Prague Christmas Markets: 7 Practical Things You Should Know

Are you coming to visit our Christmas markets this year? Awesome, Prague Christmas markets are one of the most beautiful ones in the world! And Prague is ready. But do you know who is ready, too? Pickpockets, scammers, average restaurants, fake charity and other parasites ripping people off during this lovely time of the year… I don’t intend to frighten you, this blog post will ultimately have a positive twist, I promise! My goal is to help you uncover the authentic charm of a Christmasy Prague and avoid local tourist traps.

Who is writing you this blog?

My name is Dana and I have been living in Prague my entire life. Besides writing this blog, I also work as a tour guide, running my own tiny business called Prague Behind The Scenes. With my services, I strive to support respectful tourism in Prague and help visitors to discover the city in a less touristy way. If this sounds like your style of travelling, please feel free to drop me a line at dana@praguebehindthescenes.com and I will be happy to show you around.

prague christmas markets — *Dana, owner and guide for Prague Behind The Scenes – Small Group Tours and Experiences.*

1. What to know before coming?

prague christmas — *Walnut shell candles, small gifts from the Prague Christmas market at Mariánské náměstí.*

The Prague Christmas markets are a bit like Cinderella at midnight: many wrap up before the Christmas Day (December 24), and only some will stay open after Christmas or New Year’s celebrations.
The ideal time to visit is during the weekdays, as weekends can be quite overwhelming.
Bring cash (Czech Crowns), some vendors at the Christmas markets prefer cash.
Chimney cake (trdelník) is not a local traditional pastry. It’s an official tourist trap that you will see everywhere. An old Czech legend says that if you snag one, you might end up on Santa’s naughty list.
Drinking in the public is allowed, you can grab your mulled wine or beer and explore the city.
There may be deposits on certain drinking cups to help minimize waste in our streets and promote a more environmentally friendly approach.
Remember to bring hand sanitizer. Prague is currently seeing a slight rise in hepatitis cases.
Keep an eye on your bags, because even pickpockets want a piece of the Christmas spirit! These sneaky individuals love to hang out in bustling spots like Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square. Hug your bags and keep them zipped.
Oh, and don’t forget, when you’re getting some street food, watch out! Those low prices are for a mere 100 grams, not a full portion!

*Important stop during my non-touristy winter adventures – sipping mulled wine in the oh-so-Bohemian nook of Nový Svět!*

2. When the Prague Christmas markets start and when do they end?

The crown jewel of Christmas markets? Old Town Square, where tourists flock like reindeer on a mission! Just joking, the surroundings are fabulous, it´s like a fairytale and definitely a must-see when in Prague. However, locals sneak off to chill at the less crowded, and wallet-friendly markets. 🎄✨

OLD TOWN SQUARE AND WENCESLAS SQUARE CHRISTMAS MARKETS

The most popular Christmas markets located downtown: Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, open up on November 29, 2025 and stay open until January 6, 2025. Every day from 10am – 10pm.

NÁMĚSTÍ MÍRU CHRISTMAS MARKET

The less touristy Christmas markets on Náměstí Míru are already open, from November 20, 2025! Every day until December 24. The best time to visit is when it gets dark. Fortunately, the days are shorter now, so around 5 PM it’s ideal to come. They are open from 10 AM to 8 PM.

MARIÁNSKÉ NÁMĚSTÍ CHRISTMAS MARKET

A quaint, non-touristy Christmas market, located just five minutes from Old Town Square, will be open from November 29 to January 6.

RIVERFRONT “NÁPLAVKA” MARKET

Local Christmas / farmers market on Náplavka will be open only on Saturdays! 29.11.
6.12., 13.12., 20.12., 27.12. from 8am until 2pm.

HOLEŠOVICKÁ TRŽNICE ADVENT MARKET

Less touristy, small local Advent market at Holešovická tržnice is open from November 27 until December 21, every day except Mondays, from 2 PM to 9 PM, and on weekends from 10 AM to 6 PM. You can purchase a sustainable Christmas tree and enjoy an outdoor cinema experience!

3. What insights and recommendations does a local have for you?

About the Old Town Square Christmas Market: This is the biggest and most popular Christmas market in Prague. And also the most crowded one. This is exactly the market you’ve seen in all the images featuring Christmas in Prague. Yeah, our pride in media. But mostly only visual:-) I wouldn´t call it traditional local Christmas market. It´s quite overpriced show for tourists. But of course, the surroundings are beautiful!!!

My opinion about the Old Town Square market: Just like every year the market is highly overrated and touristy, nothing that I could call authentic, it´s mostly about food and chimney cakes. Weekends are rather extreme there, weekdays are better.

My tip: climb up the Astronomical Clock Tower for the best photos of the Christmas market.

About Wenceslas Square Christmas Market: Wenceslas Square is a vast area, making it much more enjoyable to stroll around. I was pleased to see that the stalls are not crammed together, allowing ample space for standing, eating, and drinking.

The square is currently undergoing significant reconstructions, including the installation of new tram tracks. As a result, you may encounter some barriers and blockades in the area. But nothing extreme.

My tip: Come there after sunset. Everything will be illuminated, including the stunning facade of National Museum.

4. Where locals like to go?

If you’re tired of the overpriced tourist traps and busy places, I invite you to break away and discover local Christmas markets for a more genuine experience. That´s where Czechs like to go and you are welcome to join us!

