Prague is one of the most stunning cities in Europe, with the added bonus of being budget-friendly AND having Christmas Markets that stay open after New Years (a HUGE plus!) And Prague in winter is magical: there’s nothing more romantic than exploring cobblestone streets and Christmas Markets together in the snow, walking in hand in hand both because it’s disgustingly cute and also to avoid slipping on ice and falling (we are both extremely clumsy).
All we wanted for Christmas this year was a mug of gluhwein and a bunch of Christmas Market cheer. And like, any/all sugar-laden Christmas Market treats. 1 of each, please. So, we celebrated New Years in the Czech Republic, and stayed for a few days into January!
We’ve compiled this very long and very detailed guide to the best things to do in Prague in winter. Whether you’re visiting for romance or celebrating with your #1, aka yourself, we hope this list gets you excited to visit Prague in the winter!
Table of Contents
Psst: Looking for more tips on visiting Europe in the winter? Check out some of our other wintry European guides:
- Two Super Detailed Winter Europe Itineraries
- 14 Enchanting Reasons to Visit Český Krumlov this Winter
- 12 Charming Things to Do in Copenhagen in Winter
- 16 Magical Things to Do in Munich in Winter
Psst: We’ve got a FREE printable Europe in Winter guide that you can download for your trip! Inside, you’ll find packing lists, travel tips, and two full itineraries for Europe in winter (including Prague). Enter your email below and we’ll send it to your inbox.
Things to do in Prague in the Winter
Visit the Christmas Markets
There are SO MANY Christmas Markets in Prague! The largest and most famous is in Prague’s Old Town Square, which transforms into a fairytale-esque winter wonderland with beautiful wooden booths and twinkling lights. Czech treats like gingerbread, plum dumplings (Svestkove Knedliky), and mulled wine line the stalls. Christmas Markets are the best place to shop for local trinkets and traditional Prague handicrafts, including Bohemian crystal!
One major advantage of the Prague Christmas Markets is that they continue into advent season, in January. We planned our trip to Prague in January specifically so that we could soak up EVEN MORE Christmas Markets and make Christmas last past New Years!
Prepare to get mulled wine-drunk at these awesome Prague Christmas Markets:
- Old Town Square: the Old Town Square in the center of Prague is the most famous of Prague’s Christmas Markets. Sipping mulled wine while surrounded by Prague’s oldest and most iconic buildings and a truly massive Christmas tree is an experience you’ll never forget!
- Wenceslas Square: Although smaller than the one in Old Town, the market in Wenceslas Square is still charming and beautiful. Located in the heart of the shopping district,
- Peace Square (Namesti Miru): The Peace Square Christmas Market is a local favorite. At the foot of the Gothic Church of St. Ludmila, you’ll find mostly handmade goods here, such as ceramics, crystals, scarves, soaps, and jewelry.
- Republic Square (Náměstí Republiky): This smalle market at the foot of the Gothic Powder Tower and the Art Nouveau Municipal House offers a quiet place to shop for wooden toys, lace, and beeswax candles.
- Christmas Market at Prague Castle: Castles and Christmas Markets just go together, because Europe is a magical land of fairytales and kings. This Prague market is located right in Prague Castle and features hard-to-find items like honey from the East Bohemia region, wicker furniture, and glass art.
- Havelská Market: One of Prague’s oldest open-air markets, this year-round market dates back to 1232. During the Christmas season, you can shop for fresh produce alongside inexpensive handmade Czech crystal and glass jewelry, tasty traditional spa wafers, decorative birch boxes, local honey and wooden toys.
In addition to shopping for local trinkets and handicrafts, the best part of visiting Christmas Markets is the food! Be sure to try a Trdelník, a cinnamon pastry that’s been baked over charcoals to give it a complex sweet and smoky taste. And of course, pair it with svařené víno, warm mulled wine.
For more information, check out these locals’ tips on Prague’s Christmas Markets over at the Prague & Elsewhere blog.
Celebrate Czech Holiday Traditions
Christmas lasts into early January in Prague, which is amazing. I for one resent that Christmas ends on Christmas in the USA when I’ve barely had a month to celebrate it.
If you’re visiting Prague in December, kick off the Christmas season on St. Nicholas Eve, December 5th. In Prague’s Old Town Square, Mikulas – the Czech St. Nick – and his sidekicks, an angel, and a devil, will prowl the streets passing out candy and treats (to children, but whatever, it’s still magical. Bring your own bag of candy like a grown-up, I guess).
