10 Things to Do in Prague at Christmas: A Complete Guide to Christmas in Prague

Prague at Christmas time is one of the most magical destinations during the winter. Not only is the historical centre of Prague a UNESCO World Heritage site, but the city is also home to some of the best Christmas Markets in Europe. 

If you’re planning to visit Prague in December you’ll find the city alive with a festive cheer that even the most seasoned Christmas Grinch can’t resist getting involved with. From the delicious traditional foods to the postcard-perfect photogenic streets full of decorations it’s difficult to resist the charm and allure of a traditional Prague Christmas.

In this article, I delve into why Prague should be on your Christmas bucket list and give you advice on the best things to see, where to find the best Christmas markets in Prague, and handy tips for visiting during the festive season. 

What to Do in Prague at Christmas

In a hurry and wondering what to do in Prague at Christmas? Below is a list of the top things to add to your itinerary. This article covers everything you need to plan your trip to Prague during Christmas.

Best Things to Do in Prague at Christmas

• Immerse yourself in the festive spirit at Old Town Square Christmas Market
• Indulge in the delicious festive food stands
• Enjoy a hot Chimney Cake with mulled wine
• Take a Prague River Cruise in a traditional wooden boat
• Climb the Astronomical Clock Tower to see the markets from above
• Watch a performance, like the Nutcracker Ballet, or the street carol singers
• Go Prague Ice Skating at one of the city’s ice rinks
• Snuggle up warm and go for a Beer Spa
• Admire the decorations at Prague Castle
• Explore the old cobbled streets and their Christmas displays

I’ve partnered with Jet2CityBreaks to Prague and Visit Czech Republic to bring you this travel guide. This article is based on the destination and experiences I took part in. All views and opinions are my own.

Where Are the Prague Xmas Markets?

Prague is home to some of the best Christmas markets in Czech Republic, and although other cities like Brno and Český Krumlov are great cities to experience them, the Christmas Markets in Prague are the most stunning. So much so that an extensive opinion poll by USA Today voted them as the most beautiful in the world!

You’ll find markets cropping up all over the city. However, the stalls set up for Christmas at Prague Castle and the Old Town Square are particularly photogenic thanks to their location and pretty backdrop.

Wander any of the photogenic cobbled streets in Prague for a short while, and I guarantee you’ll stumble across a festive set-up. Every square will have some sort of stall, even if it’s just a pop-up mulled wine cart or roasted chestnut seller.

Depending on which market you visit, as a generalization, the Prague Christmas Market 2023 season runs from the end of November until either Christmas Eve or the 6th of January 2024.

The exact dates differ each year, so check the official Czech Tourism website for confirmation. Here are the most popular markets I recommend checking out.

Best Prague Christmas Markets 2023/24

• Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí) | 2nd Dec 2023 until 6th Jan 2024
• Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí) |  2nd Dec 2023 unitl 6th Jan 2024
• Republic Square (náměstí Republiky) | 25th Nov 2023 until 30th Dec 2023
• Tyl’s Square (Tylovo náměstí) | 26th Nov 2023 until 24th Dec 2023
• Peace Square (náměstí Míru) | 20th Nov 2023 until 24th Dec 2023
• Prague Castle (Pražský hrad) | 2nd Dec 2023 until 6th Jan 2024
• Smíchov – pedestrian zone Anděl | 24th Nov 2023 unitl 24th Dec 2023

Which Is the Biggest Prague Christmas Market?

The biggest Christmas Market in Prague is the one in Old Town Square. It is the most popular one in the city and stretches from the Old Town Hall and Astronomical Clock up to the Jan Hus Memorial. 

The large square is flanked by colourful historical buildings with the iconic Gothic Tyn Church looming over on one side, and the Town Hall Tower on the other. The air here is filled with the scent of sweet cinnamon and cloves with smoke from fires and chestnut roasting. Because this is one of the most popular places to visit in Prague at Christmas, it can get busy, particularly in the evenings and weekends.

In the centre of the market, you’ll find a gigantic Christmas tree. Each year, one is selected from a different region of the Czech Republic. There’s also a raised platform you can access for a better view looking down on the market and is a popular photo spot. The Old Town Square becomes the main centre of pre-Christmas celebrations so you’ll find a mixture of locals and tourists of all ages out to enjoy the spectacle. 

