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Considering of visiting Prague in winter? Wonderful concept! A number of cities in Europe are extra satisfying to go to within the winter — you get to get pleasure from decrease costs and smaller crowds (so long as you don’t go to throughout Christmas market season, that’s).
I’ve been dwelling in Prague for a number of years and I’m presently gearing up for my fourth winter right here (or fifth in case you depend my lengthy go to earlier than I moved right here). Winter is usually a very particular time to go to Prague — there’s no higher season for museum-hopping and classical music performances, lodges slash their charges, and Czech meals is made for winter climate!
That stated, I’ll be sincere with you — winter is usually a drag right here, too. Generally it looks like the climate is grey for weeks on finish; typically the darkish days in December and January actually dampen your spirit.
I do assume, nonetheless, that the positives outweigh the negatives in Prague in winter. It’s an incredible place for a winter journey.
Let me present you what it’s like — your 100% sincere information to visiting Prague in the course of the winter months! I believe you’ll have an exquisite time right here.
(Planning a visit to Prague? Don’t miss my information to uncommon issues to do in Prague, my picks for one of the best Prague eating places, and naturally — what NOT to do in Prague!)
This submit was revealed in November 2023.
Is Prague in winter value it?
I completely assume that visiting Prague in winter is value it — so long as you’re used to winter.
As I typically inform individuals visiting my former properties of New York or Boston in winter, “In the event you’re from Minnesota, you realize what you’re moving into. In the event you’re from Texas, you’re going to have a tough time.”
Individuals from hotter climates typically wrestle with selecting the best winter gear (I give gear suggestions on the finish of this submit), and even when they do, they typically have a troublesome time being exterior within the chilly. In the event you’re from a heat setting and also you’re not used to spending a number of time exterior within the winter, chances are you’ll be extra snug visiting at a special time of 12 months.
In the event you’re used to winter and know the best way to thrive in chilly climate, you’ll do high quality right here. Prague’s outdated city is a UNESCO World Heritage Website and simply strolling round and ingesting within the metropolis’s magnificence is a worthy technique to get pleasure from a cold day in Prague.
And even in case you’re not the largest winter fan of all time, the slim streets have a means of blocking the wind, and also you’re all the time a stone’s throw away from a comfy pub or cafe.
Issues to Know About Visiting Prague in Winter
“Christmas in Prague” and “Winter in Prague” are two VERY various things.
When lots of people speak about visiting Prague in winter, they’ve one factor in thoughts: vacation festivities, Christmas markets, and good cheer. Whereas the Christmas season is a extremely popular time to go to Prague, and for good purpose, I need to be sure you know the distinction.
Christmas (late November via early January) is a extremely popular time of 12 months to go to Prague. Right now, you’ll be able to count on enjoyable Christmas lights, a number of Christmas markets, and big crowds of vacationers swarming Outdated City Sq..
Winter (early January via late March), nonetheless, is the least standard time of 12 months to go to Prague. That is when you’ll find the fewest crowds and the bottom costs — although you will discover nothing remotely resembling vacation cheer.
I say this to be sure you know what you’re moving into. For lots of vacationers, “winter” is synonymous with “Christmas.” That’s not the case for many of the winter in Prague. It’s nonetheless very a lot value visiting — it’s simply totally different.
Prague’s Christmas markets are fantastic.
Prague’s Christmas markets begin every year in early December and are completed by January 6. This begins later than the Vienna and Budapest Christmas markets, which make their debut in mid-November, however they go on a bit longer than the German Christmas markets, which generally finish on December 23.
There may be one fundamental Christmas market on Outdated City Sq., that includes meals stands, sizzling mulled wine, trdelniky (chimney muffins that are NOT Czech however are in all places), sausages, and a big Christmas tree. This market will get completely mobbed within the evenings, nevertheless it’s a part of the expertise!
There are a number of different, a lot smaller markets within the metropolis, like on Náměstí Republiky and Wenceslas Sq., and the farmers’ markets nonetheless lively in December have a Christmasy aptitude to them.
And right here’s a little bit of honesty: in case you’re not from Europe, you’ll LOVE the Prague Christmas markets. In the event you’re from Europe or have traveled to a number of totally different Christmas markets, you’ll discover that Prague’s markets pale compared to many different cities. It’s enjoyable right here, nevertheless it’s not top-of-the-line Christmas markets in Europe.
