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New Year's Eve in Prague » 31st December 2024
New Year's Eve is party night in Prague, and the restaurants, bars, clubs and river cruises are always full. The atmosphere gently builds towards midnight, when revellers gather in the main squares and by the river to watch fireworks and welcome in the New Year. |
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New Year's Eve in 2024 in Prague | | People travel from around the world to celebrate New Year's Eve in Prague.
A vibrant party atmosphere permeates the city: in the streets and squares, on the river, and in the restaurants, bars and clubs.
| | The festivities are enjoyed by one and all: the young and old; the quiet and romantic; and the wild and carefree. Prague offers something for everyone.
Some restaurants, bars and clubs organise all-inclusive events, featuring fine food, drinks, entertainment and dancing.
Some restaurants specialise in local hospitality, such as:
Czech Night |
Medieval Tavern |
Municipal House Beer Hall.
Others, for example Nebozizek Restaurant, put on background piano during dinner, then a DJ to liven things up afterwards. | |
New Year's Eve in Prague |
| | Some restaurants offer a simple romantic dinner for two.
While most visitors pre-book an event, some don't organise anything. They seek out Czech pubs open to walk-in trade, drink beer on the streets (weather dependant!), and chance on finding a club that will let them in after midnight.
Finally, there are the ever-popular New Year's Eve river cruises (which always sell out):
NYE Grand Panoramic | NYE Party Boat | NYE Dinner Cruise: 17h-20h | | | |
New Year's Eve Planner 2024-2025
Our New Year's Eve Planner is the main guide to the celebrations. It features the best river cruises, restaurants, clubs and parties in Prague. | | | |
*Midnight Fireworks in Prague: Where to Watch
Traditionally, the fireworks are the pinnacle of the New Year's Eve celebrations in Prague. As midnight approaches, revellers gather in key areas of the city, and the air buzzes with anticipation. | | For the best view of the fireworks, head for somewhere overlooking the Vltava River or go to a main square: Old Town Square or Wenceslas Square.
A question always posed is 'how big will the fireworks be this year?' In truth, no-one knows for certain:
No single body is in charge of launching fireworks. They are set off by various local organisations, businesses, restaurants and individuals, and often by different people each year.
In recent years, the law governing who is permitted to launch fireworks in the city centre has been tightened: hand-held fireworks are officially banned, and only licensed individuals are permitted to launch ground and aerial fireworks. | |
New Year's Eve by the River |
| | But in reality, Czech people tend to ignore such restrictions (they do have a rebellious streak, and they absolutely LOVE fireworks!). Last year, as in previous years stretching back decades, a huge number of hand-held, ground and aerial fireworks were set off by a great many people, and the show lasted a very long time.
So no-one, including the local authorities, can predict the extent of the fireworks in Prague in in 2024.
Please bear this in mind when reading about New Year's Eve and booking events.
What we do know is that restaurants, bars, clubs and river cruises time their entertainment programmes to allow guests who wish to watch the fireworks to do so; most venues include Champagne or sparkling wine to celebrate with in the price of the ticket.
Of course, if you are at a restaurant with a view of the fireworks, or on a river cruise, you can watch the fireworks from where you are.
If you are at a restaurant or club located away from the fireworks, you may wish to leave before midnight, walk to the river or one of the squares, watch the fireworks, then return to the venue afterwards - the venues we list in our planner will allow you back in afterwards. | | OPTION 1 - GUIDE TO WATCHING THE FIREWORKS BY THE RIVER:
Charles Bridge is usually the focal point for the fireworks by the river.
With a backdrop of the Old Town on one side of the river, and Prague Castle and the Lesser Town on the other, revellers can admire the beauty of fireworks over water as they welcome in the New Year.
The fireworks you see by the river are mostly set off from elevated areas close to Prague Castle. If you stand on or near Charles Bridge, you should enjoy a good view. | | | Where to watch fireworks by the river: | | a. Stand on Charles Bridge or in the streets nearby that run along the river. The Old Town side of the river is the most popular place to stand, because Prague Castle is the backdrop as you look across the water;
b. River Cruises: the boats congregate at Charles Bridge at midnight. Guests on the river cruises can view the fireworks from inside the boat or stand out on deck;
c. Riverside Restaurants: restaurants on both sides of the river offer good views of the fireworks. Some have large windows, which allow guests to watch the fireworks from their table. Some have terraces and outside areas with views;
d. Hillside Restaurants in the Lesser Town (on Petřín Hill and near Prague Castle): some have large windows, which allow guests to watch the fireworks from their table. Some have terraces and outside areas with views. | |
New Year's Eve by the River |
| | OPTION 2 - GUIDE TO WATCHING THE FIREWORKS AT THE SQUARES:
The Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square are traditionally the most hair-raising places in Prague to watch the fireworks. With so many people in the squares, and fireworks seemingly everywhere, the atmosphere can be electric.
The aerial fireworks provide a good show, but the most impactful are the huge blasts and flashes of light coming from all directions at street level. These fireworks are set off by the local Czech people, and the show can go on for hours.
Despite the tougher regulations surrounding who is allowed to set fireworks off, last year hand-held fireworks were fired off everywhere at the squares, and the sky was illuminated with aerial fireworks. What happens in 2024 is anybody's guess!
Whatever the extent of the fireworks, the Christmas markets are at the squares, the restaurants and bars around the squares will be full, there will undoubtedly be aerial fireworks, and revellers will be milling around drinking bottles of beer and Bohemia Sekt ("Czech Champagne"). | | Where to watch fireworks at the squares:
a. Stand in a Square: all restaurants, bars and clubs located in the Old Town and New Town lie within 10 minutes walk of a square. If you are at a venue without a view, grab your coat, ask for a re-admission stamp, and head for a square.
b. Restaurants at the Squares: some have large windows that allow guests to watch the fireworks from their table. Some have terraces with views. | |
NYE at Wenceslas Square |
| | OPTION 3 - VENUES WITH THEIR OWN FIREWORKS DISPLAY/BONFIRE:
-Traditional Czech Night puts on a private fireworks display in the grounds of the manor house in which it is situated; with transport, food, drink, entertainment and even fireworks included, this truly is an all-inclusive event.
-Nebozizek Restaurant is set on the hillside overlooking Prague. They light a bonfire in front of the restaurant for guests to keep warm while watching the fireworks over Prague. | | | |
Other Entertainment ON NEW YEAR'S EVE
There is plenty of other entertainment to enjoy on New Year's Eve, and in the days either side of it. For example, the festive classical concerts, opera and ballet performances are magical at this time of year.
Performances are held in grand concert halls, ornate opera houses and theatres, Baroque palaces, and ancient churches.:
New Year's Eve concerts, opera & ballet
New Year's Day concerts, opera & ballet.
For a typically Czech experience, black light theatre is suitable for all ages and nationalities:
New Year's Eve theatre
New Year's Day theatre.
For young children, there is usually entertainment on the open-air stage at the Christmas Markets at the Old Town Square. From 16:45-17:30, kids can watch a Czech show entitled 'Bobík and friends on a trip' (free to enter) - we will update this information nearer the time. | | | |
More Information
For more information on the night and a list of events: Prague New Year's Eve Planner.
For information on where to stay in Prague, the weather in December, what clothes to wear and more, view our guide to the Prague Christmas Markets.
Find out what's open throughout December: Opening hours.
For an introduction to the city: Prague tourism information.
For practical information, including advice on currency exchange: Prague tourist information.
For travel information: Travel around Prague by public transport and Travel to Prague. | |
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