17 Perfect Things to Do in Prague in Winter [2024-2025]

During my semester studying abroad in Prague, I got to know the city well. I fell in love with summer beer gardens and fall young wine (burčák) harvests, but winter took me a while to come around on. 

While I loved living in Prague, I was taken aback by how insanely cold Prague was in winter. Even after having survived my first two winters in New York, if it weren’t for svařák (hot mulled wine) and medovina (hot honey mead) on the street corners, I likely never would have left my apartment.

I eventually came around and learned to love Prague in the winter for what it was — festive, dripping with charm, and the best time to eat a bunch of delicious Czech food!

I didn’t know it at the time, but living in Prague that semester would change my life. Now, looking back at it, my time in Prague was one of the essential stepping stones that brought me to a travel blogging career.

I dove enthusiastically into life in Prague, learning (butchering) Czech, eating ridiculous amounts of česnečka (a delicious garlic soup), and confirming the rumor that Prague is, indeed, a place where beer is cheaper than water.

After my semester in Prague ended, it took a while for me to come back for another visit, but when I did, I made sure I visited Prague in winter, the season that sealed my obsession.

Here are my winter Prague tips updated from my last trip to the city that stole my heart, filled with some lesser known hidden gems from having spent so many months of my life in Prague. I hope it helps you fall in love with it as much as I did!

Things to Do in Prague in Winter

Explore the Prague Christmas Markets.

If your Prague winter trip happens to overlap with the Christmas markets, you’re in luck – this is one of the most festive times of year to visit Prague… except for the small fact you’ll be among (several thousand of) your closest tourist friends.

Prague in December and early January is peak winter season, through once mid-January and February rolls around, Prague seriously empties out again and it becomes sedate and peaceful once again.

The main Christmas market is in Old Town Square (Staroměstské Náměstí) and it’s definitely worth the visit. However, on weekends, visiting the Old Town of Prague is especially chaotic. While I found the main Christmas market area to be not too chaotic during the weekdays, I was running for safe haven in a craft beer bar on a December Saturday afternoon.

Still, despite the crowds, Prague’s Christmas markets are undoubtedly charming. Market vendors dole out steaming hot Czech meals and hot drinks, craftspeople sell their Christmas-themed ornaments and trinkets, and everyone wanders around the square, where the wooden stalls are all clustered around an enormous, blinged-out Christmas tree.

If you have a few days in Prague around Christmas and want to see the markets, I recommend spending your weekdays around the Old Town area. On the weekends, visit off the beaten path parts of Prague or at least visit the less crowded Christmas markets.

To avoid crowds but still see some smaller Christmas markets and vendors, there are smaller markets in Wenceslas Square (Václavské Náměstí), Republic Square (Náměstí Republiky), and Peace Square (Náměstí Míru), as well as a few others around the city.

I also recommend the area around Jiřího z Poděbrad, the markets just to the left when you cross the Charles Bridge in Malá Strana, and the area around Palladium Shopping Mall. None are totally “offbeat,” but they won’t be nearly as crowded as the Old Town.

Note: The trdelník you see everywhere on Instagram is not traditional to Prague, but rather an import from Hungary, where they are called kürtőskalács– and ice cream is definitely not traditionally served with either! If you’d like to taste a true Czech dessert, be sure to try fruit-filled dumplings, called ovocné knedlíky. It’s one of my favorite Czech treats and it’s ultra-traditional!

Insider Tip: If you’re visiting Prague in January, one added bonus is that the Christmas markets in Prague stay open until at least January 7th, so it can coincide with Eastern Orthodox Christmas.

Explore the magical Prague Castle.

Ahh, Prague Castle. This place is a straight-up fairy tale every day of the year, even despite the insane crush of tourists. And in the winter, Prague Castle (Pražský Hrad) is even more ridiculously gorgeous, especially if you’re lucky enough to see the city with a dusting of snow.

As the largest castle complex in the world, Prague Castle is home to an enormous amount of history, secrets, and treasures. Among its many spectacular sights, you simply can’t miss the St. Vitus Cathedral, one of the most beautiful churches in the world, with gorgeous interior paintings and stained glass windows.

Two of my other favorite places in the Prague Castle complex are the Old Palace Hall and particularly Vladislav Hall with its cheery yellow facade. Both are lovely to visit and great places to take photos.

Finally, while you have your ticket for Prague Castle, don’t miss Golden Lane, a 16th-century row of houses owned by goldsmiths back several centuries ago. Around 70 years ago, they were painted in all sorts of colorful pastel hues, making it a much-loved photo spot now.