That being stated, Prague occurs to be inside a number of hours of three of my all-time favourite Christmas market cities: Nuremberg (3:45 by bus), Dresden (2 hours by practice), and Vienna (4.5 hours by practice). Berlin, Munich, Český Krumlov, and Salzburg are different nice cities that may fill out your Christmas market journey on this area (although don’t pack an excessive amount of in!).
Many vacationers come to Prague as a part of an extended city-hopping tour taking in Christmas markets throughout Europe. I’m a BIG fan of Christmas market-hopping journeys (right here’s info on the best way to plan one in Germany) and extremely suggest doing this your self.
Winter is the least touristy time of 12 months in Prague.
Prague is an extremely standard metropolis for tourism — for good purpose! We’re one of the vital lovely cities on the planet! And it doesn’t matter what time of 12 months you go, you’ll be sharing the Charles Bridge with tons of of your fellow vacationers.
However in case you’re searching for a less-touristy expertise in Prague, you’ll love Prague in winter. The quietest month of the 12 months is January.
In the event you’re seeking to expertise Prague with the fewest vacationers, low cost lodge charges, simple entry to museums, no waits at eating places, and feeling like extra of an area, January via March is the best time to go to. Although have in mind faculty holidays and Valentine’s Day can usher in small bumps of winter tourism in February.
Fancy lodges drop their costs in Prague in winter.
Prague isn’t the dirt-cheap getaway that it was 20 years in the past, however costs listed below are a lot decrease than you’d count on to pay in Paris, or London, or Vienna. For that purpose, lots of people touring on multi-city journeys select Prague for his or her “splurge” lodge.
Nicely, it simply received sweeter — in January and February (particularly January), many Prague lodges drop their costs considerably. Generally they promote winter getaways to locals as a staycation choice. (And sure, my husband Charlie and I’ve loved a number of staycations at fancy Prague lodges in January!)
So sure — in case you’ve all the time dreamed of staying someplace fancy — maybe the 4 Seasons Prague, with a view of Prague Citadel? Or on the new-ish, stylish and fashionable Andaz Prague, a stone’s throw from my beloved Kantyna? Or maybe within the coronary heart of the Outdated City on the Josephine? — winter is the time to do it.
Discover offers on extra Prague lodges right here.
Czech meals is ideal for winter.
Conventional Czech meals is hearty — and a bit heavy. A number of meat and carbs, washed down with a pilsner. Precisely the form of meals that you simply need to keep on with your ribs in winter.
And as you’d count on, there are some eating places across the metropolis dishing up unbelievable Czech meals. I don’t eat a ton of Czech meals, however I eat it way more typically in winter, when it fits the season so nicely!
Krystal Bistro is my favourite Czech restaurant in Prague, which truly serves Czech meals with French strategies for lighter, extra elegant dishes. I completely love their kuřecí řízek (kur-ZHEH-tsee r’ZHEE-zek, or hen schnitzel), which is all the time certainly one of their specials on the board. You will get it with buttery mashed potatoes or with excellent, mustard- and pickle-filled potato salad.
Kulajda (ku-LIE-da) is one other excellent Czech specialty for winter — it’s a soup stuffed with potatoes, dill, bitter cream, and a poached egg. The most effective kulajda in Prague, for my part, is at Café Imperial, a grand, elegant restaurant. Don’t miss the gold swan taps within the restrooms.
And Prague locals love their enjoyable pubs that blend socializing, scrumptious meals, and one of the best beer on the planet. Lokal is a well-liked alternative, with a number of totally different areas in Prague; my favourite of all is Kantýna.
However you realize what? You don’t must restrict your self to simply Czech meals. Prague has a FANTASTIC eating scene, with worldwide delicacies, all for a lot decrease costs than you’d get in Western Europe or the US. I put collectively a listing of my favourite eating places in Prague right here.
If you desire a break from Czech meals, go for Vietnamese meals! We’ve got an enormous Vietnamese group within the Czech Republic, Vietnamese eating places are in all places in Prague, and a pleasant steaming bowl of pho hits the spot on a cold day. (My favourite pho in Prague is the roasted beef pho at Ngô Restaurant — it’s so wealthy and deep.)
