If you want to know how to spend one day in Prague at Christmastime, you’ve come to the right place. I often say that I don’t fall in love easily, but Prague was love at first sight for me. Maybe it was the allure of the massive Christmas tree in Old Town, maybe it was the smell of the chimney cake, or maybe, just maybe, it was because the city itself is just that fascinating. Yeah, I think I’m gonna go with that one.
The year I visited Prague for the holidays, I planned my Christmas trip around seeing different European Christmas markets in various cities and countries and comparing them. In addition to Prague, I was also visiting Paris and 3 different cities in Germany. While I was most excited to explore the Christmas markets in Germany (they’re world famous, after all!), I was most excited to explore Prague as a city. Let’s just say by the end of my trip, I knew I needed to spend more than 1 day here. Prague is magical during the holidays, and I’m so excited to show you all the things you can do!
1. Explore Prague’s Christmas Markets
There are 2 main areas in the city center of Prague: Old Town Square and Wenceslas (or New Town) Square. The main Christmas market is going to be at Old Town Square, but you’ll get to see Christmas decorations in both places.
Prague’s Main Christmas Market in Old Town Square
There’s no denying that Prague looks absolutely beautiful at Christmastime. In Old Town Square, they have the market set up in front of The Church of Our Lady before Týn, along with a massive Christmas tree and a decorated walkway that allows you to get great photos of the whole setup. The market vendors sell ornaments, souvenirs, food, and drinks. I’ll never forget seeing this view at night for the first time:
Before I left Prague the next morning, I made sure to come back and see the markets in the daytime. As you can see by the first photo below, I got there before they opened, so I spent a bit of time wandering around Old Town Square and taking in the sights. As you’re walking around here, make sure to notice all the brightly colored buildings around Old Town Square – they give this area a lot of character. Many of them date back to the 12th and 13th centuries, and their façades have been altered and rebuilt in different architectural styles over time.
Christmas Decorations in Wenceslas (New Town) Square
After exploring Old Town at Christmastime and getting all of the necessary photos, I headed over to Wenceslas Square, aka New Town Square. The entire street was lined on both sides with trees that were strung with lights, and there were Christmas market tents in the middle where the pedestrian walkway was. I loved that Wenceslas Square looked just as beautiful and festive as Old Town but in a completely different way. However, IMO, nothing beats the Church of Our Lady as the backdrop of the Old Town Christmas markets.
New Town is between a 5-10 minute walk from Old Town. You will know that you’ve entered New Town Square because the change in scenery will be obvious. Here, you’ll find more bars, restaurants, and shops to explore. At the end of the street, you’ll see the statue of St. Wenceslas watching over the city, along with the Narodni Museum. I loved that the Narodni Museum kept with the “New Town” theme in that it still looked majestic, but not quite as old as some of the architecturally significant buildings in Old Town.
What Are the Prague Christmas Market Dates for 2026?
This year, the 2 main Christmas markets in Prague (Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square) will be open from November 28, 2026 – January 6, 2027.
2. Get Your Photo in Front of the Giant Christmas Tree
Of course, while you’re exploring the Christmas markets, you HAVE to get your photo by the massive Christmas tree. I don’t even know how they decorated this thing, but it’s festive, it’s fabulous, and it’s the perfect photo op. While the tree is stunning at night, taking your photo in the daytime will really make the decorations pop:
Tip – if you’re a solo traveler, I used this tripod to capture this photo
3. See the “Show” on The Prague Astronomical Clock
In Old Town Square, you’ll also find the Prague astronomical clock (or Prague Orloj), a medieval clock installed in the 1600’s and the 3rd oldest working clock in the world. The clock’s famous procession of the Twelve Apostles takes place every hour on the hour, when the little doors open and the figures appear before the crowd. The tradition isn’t specifically Christmas-related, but watching the clock’s medieval spectacle with Prague’s Christmas market surrounding it makes it feel pretty magical. The Apostles appear every hour from 8:00 am to 11:00 pm.
What’s Special About the Prague Astronomical Clock?
- The astronomical dial – This dial showcases where the Sun and Moon are in the sky, along with intricate astronomical details. Flanking this dial are statues honoring several Catholic saints.
- The Walk of the Apostles – The hourly spectacle I mentioned above, when the twelve apostles appear in the clock’s windows. Among them is a striking representation of Death, symbolizing the passage of time.
- A symbolic calendar dial – This section of the clock contains gold medallions representing the different months of the year.
4. Try the Famous Chimney Cake
As I was exploring the Christmas markets, I couldn’t help but notice a bunch of people eating what appeared to be a sugar-coated pastry roll of some sort. Eventually I found out this was called chimney cake and is a pretty popular Prague street dessert. Of course, I had to try one, and it ended up being my favorite Christmas market food.
