This post was originally published on A Globe Well Travelled in 2015. The content has been revised and updated with fresh information.
A church decorated with 40,000 human bones? I couldn’t resist.
It was my first time in Prague, and one morning I found myself packed into a train carriage bound for Kutná Hora, a small town about an hour from Prague that I hadn’t even heard of until arriving in the Czech capital a few days earlier. Word had spread through the hostel crowd about a “bone chapel” on the edge of town, and intrigued by the idea that my thirst for all things eerie and morbid might finally be satisfied, I signed myself up for a day trip.
What I discovered was one of the most bizarre attractions I’ve ever visited. Beneath an otherwise unassuming chapel lay an underground ossuary, where the bones of plague victims had been transformed into intricate chandeliers, towering pyramids and even an ornate family crest.
Better known as the Sedlec Ossuary, the Kutná Hora Bone Chapel is one of the Czech Republic’s most unusual attractions. In this guide, I’ll share what it was like to visit, along with everything you need to know about planning your own day trip from Prague.
Quick summary:
The Sedlec Ossuary in Kutná Hora is one of Europe’s most fascinating and bizarre dark tourism sites. In this post, I share what it’s like to visit the Bone Chapel, along with practical tips on how to get there on a day trip from Prague, what to expect, and how to book tickets or join a tour.
Recommended tour:
🚌 Kutná Hora Bone Chapel Day Tour — Includes return transfers from Prague and entry to the ossuary and other top sites with a local guide.
What is the Sedlec Ossuary (Bone Chapel)?
The Sedlec Ossuary, also known as the Bone Chapel, is one of the most unusual attractions in Europe. Located beneath the Cemetery Church of All Saints in the Sedlec suburb of Kutná Hora, the chapel is decorated with the bones of over 40,000 people.
The remains were arranged into elaborate formations — from skull pyramids to chandeliers — by a half-blind woodcarver named František Rint in the 1870s. While originally meant as a way to respectfully store the overflow of bodies from the cemetery during the Black Death and Hussite Wars, it has since become one of the most bizarre (and oddly beautiful) examples of macabre art.
How to get to Kutná Hora from Prague
Getting to Kutná Hora is surprisingly easy, and there are two main options: travelling independently by train or joining a guided day tour.
Kutná Hora guided day tour
🚌 I took a Kutná Hora Day Tour from Prague, which included round-trip transport, a local guide, and entry to the Bone Chapel. It made the experience stress-free and let me focus on soaking up the weirdness without worrying about logistics.
Guided day tours usually include more than just the bone chapel – you’ll also get to see the impressive St. Barbara’s Church and explore Kutná Hora’s historic town centre. It’s a great way to see the town without having to organise your own transport.
Trains to Kutná Hora
If you prefer to go it alone, you can catch a direct train from Prague’s main train station (Praha hlavní nádraží) you can search for train tickets to Kutná Hora main station (Kutná Hora hlavní nádraží).
The journey takes just over an hour. From the station, it’s about a 15-20 minute walk to the Sedlec Ossuary. Trains run fairly frequently throughout the day, making this a very doable half-day or full-day trip.
Kutná Hora tickets and opening hours
Because of limited capacity inside the chapel, it’s highly recommended that you book your entrance tickets online via the official Sedlec website in advance (unless you are taking a guided day tour, as your entry tickets to the chapel should be included).
You will have to select a timeslot for a timed entry ticket. General admission costs around 220 CZK (as of 2026) for adults and there is a discounted rate for students and seniors. Combination tickets are also available if you want to visit other sites in the area, like the Cathedral of the Assumption or the Church of St. Barbara.
The Bone Chapel is open daily, but hours vary by season. From April to September, it’s usually open from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. In the colder months from October to March, hours are reduced to 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The chapel is closed to the public on December 24–26 and January 1.
My visit to the Bone Chapel
I’ll admit, I had set myself up to expect something out of a gothic horror film — a haunted cathedral slowly appearing through the mist as wolves howled in the distance. Instead, we were greeted by a small, unassuming chapel with a simple exterior. A few crooked headstones lined the walkway to the entrance, each one sinking unevenly into the ground, as though slowly giving up the fight against gravity.
As our group shuffled through the doorway, I silently hoped that the inside would offer a little more shock value. I wasn’t disappointed. Descending into the crypt, I was immediately hit with that unique blend of awe and discomfort that only comes from standing beside human remains arranged in disturbingly artistic ways.
