Special Open Days at National Heritage Institute Sites: Selected Guided Tours Free of Charge

The Special Open Days will take place on Sunday 30 August and Sunday 27 September 2026. On these dates, visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy selected guided tours at state heritage sites managed by the National Heritage Institute free of charge. The aim of these special open days is to give the public an opportunity to discover the historic sites and cultural heritage cared for by the National Heritage Institute.

Please note that free admission does not mean unlimited capacity. Due to the expected high demand for guided tours on these dates, visitors must reserve a free ticket in advance through the online booking system.

Most heritage sites managed by the National Heritage Institute across the Czech Republic will participate in the Special Open Days. These include not only castles and châteaux, but also historic hospitals, monasteries, gardens, Villa Stiassni, and industrial heritage sites such as Michal Mine in Ostrava and the Red Tower of Death in Ostrov.

The only exception is the Invalidovna complex in Prague, which is currently closed for extensive restoration works. In addition, Raduň State Château will not be open during the August event due to filming.

A full list of participating heritage sites and the guided tours available at each location will be published on the websites of the individual heritage sites.

• Choose the heritage site you would like to visit.
• Check which guided tours are available.
• Reserve a free ticket for your preferred tour time through the online booking system.
• Arrive in good time for the time shown on your ticket.

Free admission does not mean unlimited capacity. Historic sites have limited visitor capacity based on the nature of the property, visitor safety requirements, and the protection of historic interiors.

No. Free admission applies only to selected guided tours at each state heritage site, depending on its operational capacity. Standard guided tours and other selected routes will be included, while some specialist or capacity-limited tours may not be part of the programme.

No. Free admission applies only to selected guided tours organised by the National Heritage Institute.

Some heritage sites may also host pre-scheduled cultural events, such as concerts or other programmes organised or co-organised by external organisations. These events operate under their own admission arrangements, and any admission charges are determined by their organisers.

You can reserve a free ticket through the online ticket booking system available on the website of the heritage site you wish to visit. As with a regular ticket purchase, simply select the heritage site, the guided tour and your preferred tour time. Once your booking has been completed, you will receive a ticket, which must be presented on arrival.

No. Free admission applies only to selected guided tours, and every visitor must reserve a free ticket in advance. Tour capacity is limited by the individual site's operational requirements and cannot be exceeded, even during the Special Open Days.

The free ticket is not related to payment – it is required because guided tours have limited capacity. Reserving a ticket in advance allows you to choose a specific tour time, while helping each heritage site manage tours safely and efficiently. Historic sites have a limited visitor capacity, which cannot be exceeded, even during the Special Open Days.

You can reserve a free ticket on the website of the heritage site you wish to visit. Go to "Online Tickets and Gift Vouchers", select "Online Tickets", and follow the instructions on the page. Please reserve your ticket for your chosen date, guided tour and departure time.

Yes, provided there are still places available on another tour. You can change or cancel your booking by following the instructions provided during the booking process.

However, we recommend arriving at the time shown on your ticket. At the most popular heritage sites, tours may become fully booked quickly, meaning that changing to another time may no longer be possible. Please note that your free ticket is valid only for the specific tour time stated on it. Due to operational constraints, late arrivals cannot be accommodated on a different tour.

Some guided tours that are normally untimed and have sufficient capacity will continue to operate without fixed departure times. However, you will still need to reserve a free online ticket in advance.

At some heritage sites, previously untimed tours have been changed to timed tours due to the expected high level of visitor demand. Details are available for each guided tour in the online booking system.

Some heritage sites may still have places available on the day, but availability cannot be guaranteed. At the most popular sites, we expect most tours to be fully booked in advance through the online booking system.

If your preferred guided tour is fully booked, we recommend choosing a different tour time or visiting another nearby heritage site. The National Heritage Institute cares for dozens of exceptional historic sites across the Czech Republic, and even some of the lesser-known ones offer a truly memorable visitor experience.

If you purchased a ticket for one of the free admission days before the Special Open Days were announced, you will be able to request a refund of the admission fee. Please contact our visitor support team at rezervace@npu.cz.

Yes. All valid tickets will remain valid. If you have already paid for admission on 30 August or 27 September, you will be able to follow the refund instructions to reclaim the admission fee.

Up-to-date information about opening arrangements, free tickets, guided tours and any changes will be published on the National Heritage Institute website and on the websites of the individual heritage sites.