Prague blends East and West, with eight centuries of European history on display in its architecture and modern continental coffee culture at its best. The snow-covered landscape looks especially inviting when lit by old-fashioned gas lamps, and winter in Prague presents a full list of activities with the advantage of far fewer crowds. An added bonus is that if you are there in December, there are Christmas events and New Years celebrations. Since it’s cold outside, winter is a great time to enjoy cultural performances and museum exhibits. Pack your winter coat and prepare to be enchanted.
01
of 15
Marvel at the architecture
Direction
Old Town Square, 110 00 Prague-Prague 1, Czech RepublicGet directions
Downtown Prague contains some of the best-preserved medieval architecture in Europe, with abundant evidence from the Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. Rococo and Cubist elements sitting side by side with elegant Bauhaus forms and stark communist reminders turn the city into a true walking tour of European history.
You can marvel at the various architectural styles in the Old Town Square, where centuries-old buildings are still preserved. An elaborate display of Gothic architecture, St. Vitus Cathedral on the grounds of Prague Castle took centuries to build. And stop by the Czech Museum of Cubism in the House of the Black Madonna designed by Josef Gočár to see a relatively rare example of this unique Czech architectural style from the early 20th century.
02
of 15
Shop at the Christmas market
Direction
Staroměstské nám. , 110 00 Prague 1-Old Town, Czech RepublicGet directions
Telephone
+420 221 714 444
Web
Visit the website
Christmas in Prague undoubtedly outshines all other winter events. The market, which runs from late November to the first week of January, offers an Eastern European Christmas experience worthy of a movie. The tastes, sounds, smells and sights of the season converge on the Old Town Square, where an annual market, with decorations and a line of events, showcases Prague’s Christmas cheer. Shop, people-watch, enjoy Christmas cakes and mulled wine, listen to music, and take pictures. Christmas gifts from Prague include crystal, garnets and other locally made items.
03
of 15
See Mikulas on Saint Nicholas day
Direction
Staroměstské nám. , 110 00 Prague 1-Old Town, Czech RepublicGet directions
Telephone
+420 221 714 444
Web
Visit the website
Visit the Old Town Square in the early afternoon on December 5 to see Mikulas and her cronies, an angel and a demon, interact with equally squeamish and anxious children. Mikulas roams the streets on December 5, passing out sweets and goodies to good children, who sing songs and recite poems to impress the Czech Saint Nicholas. Naughty children are given lumps of coal and risk being taken to hell in the devil’s sack of moisture.
04
of 15
Visit the nativity scenes and the procession of the three kings
Direction
Charles Bridge, 110 00 Prague 1, Czech RepublicGet directions
Web
Visit the website
Nativity scenes, both alive and made of wood, straw and other materials, mark the landscape of Prague in December. The Procession of the Three Kings, a parade led by kings dressed as camels, marks the end of the Christmas season on January 5. Children dressed as kings take the opportunity to collect money for those in need. During Advent, a lamplighter dressed in period clothing lights the gas lamps every night on the Charles Bridge, where local actors stage a live nativity scene.
05
of 15
See the Christmas display
Direction
Betlémské nám. 255/4, 110 00 Praha 1-Staré Město, Czech RepublicGet directions
Telephone
+420 224 248 595
Web
Visit the website
This Christmas exhibition in the basement of the Bethlehem Chapel in the Jewish city of Prague focuses on a particular theme each year – glass, bells, or wood, for example – and runs from late November to early January. One year, the exhibition featured a festive theme, with vintage cookware on display and demonstrations of traditionally prepared foods. This event makes a good complement to other Christmas-related activities in the Czech capital city.
06
of 15
Celebrate new year’s eve
Direction
Staroměstské nám. , 110 00 Prague 1-Old Town, Czech RepublicGet directions
Telephone
+420 221 714 444
Web
Visit the website
New Year’s Eve in the Czech capital is an all-night event. You can go outside or enjoy the warmth and comfort of a cozy pub, a posh upscale venue, or a river cruise. Watch the fireworks at midnight and toast to the thrill of ringing in the new year in the City of Hundred Towers. If you want to resist the cold, head to the Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square or the Charles Bridge.
07
of 15
Get romantic on Valentine’s Day
Direction
Novotného lávka 9, 110 00 Staré Město, ChequiaGet directions
Telephone
+420 277 000 777
Web
Visit the website
These romantic holidays become cozy in the context of the Czech capital, with its castle, fine dining establishments, concert halls and shops selling jewelery and other heritage treasures. Call the restaurant of your choice ahead of time to make a reservation and enjoy a relaxed meal by candlelight. The Mlynec restaurant overlooks the picturesque Charles Bridge in the old town. Café Mozart in the Old Town Square combines dinner with live performances of classical music and jazz.