A large stage dominates one corner of the square. Here you’ll find a program of various acts including choirs singing Christmas carols, school children performing Christmas songs in fancy dress, solo artists, and full-on orchestras and bands. There’s a board near the stage that has a list of the acts on it. 

Best Time to Visit the Prague Christmas Markets

The weekends are the busiest time at the markets, partially towards the latter afternoon as the sun goes down. Weekday evenings can also get pretty crowded too. 

If you want to enjoy the Christmas markets without the crowds then visit them earlier in the afternoon on a weekday. They are open daily from mid-morning (10 am is too early for mulled wine, said no one ever), until 10 pm, and entrance is free.

In a nutshell, for the best atmosphere visit the markets during the early evening at the weekend. 

If you want to relax and browse without the crowds, then go on the weekdays before lunchtime. 

The Best Things to Buy at Prague Christmas Market

Although you’ll find a whole multitude of things for sale at the Chrismas Markets one of the best things to do in Prague in winter is eat your way around them.

• Mulled wine, hot mead (a honey liquor), and hot fruit punch (alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions available)
• Sweet trdelnik, a sugar and cinnamon coated pastry also known as ‘Chimney Cake’
• Waffles and crepes
• Roasted chestnuts
• Local produce including cheese, biscuits, and preserves
• Artisan crafts and gifts such as jewellery, traditional Czech metalwork (check out the sword makers!), and wooden toys
• Traditional decorations and hand-carved nativity figures

Three-Day Itinerary for Christmas in Prague

You’ll find no shortage of things to do in Prague in December. Of course, the summer is the most popular time to visit the city, however, December comes in a close second. 

Winter is also one of the prettiest times of year to visit, thanks to the chances of snowfall in the city being quite high. The city is already incredibly photogenic, but the snow turns it into a truly memorable experience.     

I’ve written this Christmas in Prague itinerary based on a three-day trip, however, depending on your travel style (I tend to cram a lot in) tweak it to suit. 

Christmas in Prague Itinerary Day 1

Morning

Start early and explore the UNESCO Historical Centre before the crowds get too big. Visit the Astronomical Clock. At each hour, the clock chimes – watch the little skeleton and the parade of figures.

From the Old Town Square, take an early morning walk across Charles Bridge. The pedestrian bridge gets insanely busy, so enjoy it before too many crowds get there.

Head back to the Old Town Hall when it opens and go up the Tower. From the top, you’ll be able to look down on Old Town Square and the markets. Take the 1 hour guided tour inside where you’ll get to see the rooms of the Town Hall and also get access to the cellars.

Afternoon

Take a guided walking tour of the city to discover more city highlights and get an orientation of the city. If you don’t want to walk, you can also opt for the city bus tour that visits Prague’s landmarks, you also get an audio guide on this tour.

After the tour, spend some time around the Jewish District to learn about the importance and history of this area of Prague. Take note that the Jewish sites are closed on Saturdays as this is their religious day.

Evening

As the sun goes down the markets come alive. Spend the late afternoon and evening around the Christmas Markets in the Old Town Square. There are so many different food stalls, so work your way around them, watch the performances and take in the vibe of it all.

Christmas in Prague Itinerary Day 2

Morning

Visit Prague Castle. Plan to arrive as soon as it opens and before the tour buses get there. If you visit any time after 10 am the whole area gets quite busy. Your ticket for Prague Castle includes different areas. Although access to the Castle grounds is unlimited, you get one entry per attraction. 

The attractions inside Prague Castle are numbered, although you can do them in any order. I did them in the order that I was most interested in. Because I arrived so early in the day, I had lots of places to myself and managed to see everything by lunchtime.

Afternoon

From Prague Castle, walk back down Castle Hill and up to Petřín Lookout Tower. It’s a fairly steep walk and takes about 25 minutes to meander up through the park. The steep walk is worth it for the view, however, get an even better view and climb the Petřín Tower (or take the elevator). 

The tower was built as part of the Jubilee Exhibition in 1891 and was inspired by the Eiffel Tower. Thanks to this being one of the highest points in the city, you’ll be able to look out across Prague Castle on the neighbouring hill, the Vltava River, Old Town, and over to the hills in the distance.

