Special Open Days at State Heritage Sites with Free Admission
The National Heritage Institute has published visitor information about the two Special Open Days offering free admission to state heritage sites. The events will take place on Sunday 30 August and Sunday 27 September 2026 at most state castles, châteaux and other heritage sites managed by the National Heritage Institute. From today, detailed information is available on the National Heritage Institute website and on the websites of the participating heritage sites, including how the guided tours will be organised, which tours will be available, and how to reserve free tickets. Although admission to selected guided tours is free of charge, visitors must reserve a free ticket in advance through the online booking system. Advance online booking is essential due to the limited capacity of the guided tours.
Most state castles, châteaux, monasteries and other heritage sites managed by the National Heritage Institute will take part in the Special Open Days. The only exceptions are the Invalidovna complex in Prague, which is preparing for a major restoration project, and Raduň State Château, which will only participate in September due to filming scheduled for August.
During both Special Open Days, free admission will be available for the standard guided tours at participating state heritage sites. In addition, selected heritage sites will also offer free admission to other guided tours, depending on their individual visitor programme. Some sites will also host pre-arranged cultural events, such as concerts or programmes organised or co-organised by external organisations. These events are not part of the Special Open Days, are subject to their own admission arrangements, and may require a separate admission fee.
“We want visitors to enjoy both Special Open Days to the fullest. To help ensure everything runs smoothly, the National Heritage Institute website and the websites of individual state heritage sites provide all the information needed to plan a visit – including details of the guided tours available, how to reserve free tickets, and other practical information. Visitors simply need to choose the heritage site they wish to visit, check the available guided tours, and reserve a free ticket online in advance,” says Oldřich Pešek, Deputy Director for the Management of Heritage Sites at the National Heritage Institute.
Heritage sites managed by the National Heritage Institute will operate during the Special Open Days in the same way as throughout the regular visitor season. The only difference is the way free tickets are issued. Due to the limited capacity of guided tours, free tickets for selected tours will be available exclusively through the online booking system. Guided tours will take place at scheduled times and will be led by guides, just as they are during the regular visitor season. Group sizes will remain limited, allowing visitors to choose a tour time in advance and ensuring their place on the selected tour.
The latest information about the Special Open Days, including free ticket reservations, refunds for previously purchased tickets, and visitor arrangements, is available on the National Heritage Institute website and on the websites of the participating state heritage sites.