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December in Prague » What's open during the Christmas Markets
December in Prague is a magical time. From late November to early January visitors are drawn to the city
for the Christmas markets, and to spend Christmas and New Year's Eve here.
There is plenty of entertainment and sightseeing on offer, although we advise booking restaurants, tours and musical events in advance, as places often sell out. |
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Opening Times during the Christmas Markets (cancelled in 2020)
23rd-27th November 2020
The Christmas markets at Prague Castle open on the 23rd November 2020.
The markets are located on the square in front of St. George's Basilica.
Tourist attractions, sightseeing tours, river cruises and restaurants operate as normal.
In addition to the regular programme of classical concerts held throughout the year, there are special Christmas concerts in churches, concert halls and historic buildings.
The opera houses and black light theatres are open.
Public transport: the Metro and trams run a normal service. | |
28th November - 23rd December 2020
The main Christmas markets at Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square open on the 28th November 2020.
From now on, both the main Christmas markets and the Prague Castle market are open daily until early January.
Tourist attractions, sightseeing tours, river cruises and restaurants operate as normal.
In addition to the regular programme of classical concerts held throughout the year, there are special Christmas concerts in churches, concert halls and historic buildings.
The opera houses and black light theatres are open. |
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There are Christmas ballet performances of
The Nutcracker from the 15th December at the National Theatre and from the 23rd December 2020 at Hybernia Theatre.
Public transport: the Metro and trams run a normal service. | |
24th December 2020 (Christmas Eve): Public Holiday
The Christmas markets are open.
Christmas Eve is the most festive day of Christmas in the Czech Republic, the one day a significant number of businesses close or have limited opening hours.
Most tourist attractions close, although the squares (a major attraction of Prague) are of course open; Christmas Eve is a wonderfully peaceful day to stroll around the city.
Some morning sightseeing and walking tours of Prague are running.
Excursions to places outside Prague are not running.
The lunch cruise is the only river cruise operating.
There are Christmas concerts and ballet performances, including The Nutcracker.
A limited number of restaurants are open, but even these have limited opening hours. Most restaurants are booked out in advance, so we advise making reservations.
In terms of shopping: some local convenience stores are open, other shops and shopping centres are either closed or open only until midday.
Public transport:
Daytime: Metro trains run in 6-8 minute intervals. There are regular trams.
16:00-18:00: Metro trains run in 6-8 minute intervals. There are limited trams.
18:00-24:00: Metro trains run in 20 minute intervals. Night trams run in 30 minute intervals.
24:00-07:00: Night trams run in 30 minute intervals.
The Funicular Railway at Petrin operates 09:00-18:00.
More information on spending Christmas in Prague: Prague Christmas Planner. | | 25th-26th December 2020 (Christmas Holidays): Public Holidays
The Christmas markets are open.
Most tourist attractions, sightseeing tours and river cruises operate as normal.
There are Christmas concerts and ballet performances, including The Nutcracker.
The black light theatres are open.
Restaurants are open, but many of them are full, so we advise making reservations.
In terms of shopping: local convenience stores, small to medium sized shops and some shopping centres are open. Large shops (over 200m2) are closed.
Public transport:
Daytime: Metro trains run in 6-8 minute intervals. There are regular trams.
21:00-24:00 Metro trains run in 10 minute intervals. There are regular trams.
24:00-07:00: Night trams run in 30 minute intervals.
The Funicular Railway at Petrin operates 09:00-23:20.
More information on spending Christmas in Prague: Prague Christmas Planner.
27th-30th December 2020
The Christmas markets are open.
Prague remains very busy during this period. Tourists staying on in the city after Christmas are joined by an influx of visitors for the New Year's Eve celebrations.
Most tourist attractions, sightseeing tours, river cruises and restaurants operate as normal. Advance reservations are recommended.
In addition to the regular programme of classical concerts held throughout the year, there are special Christmas concerts in churches, concert halls and historic buildings.
There are ballet performances, including The Nutcracker at the National Theatre and Hybernia Theatre.
The opera houses and black light theatres are open.
The shops are open.
Public transport: the Metro and trams run a normal service. | | 31st December 2020 (New Year's Eve)
The Christmas markets are open.
Tourist attractions have limited opening hours.
