Prague’s two main Christmas markets, in Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, are expected to open on Saturday 28 November 2026 and run every day until 6 January 2027. Both are free to enter. If you have time for only one more, head to Peace Square in Vinohrady, where locals do their Christmas shopping. For a quieter visit, go in the first week or on a weekday evening.
Prague Christmas market 2026 in brief
- Main markets: Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, expected 28 Nov 2026 – 6 Jan 2027
- Opening hours: around 10am to 10pm, with food stalls usually open later
- Entry: free at all the public squares
- Currency: Czech koruna (CZK), not the euro
- Getting there: about two hours’ flight from most UK airports
- How long to stay: two nights is enough for the markets; three lets you see the city properly
In this guide
- 2026 dates and opening hours
- Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square
- Neighbourhood markets locals prefer
- Which market should you visit?
- What to eat and drink
- Money: koruna, cards and cash
- Getting to Prague from the UK
- When to go: Czech Christmas traditions
- How many days do you need?
- Practical tips and mistakes to avoid
- Frequently asked questions
Prague Christmas markets 2026: dates and opening hours
Prague does not have a single Christmas market but a network of them, from the two big central squares to smaller markets in residential neighbourhoods. The main markets usually open on the Saturday before the first Sunday of Advent. In 2026 that falls on 28 November. Most neighbourhood markets open a few days earlier but close on Christmas Eve, while the two central markets keep going until Three Kings’ Day on 6 January.
| Market | Expected 2026 dates | Open after Christmas? | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Town Square | 28 Nov 2026 – 6 Jan 2027 | Yes | Expected |
| Wenceslas Square | 28 Nov 2026 – 6 Jan 2027 | Yes | Expected |
| Peace Square (náměstí Míru) | Around 20 Nov – 24 Dec 2026 | No | Expected |
| Republic Square (náměstí Republiky) | Around 25 Nov – 24 Dec 2026 | No | Expected |
| Tyl Square (Tylovo náměstí) | Late Nov – 24 Dec 2026 | No | Expected |
| Kampa (Lesser Town) | Late Nov 2026 – around 1 Jan 2027 | Until New Year | Expected |
Dates follow each market’s usual pattern and were last checked on 28 September 2026. Organisers normally confirm the season in the autumn, so check prague.eu before you book.
Opening hours: the central market stalls are usually open from about 10am to 10pm, and many food stalls stay open later. The neighbourhood markets tend to close earlier, typically around 8pm. Expect shorter hours on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, when stalls often shut in the early afternoon.
The main markets: Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square
Most visitors start in the centre, and for good reason. These two markets are only a ten-minute walk apart, so you can see both in one evening.
Old Town Square: the tree, the clock and the crowds
This is the market on every Prague Christmas postcard. Wooden stalls fill the square around a very tall Christmas tree, with the Gothic towers of the Týn Church on one side and the Old Town Hall and its Astronomical Clock on the other. The tree is traditionally lit on the market’s opening evening, which draws big crowds. A stage in the square hosts choirs, folk groups and school performances throughout Advent, and there is usually a nativity scene that younger children enjoy.
The drawback is simple: everyone else wants to be here too. Evenings at the weekend are packed, and prices are the highest in the city.
Best for: atmosphere and photographs. Come early in the day, then return after dark once you have seen the other markets.
Wenceslas Square: more food, more room
Wenceslas Square is a long, broad boulevard rather than a traditional square, so the market spreads out along it. That gives you more space to move, even at busy times. The stalls here lean towards food and hot drinks rather than crafts, which makes it a good place to eat dinner standing up. The upper end, near the National Museum and the statue of St Wenceslas, tends to be a little calmer.
Best for: an easy evening of market food, and anyone who finds Old Town Square too crowded.
Neighbourhood markets locals prefer
Once you have seen the two big squares, the smaller markets are where Prague’s Christmas feels less like a tourist attraction and more like part of city life. Prices tend to be lower, the crowds thinner and the stalls more focused on things people actually buy as presents. All of them are easy to reach by metro or tram, and several are within walking distance of Wenceslas Square.
Peace Square (náměstí Míru): crafts and fewer crowds
If you visit only one market outside the centre, make it this one. It is set in front of the twin-spired Church of St Ludmila in Vinohrady, a residential district about 15 minutes’ walk from the top of Wenceslas Square, or one stop on metro line A. It is usually the first Prague market to open each season, and it has a reputation for handmade decorations, local food producers and gifts you won’t see repeated at every stall in the Old Town.
Good to know: it closes on Christmas Eve, so it will not be there if you visit between Christmas and New Year.
