Prague in December 2026: weather and what to do

Is December a good time for Prague? Yes – it is one of the most atmospheric months to visit, as long as you dress for the cold. Daytime highs average 5.3 °C, nights sit right at freezing, and 45 mm of rain falls in the whole month. Daylight is short, about 8 hours around the solstice. The big plus: the Christmas markets on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square open on 28 November 2026 and stay until 6 January 2027, so they are still running over Christmas and New Year.

Weather in Prague in December

Averages 2015–2024 from the ERA5 reanalysis (via Open-Meteo), rounded. Daylight: astronomical day length on 21 December at Prague's latitude, about 8 h 05 min (sunrise to sunset).

In practice: expect frost on many nights and damp, grey days with the occasional bright, cold one. Snow is possible, but a white Prague is a matter of luck, not something to plan around. The river makes mornings misty, and the hilly walk up to the castle is slippery when it freezes. Use the few light hours for the castle and the bridges, and save the markets and the lit-up Old Town for the evening.

What's on in December 2026

The two big Christmas markets in the historic centre run for the whole month, according to Prague City Tourism:

The market on Old Town Square has a large lit Christmas tree and a daily cultural programme, with the Týn Church and the Old Town Hall as a backdrop. Wenceslas Square is a ten-minute walk away. What to expect at each market, how to see both in one day and where to stay is in our guide to the Prague Christmas markets 2026.

Because both markets run until Three Kings Day, Prague is one of the few big Christmas destinations where you still find the full market atmosphere between 25 December and New Year.

What to do on a cold or rainy day

• Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral: much of the castle complex is indoors – the cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, St. George's Basilica.
• National Museum: the restored building at the top of Wenceslas Square, with a view down the square from the dome.
• Municipal House: the Art Nouveau landmark next to the Powder Tower, with a café and a restaurant inside.
• Old Town Hall: the tower, the historic halls and the astronomical clock from the inside.
• Cafés and beer halls: a long lunch in a traditional pub or one of the grand cafés is the Prague way to warm up.
• Concerts: churches and concert halls host Advent and Christmas concerts; programmes are on the venues' official websites.

Tickets for the castle and many concerts^* are on Tiqets. If you plan a lot of sights, the Go City Prague pass^* can be compared with single tickets.

Christmas and New Year: what is open

In the Czech Republic, 24, 25 and 26 December are all public holidays, and Christmas Eve is the main family celebration. Larger shops close early on 24 December and stay closed on 25 December and on 1 January; smaller shops and many restaurants in the centre stay open, but some take a break. The Christmas markets keep going.

Museums, the castle and other sights have their own holiday hours, which can include early closing or closed days around Christmas and New Year. We do not list times here because they change; check the official website a few days before your visit, and reserve a table if you want a proper dinner on Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve. Public transport runs on the holidays, usually on a holiday timetable.

What to pack

• A warm, waterproof coat, a hat, a scarf and gloves.
• Shoes with a good grip – cobblestones and the slopes up to the castle can be icy.
• Layers you can take off in heated museums, pubs and trams.
• A card or some Czech koruna for the market stalls; the Czech Republic does not use the euro.

YesTrip shows the forecast for your actual travel days and suggests matching clothes in the packing list.

How many days, and getting there

Three days suit a December trip: the castle and the Lesser Town on one day, the Old Town, Jewish Quarter and markets on another, and a third for museums, Vyšehrad or a quieter neighbourhood. Our article on how many days in Prague has plans for one to four days, and our Prague trip plan has the three-day route with a map. With more time, our guide to the best day trips from Prague covers Kutná Hora, Karlštejn and more.

From the airport, buses and an airport express connect to the metro and the main station – our guide Prague airport to the city centre compares all options. For a late arrival with luggage, a transfer from Prague airport^* can be booked with Welcome Pickups. Travelling from outside the EU, a travel eSIM for the Czech Republic^* (Airalo) is usually cheaper than roaming; our eSIM price index compares prices.

With YesTrip you copy our Prague plan into the app with one tap, add your hotel and the markets, and get the weather for your travel days and an offline map. YesTrip is free.

Prague trip planDay by day, with map and tips

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