Prague Day Trip: The Kutna Hora Bone Church (Sedlec Ossuary)

The Bone Church Day Trip: Visiting Kutná Hora from Prague, Czech Republic

Kutna Hora is a small city just an hour from Prague, Czech Republic. It’s extremely walkable and totally worth spending a whole day trip exploring. Actually, I would love to go back and spend a few days in Kutna Hora. Kutna Hora is home to the Sedlec Ossuary—The Famous Bone Church—the main draw of the small town. But you’ll also want to visit St. Barbara’s Cathedral, The Cathedral of Assumption of Our Lady and St. John the Baptist, and just explore the quaint streets, alleys, shops and restaurants.

About Jason Robinson // The Nomad Experiment

Having not seen his 3rd country until age 40, then diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 42, Jason encourages and empowers others with a fear of travel, or of traveling with major medical conditions, to push through and live an unconventional life.

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Photo of creepy wall coverings of skulls and bones at the Sedlec Ossuary Bone Church — Creepy wall coverings of skulls and bones at the Sedlec Ossuary

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How to get either from Prague to Kutna Hora or back from Kutna Hora to Prague

You can go from Prague to Kutná Hora by bus, taxi, or car, but the best and easiest is via train from the main station in Prague.

Czech Railways operates a train from Praha Hlavni Nadrazi (the main Prague station) to Kutna Hora Hlavni Nadrazi (hl.n) hourly. It should only run you a few dollars each way.

The train takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes, dropping about a 5-10 minute walk from The Bone Church and The Cathedral of Assumption of Our Lady and St. John The Baptist. Then you can enjoy a walk through Kutna Hora’s Old Town to get to St. Barbara’s Cathedral. Getting back from Prague to Kutna Hora is just as simple, just in reverse!

Want to skip the planning? Check out this highly-rated tour. They’ll pick you up in Prague and take you to explore Kutna Hora, The Bone Church, and St. Barbara’s Cathedral. Then get you back to Prague from Kutna Hora in time for your evening Becherovka!

Pocket Prague Travel Guide
Check out this guide before you head to Prague. check price

The ceiling fresco, statue and organ at the Cathedral of Assumption of Our Lady and St. John the Baptist in Kutna Hora — The ceiling fresco, statue and organ at the Cathedral of Assumption of Our Lady and St. John the Baptist

Photo of the nave of St. Barbara's Cathedral in Kutna Hora, Czechia — The nave of St. Barbara’s Cathedral in Kutna Hora

First Things First, Get Your Tickets To All Of The Churches In Kutna Hora

I highly suggest you get the combined ticket for all of the paid-entry churches in Kutna Hora, including the Sedlec Ossuary. The beauty of a trip to Kutna Hora is that, while it’s a popular trip, it doesn’t seem like it’s overwhelmingly packed with tourists.

And both The Cathedral of Assumption of Our Lady and St. John The Baptist and the moody, Gothic, flying buttress-adorned St. Barbara’s Cathedral are well worth the extra $5!

Detailed photo of the centerpiece at the Sedlec Ossuary Bone Church — Detailed of the centerpiece at the Sedlec Ossuary

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How much does it cost to visit the Sedlec Ossuary Bone Church?

A ticket to get into just the Sedlec Ossuary will run you about $4-5USD. But a ticket that also includes entry into The Cathedral of Assumption of Our Lady and St. John The Baptist and St. Barbara’s Cathedral is only around $10. You can get your ticket just across the street from the Sedlec Ossuary or reserve one here for use later.

Seasonal hours for the churches in Kutna Hora may vary, but plan for:

Peak Season Hours: 10 AM – 5 PM (April to September)
Low/Shoulder Season Hours: 9 AM – 5 PM (October to March)
Note: St. Barbara’s Cathedral opens at 11 AM on Sundays.

Visiting The Sedlec Ossuary Church of Bones

The Exterior of The Sedlec Ossuary

The exterior of The Bone Church is very simple, with a white facade and a cross on the front. Quite unassuming to what’s inside. And you may be a little surprised that the church is actually quite small. It’s surrounded by a cemetery which you can peruse before entering the church, which adds to the overall atmosphere for sure.

Inside The Bone Church

As you enter the small church, you are immediately “greeted” by walls adorned with carefully placed and curated human bone displays. As you peer down the stairwell you get your first glimpse of the extremely intricate and eerie, massive bone “sculptures.”

