Tips · Czechia
Prague Christmas Markets: What Should You Prepare Now?
Per the guide, Prague's Christmas markets run during Advent on Old Town Square and other squares. December weather, what to wear, a 4-day plan, what to book.
Published
The short answer
According to the Prague guide, winter is cold, but during Advent Christmas markets fill Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square and other squares. The dates change every year, so check the official city or tourism information before you book accommodation and transport.
Many people visit in market season, so book flights and accommodation early. December highs are around 5°C, so pack warm clothes, and check the official opening hours of the Prague Castle buildings, which change by season.
Christmas markets: when and where, as the guide says
According to the guide, Christmas markets are held during Advent on Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square and other squares. The timing and these places are all the guide says about the markets.
Exact opening and closing dates change every year. Check the official city or tourism information before you book accommodation and transport, and once more just before you leave.
Old Town Square, home to the Astronomical Clock, is the heart of the Old Town, while Wenceslas Square is in the New Town, where metro lines meet. The guide notes that the Old Town is very crowded by day, and Korea's embassy in Prague warns that pickpocketing is common around Old Town Square (Astronomical Clock) and on crowded trams and metro. Keep valuables in front of you, not in a backpack.
November-January weather and what to wear
These are 1991–2020 normals from the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMI / ČHMÚ), Praha, Klementinum station: average high / average low / monthly precipitation.
December is cold, as the guide says, with highs of 5°C and lows of 1°C. November brings highs of 9°C and lows of 4°C, and January about 4°C by day and 0°C in the morning. Monthly precipitation is 26mm in November, 23mm in December and 18mm in January.
The markets are on open-air squares, so bring a heavy coat, a hat, gloves and a scarf, and dress in layers that are easy to adjust between indoor sights. Malá Strana has hills and cobblestones, so wear shoes you can walk in all day. Prague Castle has security checks, so leave large bags at your accommodation.
- November: 9°C / 4°C / 26mm
- December: 5°C / 1°C / 23mm
- January: 4°C / 0°C / 18mm
A 4-day winter plan
The guide suggests 4 to 5 days in Prague. Below is the guide's 4-day plan with the two market squares added. Opening hours of the Prague Castle buildings change by season, and St. Vitus Cathedral has shortened hours on some days for liturgical reasons, so check official notices.
On cold days, warm up with the Czech dishes the guide lists: svíčková (roast beef in a creamy vegetable sauce), goulash with knedlíky, and roast duck. Trdelník (chimney cake) is sold everywhere in tourist areas, and even the national tourism agency presents it as a tourist treat with disputed origins.
- Day 1: AE bus or city bus plus metro into town and check in → the Astronomical Clock on the hour and the market on Old Town Square → a sunset walk over Charles Bridge
- Day 2: Prague Castle in the morning (St. Vitus Cathedral, Old Royal Palace, Golden Lane; check official hours) → Malá Strana's lanes → the funicular up Petřín Hill to the lookout tower (service resumed with new cars on 22 September 2026)
- Day 3: The Jewish Quarter and Jewish Museum (closed Saturdays and Jewish holidays) → the Wenceslas Square market and the New Town → an evening Vltava cruise (check schedules officially)
- Day 4: Charles Bridge in the quiet early morning → a tram to Vyšehrad for river views → lunch in Vinohrady, then head to the airport
What to book early
Many people visit in Christmas market season, so book flights and accommodation early. Market dates change every year, though, so check the official city or tourism information before you book.
Use the guide to choose an area. The Old Town puts Old Town Square, the Astronomical Clock and Charles Bridge within walking distance, but it is very crowded by day and hotel prices are high. In the New Town, metro lines meet around Wenceslas Square, which is convenient, but it can be noisy late at night. For a quieter stay, Vinohrady is a short metro or tram ride from the centre.
If you plan lots of sightseeing, consider the Prague Visitor Pass, the official city card from Prague City Tourism (48, 72 or 120 hours; about CZK 2,700-3,900 for adults). It covers public transport including airport transfers, plus free entry or discounts at many sights. The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is in operation, so non-EU travellers register fingerprints and a facial image on arrival; check the official EU website before travel for the current status of ETIAS.
From the airport and getting around
From Václav Havel Airport, the Airport Express (AE) bus takes about 33-40 minutes to Prague Main Railway Station (depending on traffic) and costs about CZK 200. Regular tickets are not valid, so buy the AE ticket at the Visitor Centre in the arrival halls or from the driver. Bus 59 plus metro line A and bus 100 plus metro line B take a regular PID ticket (90-minute ticket about CZK 46-50), and at night buses 910 and 907 run.
In town, PID tickets (30 min, 90 min, 24 h, 72 h) cover the metro, trams and buses. Paper tickets must be stamped once on first use, and tickets in the official PID Lítačka app become valid 1 minute after activation, so activate before your tram or bus arrives. The metro runs roughly from 5 a.m. to midnight.
Taxis hailed on the street can cost far more, so book by ride-hailing app or phone, make sure the meter is on and ask for a receipt. At the airport, use the official taxi rank in front of the arrival halls and give the driver the 6-digit PIN you receive when booking.
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FAQ
When are the Prague Christmas markets held?
According to the guide, during Advent. Exact dates change every year, so check the official city or tourism information before you book.
Where are the markets?
The guide names Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square and other squares. Korea's embassy warns that pickpocketing is common around Old Town Square, so keep valuables in front of you.
What is Prague's weather like in December?
Based on 1991–2020 normals from the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ), Klementinum station, December averages a high of 5°C, a low of 1°C and 23mm of precipitation. Bring a heavy coat, a hat and gloves.
What should I book first?
Many people visit in market season, so book flights and accommodation early. The Old Town is close to the market squares but hotel prices are high, while the New Town, where metro lines meet, is convenient for getting around.
Related reading
ⓘ Photo credits
- Mt Moiwa observatory · Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada / CC BY-SA 2.0
- Christmas market lights in Germany · Eremeev / CC BY-SA 3.0