On the first Saturday evening of Advent, the crowd on Old Town Square counts down, and a spruce taller than the houses lights up between the Astronomical Clock and the two black towers of Týn Church.
From then until Epiphany, Prague does Christmas the way it looks in a snow globe: wooden stalls on cobbles, carols from the stage, steam rising off cups of mulled wine, and on the evening of December 5, St Nicholas walking the old town with an angel and a devil.
Here are the markets worth seeing, when they open in 2026, what to eat and drink, and how to plan the trip with friends.
What are the best Christmas markets in Prague?
| Market | Where | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Old Town Square Christmas Market | Staroměstské náměstí, Old Town | The famous one: the tree, the clock, Týn Church |
| Wenceslas Square Christmas Market | Václavské náměstí, New Town | A long avenue of stalls, five minutes from Old Town |
| Náměstí Míru Christmas Market | Peace Square, Vinohrady | The locals’ market, in front of a twin-towered church |
| Christmas at Prague Castle | Prague Castle, Hradčany | A small market inside the castle walls |
Staroměstské náměstí, Old Town
Old Town Square Christmas Market
The market fills the square around the city’s Christmas tree, with a stage for carols and concerts and stalls of glass ornaments, wooden toys and puppets.
Climb the Old Town Hall tower for the view straight down onto the lights. It is the photo of Prague at Christmas.
Good to know: It is busiest from 6 to 9 in the evening. Come early in the morning for the square almost to yourself.
Václavské náměstí, New Town
Wenceslas Square Christmas Market
Stalls line the lower end of the long boulevard, with more food than crafts. An easy second stop on the walk from Old Town Square.
Peace Square, Vinohrady
Náměstí Míru Christmas Market
In front of the twin towers of St Ludmila’s Church, the stalls are fewer, the prices lower, and most people around you live in the neighbourhood.
Good to know: Two stops from the centre on the green metro line (A).
Prague Castle, Hradčany
Christmas at Prague Castle
A handful of stalls in the castle courtyards, under St Vitus Cathedral. Small, but worth it if you are up the hill anyway.
When are the Prague Christmas markets open in 2026?
Prague’s main markets usually open on the Saturday before the first Sunday of Advent, which is November 28 in 2026, with the tree lit on Old Town Square that evening.
They run until January 6, the Feast of the Three Kings. Náměstí Míru usually closes on Christmas Eve. Check each market’s site for the exact days and hours.
What should you eat and drink at the Prague Christmas markets?
- Svařák: Czech mulled wine, the market’s default drink.
- Medovina: Hot mead, sweet and strong, and very Czech.
- Pražská šunka: Prague ham roasted on a spit and sold by weight. Ask the price per 100 grams before they cut.
- Klobása: A grilled sausage with mustard and bread: simple and right.
- Trdelník: The sugared chimney cake sold all over the old town. More tourist favourite than old Czech tradition, but warm and good.
- Vánočka and cukroví: Braided Christmas bread and the small Christmas biscuits every Czech family bakes.
How do you plan a Christmas market trip to Prague?
Two or three days covers the markets in the evenings and the city by day: the Charles Bridge at sunrise, the castle, a beer hall at night.
Stay in Old Town or Malá Strana and walk everywhere. The markets are free to enter.
Look out for the carp in big tubs on street corners before Christmas Eve: fried carp with potato salad is the Czech Christmas Eve dinner.
Make it a two-city trip: Vienna is about four hours by train, and Dresden about two and a half.
Why go to the Prague Christmas markets with friends?
Prague at Christmas is a group trip waiting to happen: a mug of svařák each, one trdelník to share, and an argument about which market was best.
Agreeing on the rest is easier with a plan. In SwipeSights, everyone swipes on real places in Prague, from the castle to the beer hall, and the group’s picks become a day-by-day plan.
Plan Prague at Christmas together
Start a trip, invite your friends, and let the group’s picks become a day-by-day plan.
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Frequently asked questions
When do the Prague Christmas markets open in 2026?
The main markets usually open on the Saturday before the first Sunday of Advent, which is November 28 in 2026, and run until January 6.
What is the best Christmas market in Prague?
Old Town Square, with the city’s Christmas tree between the Astronomical Clock and Týn Church. Náměstí Míru in Vinohrady is the quieter local favourite.
Are the Prague Christmas markets open after Christmas?
Yes. Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square usually stay open until January 6. Some smaller markets close on Christmas Eve.
What should I eat at the Prague Christmas markets?
Svařák (mulled wine), medovina (hot mead), a grilled klobása, Prague ham from the spit (check the price per 100 grams first) and trdelník, the chimney cake.
How many days do you need for Prague at Christmas?
Two or three days lets you see the markets in the evenings and the castle, the Charles Bridge and the old town by day.
SwipeSights: plan the whole group trip together.