Celebrating Christmas in Prague? Prague hotels go all out for the holidays with over-the-top feasts that are available to the public starting on Christmas Eve . Prague restaurants offer traditional Czech Christmas menus, or more modern takes on old favorites.
Prague’s Jewish community also gets into the holiday spirit in December, with Chanukah gift shops and events that celebrate the 8-day holiday. Prague is home to the oldest synagogue in Europe, Altneuschul, aka the Old New Synagogue. Prague’s Old-New Synagogue hosts Prague Chanukah celebrations complete with live music, latkes, and lots of menorahs.
When in Prague, do as the local do and celebrate New Year’s Eve at Prague’s Old Town Square. The Prague clock – yes, the famous one – will strike at midnight, fireworks will light up the sky, and Prague bars will get bumpin’! The fireworks continue for hours, which we didn’t expect, but the atmosphere was incredibly festive and electric.
In January, catch The Three Kings procession on January 6th. The Three Kings procession is a Prague winter tradition that brings Prague locals and tourists out in droves to celebrate the arrival of the Three Kings (or, like Santa Claus). You can also still visit the holiday exhibition in the Bethlehem chapel.
Warm Up with a Czech Beer
The Czech Republic is famous for beer. So what better way to warm up from the cold outside than with a foamy pint of beer?
Spend an hour or two getting comfortably buzzed on a beer and brewery tour of Prague, or head to the Czech Beer Museum, where you can sample and even bottle your own beer! There are also some fantastic pubs to get a beer in Prague – here are our picks.
The aptly named Beer Geek Bar offers 32 taps, including Czech and international brews. Visit its sister location, Beer Geek Pivotéka, for the biggest collection of bottled beers in Prague!
- Beer Geek Bar | Address: Vinohradská 62, Praha 3
- Beer Geek Pivotéka | Address: Slavíkova 10, Praha 3
The rooftop views at T-Anker Restaurant are absolutely stunning and incredibly romantic. Although you can sit outside on the terrace in the summer, in the winter you can still cozy up indoors and admire the view from a safe distance.
You’ll find locally-brewed Czech beer on tap, plus plenty of other beers to fall in love with. Ask the Beer Sommelier (yessss this is a thing and it’s amazing) for the best pairings to go along with your surprisingly affordable meal.
- T-Anker Restaurant | Address: náměstí Republiky 8
Before you go, be sure to brush up on your rudimentary Czech with this guide to ordering a beer in the Czech Republic (although to be honest, we never mastered this skill.)
Stuff Your Face with a Traditional Czech Meal
When it’s freezing cold outside, there is nothing better than tucking into some warm, stick-to-your-bones comfort food. And Czech food is the epitome of comforting!
Rich, hearty stews and soups, filled dumplings, fried cheese (YES); our mouths are watering just thinking about all the delicious food in Prague! Here’s a detailed post about Czech food in Prague, but these are our top picks for what and where to eat in Prague:
- Find a street vendor selling authentic Pražská šunka, aka Prague Ham. It’s brined, slow-roasted and crispy ham that falls off the bone (OMG). Prague Ham is a legally protected food that can only be sold in Prague (if you find it elsewhere, it’s called “Prague-style ham”). So you know it’s gonna be good. Be sure to specify how much you want, as most vendors sell Prague Ham by weight.
- The Czech version of beer goulash is a thick stew served with dumplings. Warm up with a bowl of it at Mincovna in the Old Town Square, and pair it with a cold beer.
- Head to local favorite pub Lokal for a beer and some fried cheese. Yes, fried cheese. It’s breaded, gooey, fried cheese. Like, need I say more?
- Cafe Savoy is a fantastic place to try Czech schnitzel with potato salad. Is schnitzel not Czech enough for you? Try the strawberry and apricot filled dumplings instead. We’re going to try both.
- If you still have room for dessert, head to one of Prague’s Christmas Markets to try a Trdelník, a cinnamon pastry that’s been baked over charcoals to give it a complex sweet and smoky taste. And of course, pair it with svařené víno, warm mulled wine.
- The best pastry in Prague is actually not trdelnik, which is mainly popular with tourists and not locals, but vetrnik, a vanilla cream choux pastry sandwich. Try it at Cafe Savoy or Lokal.
Looking to stuff your face with traditional Czech food while learning about Prague’s history and culture? Book a food tour with Eating Prague!
Our tour guide was a Prague local, who moved us with his stories of communist Prague even as we warmed our souls with the best goulash I’ve ever had in my life. We highly recommend the Eating Prague tours as the perfect way to spend a day (or night!) exploring Prague both by foot and through our favorite medium, food.
