10 Things to Do in Prague at Christmas

No matter what time of year you go, all there is to see in Prague makes it a magical city that fascinates visitors from the moment they start walking through its streets. From its splendid castle to its Baroque buildings, from the history hidden in the Jewish quarter to the beauty of the Charles Bridge, the Czech capital never disappoints.

All the magic it exudes seems to intensify when you travel to Prague for Christmas. Its streets, monuments and shop windows take on another dimension thanks to the Christmas lights and its squares are filled with fabulous markets that serve as a meeting point for visitors and locals alike. If you decide to visit Prague at this time of year, here are some activities you can't miss out on.

One of the great attractions of Prague at Christmas time are, without a doubt, the Christmas markets that are set up in many of its squares. The most important is the one in Old Town Square, where you should go in the mood for a leisurely stroll and enjoy the great atmosphere.

Throughout the month of December, this square becomes one of the centres of Christmas in the whole of Europe. The Christmas market in the Old Town Square is made up of around 30 stalls selling everything from handicrafts to the classic Christmas dishes of the country's gastronomy.

Throughout the day, from the early hours of the morning, there is an unforgettable atmosphere all over the square. If you go at night, you can take a night tour of Prague, one of the best tours of the city, to discover its nooks and crannies under the Christmas lights.

Despite the fame of the market in Old Town Square, there are many other places in Prague where this type of market is held. I recommend you try to visit some of them:

• Prague Castle Market: if you have already been on one of these tours of Prague Castle, you will have seen that its fame is well deserved. What you may not know is that at Christmas there is a flea market which, despite its smaller size, is a must-visit for its surroundings. Specifically, the stalls are located inside the walled area, just behind the cathedral.
• Wenceslas Square Market: this is the only market in the whole city that can compete in size with the one in the Old Town Square. Its stalls offer typical food for this time of year, as well as artisan products. It also has a large Christmas tree. This market usually opens at 10:00 in the morning and does not close until 22:00, although the food stalls extend their opening hours until midnight.
• Námêsti Republiky Square Market: Another of the squares in the city centre is a Christmas market specialising in food. Part of its charm lies in its almost exclusively local atmosphere, as few tourists usually come to visit it. It is open from 10:00 to 19:00.
• Havel Market: if you want to travel back in time, this market is perfect for you. For starters, it has been held since the 13th century and its organisers have tried to preserve the same aesthetics for the enjoyment of its visitors. It opens at 6:00 in the morning and closes at 18:30.

If you've researched what to do in the castle district, you're sure to have a stroll through the so-called Callejón del Oro (Gold Alley) on your list. If you go at Christmas time, the visit is even more essential, as you will feel as if you were inside a fairytale.

In addition to the charm of this place, at Christmas there is a decoration that adds to its magic, starting with the mistletoe that is placed on the small doors of each building.

In ancient times, according to legend, alchemists lived in this area and tried to turn metals into gold. From this quest comes the name of the alley, which today has become one of the most visited tourist attractions in the city.

Fortunately, if you go to Prague in December, in addition to enjoying the Christmas atmosphere, you will be able to visit the area without the crowds typical of the high season.

The views from the Town Hall tower are magnificent no matter when you climb it. However, if you do it at Christmas time, you will find a different spectacle. From the heights you will be able to have a complete view of the market in the Old Town Square and, in addition, you will be able to see the enormous tree that is installed at this time of year from the best possible vantage point.

This Christmas tree is about 19 metres high and is transported every year from the Central Bohemian region. To make it even more spectacular, thousands of decorations are put up, as well as fantastic lighting.

A good time to climb the tower is at around 16:30 in the afternoon, when the tree is lit with an unforgettable spectacle of lights and music. If you can't make it at that time, don't worry: the show is repeated every hour until 20:30.

And be sure to visit the Nativity Scene on the square

To make the most of the square, don't miss the sensational living nativity scene that is set up there. It is undoubtedly one of the best things to do if you have travelled to Prague with children, as they will be able to see, in addition to the classic nativity scene characters, some animals such as goats and donkeys.

No visitor to Prague should miss out on all that the Charles Bridge has to offer. A walk across the bridge is one of the best experiences in the city and offers wonderful views of the castle. At Christmas time, this charm is enhanced by beautiful illumination and sometimes snow.

The oldest bridge in the city, built in 1402, is beautifully decorated for the Christmas season. If it snows, the walk becomes absolutely magical. I recommend stopping to see the illuminated castle and, if you can, take a photo of it.

It is not only Charles Bridge that benefits from the Christmas illumination. All the main streets of the city are decorated from the last days of November onwards with lights, Christmas figures and garlands. Among the most recommended areas are Karlova Street and the Malá Strana district on the other side of the river.

If you have planned to spend New Year's Eve in the Czech capital, I can only congratulate you. Despite the cold weather, there are few places like Prague to bid farewell to the year and welcome in the new year.

The city celebrates the occasion in style. The central place for the celebrations is the Old Town Square, where the Astronomical Clock counts down the last seconds of the year. As soon as the countdown is over, Prague's sky is illuminated by a huge fireworks display.

