Christmas markets, Mikuláš, mulled wine and the busiest weeks of the winter.
December in Prague at a glance
| Temperature | -1 / +3 °C average low / high |
| Daylight | About 8h 5m |
| Crowds | High |
| Prices | High season |
December is Prague’s second high season. The markets on Old Town and Wenceslas Square run all month, the streets are lit from late November, and the city fills up again — particularly in the two weeks before Christmas. It is cold, often below freezing, and the daylight is at its shortest, but the lights do most of the work.
What’s on in December
| Until 6 Jan Christmas markets |
Old Town and Wenceslas Square, daily 10:00–22:00, free entry. Read more |
| 5 December St Nicholas evening |
Mikuláš, an angel and a devil visit children across the city. Read more |
| 24 December Christmas Eve |
Carp and potato salad, and midnight mass. Markets close at 14:00. Read more |
| 31 December New Year’s Eve |
Crowds on the bridges and the embankments; restaurants book out months ahead. Read more |
Where to go this month
- The markets — Old Town for spectacle, Peace Square for a local crowd and lower prices. More
- Lit streets — Pařížská, Celetná and Nerudova — free, and beautiful after 16:30. More
- Concerts — Church concerts most evenings, from free market stages to ticketed cathedral programmes. More
Photography in December
The blue half-hour after sunset — roughly 16:15 to 16:45 — is the whole game in December. Market lights balance against a deep blue sky for about thirty minutes, then the contrast becomes unmanageable.
For family and couple sessions in December, a local photographer will know which spots hold the light at that hour — Kemal Onur Ozman shoots families, couples and engagements across Prague and took many of the photographs on this site.
Practical tips for December
- Markets close at 14:00 on 24 December.
- Book New Year’s Eve dinner months ahead.
- 14–20 December is the most crowded week of the winter.
Plan the rest of your year
Every month in Prague has a different character. Compare all the monthly guides, or jump straight to the next season.
Weather averages and event dates last verified in August 2026.