Fun Fact: House #22 used to be the home of Franz Kafka’s sister, and he lived and wrote here for two years! So if you’re a fan of his work, you should stop by here.

Pro Tip: The Prague Castle has insane lines pretty much all day long, which grow to hellacious proportions if you visit Prague around Christmas. Save hours by booking a skip-the-line ticket and tour, which you can present on your mobile (no need to print!).

Alternately, if you buy a Prague City Card, admission is free, though it won’t include a skip-the-line ticket.

See some of the city’s best museums.

While in summer it’s hard for me to drag myself to museums, in the winter it’s a whole different story: it’s one of my favorite things to do when my California a** can no longer handle the cold.

The National Museum (Národní Muzeum) in upper Wenceslas Square is one of the city’s best. Book your ticket online ahead of time on their website, as lines can get crazy in December. According to my food tour guide, sometimes people were waiting over an hour at peak times!

Tickets cost 300 CZK which at the time of writing is about $12.50 USD, or it’s included with the City Pass.

But there are so many other worthwhile museums in Prague. One of my favorites is the Franz Kafka Museum in Malá Strana, a must for any literary enthusiast, as Kafka’s shadow looms large over the entire city of Prague.

Finally, if you’re into weird and quirky museums, Prague seems to specialize in them.

There’s a Museum of Alchemists and Magicians, a Museum of Historical Chamber Pots and Toilets, and Speculum Alchimae, an underground lair used by alchemists and only rediscovered after massive floods in 2002. If you’re into finding the weirder side of a city, I recommend checking out the Atlas Obscura for Prague, which does not disappoint.

Prague also has some excellent contemporary art museums. I visited the DOX Museum of Contemporary Art recently and absolutely loved it. It was incredibly thought provoking – I especially loved their exhibition on data and privacy from my last visit. Another great choice is the Kunsthalle Praha.

There’s also other classic art museums, like the Mucha Museum (an Art Nouveau artist from Prague) and the exquisite Museum of Decorative Arts.

Personally, I would skip the tourist trap museums: namely, the Museum of Senses, Museum of Sex Machines, Museum of Torture, Selfie Museum, etc. They’re kitschy (but not in a good way), not worth the money, and filled with other tourists while not actually giving you any education on Prague itself.

Catch a surprisingly affordable show

Recently reopened after years of renovations, the Prague Opera House is truly stunning, ornate with the kind of grandeur that made my American self go slack-jawed taking in all the traditionally grand European details and flourishes.

Going to an opera in Prague sounds incredibly luxe, but it’s actually rather affordable — even when I was on a student budget. For the 2024-2025 season, I just took a look at some last minute tickets and the cheapest one is available for just 850 CZK, or about $35 USD.

While I’m not necessarily an opera enthusiast, there’s no denying that it’s a magical atmosphere, both in terms of the wonder in the air that accompanies every live performance but also the beautiful Art Nouveau detail of the opera house that surround you.

If you’re worried about not understanding the opera, don’t worry – even back in 2009 on my first visit to Prague, the opera house was ridiculously modern and had subtitles in three different languages (English, Czech, and German) so that you could follow along.

Attend a classical concert or ballet in Prague.

Since Prague is so cold in the winter, it’s nice to have lots of options for different performances for the evenings, especially if operas aren’t your cup of tea.

Here are a few other recommendations! The Lobkowicz Palace in Prague Castle has a 1-hour classical museum performance every day at noon. Tip: Be sure to book it on the day you are visiting the Prague Castle so you don’t have to pay for admission twice (admission to the castle is not included in the concert ticket).

Pre-book tickets here as availability is limited

Prefer ballet to classical museum or opera? The Hybernia Theater near Namesti Republika has several performances of Swan Lake a week from November through January. Book your tickets online here.

Another more swanky option is a Mozart ballroom performance and 3-course dinner! This takes place at the Boccaccio Ballroom, part of the Grand Hotel Bohemia.

Again, I recommend pre-booking your ticket as it is a popular option.

Warm up with a perfectly poured Czech beer

While in the summer, you’ll find Prague locals practically glued to their seats in the outdoor beer gardens throughout the city, Prague in winter is definitely more indoor-oriented — though generally with just as much beer.

Beer is an inextricable part of Czech daily life, so indulge away — it’s all part of the culture, right? Czechia is best known for creating pilsner (the name comes from the Czech city of Plzeň).

Pilsner is pale lager which is now one of the most common types of beer you’ll find around the world… just done not nearly as well. And there’s nothing like drinking a Pilsner Urquell (the original pilsner) straight from the tank, less than 100 kilometers from where it was brewed!

