It was such a beautiful morning (blue skies, wispy clouds) that I couldn’t resist walking down to Old Town Square and snapping a few pictures.
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ČTK
The annual Million Marihuana March through the city’s centre, calling for the legalisation of marihuana for both medical and “recreational” purposes, was held for the 15th time Saturday.
We’ve already written about concert highlights in Prague for Spring/Summer 2012 but there are plenty of other events taking place in the city over the coming months.
Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square are home to stalls selling handcrafted products: toys, painted eggs, traditional Czech switches for whipping girls with at Eastertime (in the interests of fertility). Traditional food stands and plenty of kinds of alcohol are available too.
If you’re of a literary bent, the Prague Writer’s Festival offers the chance to attend talks by world-renowned authors, held at the New Stage of the National Theatre.
Venues all over the city, from concert halls and churches to the National Technical Museum will resound to the sounds of some of the best classical performers in the world.
For two weeks from mid-May to early June the exhibition grounds at Holesovice in Prague 7 are once again home to the largest, and longest, beer festival in the country. This year marks a welcome return to the festival’s original location, no longer exiled at the far end of the C Metro line. Beer is served in glassware not plastic, by ‘girls and boys in Czech national costumes’. While not quite a rival to Munich’s Oktoberfest, you will get the chance to try over 70 different Czech beers from many small breweries that are rarely on tap in the city. The festival currency, Tolars, cost 45Kc each (€1.80/.70). One liter of beer will cost 2 Tolars. Food between 1 and 6 Tolars. As opposed to earlier years there is no entrance fee either.
The city’s pre-eminent food festival promises to have learnt from last years logistical problems that left advance ticket-buyers queueing for longer than those buying at the entrance and had people wandering the pathways of the royal gardens looking for somewhere to sit and eat their tasting portions. Much more seating is promised, though you’ll still be ushered off the grass should you dare to tread on it. If you have a limited time in Prague this is a neat way to try the signature dishes of many of the city’s top restaurants in one place.
An international festival of contemporary dance and movement, programme still being prepared.
The Prague Fringe, now in its 11th year, comprises short plays, monologues, dance and comedy, performed in small venues in Mala Strana, by the river. Everything is either in English or without language, so you don’t need to worry about not understanding Czech. Tickets are inexpensive and usually available in advance, to guarantee a seat, or at the door of each venue. Check our blog for more details as the festival organisers release them.
Many of the city’s museums open till 1am and have free entry. The public transport company puts on special buses to facilitate getting between the museums too. The Museum Night website should be updated with more details in due course.
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ČTK
Prague will not get a one-billion crown subsidy from the EU to reconstruct the central water treatment plant as expected, therefore the Environment Ministry will not send an application to Brussels, the ministry said Thursday.
The Czech Republic mourned the passing of its first post-Communism democratically elected President late last year.
A Praguer through and through, playwright Vaclav Havel was one of the driving forces of Charter 77, the group of dissidents who sought to bring about the end of the repressive regime and ultimately succeeded in November 1989 in what was dubbed the Velvet Revolution.
You can walk in the footsteps of this national hero and see Prague as he did.
During his dissident years, when not imprisoned for his unharmonious views, Havel called the top floor of Gorazdova 19 home (map marker A). Located next to the Dancing Building.
Just next door is the pub & restaurant Na Rybarne (map marker B), where he took celebrities such as Mick Jagger and Bill Clinton.
In the background of that picture you’ll notice a tower (map marker C). It was from here that the StB, the Communist Secret Police, would observe Havel’s comings and goings.
Havel studied at the Theatre faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts (map marker D) – why not take in a show by the school’s current students at the nearby DISK Theatre.
Head north along the river and you’ll soon pass the National Theatre and opposite it, on Narodni street, you’ll see Café Slavia (map marker E), with its plate glass windows overlooking the river. The coffee’s not up to much (see our post about Prague cafés for some suggestions) but you can’t go wrong with a beer.
