Your Way Away
Prague Christmas markets 2026: dates, opening hours and tips
Checked 10 Nov 2026Advent in Prague over a long weekend: the big tree and the market below the Týn church on Old Town Square, grilled sausages on Wenceslas Square, a quieter neighbourhood market under St Ludmila's church, Charles Bridge in the early morning and Prague Castle above the river. This guide has the Advent 2026 dates and hours, how to get in from the airport and around town, and it works offline.
Photo: IrenaKol, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Dates and opening hours 2026
| Old Town Square 28 Nov–6 Jan | the main market and the big tree, daily 10–22 (2026/27); 24 Dec 10–14, 25 and 26 Dec 12–22 |
|---|---|
| Tree lighting 28 Nov 2026 | the tree on Old Town Square lights up on the opening day of the market |
| Wenceslas Square 28 Nov–6 Jan | the second big market, at the lower end of the square, daily 10–22 |
| Náměstí Míru 20 Nov–24 Dec | a local favourite under St Ludmila's church, 10–20 |
Dates and hours can change: check the official site before you go.
Where to go
The main market below the Týn church, with the big tree and the nativity scene.Photo: IrenaKol, CC BY-SA 4.0
The second big market, with grills, mulled wine and the National Museum above.Photo: Donald Judge, CC BY 2.0
A neighbourhood market under the twin towers of St Ludmila, where locals go.Photo: Helena Melezínková, CC BY-SA 4.0
The 14th-century stone bridge, almost empty early in the morning.Photo: A.Savin, Free Art License
The castle complex and St Vitus Cathedral above Malá Strana.Photo: Tilman2007, CC BY-SA 4.0
The Sedlec bone chapel and a UNESCO old town, an hour by train.Photo: Pudelek (Marcin Szala), CC BY-SA 3.0
Getting around
- Trams and metro: PID tickets: 30 min 36 CZK, 90 min 46 CZK, 24 h 140 CZK, 72 h 340 CZK in the PID Lítačka app (paper tickets cost a little more).
- From the airport: Bus 59 to Nádraží Veleslavín (metro A, about 35 min) or bus 100 to Zličín (metro B). The Airport Express to the main station costs 200 CZK and is not covered by 24 or 72-hour tickets.
- On foot: Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square and Charles Bridge are 10–15 minutes apart.
- To Kutná Hora: Trains from Praha hlavní nádraží take about an hour.
Money
- You pay in Czech koruna (CZK). Cards work almost everywhere, but small cash helps at stalls.
- Check the price per 100 g before ordering the ham roasted on a spit: it is sold by weight and a portion can cost far more than you expect.
- Exchange money at a bank or withdraw from a bank ATM, and decline the conversion into your home currency on card terminals and ATMs.
What to eat
- Mulled wine (svařák): The Czech version of glühwein, at every stall.
- Klobása: Grilled sausage with mustard and bread.
- Trdelník: Sweet rolled pastry; a tourist favourite rather than an old Czech tradition.
- Vánočka: Braided Christmas bread with raisins.
- Christmas cookies: Small hand-made biscuits, sold by weight.
Where to stay
- Old Town: Closest to the main markets, priciest and loudest.
- Malá Strana: Below the castle, quieter in the evening, a walk over the bridge.
- Vinohrady: Cafés, Náměstí Míru on the doorstep, metro A to the centre.
Good to know
- Christmas Eve (24 Dec) is the main celebration: many restaurants close in the afternoon, so book dinner ahead.
- Round up or tip about 10% in restaurants.
- Stand on the right on metro escalators, they are long and fast.
- Currency: Czech koruna (CZK): cards work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for small stalls
- Entry: Czechia is in the EU and Schengen. Non-EU travellers check visa rules for their passport and are registered in the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) at the border
A weekend plan
Our guide turns this into a full weekend, day by day:
- Friday: Old Town Square
- Saturday: Charles Bridge and Prague Castle
- Sunday: Vinohrady and home
- Extra day (Thursday or Monday)
Other Christmas markets 2026
Official sites
- Prague Christmas markets (organiser)
- Kudy z nudy: Christmas markets in Prague 2026
- Prague City Tourism (official)
- PID: tickets and airport lines
- EU Entry/Exit System (EES)
Sources: Market dates and hours for Old Town Square and the tree lighting: kudyznudy.cz (CzechTourism) event listing, organiser Taiko / trhypraha.cz. Wenceslas Square, Náměstí Míru, Náměstí Republiky and Tylovo náměstí: kdyjet.cz overview of Prague Christmas markets 2026. Tickets and airport lines: pid.cz. All checked 10 Nov 2026; check them on the official site before you go.