Learn Extra: Greatest Prague Eating places, Based on a Native Foodie
Not all excursions run in winter — however a lot nonetheless do.
Earlier than you e-book your winter journey to Prague, it’s best to know that many tour corporations take January and February off. Not all of them, however a whole lot of them. It’s best to discover out upfront if the tour you will have your coronary heart set on runs throughout your journey.
That stated, loads of Prague excursions run year-round, together with on the coldest days of January! Listed here are a number of of my suggestions:
Three-Hour Prague Strolling Tour — This tour takes in one of the best of the Outdated City in three hours, from Outdated City Sq. and the Astronomical Clock to the Charles Bridge, throughout to Malá Strana, up the hill to St. Vitus Cathedral — and likewise provides you free entry to Prague Citadel.
Prague Foodie Tour — My favourite factor to do wherever is to take a meals tour — and on this tour, you’ll pattern so most of the finest Czech specialties and go to some cool neighborhoods (together with mine, Karlín!).
Letná Bohemian Various Bar Tour — Wish to expertise Prague nightlife, however dread the considered badly behaving bachelor events? Go away the outdated city and head to Letná, certainly one of Prague’s coolest neighborhoods, for a very native night time out with some unforgettable bars.
Prague Communism and Nuclear Bunker Tour — Everybody who involves Prague (Individuals particularly) needs to know extra in regards to the communist period, however individuals are typically afraid to ask. Truthfully, take a communism tour as a substitute! You’ll study a lot — and when else are you going to go to a nuclear bunker?!
Prague Jewish Heritage Tour — Prague has such a stupendous Jewish historical past, and this 2.5-hour strolling tour tour takes within the traditionally Jewish neighborhood of Josefov, the place you’ll go to the synagogues in addition to the Outdated Jewish Cemetery. Even when you have zero Jewish heritage, that is so fascinating to study.
Prague Micro-Brewery Tour — Prague is all in regards to the Pilsner Urquell — or so that you assume. There are many microbreweries creating actually fascinating beers, and this tour will introduce you to a number of of them, with beers and snacks, together with limitless beer tastings on the last cease.
Winter is time for ice skating in Prague!
Ice skating in Prague is among the nicest issues about visiting in the course of the winter season. There are many skating choices all around the metropolis! Skating is often free — you solely must pay for skate rental (which I’m guessing you want, as you’re visiting Prague).
And since it’s the Czech means, a number of ice rinks serve beer, svařák (mulled wine — extra on that in a bit), road meals, and sometimes have music taking part in.
Two of the ice rinks near town middle are Ovocný Trh Out of doors Rink, which is correct by the outdated city corridor and attracts a wide range of winter revelers; and Na Františku, which is on the sting of the Vltava River from the Jewish Quarter and has a pleasant, huge rink surrounded by lovely buildings.
In order for you a extra native expertise in Prague, I invite you to River Rink — an ice skating rink in my neighborhood of Karlín, a simple eight-minute tram journey from the Outdated City, however a really native place the place you hardly ever see vacationers. You’ll discover loads of youngsters and adults right here, and an après-skate bar with cocktails.
See a classical music efficiency in Prague.
In the event you’re a fan of classical music, boy are you in for a deal with — Prague is among the finest European cities for classical music, from symphony to chamber music to opera. And tickets occur to be very fairly priced.
Winter is an particularly good time for classical music in Prague, as January, February, and March are full of performances. (Summer season is definitely one of many worst instances to go to as a result of the orchestras are on vacation!)
I’m particularly a fan of the Estates Theatre, the place each seat above orchestra stage is a field seat (although you’ll be sharing with others). They placed on frequent performances of Don Giovanni — the famed Mozart opera was first carried out in Prague!
Not a classical music fan? There are every kind of theatrical performances as nicely. I like to recommend trying out the Prague Shakespeare Firm, who carry out a mixture of Shakespeare and non-Shakespeare. It’s all the time fascinating (and so they’ve carried out the funniest model of A Midsummer Night time’s Dream I’ve ever seen!).
You will discover a listing of performances right here.
Have your self some svařák — mulled wine!
Mulled wine is a staple of Christmas markets throughout Europe — however within the Czech Republic, it’s extra of an all-winter beverage. Right here in Prague, it’s known as svařák (SVAR-zhak), or typically svařené víno, and it’s completely scrumptious.