Havel’s memoirs, titled To the Castle and Back, tell it all in more detail but by all accounts he was reluctant to put himself forward but there was a groundswell of opinion and he relented. As The Economist puts it:
Havel confounded those who thought he was too dilettantish to be a proper president. He rollerskated through the corridors of Prague castle, exorcising the ghosts of the communist usurpers with his humanity and humour.
You can’t rollerskate there yourself but you can take a tour (map marker F).
Havel was pretty well connected, pals with rockstars and world leaders from the Dalai Lama and Bill Clinton to Lou Reed and the Rolling Stones. Drop by Reduta Jazz Club (map marker G) in the evening to catch a performance and see where Clinton played his sax for Havel.
Havel’s apartment image credit: Furman University Education Department
Vaclav Havel image credit: Wikipedia Commons
One of our most popular destinations is also a hotspot for pop and rock musicians – there’s often a Prague leg on their European tours.
This year is no exception and it’s a banner year for rock and metal fans with Springsteen, Metallica, Black Sabbath, Pearl Jam and the Red Hot Chili Peppers all putting in appearances.
Links go straight to places you can buy tickets (other than for Black Sabbath – that’s sold out so your best bet is trying to find someone selling their tickets on the classifieds section of a site like Expats.cz.
Joe Bonamassa, Tipsport Arena, 28/2/12
Diana Reeves, Municipal House, 14th March 2012
The Stranglers, Meet Factory, 20th April 2012
Manic Street Preachers, Lucerna Velky Sal, 25 the April 2012
Metallica, Synot Tip Arena, 7th May 2012
Black Sabbath, O2 Arena, 6th June 2012
SOLD OUT!
Pearl Jam, O2 Arena, 2nd July 2012
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Synot Tip Arena, 11th July 2012
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Synot Tip Arena, 27th August 2012
Coldplay, Synot Tip Arena, 16th September 2012
If you’re into classical then there’s the Prague Spring, running from 12th May to 3rd June this year, and if music festivals are your thing then the middle of summer (you’ll notice there are no big concerts in the city for most of July and August). If you’re travelling with JayWay don’t forget to let your destination manager know what you’re into and we will let you know what’s on when you’re n town.
The list above features concerts at a wide array of venues:
A O2 Arena is a large, modern, indoor arena. 18,000 capacity, Slavia Praha Ice Hockey Club play home games here
B Synot Tip Arena is a recently built 21,000 capacity football stadium, home to Slavia Praha Football Club
C Tipsport Arena is a 50 year old ice hockey arena, 14,000 capacity. Previously known as Tesla Arena and T-Mobile Arena before that
D Municipal House (Obecni Dum) is a multi-purpose building, one of Prague’s most beautiful landmarks and located in the center, full of art deco detail and two large concert halls.
E Lucerna Velky Sal is the largest concert space in the Lucerna Palac, a large building, shopping arcade, music club and cinema complex at the middle of Wenceslas Square. A fairly small intimate venue to watch a rock band (2,500 capacity)
F Hybernia Theatre is situated opposite Obecni Dum and is a recently renovated theatre with a capacity of just under 1,000.
Venues map:
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We’ve just added Berlin to the destinations on offer here at JayWay Travel and one of the most common combinations of itinerary is Prague and Berlin (and often Budapest too. Check our Prague to Budapest post).
As the crow flies, the two capitals are 280km apart and you can travel the distance a number of ways:
There are regular direct flights between Prague and Berlin operated twice daily by Czech Airlines (CSA), all other airlines (German Wings and Lufthansa) require a change somewhere else in Germany. As the only airline operating the route directly CSA are somewhat pricey (even out of peak season, expect to pay at least 0). If you’re travelling in a group, this gets expensive fast, with no discounts for multiple passengers! Flights with changes are cheaper but take at least an hour longer. The flight time is one hour, though you’ll need to factor in the time to get to and from the airports at either end, as well as getting to the airport at least an hour before check-in. Total journey time is close to four hours for a direct flight.
