Prague’s Holiday Spirit Extends Beyond the Christmas Markets

Each December, Prague takes on a distinctive holiday glow, its historic center illuminated by festive lights and the scent of mulled wine. The city’s Christmas markets, especially those in Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, are often the first stop for visitors, and rightly so.

Yet, focusing only on the markets means missing much of what makes the Czech capital’s holiday season unique. Across landmarks, local neighborhoods, and long-held traditions, Prague’s festive spirit stretches far beyond the rows of wooden stalls.

Prague Christmas Markets

First things first, the city’s Christmas markets are impossible to ignore. The heart of it all beats at Old Town Square, where a towering Christmas tree will rise before the Gothic spires of the Týn Church and lights will shimmer across the square. Visitors can browse wooden stalls filled with handcrafted ornaments, sip mulled wine, and try Trdelník, which is not originally Czech but a tourist favorite. The market will run from Nov. 29, 2025, through Jan. 6, 2026, and will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Stage performances will take place between 4 and 7 p.m., and the tree will light up each hour in the evening.

A short walk away, Wenceslas Square will host another bustling market extending the festive atmosphere through the city’s commercial center. While the upper part of the square remains under construction due to tram line work, the market, traditionally held in the lower section, will go ahead as planned.

For a cozier experience, Náměstí Míru and nearby Tylovo náměstí will again offer smaller markets popular with locals who gather after work to meet friends over a cup of svařák (mulled wine). These markets typically open earlier and close on Christmas Eve, providing an intimate look at how residents celebrate the season. Between the aroma of roasted chestnuts and carols echoing from church steps, Prague’s markets remain the heart of the city’s holiday cheer.

Christmas Trams Roaming Prague

Adding to the city’s seasonal glow, Prague’s trams will once again get a festive makeover. Several regular lines feature Christmas-themed trams decorated with bright LED lights, often shaped like snowflakes. For a more nostalgic experience, visitors can board the historical tram No. 42, a vintage streetcar wrapped in twinkling decorations that follows a scenic loop past many of Prague’s top sights. A special ticket is required, as regular transport passes don’t apply. Details are available on the Prague Tourism website.

Lamp-Lighting Ceremony

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Each evening from Dec. 1 to 23, Charles Bridge takes on an old-world charm as a lamplighter dressed in historical attire walks the bridge to manually light its 46 gas lamps with a long bamboo pole. The ceremony begins around 4 p.m. at Křížovnické Square on the Old Town side and continues across the bridge before returning along the opposite path. The event draws crowds eager to watch the flicker of the lamps against the winter sky. It’s one of the few remaining lamplighter traditions in Europe and a distinctive part of Prague’s holiday season.

Ice-Skating

A relatively new addition to Prague’s winter attractions, the ice rink at Wenceslas Square has quickly become a seasonal highlight. Located in the lower part of the square, it offers ample space for skaters amid festive lights and music. The rink opens Dec. 1, 2025, and runs through February 2026, operating daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Entry costs 200 CZK for two hours (100 CZK for children), with skate rentals available on-site.

A Special Theater Play

Czech composer Jakub Jan Ryba, who lived between the 18th and 19th centuries, wrote a beloved composition about the birth of Jesus and the spirit of Christmas—his Czech Christmas Mass (Česká mše vánoční). This year, the piece has been reimagined by director Matěj Forman as a family-friendly theater production featuring wooden puppets, costumed singers, and festive staging.

The show will take place at the Municipal House, Smetana Hall, on Dec. 21 and 22, 2025, with both afternoon and evening performances. Tickets and details are available at the Prague Symphony Orchestra website.

Christmas Boat Trips

Seeing Prague from the Vltava River is a highlight in any season, but this winter brings special Advent cruises aboard glass-enclosed boats. Passengers can sip mulled wine, sample traditional Czech desserts, and listen to Christmas carols while passing illuminated landmarks, including Charles Bridge and Prague Castle. Tickets are available at prague-boats.cz.

Whether visitors come for the city’s world-famous Christmas markets or to experience its broader winter traditions, Prague offers a festive atmosphere that lingers long after the holidays end.