It can get chilly on top of the tower, so if you’re looking for somewhere to warm up and for a bit of inner-child nostalgic fun, head to the mirror maze, it’s just a few meters from the tower. 

Evening

The Czech Republic is home to some of the world’s best beer, so it’s no surprise that a sideline industry from this is their famous Beer Spas. 

Soak in a giant hot tub, relaxing in a beer bath while enjoying an unlimited amount of beer to drink. After the spa, you get to chill out on a heated bed. You can also opt for additional pampering sessions like a full body massage and other treatments.

Christmas in Prague Itinerary Day 3

Morning

Start the day with a cruise along the Vltava River one of the adorable traditional wooden boats. The boats even come equipped with an onboard log burner, so they are cosy inside. Your tour is accompanied by gingerbread and a drink (either mulled wine, beer, tea, or coffee). You’ll find the boats located in a dock under Charles Bridge.

Sipping on Czech wine, next to a fire in a cosy boat is a great way to see the city. Your captain will give you insightful nuggets of information along the way, however, there is also an audio guide that you can listen to. The route passes under the iconic Charles Bridge, which is a great way to see it without the crowds.

After the cruise, spend some time walking along the banks of the Vltava River. There are loads of vantage spots to get photos of the river and bridges with Prague Castle in the background.

If you walk down far enough, you’ll also find the famous Dancing Houses on Rašínovo nábřeží. They were designed by the Croatian-Czech architect Vlado Milunić as a collaborative piece with Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry. They are said to represent Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. 

Afternoon

As you’ve probably seen from the lookout points, Prague is home to an abundance of towers. More than 120 of them. You can not access all of them, however, there are a few that you can and are certainly worthwhile going up. The best ones are the Powder Tower, the Old Town Bridge Tower, and the Town Belfry by St. Nicholas’ Church.

After the towers, head to some of the city’s museums. I’m a huge fan of early 1900s architecture, so I absolutely adored The House of the Black Madonna which is a small museum dedicated to Cubism architecture and interior design. 

If you visit just one museum, then I highly recommend the National Museum. It’s at the top of Wenceslas Square, so you can visit the Christmas markets en route. The architecture of this building alone is worth visiting, and it’s up there with one of the most stunning museums in the world. The central atrium staircases are something to marvel at, along with the halls with their frescoed and domed ceilings. 

Evening

Head to one of the city’s skating rinks. There are several dotted around the city, with the closest ones to the centre being Čapadlo Ice Skate Arena and Veřejné hřiště Na Františku. You can hire skates at each of the rinks. 

After skating, head back to the Christmas Markets for one last peruse of souvenirs and gifts and enjoy a final cup of mulled wine and chimney cake.

Prague for Christmas FAQs

Below you’ll find lots of useful answers to questions to make the most out of your Christmas Prague experience.  

Where to stay in Prague?

There’s no shortage of accommodation in Prague. On short city breaks, I always opt to stay somewhere central, close to all of the things I want to see. I like to get up early before the crowds arrive to take photos before the chaos begins, so staying centrally means less messing about in the morning. 

I stayed in the 4* Hotel Astoria Prague City. It’s located just minutes from the historical centre and the Old Town Square which meant it was perfect for my short stay. I was also able to check in early on the day I arrived.

The rooms are warm and cosy, with plenty of space. The decor was modern and had a desk, mini bar, and aircon (so you could control how warm you wanted it).

One of the things I was most impressed with was the breakfast. I’m a vegetarian so that often means the items on buffets aren’t that suitable. This was one of the best breakfast buffets I have experienced in a long time – if I wasn’t on such a schedule to get out and take my early morning photos, I could quite happily have spent ages here trying everything. 

What Happens in Prague on Christmas Day?

In the UK, Christmas is mostly celebrated on the 25th of December, however, in Prague, there’s more of an emphasis on the 24th. If you’re intending to be in Prague on Christmas Day, then there are a few things to take note of.

On the 24th most shops will be open in the morning, but close by around lunchtime. A lot of them will remain closed on the 25th and 26th of December.

