Prague Christmas markets: where they are, when they open, and a weekend minutes away

The Prague Christmas markets fill four main squares through Advent: Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square from the end of November to Three Kings Day in early January, Peace Square and Republic Square until Christmas Eve. Spice Escapes takes a small group of people travelling on their own there for a long weekend, Prague Christmas Magic, hosted by Sally Wiltshire and staying minutes from the Old Town Square market.

Below: which market is which, when each trades, what to eat and bring home, and how the weekend works when you go on your own.

Old Town Square is the big one, with the tree and the Týn Church

Prague's official tourist site calls the Old Town Square market one of the largest and most visited holiday events in the Czech Republic, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Dozens of stalls sell Czech goods and food, with a daily programme of music and folklore.

The festively lit tree is the heart of it, framed by the Gothic Týn Church. Visit Czechia, the national tourist board's site, says the tree is chosen each year from a different region of the country, and that the stalls are joined by displays of old crafts such as sword making.

Wenceslas, Peace and Republic Squares each have a market of their own

Wenceslas Square lines the lower part of the square with wooden huts selling handmade gifts from Czech workshops, with traditional crafts beside more modern food, and music, choirs and family events right through to Three Kings Day.

Peace Square (náměstí Míru), in the Vinohrady district, sets its stalls in front of St Ludmila's Church. The city's listing says it kicks off Advent in Prague every year and counts it among the largest markets in town.

Republic Square (náměstí Republiky) puts dozens of stalls along the side facing V Celnici Street, near the Art Nouveau Municipal House.

Visit Czechia also lists markets at Prague Castle, Charles Square, Tyl's Square, Jiřího z Poděbrad Square and the pedestrian zone at Anděl.

When the Prague Christmas markets run, square by square

Dates and hours for this season, from the city's official site, prague.eu, and from Taiko, which runs Old Town and Wenceslas Squares:

• Old Town Square: the end of November to Three Kings Day in early January, 10am to 10pm daily.
• Wenceslas Square: the same dates and the same hours.
• Peace Square: opens about a week before those two and closes on Christmas Eve, 10am to 8pm.
• Republic Square: opens a few days before Old Town Square and closes on Christmas Eve.

The hosted weekend goes in Advent, 4 Dec 2026 – 7 Dec 2026, while all four are open. See the dates and book online on the Prague Christmas Magic page.

What to eat and drink: svařák, trdelník and hot mead

Svařák is Czech mulled wine, and the official descriptions of these markets keep coming back to its smell, with cinnamon, clove and Christmas biscuits. Visit Czechia's list for Prague adds trdelník, the sweet pastry also called chimney cake, hot mead, juicy ham, sugar-coated roasted nuts, and sausages and bratwurst.

The tourist board's winter food page names the Christmas markets as the best place to try grog, griotte, punch and mulled wine, and says some Czech markets even hold mulled wine competitions with over a hundred entries. If you are not drinking, it suggests thick hot chocolate or mulled tea, made with fruit, sugar, lemon and spices.

What to bring home: glass ornaments, nativity scenes and things made by hand

The Old Town Square market traditionally supports Czech makers, and its official listing reads like a shopping list: glass and straw ornaments, decorations made from ceramics, wood, pine needles, beads, dried fruit and spices, ceramic and wooden nativity scenes, lace tablecloths, crocheted toys, bells and chimes, biscuit cutters and moulds, and wooden rolling pins.

Peace Square adds wooden toys, sheep's wool and jewellery made by artists. Republic Square sells mistletoe, Advent wreaths, candles, candlesticks and Advent calendars. Leave room in your case for the glass.

Prague Christmas Magic puts you minutes from Old Town Square

Prague Christmas Magic is 3 nights, from £675, and the host stays with the group throughout. Home is Hotel Rott, in preserved Renaissance buildings on Little Square, steps from Old Town Square, with Charles Bridge, the Jewish Quarter and Wenceslas Square a short stroll away.

Being that close means you see the markets lit up at night and again by day. The provisional itinerary leaves the first evening free for a stroll to the Old Town Square lights and gives the next day to the Old Town and its market. Day three is Prague Castle, then Malá Strana, with Wenceslas Square or Peace Square suggested for the evening, and the last morning leaves time for last-minute shopping.

Going on your own, with Sally and a small group

Most people on a Spice holiday book on their own. Groups are around fifteen people, and some reach twenty. That means company for a svařák at the stalls, someone to tell you the glass bauble really is worth it, and a host who has the arranging in hand.

A room to yourself carries a single supplement or room-to-yourself cost on every Spice holiday, and our single supplement page explains it. If this is your first trip of its kind, first-time solo travellers is written for you, and over-50s solo holidays shows the wider programme.

If that weekend does not suit: Puglia at New Year, Paris later in the winter

New Year in Puglia with WingsItaly is 5 nights, 28 Dec 2026 – 2 Jan 2027, from £1,139, hosted by Claire Dymond with WingsItaly. The provisional programme includes a day in Baroque Lecce, which at Christmas has festive lights, nativity scenes in old courtyards and the smell of roasting chestnuts. New Year's Eve is a private five-course gala with a bottle of wine each, while a local celebration runs next door and guests drift between the two.

All Inclusive Perfect Paris is a winter city break of another kind: 3 nights, 3 Feb 2027 – 6 Feb 2027, from £679, hosted by Samantha Pike. Your hotel is a boat moored a short walk from the Eiffel Tower, with full board, drinks on board and two guided tours.

More ideas: Christmas and New Year breaks for solo travellers, European city breaks for solo travellers, our city breaks and the Czech Republic.

Questions people ask

Which is the best Christmas market in Prague?

Old Town Square is the one to see first, for the tree, the Týn Church and the daily music and folklore. Peace Square, in front of St Ludmila's Church, is the one the city says kicks off Advent in Prague, and the hosted weekend suggests it for an evening.

Are Prague's Christmas markets among the best in Europe?

They are often named among them. Prague's official tourist site says the world's media regularly count the Old Town Square market among the most beautiful Christmas destinations anywhere. Visit Czechia adds that USA Today readers voted the Prague markets the most beautiful of their kind in a large opinion poll.

Can I pay by card at the stalls?

The organiser of the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square markets says that in most cases you can. There is also a cash machine inside the market.

Do I need to know anyone to come on the weekend?

No. Most people on a Spice holiday book on their own, and the host, Sally Wiltshire, is with the group for all three nights.

See the dates and book Prague Christmas Magic online

The Prague Christmas Magic page has the live dates, the price and the Book button. Availability today: 5 places left. See the dates and book online there.

If you have a question first, about the hotel, the markets or the cost of a room to yourself, ask Rosie, the chat on the holiday page, or contact us and the team can put it to Sally Wiltshire, who hosts the weekend.