Republic Square, Tyl Square and Kampa
Republic Square sits just beyond the edge of the Old Town, beside the Art Nouveau Municipal House. It is compact and convenient, and a good place for a hot drink on the way between the centre and the station.
Tyl Square is a small, friendly market a few minutes from Peace Square. It is easy to combine the two in one afternoon.
Kampa, on the Lesser Town side of the river just below Charles Bridge, is one of the prettiest settings in the city. It usually stays open until around New Year, which makes it a useful option later in the season.
Which Prague Christmas market should you visit?
You can see the two central markets in one evening, so for most people the real question is which smaller one to add. This table sums up the differences.
| Market | Atmosphere | Crowds | Prices | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Town Square | Grand and historic | Very busy | Highest | The tree, the views and the photographs |
| Wenceslas Square | Lively and spacious | Busy | High | Street food and hot drinks |
| Peace Square | Local and relaxed | Moderate | Lower | Handmade gifts and decorations |
| Republic Square | Small and convenient | Moderate | Mid-range | A quick stop between sights |
| Kampa | Riverside and picturesque | Moderate | Mid-range | A walk combined with Charles Bridge |
Our suggestion: see Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square on your first evening. Spend part of the next day in Vinohrady for Peace Square, then finish at Kampa after crossing Charles Bridge.
What to eat and drink at the Prague Christmas markets
Food is half the reason to go. These are the things worth trying, and one thing worth being careful with.
- Svařák: Czech mulled wine, usually red and spiced with cinnamon and cloves. You will find it everywhere, sometimes alongside a white version.
- Medovina: warm honey wine. It is sweeter and stronger than svařák, so one cup goes a long way.
- Klobása: a thick grilled sausage served with mustard and a slice of bread. A reliable, filling market meal.
- Roasted chestnuts: sold in paper cones and perfect for warming cold hands.
- Trdelník: a spiral of dough wrapped round a spit, roasted and rolled in sugar and nuts. It is sold on almost every corner, but it is a recent arrival for tourists rather than an old Czech Christmas tradition. It is good fun to eat, just don’t buy it thinking it is what Czech families serve at home.
Watch out: Prague ham is sold by weight
The big hams roasting on spits over open fires are one of the sights of the markets, and the smell alone draws people in. The catch is how they are priced. The number on the board is usually the price per 100 grams, not per portion. If you simply ask for “some ham”, the seller may cut a generous slice, weigh it and charge you several times what you expected. This is the most common complaint visitors have about the Prague markets.
How to avoid a surprise:
- Check whether the board shows a price per 100g (often written as “100 g”).
- Ask for a specific amount, such as 150 or 200 grams, or show the seller how big a piece you want before it is cut.
- Ask to see the weight on the scale before you pay.
Money: koruna, cards and cash
The Czech Republic is in the EU but has kept its own currency, the Czech koruna (CZK). Prices at the markets are in koruna. Some stalls may take euros, but usually at a poor rate, so it is not worth bringing euros specially.
- Cards and cash: card payments are common in Prague, but card acceptance at market stalls varies. Carry a small amount of koruna for snacks and drinks at smaller stalls.
- Always pay in koruna: if a card terminal asks whether you want to pay in pounds or koruna, choose koruna. The “pay in GBP” option usually uses a worse exchange rate set by the terminal provider.
- Be wary of exchange booths: some booths in the tourist centre advertise “0% commission” but offer a very poor exchange rate. Check exactly how many koruna you will receive before handing over your money, or simply withdraw cash from a bank ATM.
- Keep your cup: hot drinks often come in a reusable cup with a small deposit added to the price. Return it to any stall of the same operator to get the deposit back, or keep it as a souvenir.
For more ways to keep costs down, see our budget travel tips.
Getting to Prague from the UK
The short answer: fly. Prague is roughly a two-hour flight from most UK airports, and routes run from London and a good spread of regional airports. Flights for the weekends in late November and early December fill up quickly, so book as early as you can.
- From the airport: Václav Havel Airport Prague is about 30 to 45 minutes from the centre depending on traffic. Public buses link the terminals with the metro network and the main railway station, and taxis and ride-hailing apps are available. Check the airport’s official website for current routes and fares before you travel.
- Public transport tickets: buy one before you board and validate paper tickets in the machine as you get on. Inspectors do check, and fines are issued on the spot.
- At the border: the Czech Republic is in the Schengen area, so you will go through the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) on arrival. On your first trip since it started, this means having your fingerprints and a photo taken. It is free and needs no advance application. Our guide to Europe’s best Christmas markets explains the EES and ETIAS in more detail.