Christmas day in Prague, like other countries that celebrate Christmas, mainly revolves around relaxing, spending time with family and friends, and eating. If you don’t want to cook on the day, the best Christmas dinner in Prague is at either Andaz Prague or The Augustine.

Find more Prague Christmas dinner locations here.

Does It Snow in Prague at Christmas?

Although you can never 100% predict the weather, if you’re planning to visit Prague in winter, there’s a fairly high chance it will snow. These chances are particularly increased if you go from any point from early to mid-December in Prague. On average there are 6 to 7 days of snow during the month. 

Prague in the snow is especially beautiful, and the Christmas markets just make it feel phenomenally festive. I’m not gonna lie, it’s cold! Just be sure to pack lots of layers and decent waterproof walking shoes that have decent tread on the bottom as it can get a bit slushy and icy underfoot. 

Take a look at this winter packing list for Europe to help you decide what to take.

What’s the Weather Like During Winter in Prague?

Prague in the winter is cold, with the coldest month on average being January. In December in Prague, temperatures fall on average between 4° and -1 (39°F / 30°F). It can range from bright sunny days to cloudy as well as snow. 

Take a thick winter coat, hat, gloves, and scarf as well as thick socks and sturdy shoes. I feel the cold really bad, so I also wore a ski-base layer under my regular clothes to stay warm. 

Indoors is snuggly and can feel sweltering coming in from the cold. Wear layers that are easy to remove as you’ll certainly want to take off your cold gear when you go inside. 

What’s the Easiest Way to Visit Prague Christmas Markets?

Prague is well connected by train, bus, and flights from all over Europe.

Although technically the winter is classed as off-season in most destinations, because of the draw of the Christmas markets, any time from mid-November onwards you will want to book in advance. 

If you’re too busy in the lead-up to Christmas to organize your Prague winter holiday, then it’s worth looking at this Christmas markets trip by Jet2CityBreaks who will arrange the flights and hotel for you.

If you want to enjoy the Christmas Markets but aren’t a fan of crowds, then there are loads of places outside of Prague where you’ll find them.

Are There Christmas Markets in Prague in November?

Yes, but not until the end of the month. The Prague winter festival season starts towards the end of November, in 2022 it was on the 26th. The dates vary each year, but usually, it’s the last week of November that the markets will officially open, this is also when the official lights go on.  

Are There Christmas Markets in Prague in January?

Yes, the main festive Christmas markets are open until early January. The smaller ones away from the main city finish on Christmas Day. Many of the iconic ones – including the one in the Old Town Square, are open after the New Year and until the 6th of January. 

Is Prague Safe?

The Czech Republic, like the rest of Europe, is incredibly safe. Despite Prague being the nation’s capital, it’s safe to walk about alone, particularly in the tourist area of the historical centre. 

Like with any tourist hotspot, the biggest worry is pickpocketing in busy areas so just be mindful of where your valuables are. 

On the whole, the locals are friendly, so if you’re lost or need help ask someone, it’s also worth noting that the level of English speaking is pretty good here too. 

Is Prague a Good Solo Travel Destination?

Prague makes for a perfect destination whether you’re travelling on your own, or as a couple or family. The Czechs are incredibly warm and welcoming, and in Prague, their English is superb, so even if you’re travelling solo, it’s easy to strike up a conversation with a stranger. 

If you’re a little apprehensive about travelling on your own, then take a look at these other great solo holidays for some inspiration.  

Where can I find small group tours of Prague?

If you’re visiting Prague here are some great ideas for small group tours around the city.

Do You Want to Visit Prague at Christmastime?

I hope you’ve discovered what a great destination Prague at Christmas really is and why it’s a great destination for a European winter city break.

There’s an abundance of things to do that will get you ready for the festive season.

If you’re planning your trip to Prague in winter or exploring more of the country, then take a look at these other useful articles and travel tips.

• 30+ Great Places To Put Czech Republic Bucket List
• Best Things To Do In South Bohemia, Czech Republic
• Czech Republic’s Fairytale Town – Cesky Krumlov In One Day
• 12 Reasons To Visit České Budějovice, Czech Republic
• Best Things To Do In Brno, The Second Capital of Czech Republic
• The Ultimate Cabin-Bag Only Packing List, For Europe In Winter