Prague is one of Europe’s great Christmas cities. Wooden stalls fill the medieval squares, a tall tree glows in front of Týn Church, and the smell of mulled wine and roasting sausages drifts through the lanes. Czechs celebrate on Christmas Eve, and the weeks before are full of markets, concerts and skating. Here is what is on in late 2026, with dates and practical tips.

Christmas markets

The two main markets run on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square from Saturday 28 November 2026 to Wednesday 6 January 2027, open every day from 10am to 10pm. Old Town Square is the showpiece, with the Christmas tree, a stage for carols and folk music, and the Astronomical Clock and Týn Church as a backdrop. This year’s tree, a 23-metre spruce from the Podještědí area of northern Bohemia, arrived in late October. Expect stalls selling mulled wine (svařák), honey wine, trdelník pastries, sausages, gingerbread, wooden toys and glass decorations. Prices on the main squares are higher than elsewhere, and the market is very crowded on December evenings and weekends.

For a more local feel, try the neighbourhood markets, which close on Christmas Eve:

  • Náměstí Míru, in front of the Church of St Ludmila in Vinohrady: 20 November to 24 December 2026.
  • Náměstí Republiky, by the Municipal House: 25 November to 24 December 2026.
  • Tylovo náměstí, near I. P. Pavlova: 26 November to 24 December 2026.

Prague Castle at Christmas

The castle holds its Christmas Stroll from 28 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, and on Saturday 28 November it has an Open House day from 9am to 5pm. The castle grounds stay open every day, including 24 December, but the historic buildings close on Christmas Eve. On 25 December 2026 at 5pm, St Nicholas Church in Malá Strana holds a Christmas concert, one of many seasonal concerts in Prague’s churches and halls.

Ice skating

  • Letná Plain, overlooking the castle: open daily from 14 November 2026 to 7 March 2027, 9am to 9pm, closing at 4pm on 24 December and 8pm on 31 December. The ice closes briefly for resurfacing several times a day.
  • Wenceslas Square: an outdoor rink runs from 28 November 2026 to 14 February 2027, daily from 9am to 10pm in sessions, with skate hire on site.

Czech Christmas traditions

On 5 December, the eve of St Nicholas’s Day, people dressed as St Nicholas, an angel and a devil walk the streets and squares, rewarding well-behaved children with sweets. In the days before Christmas, live carp are sold from tubs on street corners for the traditional Christmas Eve dinner of fried carp and potato salad. Presents arrive on the evening of 24 December, brought by Ježíšek, the baby Jesus, rather than Father Christmas. Families bake many kinds of small Christmas biscuits (cukroví), which you will see in bakeries all December.

Christmas Eve and the holidays

24, 25 and 26 December are public holidays, and Christmas Eve is the main family celebration, so many restaurants and shops close early on the 24th. Plan around these changes:

  • Prague Castle: buildings closed on 24 December; grounds open.
  • Old Town Hall tower: 9am to 3pm on 24 December and 11am to 6pm on 25 December.
  • National Museum: closed on 24 December and 1 January, open on 25 and 26 December.
  • Strahov Library: closed on 24 and 25 December.
  • Prague Zoo: pavilions close at 2pm on 24 December.
  • Jewish Museum: 9am to 2pm on 24 December, closed on Saturdays.

As of mid-November 2026 the city had not announced an official New Year’s Eve show. Private fireworks are restricted in much of the centre, so check the latest rules before you go.

Beyond the city

Karlštejn Castle shows its Advent decorations on its main tour from 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, open Friday to Sunday until 20 December and daily from 26 December, closed 21 to 25 December. Kutná Hora’s St Barbara’s Cathedral opens daily in December except 24 December. Dresden’s Christmas markets are about two and a half hours away by train, and guided day trips run from Prague.

Practical tips

  • Pay in Czech koruna (CZK). Most stalls take cards, but carry some cash for small purchases.
  • Advent river cruises with mulled wine and heated cabins run through December; book evening sailings ahead.
  • Visit the big markets in the morning or early afternoon on a weekday to avoid the crowds.
  • December days are short and cold, often around freezing, with dark by about 4pm. Dress in layers and wear shoes with good grip on cobbles.