For city-centre to city-centre convenience the train is hard to beat, though if you’ve got lots of luggage, you’ll need to factor in the hassle of getting to and from the train station. Trains start at Berlin’s Hauptbahnhof and arrive at Prague’s Hlavni Nadrazi (main station). Journey time isn’t much worse than taking a plane, all told, at 5 minutes short of 5 hours, and you get to stretch out and watch the scenery. You can buy tickets online or we can take care of buying them for you. Buying in advance is usually cheaper than buying on the day.
You could hire a car and drive yourself, though dropping a rental off in another country usually incurs a fairly hefty fee. If you’re round-tripping and returning the car where you picked it up, you avoid this charge but pay attention to mileage allowances as driving across Europe can eat those up, unless it’s unlimited. Fuel is also a lot more expensive than you might be used to if you’re visiting from the US ( a gallon!). Don’t forget to add in the cost of parking too.
Alternatively we can arrange a private transfer service, with an appropriately sized car or minivan, between the two cities. You get the convenience of door-to-door service as well as save money when you’re in a group. As well as being hassle free we can also give you the option of a stop en route in Dresden, a beautiful city in South East Germany, for a bonus bit of sightseeing. On a good run the journey time is around 4 hours.
Getting to Berlin from Prague is exactly the same in reverse. Whichever direction or mode you want to travel, we can include it as part of a tailored JayWay Travel tour package.
New Year’s Eve is an odd holiday, when it almost seems mandatory that you have something “fun” planned, or that you attend a party. But if doing belly shots and listening to techno thumping isn’t exactly your idea of a good time, consider celebrating the end of the year with a special dinner out. Many Prague restaurants are hosting parties of their own for New Year’s, with set course menus that often include drinks, as well — so there’s still plenty of opportunities to get a bit wild, but in style (and on a full, happy stomach).
In the Dec. 21 issue of The Prague Post, I listed several dining options for Dec. 31. There are many more out there, though, than the printed page can allow, so here are a few more ideas to whet your appetite, for a range of budgets. Make sure to book a table as soon as possible, though — places will book up fast.
U Vejvodů
Jilská 1, Prague 1–Old Town. Tel. 224 219 999
One of Prague’s oldest and best-known watering holes, U Vejvodů is a classic Czech beer hall. So it’s fitting that its New Year’s Party features a taste of Czech cuisine and pub life extending into the wee hours, and all for people’s prices. For 890 Kč per person, there’s a welcome drink of Becherovka at 7:30 p.m.; at 7:40, a first course of chicken Galantine with Rollo Rosso salad; at 8 p.m., a main course comprising an “Old Bohemian plate” of a quarter roast duck, grilled pork neck, smoked pork, red and white sauerkraut and potato, bread and Carlsbad dumplings; and at 10 p.m., dessert of a fruit tart. Between 12:30 and 1 a.m., traditional Czech sausage will be served with mustard and horseradish, and live music (as well as a traditional travesty show) will keep the entertainment levels high from 8 p.m. till 5 a.m.
Koliba U Pastýřky
Bělehradská 15, Prague 4–Nusle. Tel. 222 564 335
This vast country-style beer hall is ideal for large groups, and despite being outside of the city center is easily accessible via the No. 11 tram. U Pastýřky’s New Year’s Eve party is bound to be a rowdy, hopsy event, and food and drinks are all included for 2,000 Kč. The special all-inclusive menu for the evening features an aperitif of Becherovka; a mixed starter plate of sausages, spiced pork, ham with horseradish and mustard, peppers and a variety of cheeses; cabbage and sausage soup in a bread bowl; entrees of pork tenderloin stuffed with Parma ham, skewers of grilled beef rumpsteak and chicken breast with sun-dried tomatoes prepared in English-style bacon, with potatoes, steak fries and potato pancakes; dessert of apple strudel, vanilla ice cream and whipped cream; and a midnight toast of Bohemia Sekt. All-you-can-drink beverages include Pilsner Urquell, a selection of wines, and soft drinks. Live music courtesy of a tombola group will keep the action going till late.