08
of 15
Say goodbye to winter during Masopust
The Czechs started the pagan tradition of Masopust, a farewell to winter, in the 13th century, and some of the ancient rituals have gained status on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The festival almost died under Soviet rule, along with most other religious traditions, but carnival celebrations were revived in modern-day Prague with masked parades, lavish feasts, and elegant balls throughout the capital city in late February or early February. of March.
09
of 15
Take a ride on the ice rinks
Direction
Staroměstské nám. , 110 00 Prague 1-Old Town, Czech RepublicGet directions
Telephone
+420 221 714 444
Web
Visit the website
Ice skating can arguably be the best activity to mingle with the locals, who still like to get fresh air and exercise in the Czech winter. Surprisingly sophisticated tracks appear at various locations in the city during the coldest months of the year. You can rent skates at most; take a spin on the ice in the Old Town Square to get your heart racing. Or try the considerably larger track at Na Františku, located near the Convent of Saint Agnes.
10
of 15
Enjoy concerts and performances
Direction
U.S. Republiky 5, 111 21 Prague 1-Old Town, Czech RepublicGet directions
Telephone
+420 222 002 107
Web
Visit the website
Concerts and performances fill the halls of Prague’s theaters and churches throughout the year. Look for advertisements for string quartets, orchestras and symphonies, opera, theater and dance performances throughout the city. In the Smetana Concert Hall of the Municipal House, the largest orchestras perform evening concerts. You can watch a classical lunchtime performance at the Lobkowicz Palace or listen to a concert at the Mirror Chapel in Klementinum in the old town where Mozart played the organ.
eleven
of 15
Learn in museums
Direction
Staroměstské nám. 1/12, 110 15 Old Town, ChequiaGet directions
Telephone
+420 220 397 211
Web
Visit the website
Get out of the cold weather and enter one of Prague’s most popular museums, where you can explore the city’s art, history, music, and literature. The National Gallery in Prague houses a collection of international art, with rotating exhibits joining permanent exhibitions from Europe. The Museum of Communism offers a realistic look at that era of history in what was then Czechoslovakia, from the coup in 1948 to the collapse of communism in 1989. Other museums take a more unusual approach, such as the Museum of Torture. . While many museums are located in the old town, don’t forget to visit those on Castle Hill.
12
of 15
Relax in the cafes of Prague
Direction
Smetanovo nábř. 1012/2, 110 00 Praha-Staré Město, Czech RepublicGet directions
Telephone
+420 224 218 493
Web
Visit the website
Wrap your fingers around a cup of something hot and dive into a bowl of European-style soup or dessert at any of Prague’s many cafes. These cafes reverberate with history, and most of them also serve palatable dishes. Cafe Slavia, Prague’s most famous cafe, has been in business across from the National Theater since 1884. For a masterful Prague kolache or fruit-filled pastries, visit EMA Espresso Bar, which may be the busiest in the city.
13
of 15
Warming up with comfort food
Direction
Pernerova 49, 186 00 Prague 8-Karlín-Karlín, Czech RepublicGet directions
Telephone
+420 731 140 884
Web
Visit the website
Traditional Prague cuisine makes perfect sense for cold weather comfort. Roast and smoked meats, sausages, hearty soups and stews, meatballs and rustic breads – generous calories keep internal fires stoked during a cold and wet Czech winter. Just be sure to walk a lot between restaurants. In 2017, the Michelin Guide awarded ESKA a Bib Gourmand for cooking ‘simple but skillful’ at an economical price. A local chain of five restaurants, Lokal has built its reputation on classic Czech cuisine in a pub atmosphere.
14
of 15
Drink beer and mulled wine
Along with centuries-old architecture, you can find breweries dating back to the Middle Ages in Prague. The Czechs made Pilsner famous; order “a beer” at a pub or restaurant and the bartender or server assumes you mean a liter of the light, refreshing beer. But while the Pilsner still rules, a rapidly growing craft beer scene means you can sample a menu of worldly styles.
When the weather turns chilly, Svarak stalls open throughout the city serving steaming glasses of the Czech version of mulled wine. The recipes start with red wine, but any standard ends there. A batch can include citrus or apples, cinnamon and other hot spices, a sweetener, and occasionally rum.
fifteen
of 15
Relax in a sauna
Direction
Podolské nábř. 1110, 147 00 Prague 4-Podolí, Czech RepublicGet directions
Telephone
+420 720 030 340
Web
Visit the website
When you finally feel ready to collapse from all the activity and fill up on food, it’s time to find a sauna. Although not a Czech tradition, saunas and steam rooms feature prominently in modern culture. At Sauna Spot, Sauna Nike overlooks the Vltava River, while other rooms introduce aromatherapy, dry heat, or a built-in salt panel for upper respiratory health. You can go one step further and have a sauna on the river, on the Lázně na lodi sauna boat.
