Czech Republic, Europe

Prague in March

The city stirs. Easter markets appear on the squares late March or April, a smaller, pastel echo of December.

GoodThawing, highs near 46F (8C)

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

The straight answer

March is a good month to visit Prague. The city stirs. Easter markets appear on the squares late March or April, a smaller, pastel echo of December.

Weather: Thawing, highs near 46F (8C)
Crowds: 2 of 5
Prices: 2 of 5

What March is like in Prague

March is when Prague starts to thaw. Highs climb to around 46F (8C), with more bright days as the month goes on, though cold snaps still happen. Crowds stay light and prices low. If Easter falls in late March, Easter markets pop up on Old Town Square with painted eggs and craft stalls.

This month suits travelers who like a quiet city and do not mind a coat. It is a good value choice for first-timers who want to see the big sights without summer crowds. Gardens are still mostly bare and the castle's Royal Garden stays closed, so if blossoms are the goal, April or May is the better bet.

Make the most of March

What is especially good about Prague this month.

Easter markets, in some years

When Easter falls early, the Easter markets on Old Town Square start in March, a smaller, pastel version of the December markets.

Low prices with longer days

You get noticeably more daylight than in winter while hotels still charge near off-season rates.

Vysehrad without the crowds

The quieter fortress on the river is a fine walk on a clear March day, with Vltava views and the national cemetery.

What to pack for March

A warm jacket that works with layers
Water-resistant walking shoes
A light hat and gloves for cold mornings
A compact umbrella

Our timing tip

Check when Easter falls this year: if it lands in late March, plan around the markets, and if not, enjoy an even quieter month.

Book Prague for March.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Prague
Opens a hotel search for Prague in March, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for March
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 March. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in March

Easter markets

Roughly the two to three weeks around Easter, March or April

Painted eggs, pussy-willow whips, and stalls on Old Town Square, the spring rehearsal for December.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.