- Passport: for the Schengen area, a UK passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the day you arrive, and be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave.
When to go: Czech Christmas traditions worth timing your trip around
The markets are open for about six weeks, but a few dates change the character of a visit. Knowing them helps you choose between a busy, festive weekend and a quieter one.
- Opening weekend (28–29 November 2026, expected): the Christmas tree on Old Town Square is traditionally switched on in the late afternoon of the opening day. It is a memorable moment, but also one of the most crowded evenings of the season.
- 5 December, St Nicholas’ Eve (Mikuláš): this is one of the most distinctive Czech traditions. In the evening, people dressed as St Nicholas, an angel and a devil walk the streets and visit children, who recite a poem or sing a song in return for sweets. Children who have misbehaved might get a lump of coal or potatoes instead. Look out for the trios around Old Town Square and Charles Bridge.
- The days before Christmas: street sellers set up large tubs of live carp, the traditional centrepiece of the Czech Christmas Eve dinner, often served fried with potato salad. Some families keep the fish in the bath until Christmas Eve, a custom that surprises most visitors.
- 24 December: Christmas Eve is the main day of celebration in the Czech Republic. Markets usually close early in the afternoon and many restaurants shut in the evening, so book dinner in advance if you are in Prague on that night.
- Between Christmas and 6 January: the neighbourhood markets have gone, but the two central markets carry on. This is a quieter, often cheaper time to visit, and the markets close on 6 January, Three Kings’ Day.
Our pick: go in the first week of December if you can. It is busy enough to feel festive, calmer than the weekends leading up to Christmas, and you might catch St Nicholas’ Eve on 5 December.
How many days do you need? Two sample plans
Two nights is enough to see the main markets without rushing. Three nights gives you time for the Castle, the river and a slower look at the neighbourhoods. The plans below are illustrative starting points, so adjust them for your flight times.
Weekend (2 nights)
Day 1: Arrive, check in and head for Wenceslas Square for dinner at the stalls. Walk down to Old Town Square to see the tree lit up after dark.
Day 2: Charles Bridge early before the crowds. Lunch in the Lesser Town and a look at Kampa. In the afternoon take the metro to Peace Square, then return to Old Town Square for the evening.
Long weekend (3 nights)
Days 1–2: As the weekend plan.
Day 3: Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral in the morning, then walk downhill through the Lesser Town. Spend the afternoon at Republic Square and the Municipal House, and end with a final evening at the market you liked best.
Practical tips and mistakes to avoid
- Dress for the cold: the average December temperature is around freezing, and standing still at a market feels colder than walking. Layers, a hat, gloves and warm, waterproof shoes make a big difference.
- Mind your belongings: the crowds around Old Town Square and the Astronomical Clock attract pickpockets. Keep your phone and wallet in a zipped pocket or bag at the front.
- Avoid Saturday evenings if you can: they are the busiest time of the week. A weekday evening, or the middle of the day, is far calmer.
- Don’t assume every market is open after Christmas: most of the neighbourhood markets close on 24 December.
- Check prices by weight: as explained above, Prague ham and some other foods are priced per 100g.
- Book restaurants for Christmas Eve: many close, and the ones that stay open fill up fast.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Prague Christmas market open in 2026?
The main markets in Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square are expected to open on Saturday 28 November 2026 and run until 6 January 2027. Some neighbourhood markets, such as Peace Square, usually open a week or so earlier.
Is the Prague Christmas market open after Christmas?
Yes. The two central markets in Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square stay open until 6 January. Most smaller neighbourhood markets close on Christmas Eve, and Kampa usually runs until around New Year.
Is it free to visit the Prague Christmas markets?
Yes. All the markets in Prague’s public squares are free to enter. You only pay for what you eat, drink or buy.
Can I pay by card at the Prague Christmas markets?
Many stalls accept cards, but not all. Carry some Czech koruna for smaller purchases, and always choose to pay in koruna rather than pounds when a card machine gives you the option.
Is two days enough for the Prague Christmas markets?
Two nights is enough to see Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square and one or two neighbourhood markets. Add a third night if you also want to visit Prague Castle and explore the city properly.
Is Prague or Vienna better for Christmas markets?
It depends on what you want. Prague is usually cheaper and has the more fairy-tale setting, with markets close together. Vienna has more markets, a grander imperial atmosphere and a busy programme of Advent concerts, but it costs more. Both have markets open into January.
More Christmas market guides
Sources
Written by the Epiclectic Editorial Team
Epiclectic publishes practical guides for UK readers on travel, money, home and everyday life. We check dates, rules and prices against official sources and update our guides when they change.
Last reviewed: September 2026
