Prague Christmas Break: The Best Things to Do
Prague is a gorgeous and charming European city, filled with stunning, ornate architecture everywhere you look. Every time you turn a corner, you see pretty building after pretty building that makes you feel like you’re in a real-life fairy tale! This fairy-tale charm combined with the joy of the Christmas season, makes Prague a great city to experience Europe’s delightful Christmas markets.
Christmas is a very special time for many of us, especially as we celebrate the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. It’s a season where we appreciate the precious gift of the ones we love and where we take time to appreciate the little things in life. Christmas is a time filled with warmth, love and all the cozy vibes and experiencing these vibes in Europe’s Christmas markets is something we all dream of.
If you’re planning on a European Christmas getaway with your loved ones this year, you won’t be disappointed by adding Prague to your list of must-visit cities. Christmas vibes in Europe are all about cosy fairy lights, steaming mugs of mulled wine, comforting smells of cinnamon and nutmeg and lots of home-made crafty items that make the best souvenirs! What’s not to love? (Be prepared for the crowds though, these markets can get super busy!)
The Christmas markets in Prague aren’t the best or most amazing Christmas markets in Europe, but the gorgeous surroundings of the city lit up by cozy Christmas lights more than make up for it! The Christmas Markets are open from 29 November 2025 to 6 January 2026.
In this blog, I’ll share the best things to do and see in Prague, plus how to make the most out of your Christmas market experience in this gorgeous city.
Where to Stay in Prague
Most people tend to stay as close to the old town as possible, to really get into the feel of the city, however it can get noisy, crowded and expensive. I recommend staying closer to the new town in a more local neighbourhood so you can get away from the crowds and save on the budget.
When we stayed in Prague, we stayed in a self-catering apartment on Navratilova Street in the new town and the location was perfect. The Old Town was about a 10-minute walk away, the tram line was right down the street and there was a quiet local bar down the road. The neighbourhood felt safe and we walked around from early morning to late into the night with no worries at all.
Check out these highly rated accommodation options available in Prague New Town:
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How to Get Around Prague
Getting around Prague is super easy and affordable. There are tram lines that run across the whole city into the surrounding suburbs and Google Maps shows up to date and accurate information about which trams to take and when the next one will be arriving.
To use the public transport, you’ll need to purchase tickets that are valid for a set time (30 minutes, 24 hours etc) and validate the tickets by stamping them in the yellow machines before boarding. Trams 17 and 22 pass many of the main attractions in Prague and are the best ones to take.
It’s also extremely easy to get to Prague from the airport, you need to take a bus that will take you to the train station and the train will take you directly into the city. We were a bit confused about buying tickets outside the airport, but if you buy the 90-minute tickets to get from the airport to the city, you should be okay! If you need any extra help, the information desk in the airport is very helpful. Remember to validate any of your tickets before boarding!
Food to Try in Prague
Winter in Prague can get pretty cold, so all the warm and hearty food and drinks available in the city will go down super well. Prague is famous for having some of, if not the best beer in Europe. It’s definitely the smoothest and creamiest beer I’ve ever tasted! (I would go back to Prague just for the beer – and I’m not even a fan of beer!)
Some of the best meals we had in Prague were pork knuckle – served at Pork’s in the Lesser Town and hearty beef goulash and potato dumplings at a local Czech restaurant we happened to come across. Be aware of street vendors selling Roasted Czech Pork by the weight, as they overcharge tourists and we nearly got trapped by this!
P.S If you’re in the mood for the freshest and softest doughnuts ever, head to La Donuteria. The owner is super friendly and the doughnuts are incredible!
The Best Things to do in Prague and Where to Find the Christmas Markets
In the past, Prague was actually made up of four main independent cities. The four historic cities were the Castle District, The Old Town, the Lesser Town and the New Town. They were united in 1784 into the city of Prague, but each area still has its own unique feel and charm. It’s best to allocate at least one full day for each of the four main areas to get a proper feel for the city, especially if you’re fitting in time to visit the Christmas markets each day!
The Castle District
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the largest ancient castle complex in the world and dates back to the 9th century. The Castle District is an enchanting complex of churches, gardens and palaces that truly makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time as you wander along the cobbled streets.
Prague Castle has been home to Roman Emperors, Kings of Bohemia and Czech presidents, and the grand elegance of the entire Castle District is definitely fit for royalty. The Changing of the Guard behind the Castle Gates takes place every day at 12 noon and is just as grand to witness. The entrance fee to the Castle is 450 CZK, which includes entry into the stunning St. Vitus Cathedral and St. George’s Basilica.
You can enter the Castle grounds for free and admire the gorgeous architecture from the outside, if you’re on a stricter budget. This is what we did and we still loved every moment of being in the Castle District.
As you explore the Castle District area, make sure you take a stroll down Golden Lane, lined with charming 16th century houses that were built for the Castle guards, and also make a couple of stops at the Old Royal Palace and Loreta Church.
The Christmas Market stalls in the Castle District are located in St Georges Square, Golden Lane and Stajovy dvur and the stalls here offer traditional food and drinks and homemade goods for sale. The regal setting of the Castle makes the atmosphere at these markets elegant and cozy.