There are countless bars and taprooms you can go to experience about Czech beer firsthand. I’m a sucker for nostalgia and history, so my favorite is U Pinkasů, the restaurant where the first Pilsner Urquell was tapped — see the sign above!

Note that a properly poured Pilsner has a lot more foam than you’re probably used to… about 3 fingers or 2 inches of foam. This is the mark of a correctly poured beer so don’t make a fool of yourself by complaining! Just try it — it’s absolutely delicious.

Visit the Czech Beer Museum.

If you want to understand the history of beer brewing in the Czech Republic, I recommend a visit to the Czech Beer Museum.

It’s small, but it’s also entertaining and informative… but maybe most importantly, you get three samples of beer included in the price of admission (for research, of course).

And for the truly extra amongst us, you can actually leave the museum with your own personally customized beer bottle, which you bottle and cork yourself! This also makes a great Christmas gift for a beer fan back home.

This tour includes museum entry, a guided tour, three samples, and your own custom bottle to take home.

Book your online ticket here (no need to print – you can present it on mobile!)

Taste Czech wines at a local wine bar

Yes, I’m aware that putting three alcohol-related things so close to each other on this guide may make me out to be a bit of an alcoholic. But I truly can’t help myself in Prague – the beer and wine are just so good!

While many people know about the vibrant Czech beer scene, few people know just how delicious Czech wine is. Even fewer people know that a huge swath of central Prague used to be vineyards – particularly the neighborhood of Vinohrady (which is where I lived when I lived in Prague!)

While the Czech Republic is best known for its excellent white wines, you can find some great red wines as well, if that is more your speed. I tend to prefer Welschriesling (ryzlink vlašský) or regular riesling (ryzlink rýnský) for whites, and Blaufränkisch (frankovka) for red, but that’s just me personally.

If you’re familiar with German and Austrian wines, Czech wines use a lot of similar grapes but to me, a Czech wine still is very different than its neighbors.

There are several wine bars in Prague worth visiting, and luckily, wine by the glass – while not as cheap as beer – is quite affordable in Prague as it’s not considered a luxury to have a good glass of wine. Czech wines are rarely exported outside the county, so you might as well try it while you’re in Prague this winter if you’re a fan of wine!

My favorite neighborhoods to drink in are lovely Vinohrady and trendy Žižkov, which have a nice blend of catering to their local communities while still being centrally located. Prices are more affordable here than in the area around Old Town, and it’s a lot less touristic.

My favorite wine bars in Prague are Vinotéka U Jiřího z Poděbrad on Přemyslovská 4 and U Posledního Soudu on Jagellonská 8.

Scale the Petřín Lookout Tower

There are several places you can go in Prague to get fairytale-worthy views over the entire city but I have a soft spot for Petřín Hill and its lookout tower. It’s a little quieter than some of the other popular lookout spots, like the Old Town Bridge Tower which is swarmed with people wanting that Instagram-perfect shot over Prague.

More than a hundred years ago, the Petřín Lookout Tower was conceived to be a replica of the Eiffel Tower, only smaller, at 63.5 meters tall. It’s one step shy of 300 steps to the lookout point, but it’s well worth it.

At the top, you’re immediately rewarded with some of the most impressive sweeping views of Prague over the Castle District, Malá Strana, and the Old Town.

You can walk to the Petřín Lookout Tower from the Castle, which takes about half an hour, but it’s more popular (and more fun!) to take the Petřín Funicular, though sometimes the lines for the funicular can be crowded.

Stay warm while you sightsee in a vintage car tour.

While there is no shortage of walking tours in Prague, in the winter, you probably want to be indoors as much as possible.

So, compromise on a city tour of Prague with a private tour in a vintage car (don’t worry, the cars have heating, blankets, and even removable flap windows to keep out the cold in the winter!)

You can ride around the city in classic vintage cars, which fit up a group up to five people, in cozy comfort – all the while getting insight from a local on their city on a your 1.5 hour drive through the city.

If the car tour is for a special occasion, you can even add certain romantic touches like roses and French champagne – fancy.

Book a private vintage car tour here.

Stroll the Charles Bridge over the Vltava.

From the Old Town side of Charles’ Bridge to Prague Castle is a quick 30-minute walk among some of the most charming buildings in the city, making the Charles Bridge an indispensable part of any Prague winter itinerary.

I have a soft spot for the Charles’ Bridge as it made quite an impact on my life – literally, as my boat captain (who I assume must had a few too many Pilsners) rammed into this historic bridge not once but twice while on a tour! Luckily, the bridge seems to have taken this hit in stride as it’s still standing, still as beautiful as ever.