These fireworks can be seen not only from the square, as there are other places that offer spectacular views, such as the Charles Bridge itself or one of the viewpoints located in the castle quarter.

For New Year's Eve dinner, you can choose from several interesting options. For those looking for something informal, the best option is to go to a Christmas market and order a typical dish from the food stalls.

Those who prefer a more formal dinner will have no problem either, as some of the city' s best restaurants offer a set menu for the evening.

Dinner on board a boat on the Vltava River

Among the options for New Year's Eve there is a very special one: a small cruise on the Vltava River. These cruises include dinner, live music and dancing until dawn, not to mention a great spot to watch the fireworks display.

One of the most anticipated winter activities for Czechs in Prague is ice skating. At Christmas, when there is more free time, more and more people seek out one of the rinks set up all over the city for a few hours of fun. If you want to join them, don't hesitate to rent some skates and take the plunge.

As several of these rinks are open, you won't have any trouble finding one you like. For your orientation, here are some of the most popular ones:

• Letná Park: in this beautiful park there are usually two different skating rinks, one for adults and one for children. It also has a heated seating area in case you have to wait for those who have dared to skate.
• Prague Fruit Market: In the very centre of Prague, not far from the State Theatre, you will find the fruit market. Here you can find what is considered to be the most beautiful rink in the city, which is helped by its surroundings full of historic buildings. Entrance to the rink is free, although you will have to rent skates.
• Prague TV Tower: the picnic area under this large tower is also home to a busy skating rink every year.
• Shopping centres: in case the weather is bad but you don't want to miss out on this activity, several shopping centres in the city have their own skating rink. The most popular ones are in the Harfa Gallery and the Arkády Pankrác shopping centre.

One of the advantages of travelling to Prague at Christmas is that you will be able to take advantage of interesting discounts on the city's cultural life. As it is the low season, many theatres offer tickets at lower prices than usual.

The cultural offer in the Czech capital is quite intense and Christmas is no exception. You will be able to attend theatre, ballet, opera and church concerts for considerably less than usual.

What's more, the locals themselves use a trick when they haven't been able to buy tickets in advance: they go to the box office shortly before the event starts to see if a seat is still available. If so, the price is usually reduced even further.

Among the most interesting events to attend at Christmas are the concerts of the Prague Opera, although those organised in some churches are not far behind in terms of quality. In any case, if you can't attend any of them, you will always have the option of listening to the many street musicians who set up in the city's main squares.

If you've been on a gastronomic tour, you'll already have some idea of what Czech cuisine is like. If not, here is my article on what to eat in Prague. However, as in all countries, there are some dishes that are traditionally eaten at Christmas that you should not miss.

Most of them can be found at the Christmas markets that are set up in the city's squares. If there's one thing you won't miss at any of them, it's svařák, the local version of mulled wine typical of Central Europe. In this case, the drink is somewhat stronger in citrus fruit than in other countries.

Another drink that Czechs consume in large quantities at Christmas is hot chocolate. Like wine, it is a perfect drink to soothe the cold at this time of year, and it is also absolutely delicious.

In addition to these drinks, you can't leave Prague without trying one of the following dishes:

• Trdelnik: the sweet par excellence of the city's stalls. It is a cinnamon roll that can be found in a multitude of shops all over the streets of the city centre.
• Pražká šunka: boiled ham, usually served with bread.
• Sausages: At Christmas markets you will find an almost endless number of traditionally made sausages.
• Halusky: a dish usually sold by weight, consisting of potatoes, sauerkraut and bacon.

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Those who find themselves in Prague on St. Nicholas' Day will see the streets flooded with ghouls and angels. This is not a kind of Halloween, but one of the most beloved celebrations of the Czechs.

Even if you don't dress up in costume, the atmosphere in the city is extraordinary and you will feel like you are in some kind of medieval fairy tale. In a certain sense, this kind of celebration is connected with the history of the city, which you will learn about if you go on a ghost tour of the Czech capital.

On this day, the city centre is filled with people dressed up as Čertí (the Devil in Czech) and Anděl (the Angel) in a party with children as the main characters.

According to tradition, Saint Nicholas visits children's homes accompanied by these two characters. There, he asks the children how they have behaved and those who have been good recite a poem or sing a song and then receive a prize in the form of sweets from the Angel.

On the other hand, those children who have not behaved so well will only receive a sack of coal, as well as a warning from the Devil who threatens to take them away if they do not change.

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I don't think it will surprise anyone if I say that Christmas in Prague is quite cold. Highs usually don't go above 2°C, while lows easily reach -4°C. On the other hand, at this time of year it's a very cold time of year.

On the other hand, snowfall is quite common at this time of year, although the advantage is that the days when it does snow tend to be somewhat less cold.

While it's always a good idea to check the weather forecastbefore you travel, there are definitely a few items you should pack for your trip.

For starters, don't forget to pack a good coat, as well as some warm T-shirts or even leggings to wear under your trousers.

Don't forget a scarf, a hat and some good gloves. As for shoes, make sure they are warm and comfortable. They should also have good soles in case it snows.