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Ultimate guide to things to do in Prague in winter

Discover the magic of the Czech capital in this ultimate guide to what to do and see in the beautiful city of Prague in winter. Includes practical tips and information to help plan your trip

Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and whilst it is lovely to visit in summer it becomes a fairytale destination during the winter months. 

If you are wondering what to do in Prague in winter (or even whether to visit Prague in winter) this post will give you lots of ideas.

It will cover places to visit in Prague in 3 days as well as things to do in Prague during the colder winter months. So if you are wondering what are the best things to do in Prague in October, what to do in Prague in February or even thinking of spending the festive season in Prague you will find everything you need to know in this article.

If you are planning to visit Prague during winter you should expect chilly weather (and if you are lucky some snow)

In this article, you will find information about the best things to do in Prague in winter to include in your itinerary. There is also a map of Prague at the end of the post with all the places mentioned labelled to help you get a sense of the city’s layout.

Bicycle covered with snow near bridge in Prague.
View of the Charles Bridge during a blizzard!

Complete guide to visiting Prague in winter

There are so many things to do in Prague (and places to see in Prague) in winter. We were visiting Prague in February and had an absolute full itinerary for the 3 days we were there. We managed to include all of these must-see sights into our 3 day stay in the city.

If you are planning your itinerary for Prague it is possible to create a 2-day itinerary for Prague, a 3-day itinerary for Prague or of course an even longer itinerary for Prague from the suggestions below. All of the sights are easy to get to on wither public transport or on foot. 

The Old Town – Staré Město

The Staré Město  has the old town square at its heart (dating back to the 12th century). This is one of two main squares in Prague (the other is Wenceslas)

Here you will find the famous astronomical clock as well as St Nicholas Church and the Tyn Church.

In the centre is a massive statue of Jan Hus. Stroll around the square, watch the clock on the hour and sit and have a drink whilst soaking in the atmosphere.

Staré Město in Prague
Astronomical clock in Prague

Walk the Charles Bridge – Karlův Most

This is a stone bridge built in the 14th century and connects the old town – Staré Město – with the Lesser town – Malá Strana (personally my favourite bit of town). The Vltava River flows beneath your feet as you walk this beautiful bridge.

There are 75 statues on the bridge with the most famous is of Saint John of Nepomuk – legend has it if you touch it you will have good luck and also return to Prague. It was very shiny where the thousands (millions) of hands have touched it. I touched it so the good news for me is that I will be returning to Prague.

 the CHARLES BRIDGE - Karlův Most in Prague

Explore the Lesser Quarter – Malá Strana

Explore the  LESSER QUARTER or Malá Strana. This quarter is full of quaint little streets and a steep climb to Prague Castle! There are some lovely pubs and restaurants in this area and we had to stop off for a hot chocolate to warm us through after a snowy walk over the Charles Bridge.

the LESSER QUARTER - Malá Strana
The Lesser Town over the Charles Bridge in Prague

The Memorial to the victims of Communism

In the Malá Strana, you will also find the Memorial to the Victims of Communism. This is a series of 7 statues that commemorate the victims of Communism 1948- 1989 a sad but poignant reminder of communist rule over what was then Czechoslovakia.

The Memorial to the victims of Communism

The Gingerbread Museum

On your way up to the castle keep an eye out for the gingerbread museum. They have a wonderful selection of beautifully decorated gingerbread in every shape and size including a gingerbread castle.

The Gingerbread Museum
Don’t miss the gingerbread museum

Prague Castle – Pražský Hrad

Prague Castle (Pražský Hrad) is the largest Medieval castle in Europe. It is situated in the Hradčany or Castle District and is a walk up from the lesser town.

Don’t miss the changing of the guard at the castle held  at 12 noon daily.  The sentries at the gates of the castle change every hour from 7:00 am too.     

I would then recommend exploring the grounds of the castle. There are some spectacular views over the city and you will also find the Cathedral of St Vitnus within the Prague Castle Complex.

PRAGUE CASTLE - Pražský Hrad
Beautiful views over the rooftops of Prague from the Castle

Wenceslas Square – Václavské náměstí 

Václavské náměstí (Wenceslas Square) is located a 5-minute walk away from Old Town Square and has lots of shops, bars, restaurants and hotels as well as a rather impressive statue at one end of St Wenceslas himself.

WENCESLAS SQUARE - Václavské náměstí
Wenceslas Square in Prague

The Jewish Quarter – Josevof

In the JEWISH QUARTER– Josevof – you can find the Old-New Synagogue which is the oldest active synagogue in Europe. The Old Jewish Cemetery is home to 12,000 tombstones but an estimated 100,000 burials took place there between 1450 and the late 18th century. 

Graves in the Jewish Quarter in Prague
The Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague

The Dancing House 

If you like architecture I recommend a visit to the Dancing House (or Fred and Ginger as it is nicknamed) The building was completed in 1996 and was quite controversial at the time due to its complete contrast to the other styles of buildings in Prague (Gothic/Baroque/Renaissance etc) 

The Dancing House in Prague
The Dancing House in Prague

The Klementinum and Baroque Library

I have saved the one thing I loved best of all in Prague for last – the Klementinum and Baroque Library. I had read mixed reviews about this on Tripadvisor but the day we went we found it was amazing. We had a lovely guide who obviously loved the place and she took delight in my stunned reaction to the beauty that is that library!

