Czech Republic, Europe

Prague in May

Peak spring: gardens in bloom, the Prague Spring festival's concert halls full, terraces open. Book ahead.

BestMild, highs near 65F (18C)

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

The straight answer

May is one of the best months of the year to visit Prague. Peak spring: gardens in bloom, the Prague Spring festival's concert halls full, terraces open. Book ahead.

Weather: Mild, highs near 65F (18C)
Crowds: 4 of 5
Prices: 4 of 5

What May is like in Prague

May is one of Prague's two best months. Highs sit near 65F (18C), gardens are in full bloom, and the long evenings are perfect for a walk along the river. The beer gardens open, and the Prague Spring music festival fills the concert halls from mid month. Crowds are heavier than spring, and prices climb, but it is not the summer crush yet.

This is an easy month for nearly everyone: first-timers, couples, families, and music fans. Book hotels a month or two ahead. If you want lower prices and emptier streets and do not mind cooler weather, April or October is the trade-off.

Make the most of May

What is especially good about Prague this month.

Prague Spring festival

One of Europe's great classical music festivals starts in mid May, with concerts in the city's finest halls. Book tickets early.

Beer garden season opens

Letna and Riegrovy Sady beer gardens open for the season, with long tables and some of the best sunset views in the city.

Gardens in full bloom

Petrin Hill and the castle gardens are at their greenest and most colorful, ideal for a slow afternoon above the city.

What to pack for May

Light layers for warm days and cool evenings
A light rain jacket
Comfortable walking shoes
A smart outfit for a concert night

Our timing tip

Walk the Charles Bridge before 8am, then head up to the castle right at opening to beat the tour groups that arrive midmorning.

Book Prague for May.

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

What's on in May

Prague Spring International Music Festival

Mid May into early June

One of Europe's great classical festivals, held in the city's finest halls since the 1940s. Book concerts ahead.

Summer beer garden season

May through September

Letna and Riegrovy Sady beer gardens open above the river, the best sunset seats in the city.

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.

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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.

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 May, quick answers

Is May a good time to visit Prague?

May is one of the best months of the year to visit Prague. Peak spring: gardens in bloom, the Prague Spring festival's concert halls full, terraces open. Book ahead.

What is the weather like in Prague in May?

Mild, highs near 65F (18C).

Is Prague crowded in May?

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

What is happening in Prague in May?

Prague Spring International Music Festival (mid may into early june); Summer beer garden season (may through september).