Prague is magical at any time of year, but it’s especially magical at Christmas. Here’s what you need to know about the Prague Christmas markets!
2023 update: Prague’s Christmas market will be open November 23 – January 6! These dates don’t cover every market, but the earliest possible and latest possible fall here.
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If you’re thinking of a Christmas market trip to Europe this year, put Prague on your list! Prague is an incredible city to explore, but at Christmas, the whole place transforms. From the big city squares to the small side streets, you can find market stands in every nook. Seeking them out is half the fun!
Today I’m laying out where to find the biggest ones and what to look for in the tiny ones!
Old Town Square
Let’s start with the biggest, shall we? The one in the Old Town Square is massive. It’s crowded – not quite as rough as Berlin, but about on par with Munich.
At this spot, my advice would be to enjoy the sights and vibes, but not spend much money. Don’t get me wrong, all Christmas markets are better with a bit of mulled wine in hand, but save your souvenir shopping for other locations.
This Christmas market sets itself apart by having several cute photo ops set up. They’re mostly intended as Christmas card-esque setups for kiddos, but you better believe that every Instagram influencer was taking advantage of them too.
There’s also a viewing platform set up near the stage, allowing for a unique view of the holiday fun! It’s only about 10-15 feet up, just enough to get a vantage point.
Wenceslas Square
Another major one in town is set up in Wenceslas Square. The square itself is so massive that this one feels less crowded simply by having more space to spread out in!
Another advantage of the space is that you can see artisans setting up mini-workshops. Blacksmiths shape iron into roses or keys, cooks are properly preparing meals back there instead of reheating.
Mini Markets
There are so many small, tucked away sets of stalls on side streets as well. In a city that’s already best seen by wandering, these tiny markets are an extra treat. Pick a neighborhood and explore for an hour or two!
These are the hidden gems of the Prague Christmas market scene. The random collections of stands tend to hold more unique handmade crafts and less touristy offerings. I got a pair of gorgeous earrings there, and nearly bought four colors of the same design because they were each so stunning!
Prague Castle also sets up a market each December. I like it for a lunch break during a day at the castle! It’s in the area that’s free to enter, so you can see it even either way.
Prague Christmas Market Food
This is the type of city where the street food is actually more expensive than the brick and mortar, especially at the Christmas markets. That being said, the sausages are delish and still not terribly priced compared with the major German Christmas markets. So your choice!
The best thing to eat: trdelnik, basically dough coated in cinnamon sugar and almonds and then cooked over an open flame while wrapped around a pole, called a trdlo. The pastry is then coated with chocolate or Nutella! In the shops, there are ten thousand more topping and filling options, but at the Christmas market stalls they tended to keep is simple. My advice would be to buy one in a shop but go watch them make trdelnik at the market itself! Especially if you’re wanting one in the morning – I noticed the ones sold in the morning were often cooked the night before and reheated, making them stale and not nearly as good.
Also, these babies are MESSY. Make sure you’ve got some napkins. There’s no dignified way to eat it, so just dig in. 😉
Prague is magical at any time, but I especially love it at Christmas. Make sure to add Prague Christmas markets to your 2021 Christmas market travel!