Now, keep in mind that this is actually a very small church. The main space might measure 50’x50′ on a good day—just eyeballing it. But don’t let that scare you off…

Dusty skulls and bones stacked in the corner of the Bone Church
Entry stairwell wall covering of skulls and bones

The church was built in the 15th century and is estimated to contain the bones of over 40,000 people. Every bone is carefully arranged into intricate designs and patterns from the floors to the chandeliers. The ossuary is dark and gothic and definitely evokes a slightly creepy vibe.

There are literally entire corners of the Sedlec Ossuary stacked nearly floor to ceiling with skulls and bones. Add to the thousands of human bones a few creepy cherub dolls, and we’re talking potential nightmare material here.

The main sculpture and chandelier in the Bone Church
Detailed photo of skulls and bones on the wall
The candle-lit mantle at the Bone Church

When is the best time to visit The Bone Church in Kutna Hora?

The best time to visit The Bone Church in Kutna Hora is during the day, especially first thing in the morning before the crowds get thick. The sun shines through the windows and lights up the bones, which adds to the ambiance a bit.

Prague, Vienna & Budapest Travel Guide – “Fairytale castles, neighborhood beer gardens, and peaceful forest hikes…” check price

I visited The Bone Church first thing in the morning, right after it opened, in the fall shoulder season. Within an hour it was already filling up a bit with tourists and cameras. Again, this church is actually quite small compared to the other churches in Kutna Hora, so I imagine it can get pretty crowded in high travel season.

detailed photo of skulls and bones at the Bone Church in Kutna Hora — Detailed photo of skulls and bones on the wall

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Other churches to visit and things to see on a day trip to Kutna Hora

The Cathedral of Assumption of Our Lady and St. John The Baptist

The Cathedral of Assumption of Our Lady and St. John The Baptist is a Gothic cathedral located just across the way from The Bone Church in Kutna Hora. The church was founded in 1388 by King Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia, construction began in 1396, and the cathedral was completed in 1420.

The exterior of the cathedral is decorated with intricate sculptures and stone carvings, while the interior contains beautiful stained glass windows and frescoes.

The amazing ceiling fresco at the Cathedral of Assumption of Our Lady and St. John the Baptist in Kutna Hora — Absolutely gorgeous ceiling and fresco in The Cathedral of Assumption…

I was lucky enough to have the church almost all to myself, partly because it was early in the day, but also because this church just doesn’t get as many visitors as the other churches in Kutna Hora.

I loved how open and airy the church was, with it’s long, tall corridors. And the ceiling frescos and giant organ were amazing!

The long nave of the Gothic Cathedral of Assumption of Our Lady and St. John the Baptist in Kutna Hora
The ceiling fresco, statue and organ at the Cathedral of Assumption of Our Lady and St. John the Baptist
The giant, shiny organ at the Cathedral of Assumption…

The Cathedral of Assumption of Our Lady and St. John The Baptist is a popular tourist destination, and receives over 200,000 visitors each year, whereas The Bone Church sees about 300,000 visitors.

St. Barbara’s Cathedral in Kutna Hora

St. Barbara’s Cathedral, a UNESCO world heritage site, is renowned as of the most beautiful and well-preserved churches in central Europe. The Gothic cathedral was built between 1257 and 1281.

The exterior of the cathedral is characterized by its three towers, two of which are asymmetrical. The central tower is 60m high and houses a baroque bell from 1724.

Simply walking up to St. Barbara’s Cathedral is overwhelming, as you pass massive statues on the walkway overlooking the Czech countryside.

The exterior flying buttresses of St. Barbara’s Cathedral in Kutna Hora
St. Barbara’s Cathedral with a creepy tree. Spooooky.

Take Barborska street for these amazing views, then make sure you walk all the way around St. Barbara’s Cathedral before you go inside. That way you can truly appreciate the architecture and flying buttresses of this famous Gothic church.

Inside St. Barbara’s Cathedral

St. Barbara’s Cathedral in Kutna Hora is filled with ornate frescoes from the 14th and 15th centuries, stained glass windows, as well as a number of statues of saints. The main altar is located in the choir, which is surrounded by an ambulatory and five chapels. The interior of the cathedral is decorated with numerous frescoes from the 14th and 15th centuries.