The Lesser Town
The Lesser Town is located on the left bank of the Vltava River on the hill slopes under Prague Castle and was founded in 1257 by King Ottokar II of Bohemia. This area is known for its romantic Baroque and Renaissance architecture and you can easily spend the day exploring, browsing through the local shops and getting lost in the charm of the streets of the Lesser Town.
If you’re looking to try some local Czech food or to buy some Prague souvenirs, the Malostranske Namesti, or Lesser Town square, is the perfect place to go. It’s busy and bustling, but has everything you need from local restaurants, shops, cafes and tram stops.
If you need a break from the busyness, head to Kampa Park, where you can relax and enjoy views of the Vltava River and Charles Bridge. From there, make your way to St. Nicholas Church. This beautifully ornate church was built in the 17th century and is considered one of the most valuable Baroque buildings North of the Alps and is well worth the small admission fee. You can also go up the bell tower to enjoy gorgeous views of the city.
At the end of your day in the Lesser Town, take a walk along one of Prague’s most famous attractions, Charles Bridge. This historic stone bridge, that crosses over the Vltava River, was built between 1357 and 1402 and was commissioned by King Charles IV. The bridge is lined by 30 Baroque statues that depict saints and religious figures, my favourite being the Lamentation of Christ. The bridge does get very busy with tourists, so be prepared for crowds, but we did find there were less crowds in the evenings.
There is a small Christmas market at the Na Kampe square, near Charles Bridge, in the Lesser Town. This market is quaint but offers food and mulled wine around the setting of a Christmas tree, nativity scene and views of Prague Castle.
The New Town
The New Town has origins from the 14th century and is known as the cultural district of Prague. Locals come to this area for shopping, eating out and to visit the Municipal House.
The New Town is just as historic and grand as the rest of Prague and also has its fair share of grand squares and beautiful architecture. The modern development of the city has taken shape around the New Town, making the area a cool mixture of old and modern. This is where you’ll find designer shops, department stores and shopping malls.
The Municipal House opened in 1912 and is the city’s leading Art Nouveau building. This building is truly spectacular inside and out. Concerts and shows are still held in the Municipal House and there is also a 1920s style fine dining restaurant on the ground floor of the building, as well as a traditional Czech Beer Hall and café.
The most famous building in the New Town is the Dancing House, which was designed to imitate a dancing couple. This modern building is one of the most unique buildings in Prague and is definitely worth a visit – although we enjoyed seeing it the most during the evening when it was all romantic and lit up!
Wenceslas square in the New Town is one of the bigger Christmas markets in Prague and it comes with its own large decorated Christmas tree. Stalls with traditional folk crafts and traditional Christmas treats like hot punch and Czech Christmas cookies line the lower part of the square. If you’re looking for a more local experience and less crowds, you can take the tram to Namesti Miru in Prague 2. This is a quaint, local Christmas market, where you’ll find a canopy of twinkling lights overhead and stalls selling stuffed toys, Christmas cookies, spices and other gifts.
The Old Town
Prague Old Town is a lively and busy part of the city, best known for its cobblestoned main square, Tyn Cathedral and the Astronomical Clock. The Old Town square has been the main market place of the area since the 11th century. The square is surrounded by gorgeous historical buildings, but Tyn Cathedral and Old Town Hall are definitely the most striking.
Tyn Cathedral stands tall over Prague and can be seen from all over the city. The Gothic style church has been the main church of this part of Prague since the 14th century and is known for its pair of towering spires. Admission into the church is free, but they do ask for a voluntary fee of 50 CZK.
One of the must-do things in the Old Town is the climb to the top of the nearly 70-meter-tall tower of Old Town Hall. The views from up there are amazing and it creates a whole new way to see the city with its sea of orange rooves!
Along with Charles Bridge, the Astronomical Clock is probably one of the most well-known sites in Prague. The Old Town Square gets absolutely packed with tourists as they wait, cameras ready and waiting, for the medieval Astronomical Clock to welcome in a new hour. As the clock chimes, a window above the clock opens and four mechanical Apostles start their walk, which is ended off with an ornate trumpet player sounding in the new hour. It is the oldest working astronomical clock in the world, so its definitely worth all the crowds!
If you have the time, another interesting area to visit is the Jewish Quarter of Prague, which is located a short distance away from the Old Town and here you’ll find the Old-New Synagogue – the oldest active Synagogue in Europe.
The Old Town Christmas Market is the best in Prague purely for the atmosphere. The back drop of the magnificent architecture, the huge decorated tree and the lines of stalls filled with Christmas treats make this market a must visit. Although it is super busy and crowded, even during the off-peak times, it’s for a good reason. The stalls in this market focus on traditional Czech food, so you’ll definitely find a good meal here, although the prices can be inflated, so purchase carefully.
Prague is a unique European city that will sweep you off your feet with its romantic charm and gorgeous buildings. Prague is beautiful in any season, but adding the spirit and coziness of Christmas truly makes the city feel like a real-life fairytale! It’s colourful, energic and full of historic character and if you choose to visit, you’ll definitely want to return!