Crimson wine is mulled with a wide range of spices together with cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and star anise, then dropped at a boil briefly, then introduced right down to a simmer (we are able to’t be having boozeless wine on this nation, you see).
You will discover svařák throughout Prague in winter, from wine bars to cafes to road stalls. It’s the right dish for warming your palms on a chilly night in Prague.
However my favourite svařák ingesting expertise was at The Home of Axes, an axe-throwing spot (and certainly one of my favourite uncommon issues to do in Prague). They serve svařák in dainty little china teacups as you throw axes like Vikings. I really like the juxtaposition!
Winter may be GRAY, DARK, and MORE GRAY and MORE DARK.
One of many more durable issues about dwelling in Prague, I’ve discovered, is that it may really feel prefer it’s grey for months over the winter. You may luck out and get a stunning snowstorm sooner or later and shiny blue skies one other — however for many guests, you’ll be able to count on stable grey skies in your complete go to.
In the event you get up and the solar’s out, exit and luxuriate in it — it fairly often doesn’t final in winter. So many instances in Prague I’ve appeared out the window and thought, “Lovely day — I’ll get pleasure from that on my stroll this afternoon!” just for it to go grey inside an hour or two.
After which there’s the darkness. On December 21, the winter solstice, the solar rises at 7:58 AM and units at 4:02 PM. On January 21, it’s barely lighter with a dawn at 7:50 AM and sundown at 4:36 PM — however barely. A number of Prague locals take vitamin D within the winter to fight this (I truly take it year-round as a result of it may’t harm!).
Remember that grey days are one thing you’ll be able to threat year-round in Prague (we get fewer sunny days than in New England, the place I grew up) — but when sunshine is a precedence, it’s best to time your journey between Might and September.
Heat up in a enjoyable pub in Prague.
Right here in Prague, we all know that Czech beer is one of the best beer on the planet — and it occurs to be delightfully low cost. Czechs are likely to punctuate life with visits to the pub. End a motorbike journey or a day of snowboarding? Head to the pub. Trying to have a good time a promotion? Head to the pub. Your pal’s again on the town after every week away? Head to the pub.
The most effective native beers in Prague are tank pilsner — that is the good things. Pilsner is marked with levels, which is roughly double the share of the beer (i.e. a 12-degree beer is about 6% alcohol). Pilsner Urquell is the go-to model (and I humbly recommend you keep away from Staropramen — see extra on my What To not Do in Prague submit); a number of enjoyable native breweries are Vinohradska and Únětice, and you’ll find these beers all around the metropolis.
So the place’s a great spot? My all-time favourite is Kantýna, which is extra of a restaurant, however occurs to serve among the finest tank pilsner within the metropolis. You’ll be able to stand in the midst of the room and luxuriate in your beers amongst convivial Czechs.
One other good spot is the aforementioned Lokal, with scrumptious beer and down-home Czech delicacies that locals love.
In order for you the most affordable tank pilsner within the metropolis, head to U Glaubiců in Malá Strana, near Prague Citadel. Right here the beer is about 43 Czech koruna (lower than $2).
And don’t overlook the micro-breweries, both! Czechs are making every kind of beers today (and as a Massachusetts native, it warms my coronary heart to drink a New England IPA within the Czech Republic).
Two of my favorites are Dva Kohouti in Karlín and Automat Matuška in Dejvice, the latter of which additionally serves dynamite barbecue and quirky vegetable dishes.
Spend your days museum-hopping in Prague.
On the coldest days of winter — particularly when it’s raining and sleeting — you’ll be glad to go indoors. It’s the right time to go to a museum.
Whereas Prague isn’t a museum powerhouse in the way in which London, Paris, and Amsterdam are, you’ll be able to simply fill a number of days with museum visits alone. Listed here are among the spots I like to recommend:
The Nationwide Museum (Narodní Muzeum) sits atop Wenceslas Sq. and has an eclectic mixture of reveals. My favourite is the Corridor of Minerals, with tons of of rocks and minerals laid out so neatly and colorfully. I like to recommend visiting the highest flooring simply earlier than sundown for beautiful views over town.