Similar to the ceilings in some of the halls of The Old Royal Palace at Prague Castle, there are intricate and detailed glimpses into the heraldry of the past. I spent a lot of time just taking in the ornate art in the nave of St. Barbara’s Cathedral.

photo of a trash can in Kutna Hora, Czechia that looks like an alien robot face — Alien robot face…or cool trash can mechanism? You decide. 😉

The Plague Column (Morový Sloup)

Another reason to simply explore the streets and alleyways of Kutna Hora is that you’ll stumble upon art and statues that aren’t on most people’s radar. The Plague Column was one of those happy accidents I stumbled on while exploring Kutna Hora.

Also known as “The Plague Column of the Virgin Mary Immaculate,” this giant stone memorial is located in Sultysova street in Kutna Hora.

The Plague Column is definitely a little creepy, since it commemorates the 16th-century plague pandemic which wiped out more than a thousand people.

Black and white photo of the Plague Column of Kutna Hora — The Plague Column in Kutna Hora, Czechia

Add to that the fact that at the base of the column is a large tomb. And that the Plague Column is literally right in the middle of a pedestrian street.

The Gothic Stone Fountain (Kamenná Kašna) in Kutna Hora

The Gothic Stone Fountain (Kamenná Kašna) is a beautiful fountain located in the Old Town area of Kutna Hora. The fountain was built in the 14th century and is made from a series of large, rough-hewn blocks of stone.

The fountain is topped with a Gothic spire and features a series of water jets that shoot up into the air. Water flows from the fountain and cascades down into a small pool below. It’s located at Rejsek Square in the Old Town area.

The Weather In Kutna Hora During High Travel Season

In Kutna Hora and Prague during the high travel season, the weather is comfortable and dry. The average temperature in July is around 23° Celsius (75°F), and it can get quite chilly in the shoulder seasons.

I visited in early October when the crowds were smaller, the fall air crisp, and the bright yellow leaves made the brick roads seem to long to be back in Oz.

image of Kutna Hora Czechia street covered in yellow fall leaves — Kutna Hora brick road covered in yellow fall leaves

Travel To Prague And Throughout Prague: Travel Tips & Important Logistics

Here are the nitty-gritty details you need to know before you plan your trip and travel to Prague.

Where Is Prague, Czech Republic?

The country of Prague is located smack dab in the center of Europe, surrounded by other travel-worthy destinations. In under 4 hours by land you can be in Munich or Berlin, Vienna, Budapest, and more.

Prague Weather, Altitude & Relativity To The Equator

Prague is landlocked and on a similar longitude line as the US. The elevation is about 1000ft, so no issues with high elevation chills. Weather in the summer months is moderate with highs up to the mid 70°F but dipping into the 50-60° range at night. And shoulder seasons and winter gets super chilly, so layers are definitely a good bet anytime you travel to Prague.

Prague Travel Seasons & The Best Time To Visit Prague

Peak travel months in Prague, like much of Europe, are generally June-September. The travel shoulder seasons are considered April-May and October-November—sweater weather in Prague. Personally, I always shoot for shoulder seasons because the crowds are smaller and accommodations are almost always cheaper and easier to find.

December-March is considered the low/slow season for travel to Prague. Read: cold AF.

International Airports In Prague

Prague is home to Václav Havel International Airport (PRG).

Travel To And Around Prague

Given the amazing train and transport systems throughout Europe, you can get to Prague very easily in just a couple of hours from neighboring countries.

While Prague is extremely walkable, passes for all form of public transit are also very inexpensive. There’s a subway train (metro), bus or tram going where you need to go every few minutes for under $2USD, or you can get a 72-hour pass for under $15. Longer metro passes in Prague are also available.

Planning a day trip from Prague to Kutna Hora and The Sedlec Ossuary?

Kutna Hora and The Sedlec Ossuary are definitely worth traveling to if you’re visiting Prague. Get up early and take the train from the Main Prague Station to Kutna Hora and spend the day. Getting back to Prague from Kutna Hora is just as easy.

Let me know in the comments if you have any questions or what your favorite part was!

Cheers!
— Jason

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Jason A Robinson The Nomad Experiment Author Type 1 Diabetes

About Jason Robinson

Jason is the author of “The Beginner Traveler’s Guide To Going Nomad,” as well as the voice behind the words and the eye behind the lens for The Nomad Experiment. “Planning to travel at some point” wasn’t actually getting the job done, so nearing 40 he decided to make it a priority, nomatter how scary that was. A few years later—through the pandemic and a type 1 diabetes diagnosis at age 42—now living a life of nomadic travel, he’s speaking out to encourage others of any age, or with any serious medical diagnosis, to live an unconventional life.

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