Also known by its local name (Karlův Most), this medieval bridge is one of Prague’s most unique landmarks and has seen a lot throughout the centuries.

Its central position connecting Prague’s Old Town with the castle district means that Charles’ Bridge is nearly impossible to avoid during your stay and given how beautiful it is, why would you want to avoid it? Yes, it’s crowded, and yes, it’s touristy, but it’s also one of the most beautiful places in Prague.

My top tip for seeing Charles’ Bridge in winter is to walk across it with a steaming hot cup of mulled wine, called svařák, or if you want something sweeter, some medovina (honey wine).

There’s nothing quite like holding a warm drink in your begloved hands as you gaze over the unparalleled Vltava River.

Crossing this bridge over the Vltava River among all the statues covered in snow was so magical that I barely even noticed the cold… though that might have been all the medovina.

Enjoy Czech food at a medieval-themed banquet.

Czech food is often written off as heavy and dull, and I’m here with an impassioned plea to reconsider!

I absolutely adore Czech food, although I will readily admit that it is not the healthiest nor the most vegetarian or vegan-friendly cuisine. It is, however, a fantastic way to warm up in the Prague winter!

A few of my favorite traditional Czech dishes include guláš s knedlíky (Czech-style goulash stew with handmade sliced bread dumplings), vepřo-knedlo–zelo (roast pork with cabbage and bread dumplings), and česnečka, a delicious garlicky broth laced with caraway seeds and topped with rye bread croutons.

If you want a stick-to-your-ribs winter meal, go for a medieval-themed dinner, drinks, and show. You can opt between 3 and 5 courses, and it comes with unlimited beer (or wine, should you choose).

It also has plenty of medieval-themed entertainment, from swordsmen to jugglers and more, which makes it perfect for families or those looking to have an immersive and unique dinner experience.

It also has vegan, vegetarian, pescetarian, and gluten-free options (in addition to meat and poultry) so it has options to suit just about every dietary requirement.

The medieval dinner is one of the most popular things to do in Prague in winter, so I strongly suggest pre-booking if it’s on your Prague bucket list! Check menu options and make a booking here.

Eat alllll the food on a Czech food tour.

Another fantastic thing to do in Prague in the winter is go on a food tour! I did a food tour when I visited Prague in December and I absolutely loved it.

Even though I was quite familiar with Czech food, having lived there a decade ago, it was delightful to see all the best of Czech food represented in a filling, well-paced 4-hour food tour.

Take it from me, someone who ate pretty much nothing but Czech food for six months: it’s a perfect introduction to Czech cuisine to those who have a limited time to discover it.

On this tour, we tried 3 traditional pastries, a selection of meats, beef tartar, a selection of mini open-faced sandwiches called chlebíčky, an appetizer, a soup, a main dish, and an apple strudel for dessert.

I don’t want to spoil what all the delicious things we tried were, but trust me when I tell you that you should definitely skip lunch and you’ll be hard-pressed to find room after dinner.

Pro Tip: I always schedule my food tour for the first day I arrive in a city — that way, every dish is new to me, I know what my favorites are when I go to a restaurant afterwards. The best part though is that I can badger the tour guide for more restaurant recommendations!

This is the exact tour I took, which I highly recommend – my guide was fantastic, and all the food we tried was so good!

Go ice skating in Ovocný Trh.

Is it even a European winter trip if you don’t go ice skating? Ice skating is one of the most-loved winter pastimes, and when you combine it with the historic spot of Ovocný Trh it becomes even better. Despite the prime location, it was never crowded when I walked past it, even on the weekend.

This ice rink is found behind the Czech Estates, and even though it’s open for a relatively short time (for the 2024-2025 season, it’s from December 5 to January 31), it’s free for everyone during that time!

You’ll have to rent your own ice skates, but skate rental is rather affordable – about 100 CZK per hour, around $5 USD. It’s a great place to while away some time (and if you need to warm up, it being Prague, there’s a mulled wine booth just a few meters away from the rink).

Take a cruise on the Vltava River

While generally I try to avoid most touristy things, I’m a huge fan of doing river cruises and make it a point to do one whenever possible, no matter the season. There’s something magical about cities built around rivers, and seeing it from the water adds a new dimension to a place you’ve traversed several times on foot.

Just as my boat trip on the Danube was a highlight of my Budapest trip, a cruise on the Vltava River is a must on any Prague winter trip.

The boats are fitted with glass so you don’t have to worry about being too cold as you zip up and down the Vltava river, passing views such as the Prague Castle and passing underneath (and hopefully not into) the Charles Bridge.

If you’re cold, you can warm up while holding a drink and taking in the information presented by your guide, who will explain the current function of the historic buildings as well as their unique pasts.