Velká Klášterní restaurace
Strahovské nádvoří 302, Prague 1–Strahov. Tel. 233 352 730
If you’re looking to ring in the new year at a closer proximity to beer at its source, Klášterní restaurace might be the place. With an award-winning microbrewery onsite, the restaurant, whose rooms carry much atmosphere from their monastic roots, are an elegant place — not to mention the restaurant is located just steps away from one of the best views over the city, perfect for catching the midnight show of fireworks. For 1,990 Kč, the menu includes a welcome drink of Bohemia Sekt or Becherovka; beef and salmon tartare with toast; roast trout with prawns on rucola with grilled cherry tomatoes; goose Galantine with fois gras, potatoes and cabbage; a selection of cakes; tea and coffee; salty snacks; and, after midnight, roast suckling pig with ham and lentil salad with homemade bread. To include beverages in the menu, it costs 100 Kč per person per hour for unlimited beer, wine or soft drinks.
Il Gattopardo
Vojtěšská 9, Prague 1–Old Town. Tel. 222 512 828
If you’re looking to think warmer thoughts, and a touch of Sicilian flair (and fare) would do just the trick, Il Gattopardo, which recently moved from its Letná outpost to a central location in Old Town, is hosting a New Year’s Eve party. The price of 2,800 Kč includes a welcome drink of Aperol spritzer; starters of tuna tartare alla Salinese, swordfish carpaccio alla Garibaldina, shrimp skewers with avocado sauce, Arancini and veal slices with tuna sauce alla Gattopardiana; black tagliolini with lobster sauce, and Gepard’s baked pasta; Grand Marnier coffee sorbet; Angus beef steak or monkfish alla Tancredi; dessert of warm Panettone with pistachio cream; coffee and a glass of sparkling wine. Recommended arrival time is 7 p.m. for the menu, and the evening will be accompanied by Neapolitan songwriter Edmondo Bucciarelli.
La Finestra
Platnéřská 90/13, Prague 1–Old Town. Tel. 222 325 325
For another taste of Italy, La Finestra in Old Town has a special menu for 2,950 Kč featuring terrine of quail and fois gras with roasted nuts, beetroot carpaccio and green lentils balsamic salad; white fagioli soup with lobster fricassee, smoked Buffalo mozzarella and crispy Pata negra; vermicelli with Pienollo tomatoes reduction and cod tartare; choice of slow-cooked veal cheeks with winter apple-cinnamon puree, creamy horseradish sauce and gratinated butter potatoes; or seared pikeperch with warm vegetables-morrels salad, glazed shallots and milk truffle foam; chestnut mille foglie with warm plum compote and Grappa foam.
Cloud 9
Pobřežní 1, Prague 8–Karlín. Tel. 224 842 999
This sky bar atop the Prague Hilton boasts some of best views over the city, with a sweeping terrace, and its signature cocktails rank among some of Prague’s best. For New Year’s Eve, the bar hosts a gala dinner buffet, unlimited Taittinger Champagne, wine, beer and soft drinks, a welcome drink, a midnight toast, and an after-party into the morning hours. 7,990 Kč per person.
Restaurant My Life
Jankovcova 49, Prague 7–Holešovice. Tel. 774 222 224
Located in the industrial area of Holesovice that’s fast become home to reconstructed office buildings and swank apartment complexes, Restaurant My Life hosts a New Year’s buffet dinner, accompanied by live music, for 550 Kč per person. Call for more details.
