Prague Christmas markets 2023

The annual Christmas markets in Prague are one of the city’s main attractions. It brings hundreds of thousands of people to the streets, and they are extremely popular among tourists. Not only can you do a lot of Christmas shopping and taste interesting meals from the local cuisine, but you can also experience the Christmas markets at night when they are beautifully illuminated and breathe the air of one of the most beautiful European cities.

If you have been to Prague, you already know the city is beautiful. If you have been to the Christmas markets in Prague, we are not surprised to discover that you would like to revisit them. This is the place to buy local handicrafts, taste local drinks and food, and listen to and watch local artists perform at the stages in different locations in Prague.

The two most popular Christmas markets in Prague

Prague has several Christmas markets, but the most popular are at the following locations.

The Christmas market at the Old Town Square

This is the most famous of them, located in the city’s center. It is beautifully illuminated, and there are lots of stands from where you can buy all sorts of products. It is also located close to many of the most famous attractions in Prague, making it a perfect place to start your day in Prague.

Christmas markets in Prague
The Christmas market at the Old Town Square in Prague – By S-F / Shutterstock

As you can see from the image above, this is a beautiful place to visit!

The Christmas market at the Wenceslas Square

Located near the Old Town Square, you will find the Christmas market at Wenceslas Square. It is a nice little walk between these markets, but be warned, it can get crowded on the path between the two markets during the busy hours of the Christmas markets. This market is located at a magnificent square, and once again, you will be able to buy all sorts of products made by local artists and eat and drink local specialties.

Wenceslas Square

As you can see from the image above, the Christmas market at Wenceslas Square also has a fantastic atmosphere.

When will the Christmas markets be arranged in Prague in 2023?

When are the Christmas markets arranged in Prague this year? Here you can find the dates.

  • December 2nd, 2023 – January 6, 2024

The dates for the Christmas markets in Prague in earlier years.

  • 2022: November 26, 2022 – January 6, 2023
  • 2019: November 30, 2019 – January 6, 2020
  • 2018: December 1, 2018 – January 6, 2019
  • 2017: December 2, 2017 – January 6, 2018
  • 2016: November 26, 2016 – January 6, 2017
  • 2015: November 28, 2015 – January 6, 2016

Where to live near the Christmas markets in Prague?

Would you like to live in a hotel near the Christmas markets in Prague? Are you looking for cheap accommodation, or would you rather spend more and live in a hotel with breakfast and four or five stars? See the map below for price estimations and an overview of hotels near the Christmas markets at Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square.

Booking.com

It is worth remembering that the distances in the Old Town aren’t really big. As a result, most of the hotels in the map above (unless you scroll in and out) are within a 5-10 minutes walking distance from Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square. Do not forget to book a hotel early, as things get really busy in December due to the extremely popular Christmas markets. If you have the possibility, it is normally cheaper to book hotel rooms during weekdays compared to the weekends.

What to eat and drink at the Christmas markets in Prague?

If someone tells you about a market, it is easy to think about a location where you can buy groceries or goods. That is often true, but when we think about Christmas markets, many people don’t associate it with shopping. Why is that?

To many, Christmas markets aren’t about shopping but eating and drinking. Why is it that the largest and the most popular stalls are those serving food and drinks? You know the answer already! It is okay to buy some handmade products in a stall, and then a Christmas present for your kids in another stall. But, after spending 15 minutes looking at the different stalls, something hits you. It doesn’t hurt but comes at you like a quiet predator. It attacks you through the nose and makes you get water in your mouth… it is the smell of Czech sausage, followed by the sweet smell of the Trdelnik (Chimney Cake), and all the other delights of the Prague Christmas markets.

Essential things to eat at the Christmas markets…

Anyone visiting the Christmas markets should eat lunch or dinner at the market, at least once. The Czech sausages are a number one delight worth tasting. It might not be healthy to eat sausages like these every day, but once or twice during your December trip to Prague is a must.

If you’d rather eat some ham, try ražská šunka. This is a large piece of ham that is served together with potatoes. It is a local dish, very popular, and very tasty.