The Strahov Library, close to Prague Citadel, is completely beautiful — it’s straight out of Magnificence and the Beast. It’s best to know which you can solely poke your head in with an everyday ticket. As an alternative, I strongly suggest shelling out for a non-public tour, which is able to allow you to truly stroll via the attractive library and take photographs. (Additionally, there’s a very good brewery simply exterior the library!)
The Jewish Museum of Prague is among the oldest Jewish museums on the planet, relationship again to 1906 — and as you’d count on, a sobering place to go to. Prague’s synagogues, together with the large Klausen Synagogue, Maisal Synagogue, Pinkas Synagogue, and the beautiful golden Spanish Synagogue, host a wide range of Judaica and artifacts from earlier than the Jewish ghetto was destroyed throughout World Struggle II.
The Franz Kafka Museum is among the quirkier museums in Prague, telling the story of the literary legend. Whether or not you have been pressured to learn The Metamorphosis in class or just a fan of the “Kafkaesque” episode of Breaking Unhealthy, this museum is an fascinating deep dive into certainly one of Prague’s favourite sons.
The Intercourse Machines Museum all the time will get introduced up in Prague — often with a number of eye-rolls — however right here you’ll find each form of erotic assist you’ll be able to think about, a few of them relationship again greater than 500 years! (Hold out of the way in which of bachelor and bachelorette events.)
Seize a espresso at a cute cafe in Prague.
I really like Prague’s cafe scene. Whether or not you’re searching for a standard grand Bohemian cafe or one thing extra hip and native serving third wave espresso, we’ve received loads of choices. (And I go to a number of of them per week!)
Whether or not you’re up for espresso, tea, or sizzling chocolate, I extremely suggest making an attempt my favourite Czech pastry — the větrník (vee-ET-er-NEEK). It’s a Czech tackle a cream puff, stuffed with a number of sorts of cream and topped with caramel. You will discover větrníky in tons of cafes.
In the event you’re searching for a grand cafe within the conventional Bohemian type, Café Savoy is the place for you. You’ll love the inside, all wood and gold with chandeliers. This can be a restaurant serving meals, however you too can come for espresso and pastries.
In case your pursuits are extra towards the hip native café, a number of I like to recommend are Můj Šalek in Karlín, which has fab espresso and a dynamite větrník; Etapa in Karlín, which has a number of vegan and gluten-free choices; and La Bohème in Vinohrady, which has a delightfully adorned inside (particularly throughout Christmas time).
The very best espresso in Prague is served at EMA Espresso Bar. The espresso right here is constantly excellent, and only a hair above all the opposite high locations. There are three areas of EMA in Prague. (That stated, it’s not a comfy place for hanging out — it’s extra of a are available, have your espresso, and go place.)
And at last — if you wish to attempt a Vietnamese egg espresso (it’s mainly a candy, thick, sizzling drink like espresso combined with marshmallow fluff!), you’ll be able to have one at Cà Phê Cổ, a restaurant with a cool inside within the Vinohrady neighborhood.
There are such a lot of locations within the Czech Republic to discover in winter.
Don’t restrict your self to solely visiting Prague within the Czech Republic! So many vacationers pop into the Czech Republic with out going past the Prague metropolis limits, and that’s a disgrace.
So what are some bonus locations value visiting in winter?
Karlovy Fluctuate can be my high suggestion. This spa city is about two hours from Prague and there’s nothing like soaking in sizzling springs in the course of the chilly winter months. It’s also possible to stroll alongside the river, store within the boutiques, hike into the encircling hills, and luxuriate in some scrumptious eating places.
Český Krumlov is one other stable alternative. This small medieval city, about two hours from Prague, is completely beautiful, with a fortress and pointy church towers and a river curling across the metropolis. And whereas it’s extraordinarily touristy in the summertime (as in you’ll be preventing your means via tour teams), winter is blessedly quiet. You’ll be able to see my information to Český Krumlov right here.
Brno is a enjoyable choice in case you love visiting cities and getting off the overwhelmed path. It’s 2.5 hours from Prague. In the event you like structure, you’ll LOVE Villa Tugendaht (e-book tickets means upfront), the city has a number of historic websites, and there are many fabulous cafes, bars, and eating places.
Every of those can technically be accomplished as a day journey in case you’re formidable and begin early, however I strongly, strongly suggest staying no less than in a single day.