La Casa Argentina
Dlouhá 35, Prague 1–Old Town. Tel. 222 313 092
For a Latin-themed evening, La Casa Argentina hosts a Latin night of several options of set menus (featuring the likes of filet Mignon and Iberian pork cheeks) for 1,850–2,350 Kč. Live music will accompany, and midnight fireworks are promised.
Peklo
Strahovské nádvoří 1, Prague 1–Strahov. Tel. 608 503 395
Somewhere named Hell may not sound like an ideal place to celebrate, but this gorgeous, brick-lined cellar space atop Strahov is hot, and its New Year’s menu costs 1,990 Kč. The buffet features homemade duck pate, marinated salmon, Bresaola with honey-dew melon, rucola and goat cheese, Caesar salad, beef burritos, grilled tiger shrimps and pastas, to name a few things. The price includes a welcome drink, the buffet, a midnight toast and unlimited soft drinks. Musical entertainment will be provided by the Peter Kroutil Trio.
Mlýnec
Novotného lávka 9, Prague 1–Old Town. Tel. 277 000 777
Located right next to Charles Bridge, Mlýnec hosts a six-course degustation menu with wines, unlimited drinks, an evening buffet with live music, and other treats, for the price of 6,990 Kč per person. Contact the restaurant for more information.
Artisan
Rošických 4, Prague 5–Malá Strana. Tel. 257 218 277
For an international menu at this consistently good eatery, Artisan has a New Year’s menu that includes a glass of Glosset Excellence Champagne; an amuse bouche; beef tartare with truffle oil and homemade focaccia; veal consommé with homemade ravioli, vegetables and sherry; poached tiger prawns with saffron foam; lemon sorbet with basil; an entrée of either roast John Dorry fillet with salsa verde and French beans or beef steak “Rossini”; and a dessert of coconut panna cotta with passion-fruit sauce. The cost per person is 1,950 Kč.
Na Slamníku
Wolkerova 12, Prague 6–Bubeneč. Tel. 233 322 594
One of Prague’s oldest and most authentic pubs that’s managed to escape the tourist craze, Na Slamníku is a former stable house on the edge of Stromovka Park. Drinking there is definitely a no-frills affair, but the dance hall and the pub warmed by a cozy fireplace make for an atmosphere that’s difficult to leave. For New Year’s, the pub is hosting a set menu of Czech food for 200 Kč, and, best of all, is turning back the clock on its beer prices, selling each pint for only 5 Kč.
2 Pazzi
Donská 11, Prague 10-Vršovice. Tel. 606 633 992
This family-run, small Italian restaurant on the Vinohrady-Vrsovice border hosts a special New Year’s degustation menu, which, for 690 Kč, includes skewer of shrimps and polenta with basil pesto, carrot and ginger soup, Orecchiette Pasta with broccoli and salmon, lemon and champagne sorbet, porchetta with rosemary potatoes, and limoncello tiramisu.
Prague continues to be a very popular destination to see in the New Year, with the town full of visitors.
We’ve broken this article down into Restaurants, Clubs and Bars, with a little advice at the end on where to go if you plan on partying in the streets.
Hard Rock Cafe
From 871Kc to 2000Kc depending on when and how long you have a table reservation for. See the New Year in, Hard Rock style, close to the action on Old Town Square.
Kampa Group
The high-end restaurant group Kampa is as usual putting on some up-scale party menus at their three restaurants in Mala Strana. Top-end Kampa Park, situated almost under Charles Bridge, has a Black Tie party with live music, a DJ and a disco after midnight and a fine dining menu for between 4,500kc and 5,500kc. The more approachable Hergetova Cihelna’s Black & White party with either a sit-down menu or a buffet of tasty treats, both at 3,900Kc, with the same kind of entertainment line-up. Cihelna’s location, with a terrace right on the river, should be excellent for watching the midnight fireworks.
Cowboys, on the hill up to the castle, with a rooftop terrace to watch the fireworks from, gives you a similar choice of sit-down or buffet style menu, for 3,500Kc or 3,600Kc respectively. Cowboys entertainment offering differs in that there’s no live music but there is a magician.
