The Prague Christmas markets 2026 open on Saturday 28 November and stay until Wednesday 6 January 2027, so this is one of the few big European markets you can still visit after New Year. The two main markets, on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, sit a ten-minute walk apart in a centre made for winter wandering. It suits couples, first-timers and anyone planning a trip between Christmas and Twelfth Night.
Why go to the Prague Christmas markets in 2026
Prague has one of Europe’s most photogenic market settings. On Old Town Square, the stalls gather below the Týn Church and the Old Town Hall, with the Christmas tree in the middle and the astronomical clock a few steps away. Wenceslas Square adds a second, larger strip of stalls at the lower end of the boulevard, with a daily programme of music, choirs and family events.
Both markets are run by the same organiser, Taiko, and both open daily from 10am to 10pm from 28 November 2026 to 6 January 2027. That closing date matters. Nuremberg and Cologne have packed up by Christmas Eve, but Prague keeps going through New Year and on to Three Kings’ Day, which makes it a strong choice for a late December or early January break.
Smaller neighbourhood markets fill the gaps. The tourist board lists the market on Náměstí Míru, in front of the Basilica of St Ludmila, but its 2026 dates aren’t published yet.
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Don’t miss
The places that make the trip, and why each one deserves your time.
Pazuzu / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 Old Town Square market
The city's main market fills the square below the twin Gothic spires of the Týn Church, with a towering spruce, wooden stalls and a stage for carols.
Come before 11am on a weekday for space.
Scotch Mist / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Astronomical Clock
The medieval clock on the Old Town Hall sets its apostles parading on the hour, a short show that pulls a crowd even on the coldest December day.
Øyvind Holmstad / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Wenceslas Square market
Wooden stalls line the lower end of the long boulevard, mixing handmade Czech gifts with street food and a daily programme of music and choirs.
Open daily 10am to 10pm until 6 January.
Ignaz Wiradi / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Náměstí Míru
A neighbourhood market in front of the neo-Gothic Basilica of St Ludmila, with ceramic nativity sets, wooden toys and mulled wine among Vinohrady locals.
One metro stop from Muzeum on line A.
Tadeáš Gregor / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Charles Bridge
The stone bridge and its baroque statues are at their most atmospheric on a frosty December morning, with the castle rising over the river ahead.
Cross before 8am to have it almost to yourself.
Chmee2 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Kampa Island
A quiet river island tucked under Charles Bridge, with a park, old mill wheels and views back across the Vltava to the Old Town towers.
Tilman2007 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Prague Castle
The vast castle complex crowns the hill above Malá Strana, and St Vitus Cathedral's Gothic spires and stained glass make the climb worth it.
Castle buildings close at 4pm in winter.
The 48-hour route
This route keeps to the markets and the winter sights. For the full city route, with Josefov, Vyšehrad and the beer halls, use our 48-hour Prague weekend guide.
Day 1
Morning: Start on Old Town Square at 10am, as the stalls open and before the tour groups arrive. Watch the astronomical clock strike the hour, then browse the stalls for wooden toys, glass ornaments and honey cakes. Walk down Celetná or through the side lanes towards the Powder Tower if you want a break from the crowds.
Afternoon: Walk south along Na Můstku to Wenceslas Square. The market runs along the lower part of the square, so you can browse your way up towards the National Museum at the top. Warm up with coffee at Café Louvre on Národní, a first-floor café with a hundred-year history.
Evening: Go back to Old Town Square after dark, when the tree is lit. In recent years the city has skipped a formal lighting ceremony for safety reasons and run a short light show on the tree through the evening instead. The 2026 tree was still being chosen in October, so the details aren’t out yet. Finish with Czech classics and tank beer at Lokál on Dlouhá, a few minutes’ walk away.
Tip: Old Town Square is at its fullest on the opening weekend and on Saturday evenings. Visit the stalls in the morning and come back after dark only for the lights.
Day 2
Morning: Cross Charles Bridge before 8am, when you can have it almost to yourself, and drop down the steps to Kampa Island. The park and the riverbank are quiet in winter, with views back across the Vltava to the Old Town towers. There’s no Christmas market announced on Kampa for 2026, which is part of its appeal.
Afternoon: Climb through Malá Strana to Prague Castle, or take a tram up the hill to save your legs. The castle buildings close at 4pm in winter, so arrive by early afternoon to see St Vitus Cathedral. The castle has run an Advent programme in recent years, with carols in the cathedral courtyard on Advent Sundays, but the 2026 programme hasn’t been published.
