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Visiting Prague in Winter

Updated: October 31, 2023

If you are visiting Prague in winter, you’ll be pleased to know there are lots of things to do in the city during this season.

Tourist attractions are much less crowded than during peak season. Prague is quite beautiful when it snows and is perfect for photographers. 

Our sightseeing tour guides offer free walking tours rain or shine, so they know a lot of the best activities to enjoy in this and many other major cities in Europe.

Below are our top choices for things to do in Prague in the winter. 

You’ll find dozens more ideas in our post, What to Do in Prague Year-Round.


1. Head to a Museum

As winter is the low season for travel to Prague and the Czech Republic overall, you will find you have the city’s excellent museums nearly all to yourself.

Plus, you can stay warm on days that are frosty cold!

Prague National MUseum

Just a few of Prague’s top museums are:

  • The National Museum
  • Jewish Museum
  • The Franz Kafka Museum
  • Czech Museum of Music
  • Prague City Museum

If you plan to visit some museums on your trip, look into one of the Prague tourist passes as many museums are included for free if you have one of these passes.


2. Take a Free Walking Tour

Just because it’s winter doesn't mean you can’t explore Prague on foot! 

Wear a warm coat and join one of Free Tours By Foot’s free Prague walking tours. You can expect to see a variety of landmarks on these tours, including noteworthy sites such as Prague Castle, Old Town Hall, the Astronomical Clock, and even the John Lennon Wall.

Just a few of our tours include:

  • Old Town Prague, Jewish Quarter + Charles Bridge 
  • Prague Castle, Golden Lane, & Castle District Tour 
  • Prague Castle Tour & Changing of the Guard

Read about other free Prague walking tours.


3. Visit Petrin Tower on a Snowy Day

When it snows in Prague, the city has a beauty that only the winter season can deliver.

Take advantage of the freshly fallen snow and head to Petrin Tower’s observation deck for scenic views that resemble something you’d only see on a postcard.

View of Prague with Snow

The Tower is open: 

  • December - every day from 10:00  - 20:00 (8:00 pm).
  • January - March - every day from 10:00 - 18:00 (6:00 pm).

Tickets are a bargain at just 150 CZK. Find more information here.

TIP: Your admission is included with at least one Prague tourist pass!


4. Stroll Through a Holiday Market

If you are in Prague around the December holidays, be sure to visit one of the festive holiday markets that pop up around Prague.

These markets are decorated for the season and charming to stroll through. 

If you feel like shopping, you’ll find an array of ceramics, jewelry, ornaments, dolls, and more lovely items.

You can also expect plenty of vendors to offer festive and delicious treats such as mulled wine, gingerbread, plum dumplings, and more.

Some Prague Christmas markets also have a Christmas tree!

Keep an eye out for Old Saint Nick, often followed around by both an angel and a devil.

There are markets at:

  • Prague Castle
  • Old Town Square
  • Wenceslas Square
  • Republic Square
  • Havel’s Market
  • St. George’s Basilica

Before we continue, check out what some of the members of our Prague Travel Tips Facebook Group recommend to do in the winter months.

Our group has over 14k members, consisting of previous visitors, locals, and those planning their first trip.

Click the image to join the conversation.


5. Go Ice Skating

Going ice skating is one of the best activities to enjoy in winter and Prague has many ice rinks.

The two prettiest rinks are the rink at Ovocny Trh, just behind the Estates Theatre, and the Čapadlo Ice Rink with views of Prague Castle.

Ovocny trh ice skating

You’ll also find rinks at:

  • Riegrovy sady
  • Havličkovy sady
  • Střelecký Island
  • Below Zizkov TV Tower
  • Shopping Center Arkády Pankrác
  • Shopping Center Westfield Chodov
  • Shopping Center Cerny 

6. Catch an Ice Hockey Game

Let someone else do the skating! 

Hockey is one of the most popular sports in the Czech Republic and you can catch a game in the winter.

Ice Hockey Prague

Prague’s home team is HC Sparta, one of the most successful hockey clubs in Czech history.

They play at O2 Arena and you can find out game dates and tickets here.


7. Discover Prague's Café Culture

Step in from the cold to enjoy a coffee or hot chocolate at one of Prague’s grand cafes. 

Prague had a history of intellectual and artistic debate that took place between great minds in the city’s grand cafes of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

This tradition ceased from 1948 until the end of the 1980s as the Communist authorities closed down many of these historic cafés. 

Fortunately, some of those cafés, known as "Grand Cafe Houses'' were able to remain open and have restored their regal atmosphere.

Café Imperial is an Art Nouveau gem where you can have great coffee and delicious pastries. They also serve hearty Czech savory food. 

Café Savoy opened in 1893 and is one of Prague's most stylish cafés with decorated, high ceilings and marvelous chandeliers.

Cafe Louvre is a handsome cafe best known for its famous resident genius Albert Einstein. Franz Kafka also frequented Cafe Louvre.


8. See a Christmas Show

What show brings out the magical Christmas spirit in all of us more than The Nutcracker?