The Baroque library hall was completed in 1722 and its appearance and arrangement remain untouched. The books are foreign language theological books so not something I would consider for bedside reading.

The overwhelming beauty of the room as well as the geographical and astronomical globes on display left me speechless (this does not happen often!)

The Baroque Library is one of the most beautiful places in Prague to visit so do include it in your itinerary.

The Klementinum and Baroque Library
The stunning beauty of the library left us all in awe

After the beauty of the library, there is a three-floor climb up the astronomical tower where you get fabulous views of Prague. On the way up though you pass a room (meridian hall) that is used for determining noon – a ray of light comes through a small hole in the wall and hits string stretched on the floor.

The Klementinum and Baroque Library

Although technically not part of the tour we took our guide showed us the Mirror Chapel This was built in 1725 and is now used for classical concerts. There are lots of reviews on other websites not really rating a visit to the Klementinum as a must-do when you are visiting Prague. For me, it was THE highlight of our trip.

I would recommend that you book a tour and go and see the Baroque Library for yourself.

Visiting the Mirror Chapel is one of the best things to do in Prague in winter
The Mirror Chapel in Prague

If you are visiting to Czech Republic you could explore further afield and visit cities such as in Ostrava which is located about 280 kms from Prague. Find out the number one thing to do if you visit Ostrava!

Alternatively why not head to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Český Krumlov only 3 hours from Prague

FAQ’s – Planning your visit to Prague

What are the public transport options in Prague?

Prague has an excellent public transport system with trams, metro and buses available to get you around the city.

Short term tourist passes are available for either 24 hours or 3 days. We purchased a 3 day pass which gave us unlimited access to all Prague public transport for the duration. It cost 310 CZK each and I would highly recommend purchasing one! We used trams, buses and the metro to get around the city.

PRAGUE TRAIN ticket
  • Metro  – There are 3 lines (green A, yellow B and red C) which cover the city. Lines A and B run east to west and line C from north to south. There are 3 stations in the city centre where 2 subway lines intersect:

               Můstek (lower end of Wenceslas Square) – lines A and B intersect  Muzeum (upper end of Wenceslas Square) – lines A and C intersect                Florenc (main bus station) – lines B and C intersect

                It takes about 2/3 minutes to transfer lines and transfers are well signposted.

  • Buses – the buses cover area where the tram and metro do not run. We used the bus to get us from our hotel to the old town and we rarely waited more than 2/3 mins for one – they run that often!
  • Trams – Tram 22 is the most scenic route as it passes by Prague castle. I would highly recommend taking this tram as it is a lovely route.

  TIP – make sure you validate your ticket before you start using it. We had our tickets checked and if you haven’t validated you WILL get a fine.

Prague tram in the snow

Recommended restaurants and eateries in Prague

We had a fantastic hotel which provided us with a big breakfast every day so we only really ate one other meal. I tried potatoes, cabbage and ham from a stall on Old Town Square but I have had better to be honest.

We found a lovely little sandwich shop on the ground floor of the Quadrio Shopping Centre (at Národní třída metro stop) called Apetit where prices were good and the food tasty.

We also ate twice at the shopping centre called Palladium. There is a good selection of reasonably priced restaurants on the top floor which I recommend. We had a hearty meal at Makakiko before our overnight sleep train to Cologne.

We also had one evening meal at an American diner called James Dean just off Old Town Square – we had milk shakes (blackberry – first time ever!) and steaks. A lovely meal in a nice restaurant. Highly recommended though you may need to book.

Where to stay in Prague

You will find that hotels are very reasonably priced in Prague and there is an excellent selection of 5* accommodation available.

The Grandior Hotel

We stayed at the 5* Grandior Hotel and booked a suite for less than £100 a night. It is in a great location for public transport and easy to walk around the city too. Breakfast was good and we were pleased with our choice of hotel.

CHECK AVAILABILITY AND PRICES AT THE GRANDIOR HOTEL IN PRAGUE

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The Art Nouveau Palace Hotel    

This centrally located hotel offers free WiFi, marble bathrooms and a mini bar. The building was constructed in 1909 in the Viennese Art Nouveau style. Guests can also enjoy free access to a nearby spa and fitness centre.    

CHECK AVAILABILITY AND PRICES AT THE ART NOVEAU PALACE HOTEL IN PRAGUE

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Recommended tours of Prague

How to make the most of your visit to Prague during the winter months

As you can see from my photographs the weather can be changeable in Prague in winter. We had sun and snow on the same day so temperatures did fluctuate by a few degrees.

Plan for the weather and pack layers to keep you warm and dry.

You may be interested in reading more about visiting Prague throughout the year including in summer!

Enjoy your visit to Prague (whether you are visiting Prague in winter or in summer) it is a beautiful city to visit with lots to see and do.