Czech Republic, Europe

Prague in December

Christmas-market Prague is the postcard: stalls, choirs, and floodlit spires. Book early; the holiday weeks price like summer.

BestCold, highs near 37F (3C), festive lights everywhere

Charles Bridge, Prague — PraguePhoto: DXR, CC BY-SA 4.0

The straight answer

December is one of the best months of the year to visit Prague. Christmas-market Prague is the postcard: stalls, choirs, and floodlit spires. Book early; the holiday weeks price like summer.

Weather: Cold, highs near 37F (3C), festive lights everywhere
Crowds: 4 of 5
Prices: 4 of 5

What December is like in Prague

December is Prague's second high season. Highs are near 37F (3C), and the Christmas markets on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square fill the center with lights, wooden stalls, mulled wine, and trdelnik smoke. It is cold and dark by late afternoon, which makes the floodlit spires even better. The holiday weeks price like summer.

This month is made for families, couples, and anyone who loves Christmas. Book early. Many sights close or shorten hours on December 24 to 26, though the markets carry on. If you do not care about the markets and want low prices, January is the quiet, cheap alternative.

Make the most of December

What is especially good about Prague this month.

Christmas markets on the squares

Old Town Square's giant tree, choirs, and stalls in front of the Gothic towers are the classic December scene.

Floodlit city after dark

With sunset around 4pm, you get long evenings of lit bridges and spires, great for photos and slow walks.

Chance of snow

A dusting of snow is possible, and the castle and bridge look their best under it.

What to pack for December

A warm winter coat
Insulated, waterproof boots
Thermal base layers
A hat, gloves, and a scarf
A tote bag for market gifts

Our timing tip

Visit the Old Town Square market on a weekday at dusk, when the lights are on but the weekend crowds have not arrived.

Book Prague for December.

Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.

Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Prague
Opens a hotel search for Prague in December, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for December
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Prague
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Prague
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Prague for December. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in December

Christmas markets

Late November through early January

Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square at their most magical: trdelnik smoke, mulled wine, and a giant lit tree.

Things to do in Prague

Full guide

Charles Bridge at dawn

The single most important timing move in Prague: before 8am the bridge holds photographers and pigeons; by 11am in season it is a moving crowd.

Tickets and tours →

Prague Castle complex

St Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, and Golden Lane on one circuit ticket. Go early or late; midday queues at security build fast in season.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Old Town Square and the Astronomical Clock

The hourly clock show draws a scrum; watch once, then climb the Old Town Hall tower for the view over the square instead.

Tickets and tours →

Josefov, the Jewish Quarter

The Old Jewish Cemetery and the synagogues form one of Europe's most moving historical sites. Closed Saturdays for the Jewish Sabbath.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Petrin Hill

Ride the funicular up to orchards, gardens, and a miniature Eiffel-style lookout tower. Blossom season in April and May is the local secret.

Tickets and tours →

A proper Czech pub

Order the tankova (tank) pilsner and let the waiter keep them coming. Lokal and the old cellar pubs off the main squares beat anything on them.

Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Set one alarm for the Charles Bridge at dawn. It is the entire Prague crowd problem solved for free, and the light is better anyway.
Do the castle at opening or after 3pm and enter from the quieter back gates rather than the main ceremonial approach at midday.
The crowd is a corridor: Old Town Square to the bridge to the castle. Two blocks off that line, in Nove Mesto, Vinohrady, or Letna, Prague is calm even in August.
December's markets are busiest after dark and on weekends; go on a weekday at dusk for lit stalls without the crush, then dine away from the square.

Know before you go

Prague has no seasonal shutdown: museums, pubs, concerts, and the castle run all twelve months. Winter changes the daylight and the temperature, not the access.
The castle complex runs shorter winter hours, and some of its gardens, including the Royal Garden, close entirely from roughly November through March. The cathedral and main circuit stay open.
The Jewish Museum sites in Josefov close on Saturdays year-round and on Jewish holidays.
December 24 through 26 and January 1 close or shorten most sights, while the markets and restaurants carry the load; the market stalls themselves generally run right through the holidays.

Prague in December, quick answers

Is December a good time to visit Prague?

December is one of the best months of the year to visit Prague. Christmas-market Prague is the postcard: stalls, choirs, and floodlit spires. Book early; the holiday weeks price like summer.

What is the weather like in Prague in December?

Cold, highs near 37F (3C), festive lights everywhere.

Is Prague crowded in December?

Prague is busy in December, though mornings and late afternoons stay workable.

What is happening in Prague in December?

Christmas markets (late november through early january).