Kids often habitually skip the main course and jump straight to the desert. That is easy to understand as the smell of the Chimney Cake (Trdelnik) attacks your nose. This sweet dough is covered in sugar, later to be grilled (caramelizing the sugar), and then dipped in either cinnamon, cocoa, walnuts, chocolate, or some other ingredient. Sometimes, they even add Nutella and whipped cream to the finalized product. No matter what, this is one of Prague’s most popular products at the Christmas markets, and definitely one you should try!

What to drink at the Christmas markets in Prague?

The cheapest is to bring a bottle of water from the supermarket, but that is boring! If you eat like a local, then you should drink like a local. What should you order together with your food? If you don’t mind consuming alcohol, you already know that Czech beer is known worldwide. Pilsner is the most famous brand of them all. Most people buy this as they want a drink to accompany their sausage or some other piece of meat at the Christmas markets.

Would you like to try something more special? Becherovka is a very popular spirit from the Czech Republic. It is based on more than 20 different herbs, but it might be that you will feel the alcohol taste (it has a 38% alcohol percentage) stronger than the taste of the herbs.

A third drink you can buy at the Christmas markets is Tuzemák/Tuzemský. It is a local Czech version of rum from the Caribbean sea. It is made from potatoes or sugar beets, and later they add all sorts of rum essence to the drink. This drink isn’t popular only to drink, but the locals also use it in Christmas cookies.


Are you ready to visit the Christmas markets in Prague? Do you have any further comments or questions? Use the comment field below, and we will do our best to answer, or just enjoy reading your comment!

Christmas markets in Prague in 2018

Prague has some amazing Christmas markets, and the most famous of them all are located at the Wenceslas Square and at the Old Town Square.

At these Christmas markets you can buy all sorts of products, most of them hand-made, and nice to bring home as souvenirs. There are also lots of stands at which you can buy traditional Czech food and drinks, and of course sweet stuff like chimney cakes, Czech muffins, and more!

Christmas market dates in Prague 2018
Christmas markets in Prague in 2018 – Source: Pixabay

Prague Christmas markets in 2018

The Christmas markets in Prague will open on December 1st in 2018, and they will stay open until January 6th in 2019. That means that they open later than most other markets in Europe, but they stay open for a longer time.

It is important to know that the Christmas markets in Prague are extremely popular. You should be prepared for giant crowds, and you will often walk in a line as you walk in the small streets connecting the Christmas market at the Old Town square with the Christmas market at Wenceslas square.

Would you like to know even more about the Christmas markets in Prague? Read our article dedicated to the Christmas markets of Prague.

And do not forget to be early with your bookings in this period. With tens of thousands of tourists coming to town, it can often get packed at beer dinners, river cruises, and other similar programs. We normally have capacity for airport transfers all the time, but it never hurts to book your airport transfer well in advance either! Look around in the Prague Guide for further information!

Christmas presents to buy in Prague

Give the best presents for Christmas for your loved ones. In this article we will advice you some of the best Christmas presents you can get in the capital of the Czech Republic in Prague.

In Prague there are plenty of various shops, stores and even markets where you can get the most special gifts and souvenirs for Christmas.

Czech garnets

Czech garnets are one of the most popular gifts to give at Christmas. In Prague you can find all the most beautiful garnets jewellery such as rings, bracelets, various necklaces, earrings and cufflinks as well which are really suitable for everyday wear. It is a perfect and a unique present for any of the lady members in the family.

Czech garnets

Glass and crystals

In the city you can also find the famous Czech glass and crystals which can be practical and also decorative. You can find the best glass and crystal at the New Town of the city. The shops sell the most beautiful crystal and glass drinking glasses and you can even find jewellery such as bracelets, necklaces and earrings as well.

Glass and Crystal

Handmade puppets

If you want to buy something really unique try the handmade puppets which can be found in different stores in the city. The puppets are not the cheapest presents but they are sure something special and remarkable. Apart from these there are plenty of other things to get such as the handmade bags, scarfs, hats, gloves, accessories, wooden toys which can be found on the Christmas markets in the city.

Handmade puppets

Hope you have enjoyed the article! Enjoy shopping in Prague and have fun doing so!