Prague Christmas Markets: 29 November 2025 - 6 January 2026

The main Christmas markets are held at Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí) and Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí) in Prague's city centre. The two squares are just a 5-minute walk from each other.

• The Old Town Square Christmas Market is the most enchanting, featuring historic architecture as its backdrop, festively decorated huts offering local handicrafts and food and drink, a magnificent Christmas tree, an open-air music stage, a traditional nativity scene, and an observation bridge adorned with lights and baubles.

At the heart of the Prague Christmas Markets are rows of festively decorated wooden huts offering an array of traditional handicrafts and seasonal treats.

Items on display at the market stalls include Christmas decorations and tree ornaments - such as nativity scenes, wooden reindeer and stars, straw animals, and hanging dried fruits and spices - along with handmade ceramics, jewellery, glassware, paintings, embroidered lace, candles, wooden toys, puppets and dolls dressed in traditional costume, and handmade blankets and tablecloths.

Food & drink

But the markets are about much more than shopping. All manner of food and drink is available to savour, with much of the hearty fare prepared and cooked in front of you at the market stalls.

Food includes giant hams roasted on spits (šunka); wonderfully tasty, if terribly unhealthy, grilled sausages (klobása); flatbread topped with garlic, cheese and ketchup (langoš); potato chips (hranolky); carp fries (kapří hranolky); smoked meat dumplings (knedlíky plněné uzeným masem); sweet dumplings (sladké knedlíky); crêpes (palačinky); waffles (vafle); fresh local cheeses; grilled oštiepok cheese; oysters; and roasted chestnuts.

Traditional Czech cakes and sweets also feature, such as gingerbread (perníčky) baked in the shapes of Christmas trees, snowmen and bells; marzipan (marcipán); and chimney cake (trdelník).

Trdelník is a warm, sweet pastry made from rolled dough. It is wrapped around a stick, baked over an open fire, then topped with a sugar-and-walnut mix before serving. It is delicious on its own, but you can also order it with chocolate spread inside, filled with ice cream, or both.

A word of warning to parents: once a child has tasted trdelník, there is no going back. Its comforting, sweet, and addictive nature means you'll be pestered endlessly for another hit!

For drinks, visitors can enjoy famous Czech beers like Pilsner Urquell, Budvar and Staropramen (brewed in Prague). There is also cider, and even a Champagne and sparkling wine stall.

Alternatively, opt for a hot drink: mulled wine (svařák or svařené víno); hot mead or honey wine (medovina); hot apple (jablíčko); punch (punč); hot chocolate (horká čokoláda); or grog - hot water, rum, lemon and sugar.

Outdoor Christmas shopping is so much nicer with a cup of mulled wine or a cold beer in hand!

Most items sold at the market stalls are produced or grown in Czechia or neighbouring Central European countries. Wooden ornaments, for example, are crafted from trees felled in Czechia, while the glass, metals and textiles used for handicrafts come from nearby towns and villages.

The beer is exclusively Czech (of course!). Even the red wine used in svařák (mulled wine) is made from Moravian grapes.

In keeping with the eco-friendly theme, drinks are served in recycled cups made of rPET or in returnable cups - look out for the "Cup Collectors" strapped to rubbish bins, or return your cup to a designated "Cup Return Hut".

Plates, cutlery and straws are either made from recycled materials or are fully biodegradable.

The wooden huts are adorned with red or white roofs; decorations are coloured vibrant red, green, gold and white; there is a lot of green foliage; and, bright warm white lights illuminate everything from the trees and Observation Bridge to giant wired angels and forest animals.

Every year there is a theme, and for 2025 it is "Christmas As You Wish". Visitors are encouraged to write their wishes on large boards erected at the Old Town Square.

A tree lighting ceremony takes place daily at: 16:30, 17:30, 18:30, 19:30, 20:30, 21:30.

The ceremony is accompanied by a song from the popular Czech pop singer Ewa Farna entitled 'Christmas Made to Measure' (Vánoce na míru).

The Wenceslas Square Christmas Market, meanwhile, has its own tree, measuring 15m.

Music from the stage is relayed via speakers throughout the market, enhancing the festive feel for all visitors.

The Wenceslas Square Christmas Market has an open-air stage too, putting on its own Christmas-themed dance and music performances, but on a smaller scale. Performers appear Thursday to Sunday, from 16:00 to 18:00.

At Wenceslas Square, a skilled blacksmith demonstrates the traditional craft of metalworking over an open fire. Visitors can purchase the unique artisan wares he produces.

Also at Wenceslas Square, an open-air ice rink adds to the festive winter atmosphere. Skaters of all ages and abilities are welcome to join in the fun. Skates and skating aids are available for hire. No advance booking required.

View a full list of recommended ice rinks in Christmas Events.

For an even higher vantage point, climb the Old Town Hall Tower (entry fee applies) to be rewarded with panoramic views over the market below and the city beyond, reaching as far as Prague Castle.

Street-level photography provides a different perspective. Among the market huts, you can capture vivid close-up shots of colourful wares, as well as food and drinks being prepared and served.

Prague is a wonderful city to explore on foot, so wear comfortable walking shoes or boots during the day.

For sightseeing, entertainment and dining, most places in Prague welcome visitors dressed in casual attire - this even applies to classical concerts in churches.

However, visitors should dress for the occasion when attending performances at the opera houses and grand concert halls, or when dining in high-end restaurants.

The most popular areas within Prague 1 are:

• Old Town (Staré Město) - centred around Old Town Square

• New Town (Nové Město) - centred around Wenceslas Square

• Lesser Town (Malá Strana) - quieter area across the river, with easy access on foot to the Old Town via Charles Bridge.

River cruises range from sightseeing trips to lunch and dinner cruises with live music aboard a luxurious, ultra-modern boat: Christmas river cruises.

An additional sightseeing cruise, the Advent Cruise, runs every Saturday and Sunday in the build up to Christmas (20,21 December 2025). Guests are served a mug of hot mulled wine (or tea) and a traditional cake onboard, and Christmas music is played.

From walking tours to bus tours to river cruises, there are so many ways to enjoy the wonder of Prague this Christmas.

the Mirror Chapel at the Klementinum is another stunning venue. The historic nature of the building combined with the talent of the musicians creates powerfully emotive concerts.

For large, spectacular events, Municipal House and the Rudolfinum are Prague's grandest concert halls, and their performances never fail to impress.

Other productions include Otello (Verdi), Nabucco (Verdi), Carmen (Bizet), La traviata (Verdi) and Il Barbiere Di Siviglia (Rossini), as well as operas by two renowned Czech composers: the lyrical fairy tale, Rusalka (Dvořák), and The Bartered Bride (Smetana), which is set over the course of a day in a traditional Bohemian village during festival time.

Metro stations and tram stops within a 5-minute walk:

Metro stations: Staroměstská (Line A), Můstek (Lines A & B), Namesti Republiky (Line B)

Tram stops: Staroměstská (trams 2,17,18); Namesti Republiky (trams 6,8,15,26)

Wenceslas Square Christmas Market

Metro stations and trams stops directly at the square:

Metro stations: Muzeum (Lines A & C), Můstek (Lines A & B)

Tram stop: Václavské namesti (trams 3,5,6,9,14,24)