The best option would be the 3-hour cruise, including a buffet dinner of tasty Czech food, all with a background of lovely live music, which you can book here. The boat cruise departs at 7 PM during the winter months and cruises for 3 hours, so you can see Prague beautifully lit up at night.

Book your dinner Vltava River cruise here!

Take a sauna on the river

If you want to get a bit away from the Christmas market crowds and warm up in an unconditional manner, head to the Naplavka Riverbank under the shadow of the Vyšehrad fortifications.

This river walkway is lively and often likened to a beach party in the summer, but it’s extremely quiet and peaceful in the winter. Since Prague’s weather in winter is rather cold, just walking along the water is a bit chilly…. so instead, take advantage of the genius sauna-on-a-boat concept at Lázně na Lodi.

Here, for 190 CZK for a 60-minute sauna session (that’s about $8 USD) you can enjoy a peaceful sauna and even go for a dip in the freezing cold Vltava if you’re brave (or Finnish).

I recommend reserving a place if you really want to visit. It’s only open at night, so you can visit from 5 PM to 11 PM.

Visit a Prague beer spa.

Want an even quirkier spa experience that is something you can really only do in Prague? Check out the beer spa featuring a beer bath and all you can drink beer!

It’s not cheap — it’s about $65 USD per person and must be booked as a group of two — but it’s one of the most unique things you can do in Prague!

Check it out and book here!

Escape on a day trip to Český Krumlov.

If Prague in winter just simply isn’t enough fairytale magic for you, then make sure you visit one of the most beautiful cities in the Czech Republic: Český Krumlov! I have only been here in the fall but I can certify that it is absolutely delightful any time of year… and likely doubly so under a layer of snow!

While you can certainly get there independently by train, you can also book a day tour from Prague which makes transportation and planning much easier. This is especially helpful if you’re nervous about navigating public transit in a foreign country.

This is the day tour I recommend, with over 500 positive reviews!

Take a more offbeat visit to the Bone Church.

A cool but more macabre option is to visit Kutná Hora on a guided tour to see a picturesque Czech town with a bit of a dark side.

The town of Kutná Hora is most known for its (in)famous “Bone Chapel,” better known as the Sedlec Ossuary, a UNESCO World Heritage site — composed of the bones of over 40,000 human skeletons!

The tour also includes Saint Barbara’s Church, Sankturin House, a beautiful Cistercian Monastery, the Italian Court, the Stone House, and the Plague Column. You’ll really get quite a thorough overview of this unique and historic town about an hour outside of Prague!

This is the tour I recommend for Kutná Hora and its bone chapel, with over 800 positive reviews.

Where to Stay in Prague

For tourists, Prague 1 and 2 are the most popular districts. I personally prefer the area around Vinohrady and the Old Town, though some people may prefer to be closer to the Castle District.

I’ve noted my top picks for each type of traveler – budget, boutique, and luxury travelers – to make the hard choice a little easier!

Budget | Czech Inn

Combining beautifully European architecture and budget prices, the Czech Inn provides affordable stays to their guests with a fun vibe. Most of their spaces and facilities are specially designed for the younger guests – and the young at heart. They have private rooms, apartments, shared rooms and premium dorm rooms (not your average dormitory room).

The main draw is its social scene. There are regular events like quiz nights, beer tasting (hooray!), live music, and stand-up comic events! It’s a great place if you’re looking for a budget-friendly stay with a social vibe.

Check availability and prices here

Boutique | Le Palais Art Hotel

Want to feel like you’re staying in an art museum? That’s Le Palais Art Hotel in a nutshell. Upon entering its main hall, you will see a grand chandelier, exquisite décor, vintage furniture, and so many paintings on display in its hallways and rooms, which almost act as an art gallery.

The rooms are warm, cozy, and decorative with lots of attention to artistic detail, and some of the bathrooms even have soaking tubs!

Check availability and prices here!

Luxury | Aria Hotel Prague

The grand and luxurious Aria Hotel Prague (which has a partner hotel in Budapest) offers 5-star amenities with a tasteful music theme, with rooms inspired by opera, jazz, and classical music.

The suite-type rooms also have a living area and kitchenette that easily helps you feel right at home. Their luxurious bathrooms are equipped with Molton Brown toiletries and all the lovely amenities you’d expect – like plush bathrobes and slippers – from a hotel of this caliber.

Check prices and availability here!

Allison Green

Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016, visiting 75+ countries in total. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. As a former educator, she merges her writing and educational experience to encourage ethical, sustainable travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and TBEX. Her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. When she’s not on the road, she lives in Bangkok, Thailand.