Ambiente Group
Many of Ambiente’s places are sticking with their standard a la carte menu or offering a new years menu but not having a specific party event, so if you want good food at regular prices and don’t plan on staying all night (say if you want to go outside for the fireworks, then home) this is a good option. Only Brasileiro on U Radnice is putting on a special party event. Tickets will set you back 2495kc each and gets you the normal all-you-can-eat salad, sushi and meat buffer, a caipirinha, live music from the Tam-Tam orchestra, samba school and midnight champagne.
La Casa Argentina
Argentinian steak house La Casa has a couple of fixed price menus to choose from (at 1,890Kc and 2350Kc). Whichever one you go for you’ll have Latin-American rhythms to dance the night away to and fireworks at midnight.
La Bodeguita Del Medio
A Havana style NYE party awaits at this Cuban joint close to Old Town Square and even closer to the Rudolfinum. Here your options are an 800Kc Tapas-at-bar-tables menu, a couple of 4-course menus at 1,680Kc or 1,900Kc, or a vegetarian menu at 1,680Kc.
Hilton Prague
If you really want to push the boat out for New Years then head to the Hilton. The hotel’s restaurants and the cocktail bar on the 9th floor have New Years parties scheduled. A choice of venues and menus: from 4,400kc for the Atrium Gala Dinner to 7,900Kc for the Starlit SkyBar Gala Dinner in Cloud 9 cocktail bar. All of the options include drinks, with the more expensive options (6,400Kc plus) including unlimited champagne. If you want the Hilton party experience on the (relative) cheap then their Musicology After Party, with tickets for 1,790Kc, gets you into the atrium or Cloud 9 from 11pm and includes a bottle of Taittinger.
Celeste
With one of the best views of the Prague-by-night, from atop the Dancing House (also called the Fred & Ginger Building), Celeste have an exclusive and exquisite meni on offer for 3900Kc per person (drinks extra).
Sasazu
This Prague super-club offers a choice of regular and VIP tickets for their NYE Party, Ride On Time, which features a heavyweight DJ lineup who will take you on a musical ride through the years, from the 1920s and into the future. Advance tickets start at 550Kc for the first 400, after which 990kc, then 1390kc on the door. A limited number of VIP tickets are 2800Kc in advance after which it’ll set you back 4,000Kc. VIP entry gets you access to the gallery level and an unlimited open bar.
Industrial Palace
The main hall of the Industrial Palace, usually an exhibition/trade show venue, will be transformed into one big party. A star-studded DJ line-up and their mission of providing a kick-ass party to people tired of paying through the nose just because it’s New Years should add up to a good night for all. Tickets from 899Kc (it was as low as 399Kc for people so together as to have booked before the 15th of September).
Lucerna
It’s always the 80s (and 90s) in Lucerna and NYE is no different. Tickets are 450Kc in advance at the club box office with no booking fee, or can be bought from ticket websites, where booking fee is payable. Situated just off Wenceslas Square this would be a good venue for anyone planning to see the fireworks there at midnight.
Karlovy Lazne
The ‘Biggest Music Club in Central Europe’ always puts on a big bash for New Years. No details confirmed at the time of writing but expect 5 floors of differing musical styles and a whole load of locals and tourists in the 18-25 age range.
Theatro Music Club
A stone’s throw from the edge of Prague 1, this music club in the basement of the Karlin Musical Theatre is putting on a beach party. The price is pretty low at 300Kc including a welcome drink and nibbles, as well as free shots served by ‘sexy gogo dancing waitresses’ (no prizes for political correctness at this party it seems).