And there are some nice winter day journeys from Prague!
How a few day journey from town, then? There are many nice day journeys value taking in winter! Listed here are a number of which can be value it in the course of the winter months:
Kutná Hora. I all the time suggest this as a day journey from Prague, because it’s a cool place with a simple, quick journey to get there. Kutná Hora is most well-known for its ossuary (creepy bone church!), however the city itself is de facto fairly and value strolling round and exploring.
To get to Kutná Hora, take the practice from Prague’s Central Station (Hlavní Nádraží), which takes about 50 minutes. In the event you’d reasonably go on a guided tour, you’ll be able to e-book this one.
Plzeň. The Czech Republic is house to one of the best beer on the planet, and Plzeň is house to the Pilsner Urquell brewery. Pilsner Urquell is probably the most beloved beer within the nation, so in case you’re a beer fan, touring the brewery is a should! Plzeň additionally has a pleasant city sq. and is value strolling round.
To get to Plzeň, take the practice from Prague’s Central Station (Hlavní Nádraží), which takes about 90 minutes.
Bohemian Switzerland and Saxon Switzerland. This area is definitely between the Czech Republic and Germany, nowhere close to Switzerland. It’s a stupendous wooded paradise, house to the most important arch in Europe (Pravcicka Gate) and the fantastic thing about Kamenice Gorge, the place you’ll be able to take a ship journey via the canyon. Come right here for mountain climbing! It’s the Czech nationwide passion.
I strongly suggest visiting this area on a guided tour from Prague, because it’s a bit bushy to do by yourself, particularly in winter.
Dresden, Germany. In case your winter go to to Prague occurs to be between December 1 and 23, I encourage you to go to Dresden’s Christmas markets, which I believe are among the many finest in Germany. Positively prioritize visiting the medieval Christmas market specifically! If it’s not on this timeframe, although, I’d give it a miss in winter.
To get to Dresden, take the practice from Prague’s Central Station (Hlavní Nádraží), which takes about 2.5 hours.
Český Krumlov. I URGE you to remain in Český Krumlov in a single day as a result of the in a single day expertise on this magical medieval city is one million instances higher than visiting by day, particularly in winter. I wrote an entire submit about it! THAT SAID, I do know that lots of people received’t have the ability to keep in a single day. So if that’s not an choice, sure, it’s best to go to on a day journey.
To get to Český Krumlov, you’ll be able to both e-book an organized full-day tour, or take the practice from Prague’s Central Station (Hlavní Nádraží), which takes about 2.5 hours and most journeys require altering in České Budějovice.
(Whereas Karlstejn Citadel is commonly advisable as a Prague day journey, the fortress is closed throughout many of the winter months.)
Winter is hockey season in Prague!
Do you know that Czechs are loopy about hockey? Not fairly on a Canadian stage (hehe), however anybody who’s observed the variety of Czechs on NHL groups received’t be shocked that hockey is a well-liked sport right here!
Throw in your heat coat, seize a beer from the concession stand, and prepare to cheer in your new favourite worldwide staff on the ice!
There are two fundamental groups in Prague: HC Sparta Prague and HC Slavia Prague. You’ll be able to watch them play at two of the largest venues within the nation — the O2 Area and Tipsport Area. The complete season runs from mid-September via early March.
You should buy tickets for HC Sparta right here and tickets for HC Slavia right here (surprisingly, Slavia doesn’t have a website in English although).
Oh, and don’t be shocked if a helicopter is simply hovering close by in the course of the sport. That’s a factor right here!
Does it snow in Prague? Sure, however not a ton.
There are various snowy days in Prague in the course of the winter months. I really like the times when huge, fats snowflakes fall from the sky and all the pieces will get quiet.
That stated, the snow hardly ever sticks round for lengthy in Prague. More often than not, it’s melted inside a day or so. Up to now winter, we solely had one snowstorm the place the snow caught round for a number of days (due to temperatures beneath freezing for a lot of of them). That was in December.
So sure — it’s a good suggestion to deliver snow-appropriate footwear to Prague in winter (assume cozy, waterproof boots with rubber soles). However you additionally may not want to make use of them. Both means, it’s higher to be ready than not!
New 12 months’s Eve in Prague is LOUD.
