European Time after its reconstruction in 1948. Before that, the clock only showed the other times. - this astronomical clock is the only one in the world that measures the phases of the moon.

I was in Old Town Square with my homegirl getting my IG picture on when I saw a bunch of people run to Orloj or as we know it in America "The Astronomical Clock." I missed the show one my first night but went back to check it out the next day. Orloj is an absolute marvel of medieval engineering! It has an intricate design, along with moving figures and a detailed astronomical dial that's both beautiful and fascinating. I must say, watching the hourly show with the apostles and the procession is a must-see. I missed being able to climb the tower to get a high up view of the city (TikTok failed me!) But I'll definitely have to climb up the clock on my next visit to Prague.

Ok - this isn't really a business, but a sight to see! The oldest working astronomical clock built in the 1400s! Truly spectacular. We were lucky enough to get a great seat at a restaurant across the street with a great view. To see it in person, is awesome, but to see it on the hour when it does its thing is quite the spectacle! It's a must- see when visiting Prague.

The medieval astronomical clock attached to the Old Town Hall is a MUST. It was first installed in 1410. The ornate clock has an hourly show "The Walk of the Apostles." There's usually a crowd. I managed to get a picture without anybody in it when I went in the morning and it was drizzling outside.

This landmark is a must to check out when you come to visit Prague. The clock chimes on hour, with the clock figurines will come out making arounds. Kinda cute. One thing to note, it doesn't really matter when you come to see the clock. Doesn't matter is on the weekday or the weekend. you will see a lot of people crowded by this clock. The best way that we found , you can enjoy take a look at the clock is to get a table by one of the restaurants right in front of the clock, order some good food and drinks, and take your time. This way , not only you will get some of the best views of the clock, also, you don't need to fight the crowd.

incredible! the detail is amazing! DO NOT MISS! be there on the hour to get the experience.

Yelp Review 2023 #87: Prague Astronomical Clock is a landmark that's a must-see in Old Town Square. It's been around since 1410 (one of the oldest clocks in the world) and it still works! It has apostles, astronomy figures, and death. It was damaged in World War II and took 3 years to repair. The multiple restorations of this clock has been controversial. It went from being replaced with an electric clock mechanism and back to its original mechanism. In the latest restoration, a painter made the images to look like his friends and old folks weren't happy so investigations had to be done. The clock chimes every hour from 9am to 11pm and you can expect a "show" that lasts about a minute. That's when this place gets real crowded. Vehicles passing through, and people passing and taking pictures and videos. Just for your own safety, keep your valuables tucked real good since you'll be busy looking up and your hands will be busy taking pictures/ videos.

In today's modern world of internet, computers, 3D movies, smartphones, Instagram, and videogames, I can see why the average low attention span and uneducated American tourist will be disappointed in Prague's Astronomical Clock. And of course the hordes of tourists surrounding you while you try to video record the entire mechanical show of each hour. But give this old clock some credit! It dates all the way back to 1410...that really old! What we see now was completed in 1791, that's over 200 years old! Considering how bad most people are about math, engineering, and science in today's world...this is a really awesome old clock!

See this clock at night time. It is much more magical to see than daytime! It can be quiet busy at night, but its worth it.

It's a beautiful clock, there's a show once an hour and on the hour. A little underwhelming in my opinion, but still a worth quick visit.

We bought tickets to go to the top of the Old Townhall and really enjoyed view of the town square and the city from high up. The minute arm of the clock was about to hit 12 when we went down, so we also got to see the figure in the Astronomical Clock dance. It was a lot of fun.

Absolutely gorgeous astronomical clock. I adore it and every time I see it I cannot believe how beautiful it is. An amazing historical artifact and work of art. Totally worth visiting Prague to see it!

I can't believe I'm reviewing a clock. But not just any clock. One that was built in 1410. It's worth the trip to Prague all by itself. Read about it on line before going to see it. Knowing the history makes it even better. Oh and hey if you happen to see the most beautiful girl in the world tell her I love her tell her I need my baby! Her name is Tammy and she's a tornado of lovin!

If you come earlier in the day and a bit before the top of the hour, you can nab a good spot for the show. We came here via Germany and are a little spoiled by cuckoo clock engineering, so my partner wasn't overly impressed with the show on this one, as the figures didn't emerge and simply moved within the clock. Still, this is a pretty cool sight and worth a check out. The decoration is absolutely gorgeous. Hang around to see the show, even just to say you did!