Chimney cake is made from dough that’s wrapped into a hollow “chimney” shape, roasted over hot coals, and coated in sugar and cinnamon. As it cooks, the sugar caramelizes and hardens into a sweet, crunchy coating that is just plain amazing. You can even get them to add ice cream or Nutella to it! I know what I’m doing when I go back in the summer…
- Pro Tip: Chimney cake actually originated in Hungary, but the love for it has expanded throughout Central Europe.
5. Drink an Authentic Czech Beer (While Taking in the Best Views of the City!)
Every time I plan a trip itinerary, “Find the best view of the city” is usually on it. In Prague, the best view happens to be at the Terasa U Prince, the rooftop bar on top of the Hotel U Prince (and don’t worry, we’ll get to the bar in the basement of this hotel later on in this post!). BTW, I’ll admit this isn’t exactly a “Christmas-specific” activity, but the views from this vantage point at Christmas with snow all around are beautiful!
As someone who appreciates the aesthetics when it comes to travel, one of my favorite things is when a place knows that they have a golden photo opportunity and capitalizes on it. Once you enter Terasa U Prince, you will not only have the best views of Old Town Prague, but you will be able to get the perfect photos with Old Town Hall/Church of Our Lady before Týn in the background, surrounded by beautifully designed flowers and winter greenery. If you’re a solo traveler, don’t sweat it – this is the tripod that I use to take all my own photos!
After you get your photos, make sure to grab an authentic Czech beer (ask the waiter for rec’s!) and spend some time taking in the views of the city. The Czech Republic is known for their beer (mostly pilsners), and at the time of this post, consumes more beer than any other country in the world. So…let’s keep them on top, shall we?
6. Warm Up With a Hearty Meal at An Authentic Czech Restaurant
If I had to pick a word to describe Czech food, I would say “heavy.” And honestly, I get it. It’s cold here, and the extra calories will keep you warm. Traditional Czech cuisine is full of meat, potatoes, dumplings, rich sauces, and hearty soups. There’s no better time to indulge than during the cold winter months!
There are several classic Czech dishes you’ll want to look for while you’re in Prague. Svíčková is one of the most famous, made with beef served in a creamy root-vegetable sauce and typically accompanied by bread dumplings, cranberries, and a little whipped cream. Guláš is another popular choice, consisting of a rich beef stew served with dumplings. And if you want the ultimate Czech comfort food, try vepřo-knedlo-zelo, which is roast pork served with dumplings and sauerkraut.
If you want to get an authentic Czech dinner with authentic Czech beer, I had 2 different places recommended to me:
- Café Louvre – 100+ year old cafe with authentic Czech food and separate breakfast/lunch/dinner menus
- Pivovarský klub Benedict – for authentic Czech microbrewery beers & contemporary Czech food
7. End Your Night at Black Angel’s Bar
Sooooo don’t hate me, but I’m taking you back to the U-Prince Hotel (where the U-Terasa vantage point was from earlier!). Again, this isn’t a strictly Christmas activity, but if you’re anything like me, you need a festive, creative cocktail when it’s cold out!
Black Angel’s is also located in the U-Prince Hotel, except instead of going up to the rooftop, you go down to the basement. You’re not allowed to take photos inside this bar, but if you like a moody, dark-yet-glam setup, this will be your place. Inside, you’ll find stone walls, crystal chandeliers, expensive bar furniture, and the absolute coolest dungeon vibe you’ll ever encounter. They also have live piano music every night from 7pm-11pm – and when I say “live piano,” I mean there was an older man who played countless Queen songs with absolutely no sheet music in front of him and didn’t mess up the entire time.
The drinks on the menu are incredibly creative and have even earned Black Angels a spot on the list of Top 10 Bars in the World. However, I ended up keeping it simple and stuck to the Negroni. If you are a gin fan, I absolutely recommend it.
Fun Fact: Black Angels was founded by Alois Krcha and his dream of opening a bar in the building that is now the U Prince Hotel. He is regarded as one of the leading bartenders of the 19th century, and even invented the Bloody Mary!2 I didn’t know this at the time, but during my first trip to Paris, I had a drink at Harry’s New York Bar, which is where Alois worked and first started drinking tomato juice with vodka in the evenings. Years later, another bartender who worked with Alois modified the drink to create the Bloody Mary that we know today.
2 – Source: www.blackangelsbar.com
Welcome To The magic!
Your Christmas Market Journey Starts Here
Dreaming of planning a European Christmas market trip but feeling a tad overwhelmed? This guide has everything you need – from packing tips and transportation advice to where to stay and which cities to visit. Plus, I break down the exact method I use when planning my European Christmas market itineraries, so you can skip the stress and focus on the festive fun!
Shop My Favorite European Travel Essentials!