Evening: Take the metro to Náměstí Míru, in residential Vinohrady, for a more local market. Then head back to the centre for a nightcap with live piano at Kavárna Slavia, the riverside grand café open since 1881.
Where to stay
- Old Town (Staré Město): Both main markets within a short walk. Best for first-timers and short stays, though the streets stay busy late.
- New Town around Wenceslas Square: Good transport links and a short walk to both markets. Best for late arrivals and anyone on a tight schedule.
- Malá Strana: Quieter baroque lanes below the castle, a bridge away from the Old Town. Best for couples.
- Vinohrady: A residential neighbourhood with its own market on Náměstí Míru and plenty of cafés. Best for return visitors and longer stays.
What to eat and drink
Dishes and drinks to try
- Svařák: Czech mulled wine, the default market drink. Grog (rum, hot water and lemon) and medovina (mead) are the alternatives.
- Grilled sausages and roast ham: Klobása and ham roasted on a spit are the market’s savoury staples, usually served with bread and mustard.
- Bramboráky: Crisp potato pancakes flavoured with marjoram and garlic.
- Vánočka and cukroví: A plaited Christmas loaf and the small Christmas biscuits Czech families bake by the dozen.
- Czech beer: Pilsner-style lagers, served from the tank in the better beer halls.
A light aside on trdelník, the sugared dough spiral roasted on a spit: you’ll see it on every corner, often sold as an "old Czech tradition". It isn’t. It arrived with the tourist trade and is closer to Hungary’s chimney cake. Eat one if you like, but don’t treat it as Prague’s Christmas classic.
Where to eat and drink
- Lokál (Dlouhá 33, Old Town): A long beer hall serving Czech classics all day. It gets busy, so book ahead.
- U Fleků (New Town): A brewery tavern with its own dark beer.
- Kavárna Slavia (Národní 1): A grand café since 1881, with live piano daily from 5pm.
- Café Louvre (Národní 22): A first-floor café with a hundred-year history.
- Café Imperial (Na Poříčí 15): Tiled walls and mosaic ceilings, serving guests since 1914.
Getting around
The two main markets are a ten-minute walk apart, and the centre is best on foot. Trams are the quickest way to the castle and back, and metro line A links Muzeum, at the top of Wenceslas Square, with Náměstí Míru. Buy tickets in the PID Lítačka app and activate them before you board. Wear shoes with grip, as the cobbles can be icy.
Getting there: Václav Havel Airport Prague connects to the centre by bus and metro, or by the Airport Express bus to the main railway station, Praha hlavní nádraží. International trains arrive at the same station.
Good to know
- Dates: Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square run from 28 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, daily from 10am to 10pm.
- Open into January: Prague is one of the few major markets still open in the first week of January. Our Christmas markets 2026 dates roundup lists the others.
- Crowds: The opening weekend, Saturday evenings and New Year’s Eve are the busiest times. Weekday mornings and the days after 1 January are the calmest.
- New Year’s Eve: Old Town hotels fill early. Our Prague: what to know before you go guide has more December tips.
- Combine cities: Pair Prague with another city that runs into the new year. See our Budapest Christmas market 2026 guide, or compare more cities in our best Christmas markets in Europe.
FAQ
When are the Prague Christmas markets in 2026?
The Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square markets run from Saturday 28 November 2026 to Wednesday 6 January 2027. Both open daily from 10am to 10pm.
Is the Prague Christmas market open after Christmas?
Yes. It stays open through New Year and until 6 January 2027, which makes Prague a good choice for a trip between Christmas and early January.
Which is the best Christmas market in Prague?
Old Town Square has the setting, with the tree, the Týn Church and the astronomical clock. Wenceslas Square is longer and has a daily stage programme, and Náměstí Míru feels more local.
When is the Prague Christmas tree lit in 2026?
The city hasn’t announced it yet, and the 2026 tree was still being chosen in October. In recent years there has been no formal ceremony, and a light show has run on the tree through the evening from the market’s opening day.
Is trdelník a traditional Czech Christmas food?
No. Trdelník spread in Prague with tourism and is closer to the Hungarian chimney cake. For Czech Christmas flavours, try vánočka, cukroví and svařák.