I genuinely don't get people's obsession with this clock. We happened to be passing right by on three occasions that were on the hour, and it was the most uneventful thing I've ever seen. Plus, the crowd was packed beyond reason. I heard that there was maintenance on the clock and it messed up the show element, so maybe it once was cool or could be again. Plus in the meantime, do NOT waste your time prioritizing seeing this on the hour. Go see one of the 100,000 other beautiful things the city has to offer.

This is iconic in Prague. It's a timeless mechanism that still works to this date. An according to Wikipedia "The Prague Astronomical Clock, or Prague Orloj, is a medieval astronomical clock located in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. The clock was first installed in 1410, making it the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest clock still operating." It's fascinating to stand and watch it for a while. It did notice the sound of it draws all people in, it's intriguing and is almost spell bounding to watch the mechanics of this clock move. It's in the heart of the city of Prague and it's easy to locate to help center you and gain the lay of the land too. Prague is a pretty little city. Lots of great shops and cafes in town and loads of charm.

The famous Prague astronomical clock - Pražský orloj - was first installed in 1410 which makes it the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest one still operating. There are any number of urban legends and stories that go with the clock, but I'll stick to the facts. It stopped in the late 18th century and no one knew how to repair it. That changed and around 1865, it was restored to functionality and has been counting off the time ever since. There are 365 names around the outside of the clock. The names of Catholic saints are listed on each one, one for each day. When the clock strikes the hour, a series of moving figurines "dance" around the clock. It's interesting and very cool, especially since the "dancers" include Death, Avarice, Lust and Vanity. A parade of the 12 apostles dance in the windows. The clock is amazingly accurate except for one major flaw. It was built in 1410 and represents the Earth, Moon, Sun and stars. But Copernicus wasn't born until 1473 and did not point out that the Earth revolves around the Sun until much later. [Review 12234 overall, 2018 of 2019.]

Being a intermediate astrologer I found this flick to be SO cool!! The many rounded plates that move, different hands of time, the astrological symbols in shining gold against the vibrant blues and reds are beautiful. Very cool stop off in our two days in Prague, we walked past it a few times, each time I stopped to admire it.

The Astronomical Clock (Pražský Orloj) at the Old Town Hall, in the Old Town Square, is one of the most famous landmarks in Prague. It was built in 1410, and every hour on the hour between 9am and 11pm, the clock goes off, drawing large crowds. As I mentioned in my review of the Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí), people are disappointed, expecting something a little more exciting. Instead, the chimes are fairly quiet (they are audible, but not excessively noisy), and for about a minute or so, the various characters, such as Death, pop out of the clock and jiggle around. It's not something I'd wait around for, but if you're in the area and it's just before the hour, you might as well stay and watch, at least once. The artwork itself if worth taking a look. Unfortunately the Old Town Square is so crowded it's difficult to get a good photo of the clock. You can also pay to see an exhibit in the Old Town Hall and go up the tower, but I didn't bother. [Yelp collections: Europe 2015; Prague, Czech Republic; Cheap Thrills]

Really cool, but way too many people. Ok, I think this will be a theme in all my Prague reviews, lol. The place is just way too bloody crowded. It's really cool to see the clock and learn about its inception and development, but there's so many people it's hard to feel comfortable. Go for a few minutes, get some pics, and head out.

Long overdue review. Time to revisit past travels I forgot to write about. Walking through the Old Town Square in Praha (Prague), you will see historic relics like this Astronomical Clock and other historical churches and buildings. I consider myself fortunate to have seen some good travels.

In A Nutshell: -The Astronomical Clock might be a lot to many enthusiasts, but to me it was just a check in the box for the bucket list. -I guess the massive crowds were a turn-off, but hey you're in Prague on vacay what do you expect? -From the historical aspect, pretty cool. Overall, other than what I mentioned above, it's still worth strolling by since it's in the middle of other sights you should see.

The Astrological Clock. Situated in the center of the Old Town Square, it is again one of the things you will ABSOLUTELY visit as a tourist in the city. A tour guide told us that it is consistently rated as one of the most disappointing monuments to visit. I mean....it *is* just a clock. And on my visit, it was under construction and everything but the clock face was covered by scaffolding and fencing. Which was really the only disappointing part for me, because it is a necessary occurrence that is a bit of an eyesore. I would absolutely suggest that you visit with a guide, because the history of the clock and its place through time is really very interesting and fascinating! The clock face is beautiful and complex. Learn more about it with a tour or a visit inside. At some point you will also be packed in with a huge crowd to watch the clock chime on the hour. It isn't a particularly grand event, but you will witness it. The best part of the whole thing though, is really ALL OF THE THINGS the clock tracks and displays, and that it was built to do it all in the 1400s!