Considering of coming to Prague for New 12 months’s? In the event you’re seeking to have a good time in type, you’ll have a good time right here. Prague has tons of bars and golf equipment, lots of which promote tickets for particular New 12 months’s Eve occasions (together with river cruises), and folks collect in Outdated City Sq. to welcome the New 12 months at midnight.
However it’s best to know that Czechs LOVE to set off fireworks on New 12 months’s Eve. And never simply at midnight — they begin early within the night (typically even in the course of the day!) and hold it going till daybreak.
Personally, I don’t exit on New 12 months’s Eve in Prague — I believe the vacation usually is the worst night time of the 12 months to exit, interval! So costly, crowded, and full of individuals partying means too arduous, irrespective of the place on the planet you’re. As an alternative, you’ll discover me at house with mates, consuming good meals and ingesting good wine, giving my cats a number of love via the scary fireworks.
In the event you your self desire a enjoyable however not-as-crazy New 12 months’s in Prague, I like to recommend leaving the outdated city and getting dinner at a pleasant restaurant in a neighborhood like Vinohrady, Letná, or Dejvice, adopted by an area bar.
Prague Climate in Winter
What sort of climate must you count on in Prague in winter? Right here is month to month climate info for Prague from December via March, together with common temperatures.
Remember that the climate can range fairly a bit, and local weather change has additionally meant hotter, much less snowy winters in the previous few years.
Prague in December
In December, Prague tends to be fairly chilly, with common excessive temperatures round 36°F (2°C) and lows dipping to about 28°F (-2°C).
This month typically brings a contact of winter surprise, with a median snowfall of roughly 4.3 inches (11 cm). Rainfall is comparatively low, with round 0.8 inches (20 mm) of precipitation.
Remember that December can also be the darkest month of the 12 months, with the darkest days across the winter solstice.
Prague in January
January is among the coldest months in Prague, if not THE coldest month in Prague of the 12 months, with common excessive temperatures round 35°F (2°C) and lows averaging 26°F (-3°C).
It’s a snowy month, sometimes receiving about 5.5 inches (14 cm) of snowfall. Precipitation within the type of rain is minimal, with a median of round 0.6 inches (15 mm).
Prague in February
In February, Prague’s climate stays chilly, with common excessive temperatures close to 38°F (3°C) and lows round 26°F (-3°C).
Snowfall continues, with a median of roughly 4.7 inches (12 cm). Rainfall is scarce, sometimes totaling about 0.5 inches (13 mm) on common.
Prague in March
As spring approaches, March sees barely milder temperatures in Prague, with common excessive temperatures reaching round 46°F (8°C) and lows round 32°F (0°C).
Snowfall turns into much less frequent in March, averaging round 2.4 inches (6 cm) in the course of the month. Precipitation will increase barely, with a median of about 1 inch (26 mm) of rainfall.
Packing for Prague in Winter
So what do you truly should pack for a winter go to in Prague? In the event you’re from a chilly local weather, deliver your common chilly climate gear. In the event you’re from a heat local weather, listed below are some gadgets I like to recommend:
Base layers (thermal underwear). I’m an enormous fan of the Uniqlo heat-teach scoop-neck high and leggings, that are very heat, inexpensive, and I put on on a regular basis. Base layers are important for Christmas market journeys in winter as a result of they offer you an additional layer of heat.
Heat sweater. Sweaters (or jumpers, Brits!) make the right mid-layer between your base layer and your outerwear. Do you know that Uniqlo makes inexpensive cashmere sweaters in a ton of colours?
Heat winter coat. If it’s not waterproof, that’s okay, however be sure to deliver an umbrella (and really deliver it out with you).
Boots. Waterproof winter boots are best, as anybody who’s stepped right into a deep slushy puddle can inform you. You may not want them, however they’re a superb merchandise to have in your wardrobe for winter journey.
Heat socks. I’m an enormous fan of merino wool socks, which I put on in the course of the winter and for mountain climbing year-round.
Hat. I’m not a hat particular person; however, I rock a beanie in winter in Prague.
Speakeasy journey provide scarf. I really like these scarves, which are available a wide range of patterns and supplies, and so they include a hidden zip-up pocket that’s excellent in your valuables!
Extra on the Czech Republic:
Extra on winter in Europe:
Have you ever been to Prague in winter? Any suggestions? Share away!