Most sightseeing tours operate as normal.
The lunch and afternoon river cruises operate as normal.
There are New Year's Eve river cruises in the evening.
In addition to the regular programme of classical concerts held throughout the year, there are special New Year's Eve concerts in churches, concert halls and historic buildings.
There are ballet performances, including The Nutcracker at the National Theatre.
Black light theatres stage early evening performances. | |
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| | Restaurants, bars and clubs have extended opening hours, and many put on New Year's Eve parties with special menus. Advance reservations are essential.
The shops are open, but many close early.
Public transport: Metro trains operate a normal service, extended until approximately 02:00 in 10 minute intervals (last trains begin their journey around 01:45).
Trams operate a normal service during the day until 22:00. From 22:00-07:00 night trams run in 20 minute intervals.
The Funicular Railway at Petrin operates 09:00-22:00.
More information on spending New Year's Eve in Prague: New Year's Eve.
01st January 2021 (New Year's Day): Public Holiday
The Christmas markets are open.
Most tourist attractions, sightseeing tours, river cruises and restaurants operate as normal. Advance reservations are recommended.
In addition to the regular programme of classical concerts held throughout the year, there are special New Year's Day concerts in churches, concert halls and historic buildings.
In addition to the regular programme of classical concerts are held in the concert halls, churches and other historic buildings.
There are ballet performances, including The Nutcracker at Hybernia Theatre.
There is opera at the National Theatre.
Black light theatres are open. In terms of shopping, local convenience stores, small to medium sized shops, and shopping centres are open. Large shops (over 200m2) are closed.
In terms of shopping: local convenience stores, small to medium sized shops and some shopping centres are open. Large shops (over 200m2) are closed.
Public transport: Metro trains run in 6-8 minute intervals. There are regular trams.
The Funicular Railway at Petrin operates a normal service.
02nd-06th January 2021
The Christmas markets are open until the 06th January 2020.
Prague remains very busy. Tourists staying on in the city after New Year's Eve are joined by an influx of Russian visitors arriving to celebrate Orthodox Christmas Day on the 7th January.
Tourist attractions, sightseeing tours, river cruises and restaurants operate as normal. Advance reservations are recommended.
Classical concerts are held in the churches, concert halls and historic buildings.
There are ballet performances, including The Nutcracker and Swan Lake.
Black light theatres are open.
The shops are open.
Public transport: the Metro and trams run a normal service.
07th-10th January 2021
Prague remains busy. Russian tourists are in the city to celebrate Orthodox Christmas Day on the 07th January, and many stay on for the weekend (08th-10th January). | |
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More Information
To find out where to stay in Prague, the weather in December, what clothes to wear, and much more, read our guide to the Christmas Markets.
For a list of Christmas events: Events in Prague in December.
For an introduction to the city: Prague tourism information.
For practical information, including currency exchange: Prague Tourist Information.
For travel advice: Travel to Prague and Travel around Prague by public transport.
For a simple way to arrange your Prague city break: Prague Package. |
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 CHRISTMAS 2020
KEY DATES | CHRISTMAS MARKETS
Old Town Square & Wenceslas Square
28 Nov-06 Jan
Daily 10:00-22:00
Prague Castle
23 Nov-06 Jan
Mon-Thu 09:00-18:00;
Fri-Sun 09:00-19:00 |
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CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING
Old Town Square
Daily 16:30
Wenceslas Square
Daily 17:00 | | MIKULAS DAY
Old Town Square
05 Dec
16:00-18:00 | | |
CHRISTMAS EVE
24 Dec
-16:00 Christmas Mass for children at some churches
-16:30 Christmas Mass at Tyn Church
-21:00 Open-air Christmas Mass at Old Town Square
-24:00 Midnight Mass at Strahov Monastery & other churches |
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CHRISTMAS PLANNER
24-26 Dec
Find out what's open over Christmas | | |
ICE RINKS
Ovocny trh (small square behind Estates Theatre), Old Town
05 Dec-31 Jan
Daily 10:00-21:00
Na Frantisku Sports Centre, Kozi Street, Old Town
05 Dec-29 Feb
Daily 10:00-21:00 |
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NEW YEAR'S EVE
31 Dec
Festivities & fireworks |
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PRAGUE GUIDE