The Astronomical Clock is really a piece of art. If you want a good close look at it without hundreds of people trying to snag selfies with it, don't go within 15 minutes of the hour. Every hour, the clock goes off and it's definitely something to aim to be there for at least once. My suggestion is to sit at one of the outdoor restaurants just across the way from it, and bask in it's beauty from the comfort of a seat, with a nice cold beer in hand. Definitely something worth taking a good camera for! Being right in the center of the Old Town Square means that there are tons of other things to do in the immediate area, so if you arrive too early for the hourly "show," it will not be difficult to find something to occupy you in the meantime. Try the ice cream, it's worth it!

This never gets old. Sit in one of the open-air cafes across from the clock about 15 minutes before the hour. You will have the best seat in the house. The ice creams are fabulous! One day we stayed through 2 hours I am attaching a video of the whole display. The time was 2100 I believe.

The most complicated clock I've ever seen! It's hard to tell what time it is with this clock. Need to know the phase of the moon or what astrological sign we're in, or what you're supposed to name your kid on each day of the year, it tells all kinds of stuff you never knew you needed to know. This clock is so old, it predates heliocentric astrological charts, but they made some adjustments and it still works. There's a song and dance like a glockenspiel, where figures come out and dance around. There are figures carved into the clock that are worth checking out. They represent some of the deadly sins, like greed or vanity. During Communist rule, they changed the greedy figure's long beard, and trimmed it off because it looked a little too much like Karl Marx. This place is crowded with tourists, right at the end of Old Town Square. Be sure to come by on the hour when the clock does its chimes and song and dance!

This is the Astronomical Clock in the old town square. It does a little show on each hour during the day time. It does not do it at night, so don't stand there at 10pm waiting for a show. We listened to some of the tour guides (for other groups) give some background about the clock and the surrounding buildings. The clock is free, very old, and pretty cool looking. The clock tower has a beautiful view of the city. Overall, don't miss the clock show, it's part of what you have to see in Prague.

A cool building with a couple of neat looking clocks. There were throngs of people taking selfies here. Nice to see and visit. One of those been here, done that, got the T-shirt places!

A must in Prague, in the middle of the old town. Every hour? You'll see tons of people looking at it because it's performance starts. The clock is beautiful and I found very interesting that you have all the zodiac signs there. Un must de Praga, en el medio del centro histórico. Cada hora? Vas a ver montones de personas mirándolo porque su performance comienza. El reloj es muy bello y me resultó muy interesante que encontras todos los signos del zodiaco allí.

One of the most overrated things in Europe I guess. But you have to stop and watch its very short show at least once. How else would you be able to talk about how underwhelming it was? It is right downtown so you can't really miss it.

Prague's Astronomical Clock is one of the most popular sights in the city. And for good reason. The historic clock is centuries old and still functions. Take a walking tour to hear all about its history and importance. But more important than viewing its underwhelming hourly "show" from the street is actually going inside and walking up to the top. This should be a must for all able-bodied visitors. The fee isn't too high. Pay inside the office then walk over a few feet to the entrance. Go up the elevator, show your ticket (they have some overpriced gifts available there), and then walk up through the levels. There's an incredible pictorial history of the clock. You can see some harrowing images from the 20th century, including what it looked like during the Nazi occupation and while behind the Iron Curtain. Once you reach the top, you get a 360* view of the city. You'll see Prague Castle in the distance and can look out over the cute Old Town architecture. It's worth every penny. For extra credit, visit once during the day and again at night. If you time your visit well, you won't be pushing other tourists out of the way all too much. No matter the crowd, I think the Astronomical Clock (Pražský Orloj) is an awesome structure and one of Prague's best landmarks.

