UPDATED FEB 2020. Prague is a destination that is like being in a fairytale during December. It’s enchanting, magical and full of all the festive vibes. In today’s post, I’m sharing a loaded guide on how to plan a visit to Prague during Christmas time. Here you can find recommendations on where to stay, what to do, and some of the amazing food to eat.
Prague At Christmas Time – How To Plan A Festive, Fairytale Holiday
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Where to stay in Prague at Christmas time
If you are visiting Prague at Christmas time, I recommend searching on Booking.com for accommodation around Old Town Square.
The closer you are to the square, the noisier it will be but the closer you will be to the markets.
I stayed at Hotel Maximillian. It is located in a peaceful area of Old Town Prague, just 10 minutes walk from the main attractions.
The convenient location made it easy to get around town without waiting for taxis.
What to see & do in Prague
If you are visiting Prague at Christmas, it’s a great place to wander around the cobblestone streets, snack on market food, and check out different views of the city.
In between your wandering, here are a few things to see and do.
Explore the Christmas markets
Set on cobblestone streets, besides a ginormous tree, the Prague Christmas Markets are a fairytale.
The main market areas are around Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, though as you walk around the city you will likely find other smaller gatherings of stalls.
The Markets are open over the Christmas weekend, so you will have a place to eat if you are visiting Prague during Christmas time. If you prefer restaurants you need to make reservations in advance as many are closed over the Christmas weekend.
Visit the Sex Machines Museum
Like the Penis Museum in Iceland, the Sex Machines Museum in Prague is a weird little place but well worth a visit.
Just as the name suggests, it’s an entire museum dedicated to sex machines.
You can expect to find exhibits with things like anti-masturbation devices, a range of adult toys from different time periods (picture things like a stationary bike with a dildo attached at the seat for a different kind of workout), and even an old cinema room showing black and white vintage adult movies.
To giggle your way through this unique museum will cost you 250 Czk (about 12 USD) and it is open daily from 10am – 11pm.
Anti-masturbation device at the Sex Machines Museum
Watch the Boxing Day swim
The annual Boxing Day Swim in the Vltava River dates back to 1923 and is still going to this day.
If you are visiting over the Christmas weekend it is a unique event to watch as people of all ages take the plunge into the freezing water and compete in races of different lengths.
See the Astronomical Clock
Every hour, on the hour, tourists gather around the bottom of the clock with their cameras pointed up to see the Astronomical Clock in Prague show off its 45 seconds of action.
With the size of the crowd and the anticipation of it going off, the 45-second display kind of leaves you with a ‘is that it?’ kind of feeling, but it’s still cool to see.
The Astronomical Clock in Prague
Visit the Klementinum Library
This is closed over the Christmas weekend but if you are visiting with a day either side of the holidays, the Klementinum Library is said to be one of the most beautiful in the world.
It was closed during my visit but it was the one thing I really wanted to see in Prague, so if you have been please let me know what it’s like.
Price: 220 Czk (11 USD)
Walk along the Charles Bridge
Originally called the Stone Bridge, this is very crowded so if you want to beat the crowds, go in the morning.
The historic Charles Bridge is only open to pedestrians. You will be able to tell it apart from the other bridges because it is lined with statues along each side.
It’s a nice spot for photos with views of the Vltava River and you can also find people selling their art, music or other products from stalls on the bridge too.
See the John Lennon wall
It sounds like an unusual place to visit but there is a John Lennon Wall in Prague.
What started as just an image of John Lennon being painted on the wall with anti-communist graffiti became a monument to represent free speech.
Police would remove the graffiti only for it to be re-tagged over and over again with people risking prison to express themselves through these messages.
Nowadays, the wall is left as is and the graffiti has turned into messages of peace.
John Lennon Wall
What to eat in Prague at Christmas time
Trdelnîk
The Trdelnîk is a traditional type of hollow pastry that is my number one pick of must-try foods in Prague.
It’s not only found in Prague but worth trying when you visit.
The dough is wrapped around a ‘Trdlo’ and heated over an open fire until toasty and delicious. You can eat it plain or get it filled with anything from ice cream, to cream and topped with chocolate, berries or nuts.
Mulled Wine
This is a must-try at any Christmas market.
What I liked about the Prague Christmas markets was that there was a range of warm drinks to choose from. You can find Wine, Meade, Cider and Punch.
You can choose between alcoholic or non-alcoholic for the Cider and Punch at many of the stalls.
Hot Dogs
Although not a super traditional or unique food, the hot dogs are another must-try at the Prague Christmas Markets.
They have a range of different types of sausages at the stalls. Expect flavors like Paprika, Herb or even one I’ve never seen before which had a shish kabob on the inside of the bun.
Prague Ham and Halušky
Halušky combines potato dumplings, cabbage, ham, and cheese together. It’s probably one of the most delicious winter foods there is.
It is the perfect complement to Praha Ham which you will on large rotisseries at the stalls.
Most of these stalls are a bit of a rip-off. They charged by weight and unless you specify how much you want, they give you a big portion.
If you’re on a budget, just specify that you only want a smaller portion so you don’t get a super expensive meal.
Burek (Serbian Pie)
The Burek is a pie with a flakey pastry with either meat or cheese.
I had the cheese Burek which was delicious, though I’ve had the meat one before which is also amazing. If you get the chance to try one, I definitely recommend it.
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Other travel guides you might enjoy
- Europe In December – 7 Destinations Where You’ll Get All The Winter Feels
- Europe By Season – Here’s Where To Go For The Best Of Each Season
- 11 Underrated European Destinations That Need To Be On Your Radar
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