Retro Music Hall
This year Retro’s theme for their New Years Eve Party is Comic Books. The DJs will be dressed like characters from comics and you can join in to — go as Spiderman or Cat Woman if you like! Costumes aren’t obligatory however and their policy on presales is this: party starts at 9, presold tickets (250Kc) get you in before 11, then it’s general admission (300Kc) — last year lots of people with tickets didn’t turn up till 2am, leaving loads of people queueing up outside in the cold, due to the venue’s limited capacity. On that basis it could be a good option for a last minute party spot. Retro is located very close to Namesti Miru metro station and tram stops, just outside the very centre.
Cloud 9
As mentioned in the restaurants section, this cocktail bar atop the Hilton is either very expensive if you go for the whole evening or somewhat more reasonable (1,790Kc, including a bottle of champagne) if you get there after 11.
Bugsy’s Bar
This Old Town favourite is holding a French Countryside themed NYE party with cocktails, champagne, traditional French drinks and food. Tickets are available at the bar.
Papa’s Bar/Lounge
Party in the style of 60s Rock’n’Roll from 8pm to 7am and choose from an open bar (1,999Kc) or open bar with a 3 course menu (2,899Kc). On Bethlehem Square, a short walk from Old Town Square.
Keeping costs down or just prefer to enjoy New Year’s Eve outdoors? Prague’s streets are generally safe, but beware of the usual hazards such as pickpockets in crowds as well as the unforeseen dangers of crazy people packing their own bangers and fireworks. Charles Bridge, Wenceslas Square and Old Town Square are the top locations. My favourite less-crowded but very central vantage point to watch the various private and DIY fireworks displays you’ll see is in front of the Rudolfinum concert hall, right by the river. Other popular viewpoints are Vitkov Hill in Zizkov, by the Czech National Monument and statue of George of Podebrady or Riegrovy Sady in Vinohrady.
More parties will be added as details are announced. If you represent an establishment in Prague and would like your NYE Party listed here, please leave us a comment.
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It’s that time of year, the temperature drops to around freezing and many of Prague’s squares come alive with the Christmas markets. Here’s the lowdown on where and when you’ll find them and what to expect when you get there.
In all the markets you can expect to find stalls or huts selling souvenirs, gifts and Christmas decorations, running the gamut from hand-made pieces down to commercially produced imported tchotchkes. Pay attention to where items are produced if you’re looking for something authentic for the folks back home.
Refreshments come in the form of warm alcohol – mulled wine (svařák) and honey wine or mead (medovina). Savoury eats include sausage and smoked hams while the sweet-toothed will enjoy pancakes (palačinky) and Czech gingerbread (perník).
The market opens on the 26th of November and runs till the 1st of January. All the stalls are open from 9am to 7pm weekdays and to 8pm on weekends. Stalls serving food and drink can be open till midnight. By far Prague’s largest Christmas market, there’s also a stage where folk music and dancing performance take place. This year’s tree will be 29 meters tall and is gifted to Prague by the town of Malé Kyšice.
The pedestrian area at the bottom of Wenceslas Square is where you’ll find another small Christmas market from November 26th to January 8th.
In front of the Celnice building there will be a small market with the usual array of stalls. The market will run from November 25th to December 24th. There’s a
Prague 2 and 3 aren’t left out of the action, Náměstí Míru (Prague 2)’s market starts earlier than most, on the the 20th of November and runs to the 24th of December. Náměstí Jiřího z Poděbrad in Prague 3 usually also has a market too.
As with anywhere there are large crowds and lots of tourists, be aware of your valuables. Check your change at stalls, and make sure you understand in your own currency how much you’re paying for anything you buy. One more thing – if you’re visiting one of these markets just a few days before Christmas, don’t be alarmed by the large tubs full of icy water and live carp. That’s the traditional Czech christmas dinner. People can choose to take the fish home dead or alive, where it will likely be kept in the bathtub till it’s time to prepare it.
Most of our selection of apartments and hotels in Prague are in or very close to the center but if you want Old Town Square right on your doorstep, the Old Town Flats apartments or either of the Old Town Residence or Tyn Church hotels are the best choices.
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