The famed Prague Astronomical Clock, located in the Old Town Square. Quite a sight to see, although it's best to come as early as possible to avoid the crowded, peak times. There are crowds, but it's not ever unmanageable, even at the most busy times. Then again, I'm coming from New York, so my definition of crowds might be a little less lax than most people, ha. Nonetheless, we really enjoyed our time observing the clock and walking around the Old Town Square. Built in the 15th century, it's sort of crazy how long it's been able to stick around. On the hour, every hour, there's a short puppet show that is perhaps, a little underwhelming, but worth taking a peek if you happen to be in the area at the top of the hour. This only happens during certain hours, so you might not be able to see this "show" at night after midnight. A must-visit while in Prague, although it might not be something you need to spend a lot of time at. It's definitely worth touring the Old Town Square, however, both during the day, and at night. The lighting is pretty great, so you can get some great pictures, and there are plenty of bars and restaurants nearby. Whether or not you feel "entertained" by the clock, it's worth a look, and just remember to appreciate the history that comes with it.

hezky zvoní kdyz je celá hodina

I sure am glad we didn't wait longer than ten minutes. It certainly is a novelty, and the clock face itself is interesting to stare at for a bit, but for all the hype, I definitely expected more. Way more. The courtyard in front of the clock gets crowded, as you'd expect, but it wasn't terrible. We were able to saunter in at around ten to two one afternoon, and found a couple of spots with a good view of the clock. We spent the next few minutes trying to decipher all the hands and dials and faces in front of us. I looked at my watch - we had 7 minutes. The clock face looked like it was saying we had another half hour to wait. But I had confidence in the fact that the show would start on the dot, even if the clock was blowing my mind. And start on the dot, it did. The little skeleton started to ring his little bell, the doors opened up, and the apostles started their trek through. And then the golden rooster crowed and...done. That was IT. I thought there'd be more pomp. I thought there'd be more apostles. I thought it'd last longer. I could hear the tourists around me, once it was clear it was over. There must have been four or five different nationalities around us, but even though I can't speak Chinese, German, Italian or Portuguese, I didn't need to to understand their disappointment. It was a sentiment I shared wholeheartedly. It's a lot of hype for not a lot of entertainment. At least it was free, and the weather was beautiful, and I was able to stand there with my Czech beer in my hand. At least there was that...

Gorgeous old clock. The show as almost everyone else notes is super short and not exactly worth a long wait. It happens very often though so it's hard to miss it. Then again I was comparing it to the clock show in Munich so yeah.

The must see in this Old Town square is the astronomical clock. Every hour it puts on a demonstration of 16th century clock work. It takes all of 20 seconds so don't make this a major must see. The 16th century clockmaker didn't make a show for 21st century people

Cool Astronomical clock, lots of tourists taking pictures here. Good to take a walk around this area. Lots of different kinds of snack and shops to check out. Walk towards Charles bridge to see more of the old town.

This is a really cool centerpiece in the city of Prague. I don't think I have ever seen one before, and definitely not one this old and ornate. You can stand outside in the square and see/hear the clock go off and perform a cool display at the top of every hour during the day. This place is so old and cool! If you have the time and can plan ahead, pay for the ticket to go to the top. There is a small museum of sorts that used to be the old town hall (I think), and then you get to go up (by way of easy to walk up stairs or an elevator if you need it) to the top. The views are amazing...great for photos. The crowds are large, so be patient. Tip-buy your tickets on 2(3rd floor) instead of 1(2nd floor). The lines are way shorter.

This tower and astronomical clock went thru a lot in all this years. Who visit Prague have to go all the way up and see it Prague from top of the world. When u walk up u see history of tower on pictures. When u get there u jist want stay there. Its little scary lot people and who dont like being high as me will have little troubles with knees. But the view is million dollar view. U can see in miles around all over Prague. U pay 10$ to go up but its amazing over there

This clock is old, like 1410 old. It's not a Timex, maybe a Fossil because it's so old! Yes, it's a tourist trap, but again if you are visiting this city, you are a tourist! So go ahead and see it once and say that you've seen it! More to read here: http://www.czechtourism.com/c/prague-astronomical-clock/

It would be best to go at night (because it shines and glows against the night) for a bit of eye candy, old world technology, curiosity of purpose and functionality if one did not know the history or knowledge behind this possibly old world wonder. When I went there was a crowd but even in the back I could still see the movements of the clock right on time. With a camera that is not so zoom or great a focus, with the crowd, one won't get such as great shot. After the clock's sequence of movements are done, the crowd dissipated and with a normal camera or cell camera a few people, less people, are around to go closer up and take a better picture. Heck, you can then walk right under the clock. I walked from the Statue of Saint Wenceslas all the way to see the Astronomical Clock. So, was it worth it? Sure thing. What's the next touristy thing to do in Prague? Let me sit at the nearby Starbucks and figure it out.

