Prague Christmas Market

Christmas markets are a major ingredient in the magical festivities that enwrap the Czech Republic during the holiday season. Prague Christmas markets are the best and most popular in the nation. The markets illuminate the entire city and bring tourists and locals together in a truly ‘winter wonderland’ theme park.

Visitors can revel in the ubiquitous festive ambiance, enjoy lilting carols, check out varied stalls, take memorable pictures, and delight the taste buds with some delicacies, sweets, and local beverages.

The distinctive setting and atmosphere of ancient central Prague Christmas markets is what attracts people from all over the world, year after year. As opposed to the larger and more modern markets that dot the continent, Prague Christmas markets seem a sense of familiarity which just intensifies and personalizes the complete holiday experience.

The Christmas markets in Prague are open from 2nd Dec 2017 to 6th Jan 2018. They are also open on 24th of Dec, 25th of Dec, and 1st of Jan.

The major markets are located at Old Town Square and at Wenceslas Square and each one is located at a distance of 5-minute walk from each other. Other smaller markets in the city are located at Havel’s Market, Republic Square, Kampa Island, and at Prague Castle on the square next to St. George’s Basilica. It may be noted that the Prague Castle Christmas market opens on 26th Nov; tourists who are in Prague in late November can join the festivities in this market.

Prague Christmas market Map

Old Town Square

Wenceslas Square

Shopping at Prague Christmas markets (what to buy)

The Christmas markets in Prague are lined with brightly decked wooden huts that sell traditional handicrafts, embroidered lace, jewelry, glassware, ceramics, wooden toys, beautiful Christmas decorations, ornaments for Christmas tree, slippers, gloves, woolen socks, hats, scarves, and traditionally costumed dolls and puppets, etc. You can buy any of these handmade items and take them home as Christmas gifts, mementos, or decorations for your homes.

Puppets: These are made up of varied materials like ceramics, wood, gypsum, etc. They make great souvenirs and can be purchased at an affordable price. Some popular puppets include fancy puppets, witches, and famous Czech theatre figures.
Czech Crystal: Bohemian crystals are the world’s clearest crystals and make awesome souvenir items. It can easily blend with modern as well as traditional themes. Shops have a wide variety of Bohemian crystal products, including affordable figures and contemporary objects created by well-known designers. Imitations also get sold in some shops. Hence, visitors need to take their time while shopping for crystal items.
Wooden Toys: These can be purchased at just about any shop in the Prague Christmas markets. A majority of wooden toys are of good quality, but often on the pricier side. They can, however, be a valued collectible.
Christmas Decorations: All markets sell the Christmas tree typical Czech decorations and ornaments such as bells, painted and hand-blown glass balls, and paper/wooden garlands, etc.
Bohemian Garnet: Garnet is a precious stone with a deep red color that is seen only under direct light. It is cut in varied shapes with artistic designs and later placed on glass, rings, sculptures, etc. Deposits of these stones are only available in the Czech Republic and nowhere else on the continent of Europe. Garnets sold in Christmas markets are usually not genuine. Hence, it is best to buy them from jewel shops.

Food and drinks at Prague Christmas markets

There is no shortage of different varieties of food and drinks that are sold in the Christmas markets of Prague. You can try Old Czech cuisine specialties and/or traditional Czech dishes such as klobása/barbequed sausages, blood sausages, barbecued pork, mead, big hams roasted on spits, mull, and conkers, etc. Sweet aficionados will be delighted by the assortment of traditional Christmas sweets like Czech muffins, sugar-coated hot pastry called ‘Trdelník’, cakes, attractively embellished gingerbread, homemade sweet bread, and small-crust pastry cookies, etc. These dishes are prepared right in front of the customers.

You can wash the different traditional delicacies with medovina/golden mead; svařák/sweetly-scented mullet wine; well-known Czech beers like Staropramen, Pilsner Urquell, or Budvar; or varied hot drinks.

Prague Christmas market – Activities

The Old Town Square Christmas market also features a stable with live animals. Kids will like this place; they can pet different animals like donkeys, goats, and sheep. There is big Bethlehem Nativity scene with Baby Jesus, Joseph, Mary, and the 3 kings in a stable made of wood.

The most spectacular feature of the Christmas Market at Old Town square is the massive Christmas tree which gets transported to this market from the town of Pecka located northeast of the city. After the tree is installed, it is illuminated with the brightest of lights and decked to the hilt. The lights get switched on at approximately 5.30 in the evenings and the subsequent visuals are a sight to behold. The sight of the brightly lit Christmas tree against the dark gothic skyline of Prague is indeed a truly mesmerizing one!

The Wenceslas Square Prague Christmas market also features a Christmas tree that is brightly lit and decorated with varied Christmas ornaments. People can check out the impressive display and lighting from all over the square.

Christmas festivities cannot be complete without carols. There are performances by school choirs at Old Town Square on a stage in late afternoons. All the kids in fine traditional attire come from all over the country to participate in the choir singing.

The Prague Christmas markets of 2016 had a ‘Traditional Spirit of Christmas and Nature’ theme. Last year, all the major squares, which included the Old Town Square observation bridge, were festooned with natural decorations like wood, pine needles, gingerbread, and mistletoe. The traditional Christmas hues of white, green, gold and red were present just about everywhere. The market huts and stalls were adorned with lanterns, bells, traditional Christmassy sweets, and gingerbreads. The theme for the Prague Christmas markets of 2017 has not been decided as yet.

Things to do when visiting Prague Christmas markets

Besides the beautiful Prague Christmas markets, a sightseeing tour of the city should also include visits to the many historical works of architecture, coach tours of the city, boat cruises, and strolls around the city, etc.

The city center of Prague is nice and compact and thus perfect for pedestrians. Tourists should book accommodations in the central part of the city. This will ensure that all the major tourist hotspots, including the fabulous Christmas markets of Prague, can be easily accessed on foot.

There is no entry fee to any of the Christmas markets in the city. When your hotel is in the city centre, then whenever you feel like soaking up the pleasant and festive atmosphere of the markets, you can just get out of the hotel, walk for a few minutes, and be right in the middle of all the market activities. You may browse through the varied stalls, try out different foods and drinks, and just immerse yourself in all the revelry. Later, you can just walk back to the hotel and take a warm, soothing bath to relax.

Different kinds of entertainment options are available during the festive months of November and December. Tourists should not miss out on attending a classical concert. The concerts in historic houses and gorgeous churches are really an out of the world experience during this holiday season. The ballet and opera season are also in up and running, with a variety of celebratory performances, including the well-renowned The Nutcracker – Prague opera and ballet. Black light and marionette theatre are highly recommended if you want to watch a typical Czech performance. These shows can be very entertaining.

Also check out the other Christmas markets in Europe.