Christmas in Prague: 1–4 Day Hour-by-Hour Itineraries

In Prague 24 December is busy in the morning and quiet in the afternoon: museums close at 2–3 pm, the castle buildings are fully closed and after 2 pm the market stalls only sell food and drink. Our routes put shopping in the morning, the castle on another day and the evening on the tree lights and Christmas dinner. There are two paces: relaxed and balanced–packed.

Plan with your own dates

Enter your arrival and departure; the route adapts to that day’s opening hours, markets and your flights.

Itineraries by length

Christmas Eve evening

All free; the 2026 schedule follows last season’s pattern, so check in December.

Christmas tree light show: On Old Town Square at 4:30, 5:30, 6:30, 7:30, 8:30 and 9:30 pm.
Mass at Týn Church: 4:30 pm; arrive early.
Open-air mass: On Old Town Square at 9 pm.
Midnight mass: Strahov Basilica and other churches; trams stop regular service around 6 pm, so plan a taxi back.

When are the Christmas markets open?

Market	Dates	Hours
Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square	28 November – 6 January	10 am–10 pm (on 24 December stalls until 2 pm)
Náměstí Míru (Vinohrady)	20 November – 24 December	10 am–7 pm
Náměstí Republiky	25 November – 24 December	10 am–8 pm
Tylovo náměstí	26 November – 24 December	10 am–7 pm

Open and closed over Christmas

Place	22–23 December	24 December	25 December
Old Town and Wenceslas markets	10 am–10 pm	stalls until 2 pm, then food and drink	10 am–10 pm
Neighbourhood markets	open	last day	closed
Castle buildings and cathedral	9 am–4 pm	closed* (courtyards open)	Cathedral 1–3:30 pm*
Old Town Hall Tower	9 am–8 pm	9 am–3 pm	11 am–6 pm
Jewish Museum	9 am–4:30 pm	9 am–2 pm	not published
Strahov Library	9 am–5 pm	closed	closed
Large stores	open	close at noon	closed
Public transport	normal	trams until ~6 pm*	holiday timetable

*Last season’s pattern; 2026 notices will be updated in early December.

Tips

Don’t leave your shopping until late on 31 December: large stores close at 5–6 pm. On 1 January and 25–26 December stores over 200 m² are closed by law, and on 24 December they close at noon; small gift shops are up to their owners.
The neighbourhood markets (Náměstí Míru, Náměstí Republiky) end on 24 December. Over New Year only the Old Town and Wenceslas markets are open (until 6 January). To see them all, go in the first half of December.
Book New Year’s Eve and Christmas Eve dinner in October or November: most restaurants serve a set menu and fill up early.
Prague has no official fireworks display; at midnight people set off fireworks all over the city. Watch out for fireworks in the crowd.
Visit the castle on the morning of 31 December: St Vitus closes at 3 pm that day, opens at 12:30 on 1 January, and the castle buildings are fully closed on 24 December.
On 31 December trams switch to the night timetable around 10 pm and the metro runs to the centre until about 2 am. On 24 December trams stop regular service around 6 pm. Staying in the Old Town and walking back is easiest.
Churches aren’t heated (St Nicholas included), so keep your coat and gloves on inside. In December it gets dark around 4 pm.
The Jewish Museum is closed on Saturdays. Jewish Museum tickets

Frequently asked questions

What’s open in Prague on 24 December?

In the morning: the Old Town Hall Tower (until 3 pm), the Jewish Museum (until 2 pm) and the bridge towers; market stalls until 2 pm. The castle buildings are fully closed but the courtyards are open. In the evening the market only sells food and drink.

When do Prague’s Christmas markets start?

The first market opens on 20 November at Náměstí Míru; the Old Town and Wenceslas markets run from 28 November to 6 January. The first half of December is best to see them all.

Are restaurants open on Christmas Eve?

Some are, with short hours; booking is essential for lunch and dinner. The traditional menu is carp and potato salad.

Is Prague Castle open on 25 December?

Last season St Vitus Cathedral opened from 1 to 3:30 pm on 25 December. Our Christmas Day routes start late and visit the castle in the afternoon.

Are shops open over Christmas?

On 24 December stores over 200 m² close at noon and stay closed on 25–26 December; small shops are up to their owners. We put souvenir shopping on 23 December or the morning of the 24th.

Sources

Opening hours and dates checked against official sources (20 October 2026). Holiday hours can change; check the official websites before you go.