Christmas market at Mariánské Náměstí: is located only a 5-minute walk from the busy Old Town Square. It’s rather hidden in front of the Prague New City Hall. What to expect there? No crowds, a friendly atmosphere, charity-focused products, better prices, more space (even for sitting), and a wooden house where you can write your Christmas wish and send it to Ježíšek (Baby Jesus) who delivers Christmas to Czechs (we don’t have Santa here). After you write it, don’t forget to ring the bell. It serves as a signal for angels to carry your wishes to the heavens.

*Beautiful hand-made Christmas brooches.*

*This was my favourite:-)* *250 CZK (10 euro)*

Walnut boats – candles. On Christmas Day, each family member receives one, lights it, and places it in a bowl of water. These symbolize little boats, and the farther your boat drifts, the better it is—signifying a year filled with travel and adventure ahead.

Náměstí Míru Christmas Market: Charming and big local Christmas market located right in front of the stunning St. Ludmila Church. This market tends to attract more locals and expats than tourists because it´s not centrally located. But you can easily get here by subway (green line). It´s only 5 minutes ride. The metro station is called NÁMĚSTÍ MÍRU.

This market stays open only until December 24, so hurry up!!!

*Christmas market on Náměstí Míru. There were around 60 different stalls today (December 10).*

*It’s also nice experience to visit here when it’s dark, as the string lights create a wonderfully festive atmosphere.*

My opinion about this market: I am pleasantly surprised by the variety. There are around 60 stalls with Christmas cookies, roasted nuts, handmade baskets, Christmas ornaments, ceramics, clothes, gloves, and warm socks. All drinks are served in deposit cups instead of single-use ones = less mess around!! Thank you!!

chirstmas markets — *I also loved the Christmas trees scattered throughout the square, which were beautifully decorated by children from Prague’s elementary and nursery schools.*

I saw numerous locals gathering with friends to enjoy mulled wine. I noticed children visiting with their teachers to purchase sweets, and I spotted residents selecting Christmas trees along with big mistletoes…no rush, no stress.

Náplavka farmers / Christmas market: This market is your trusty Saturday hangout all year long (except January’s little break). When Advent rolls around, it transforms into a merry wonderland! Lot of local products to taste and buy and fantastic views over the city. It´s located right on the river front! Open on 29.11., 6.12., 13.12., 20.12., 27.12. from 8am until 2pm.

christmas market naplavka — Join us at the winter market on Saturdays! Náplavka is a fantastic location, featuring numerous vendors and stunning views of the river, as well as Prague Castle. Don’t miss out if you’re in town for the weekend! *29.11., 6.12., 13.12., 20.12., 27.12. from 8am until 2pm.* *Photo: Farmářské tržiště Náplavka Facebook*

5. Visit the Christmas markets easily by subway!

Yes, all the of the above mentioned markets you can conveniently visit by Prague subway (metro). Don´t worry about getting lost, as each market is situated near the metro exits.

Purchase a 24-hour ticket for flexibility (there are machines in every vestibule), allowing you to travel as much as you like. If you’re 65 or older, you can even travel for free. Just be sure to carry your passport with you.

Purchase a 24-hour ticket for flexibility, allowing you to travel as much as you like. If you’re 65 or older, you can even travel for free, just be sure to carry your passport with you. Photo: wikipedia

So, where can you find these markets, and which stops should you use?

Old Town Square market and Mariánské Náměstí market = “Staroměstská” metro stop (green line)
Wenceslas Square market = “Můstek” (green line)
Náměstí Míru market = “Náměstí Míru” metro stop (green line)
Náplavka market = “Karlovo náměstí” stop (yellow line)

6. How to pay at the Christmas markets: cash or card?

Guys, this is very important. You will need cash when visiting the Christmas markets. Some stalls accept cards but definitely not all of them. From my experience it´s 50:50 cash / card or QR code. Some places even accept euros (for example some stalls on the Old Town Square). But don´t count on that and exchange some money before going there.

Where to get Czech cash without being ripped off, please check my blog post: Where to exchange money in Prague and how much?

How much money will you need at the markets? It really depends on your purchasing plans. However, for refreshments and sampling food, your budget should be 500 to 1000 CZK / person.

prague currency — *It´s always better to have some cash with you. From my personal experience it´s 50:50 cash / card (QR code) at Prague Christmas markets.*

7. What are the biggest tourist traps on the markets?

STREET FOOD

Chimney cake – you will see it absolutely everywhere. This is nothing local or typical Czech. That´s actually one of the biggest local tourist traps all year round. Product of Prague mass tourism.

*Prague Christmas market tourist trap – chimney cake (trdelnik)*. *Photo: Wikimedia free*

Another big trap are all kinds of hams and meals cooked in the big pots in front of you. There is nothing wrong with them. The only problem (the trap) is the price stated on the board. The price you will always see is price for 100 grams (0,2 pounds), not for the whole portion!!! People often think that this is a price for the whole meal – so cheap, bargain, wow!! But in the end it’s definitely not. Because the portion you will get will be huge. And the price they will ask you to pay will be huge too.

LED BALLOONS (AKA FAKE CHARITY)

One more tourist trap to be aware of is people selling LED glowing balloons. You’ll likely encounter them throughout the city center, walking around, particularly after the sun goes down. They claim that the earnings go to charity, but you can probably guess where that money really ends up…It’s a widely recognized local scam, and there have been several reportages highlighting the issue to warn people. Please don´t buy them!! They have been operating in Prague streets already more than two year!