A bit overhyped...a big clock, yay! Great monument to look at though, but imagined more to the hype!

The Astrological Clock is the highlight of the very cute Old Town Square. You'll surely walk through this area and stop for a viewing of the clock as it's one of the top sights in Prague, in the center of Old Town. It's extremely crowded, so watch out for pick pockets who tend to blend into the crowd posing as tourists. The clock has lots of history and it is similar to a cuckoo clock. It rings at the top of the hour with a little show where the figures and pieces move about. Rick Steves does a great job of explaining the context of the clock and all its moving parts and what they represent, if you happen to have his guide book. It really helps to have the description with you and read it before it goes off. Without any context, you might find the clock a little underwhelming, but you have to remember this is a medieval clock and it's free to watch. It's pretty cool.

Very fun to see and does not take a long time to check out. The Astrological Clock was installed in 1410, which makes it the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world but oldest one still working. The best time to see it is on the hour to see all of the unique features with figures, skeletons, etc dancing while it is ringing. It also has the Apostles just above the clock. It is located in the Old Town Square next to City Hall in the clock tower, which you can climb to get a great view of the square. If you can read the dial, it displays everything from star time to revolutions of the moon, to the zodiac symbols. During peak travel periods, there are generally allot of people who do gather around it before the hour. It is best to get there early or during a non peak hour (mornings).

I'm sure this clock was the coolest thing ever when it was constructed, but now, not so much... I had never even heard of it until we were waiting in the Square for our walking tour to start. The guide told us to wait in front of the clock and we would begin our walk after it went off. I'm glad we walked up a couple minutes before instead of waiting for close to an hour like some others. Each hour some little puppets come out and do a little jig. I think the most impressive aspect of it is that it's still functioning after 600 years. Our guide told us that when the clock was first introduced, it was one of the most popular sites in Europe. People traveled for miles to see it. The king was afraid that Jan Růže (the clock maker) would build another clock in another country, and Prague would not receive as much tourism. For this, he invited Růže to dinner, got him drunk and burned his eyes out so that he could not see to make another clock. Since then I've read a couple different versions of the story on the internet, so I don't know how true that is, but it's interesting, nonetheless. I definitely recommend the walking tour that meets in front of the clock. It's very informative and free! It's so good, you'll definitely want to tip though.

This is a must visit of course. There are many picturesque angels to be had in the square and even of the clock. Here are my tips for visiting the square/clock. -Visit twice, once during the day and once at night -Plan to arrive 5-10min before the hour to watch the clock -Weekend mornings are nice because of the food carts -Abstain from eating in the square, there are so many more spots near by

I love this astronomical clock!!! It really was the main reasons why I came to Prague in the first place. Its absolutely beautiful, and there are great photos you can get of the clock and then of people watching the clock when it does its hourly show. You can also go inside the building of the clock to get amazing views of Prague!

Worth seeing, but don't get over excited about the prospect. This is essentially a really really .... really large cuckoo clock in my opinion. You see huge crowds of tourists standing waiting for this epic moment and not that much happens. Somebody else will give you the age of the clock, the height and why it is so cool. I will give you the story without all that info . You wait for the hand on the clock to reach the right time, stood amongst literally. hundreds of tourists from across the world and all that really goes on is couple of crazy looking toy figures pop out. Yes it's old and interesting, but don't executed to much from the experience.

Absolutely incredible! Again, if you're in Prague, the Astronomical Clock is a must-see. Fascinated by the history of this clock and the story of the man that made it, my sister and I made visiting this clock tower a priority in Praha. Located right on the southern wall of Old Town City Hall in the Old Town Square, it's easy to sit outside at a cafe, grab a coffee or snack and wait for the bell to hit the top of the hour. Like something out of "It's a Small World" from Disneyland but 100x cooler and 600+ hundred years older, it's really a sight to see and learn about. From what I understand, it's the third oldest clock of its kind in the world, but the only one of the three that still works! On the clock there's an astronomical dial and zodiac ring, of course there's a 24 hour clock to read the time, and at the top of the hour there are figurines that appear and come out of the walls surrounding the clock face. One of the animated figures includes a skeleton - see? Much cooler than It's A Small World! If you have time to spare, get down to this part of town and hang out to see this clock go off. In the final 5 minutes before it strikes, it's common to see dozens or even hundreds of people standing around to watch.