In one corner, towering mounds of skulls loomed with hollow eyes, watching silently as I passed. A chandelier of leg bones and pelvises hung from the ceiling, swinging slightly in the draft. Along the walls were garlands of vertebrae, strings of jaws, and even the family crest of the chapel’s former patrons — all crafted entirely from bone.
At one point, my hand accidentally brushed against a smooth cranium — the polished scalp of a long-forgotten plague victim that had likely been touched by thousands of curious fingers before mine. A chill ran through me, and I felt an unexpected sense of satisfaction. This was exactly the kind of creepy-but-compelling experience I’d come looking for. Dark tourism might be a strange obsession, but it definitely gets my adrenaline pumping.
What else is there to see in Kutná Hora?
Although the Bone Chapel is Kutná Hora’s most famous attraction, it’s far from the only reason to visit. The town’s beautifully preserved medieval centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and if you’re making the journey from Prague, I’d recommend allowing time to explore beyond the ossuary.
Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady
Located just a short walk from the Bone Chapel, the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady and Saint John the Baptist is another impressive UNESCO-listed landmark. Often overshadowed by its more famous neighbour, it’s one of the oldest Gothic churches in the Czech Republic and is included with some combination tickets for the Bone Chapel.
Kutná Hora historic town centre
One of my favourite parts of the day was wandering through Kutná Hora’s historic streets. Colourful buildings, quiet squares and centuries-old architecture give the town a much more relaxed atmosphere than Prague, making it a nice area to explore on foot. There are plenty of cafés and restaurants if you fancy stopping for lunch or dinner.
St. Barbara’s Church
St. Barbara’s Church is an absolute masterpiece of Gothic architecture. It has soaring vaulted ceilings, colourful stained-glass windows and ornate frescoes decorating the interior. Even if you’ve already visited Prague’s famous churches, I’d still recommend stepping inside St. Barbara’s as it is definitely one of the most impressive churches in the Czech Republic.
If you’re visiting from Prague, a Kutna Hora UNESCO Site Tour with Bone Chapel stops at Sedlec Ossuary, St. Barbara’s Church and includes free time to explore Kutná Hora’s historic centre. It’s a great way to see the town without worrying about transport or planning.
Is the Kutná Hora Bone Chapel worth visiting?
Absolutely. Although the chapel itself is quite small and most visitors only spend 20–30 minutes inside, it’s unlike anywhere else I’ve visited in Europe. The displays are fascinating rather than gruesome, and whether you’re interested in history, architecture or dark tourism, it’s absolutely one of the most memorable day trips from Prague.
And while the Bone Chapel is undoubtedly Kutná Hora’s biggest drawcard, don’t rush straight back to Prague afterwards. The town itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with Gothic architecture, colourful streets and one of the Czech Republic’s most impressive churches, St. Barbara’s Cathedral. If you’ve got the time, it’s well worth turning your Bone Chapel visit into a full-day adventure.
🚌 I visited Kutná Hora on a guided day tour from Prague and found it to be a really easy way to experience the Bone Chapel without having to worry about trains, tickets or planning the day yourself.
Kutná Hora Bone Chapel FAQs
How long do you need at the Kutná Hora Bone Chapel?
Most visitors spend around 20–30 minutes exploring the Sedlec Ossuary. If you’re travelling from Prague, allow a full day so you can also visit nearby attractions like St. Barbara’s Church and the historic town centre.
What’s the best time to visit the Kutná Hora Bone Chapel?
The chapel can become busy with tour groups, particularly in the middle of the day. Visiting early in the morning or later in the afternoon usually means fewer crowds and a quieter atmosphere.
Can you visit the Kutná Hora Bone Chapel without a tour?
You can. Direct trains from Prague take just over an hour, and it’s around a 15–20 minute walk from Kutná Hora station to the Bone Chapel, but a guided Kutná Hora day tour is the easiest option if you prefer transport and tickets organised for you.
Can you buy Bone Chapel tickets on the day?
You can, but there is limited capacity inside the chapel, so booking ahead is highly recommended. Tickets are available at the Sedlec Information Centre opposite the chapel or online in advance.
Is photography allowed inside the Bone Chapel?
Yes, photography is permitted, but flash is prohibited. As the chapel is still a religious site containing human remains, visitors should be respectful when taking photos.
Is the Bone Chapel suitable for children?
It depends on the child. The displays are made entirely from real human bones, which some younger children may find unsettling, while older kids interested in history may find it fascinating.
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