Nutcracker Ballet

If you are in Prague this December, you can see this special show at the Hybernia Theatre. Find out more here.

Read our post on Things to Do in Prague in December to see what other holiday concerts are taking place.


9. Celebrate Masopust

Masopust is the annual Slavic Carnival period marking the end of winter. Like Mardi Gras or Carnevale, the streets are filled with celebrations.

The exact dates change from year to year, but Masopust always happens sometime between February 1 and March 7.

Masopust

The biggest parade is in the Zizkov neighborhood and starts with a ceremonial procession of masked characters and huge papier-mache puppets of devils and farm animals. 

The streets are filled with music dancing and general festivities.

The procession comes to an end at the Viktoria Zizkov Stadium where there is a fair with entertainment and food.

Check our post on things to do in Prague in February to find out when Masopust falls.


10. Take a Bus Tour

Taking a bus tour of Prague is a perfect way to stay warm while seeing the city.

You’ll see lots of the city in a short amount of time, giving you an overview from which you choose what specific sites to visit.

Hop on Hop Off Prague

Find out about Prague Bus Tours you can take during the winter.


11. See the Lamp Lighting at Charles Bridge

Throughout December, you can see a lamplighter dressed in period clothing lighting the Charles Bridge lamplights.

lamplighter on Charles Bridge

Head to the spectacular Charles Bridge on the Vltava River at dusk to see this centuries-old tradition.


12. Celebrate New Year's Eve

If you're planning to visit Prague during the end of the year, make sure to head out to one of the most popular spots in the city to see live fireworks shows on New Year's Eve.

In addition to the wonderful lamp lighting, Charles Bridge is also an excellent spot to view the fireworks, and it's entirely free to watch the show.

If the bridge fills up, head to the city center and look for spots like Wenceslas Square or Old Town Square under the Astronomical Clock at the Old Town Hall. There are also New Year's Eve Cruises that stop in Vltava River right under the fireworks, giving you the best views.

For more tips on this and other activities in the winter, check our post covering things to do in Prague in December.


13. Ride the Christmas Tram

Even the Prague Public Transit Authority gets into the holiday spirit with a special Christmas Tram that is all lit up in festive colors and decorations.

These trams (lines 2 and 22) typically run from the last week of November to the first week of January.

Alternatively, you can also ride Tram 42 and 43 to see some of the most noteworthy landmarks in Prague as they are also lit up for the holidays!


Take a Day Trip from Prague

If you're interested in leaving the city for a day or two, there are a lot of great destinations all over the Czech Republic that are within just a few hours of Prague.

Most travelers recommend a visit to Kutná Hora, as it is very close to Prague and you'll have more time to spend in the area.

With sites such as St. Barbaras Cathedral and the Czech Museum of Silver, there's plenty to see and do while you're here!

Alternatively, members of our own Facebook Group suggest Cesky Krumlov.

While some feel it's a bit too far away, others feel the 3-hour bus ride both ways is actually worth it for the opportunity to experience the city during winter.

Here are a few other popular recommendations for day trips from Prague in the winter:

  • Brno
  • Telč
  • Dresden
  • Karlovy Vary

For more ideas, check out our full post covering Prague day trips.


Traditional Festive Foods in Prague

There are a lot of great foods and drinks that you'll find at various Christmas markets and restaurants throughout the city of Prague during the winter, all serving traditional Czech food as well.

Whether you want to get into the holiday spirit, or you just want some great food to eat during this time of year, consider some of the following options:

  • Trdelník
  • Gingerbread
  • Mulled Wine
  • Hot Chocolate
  • Hot Honey Wine
  • Grog (Hot Toddy)
  • Roasted Chestnuts
  • Vánočka (Christmas Bread)
  • Vánoční Cukroví (Christmas Cookies)

In addition to all the festive dishes, you'll also find plenty of locations selling classics such as sausage, potato pancakes, Prague ham, Czech Beer, Candy, and Pork Schnitzel.


Weather in Prague in the Winter

If you are visiting Prague in December, January, or February, here is what you can expect weather-wise.

In early December, daytime temperatures average 4 C (39 F) but by the end of the month, temperatures will drop about 2 C (36 F). 

By January, temperatures will drop to average around 1-2 C (low-mid 30s F) and then about 1 degree warmer on average in February. This is typically the coldest month in Prague.

Prague in Winter

Precipitation is light in December and then increases slightly in January. You may even see some snow during these two months. 

February brings more precipitation, often in the form of snow.

We recommend wearing layers and bundling up in warm clothes, including gloves and a scarf.

You can find more weather details by month from these posts.


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About The Author

Stephen Pickhardt

Stephen is the CEO of Free Tours by Foot and has overseen the transformation of a local walking tour company into a global tour community and traveler’s advice platform. He has personally led thousands of group tours in the US and Europe, and is an expert in trip planning and sightseeing, with a focus on budget travelers. Stephen has been published and featured in dozens of publications including The Wall Street Journal, BBC, Yahoo, Washington.org, and more.
Updated: October 31st, 2023
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