Need more food recommendations? The Boho Chica has a great guide to where to eat in Prague. Eternal Arrival also has a fantastic guide to 19 essential Czech dishes and what to eat in Prague.
Also: can we all just take a moment to appreciate the fact that I COULD have made a cringey “Czech, please” Dad joke at any point in the food section of this post, but I DIDN’T? That kind of restraint does not come naturally to me. You’re all welcome. Also, sorry not sorry for this paragraph, which I recognize effectively eliminates the restraint I was so proud of. Whatevs. Dad jokes 5-ever.
Take Stunning Pictures of Prague (& Yourself)
If you can’t return from your trip to Prague in the winter with some amazing AF selfies in front of iconic spires and brick-red rooftops dusted with snow, did you even go to Prague?!
Avoid the “pics or it didn’t happen” skeptics and impress your Instagram followers with these picturesque places to take pictures of Prague – or well, of you, in front of Prague.
One quick note: many of the best views of Prague involve climbing towers. If you’re able to make the climb, the views are worth it, and the effort will warm you up. Otherwise, we’ve also included a spot that’s accessible without having to climb a zillion stairs.
- Prague Clock Tower: Take a picture of the iconic clock tower in Prague, and then climb up the tower to take a gorgeous photo looking out over the stunning spires of Prague. This is a popular spot to take photos – we recommend picking up skip the line tickets so you can climb to the top without waiting!
- Charles Bridge is one of the most photogenic places in Prague to take a selfie. Take some shots on the bridge itself, or if it’s too crowded, head up to the Old Town Bridge Tower. The view (and crowd-less selfies) are well worth the 100CZK entrance fee and climb to reach the top.
- The Petřín Lookout Tower looks quite a bit like the Eiffel Tower – that’s by design. Climb up to the observation platform and you’ll be rewarded with an incredible view of Prague! If you’re unable to climb stairs (or just prefer not to), you can take the funicular and the elevator to reach the top and enjoy the view.
- Letná Park: You’ll find a stunning view of Prague’s bridges and Old town from this sizeable park on a hill overlooking the city.
Go Ice Skating
Ice Skating is the quintessential winter activity. We like ice skating because it’s the type of athletic activity that involves holding hands, which makes it ~romantic, and also guarantees that you will both end up falling down in the kind of adorable tumble that you see in chick-flicks that looks a lot cuter and less painful than it actually is (we speak from an embarrassing amount of experience).
The ice rinks in Prague are free, but you’ll have to pay to rent ice skates unless you’re the kind of person who brings ice skates along on vacation, in which case color us impressed.
- Head to the fairytale Fruit Market (Ovocný trh) in Old Town
- Head to the Na Františku Sports Centre, next to the Vltava river and Jewish Quarter in Prague’s Old Town
- Ice skate on the roof at the Galerie Harfa shopping centre in Prague-Vysočany! On the weekends, come at night to skate after dark.
- Skate at the base of a tower at the Tower Park! When you get tired of skating, head indoors to Minimoo restaurant for some mulled wine or hot chocolate to warm you up.
Here’s a longer list of all the ice skating rinks in Prague!
Take a Self-Guided Walking Tour of Prague
We think the best way to explore a new city is on foot. Sure, it’s cold, but you’ll warm up as you walk!
A walking tour of Prague is the best way to immerse yourself in the stunning European architecture (here’s a primer on Prague’s architecture, FYI).
Here are a few self-guided walking tours of Prague:
- The most famous walking tour of Prague is the Royal Route. The walk is so named because it’s the former route of coronation processions. So yes, you’ll be literally following the footsteps of Kings and Queens! The walk connects the Powder Tower, Old Town Square, Charles Bridge, and Prague Castle. Here is a Google Map of the route that you can download onto your phone and take with you, even if you’re offline (here’s how).
- Prague’s tourism board offers a printable brochure with 3 off-beat self-guided walking tours, which you can download here. These walking tours are designed to take you away from the tourist hot-spots (and crowds) and steer you towards some of the lesser-known sights and views of Prague.
- This Little Quarter Walking tour will take you through a picturesque district adjacent to the Prague Castle (so stop by the Christmas Market for snacks as needed). The tour is well designed and chock full of details about each of the 28 (!!) stops. The same blog also has an Old town Walking tour and a Jewish Quarter walking tour, all helpfully detailed and peppered with cultural & historical context.
- This walking tour of Prague includes stops to drink beer, so…. yes.
Travel Tip: Be sure to protect your poor feet – we’re obsessed with our warm, thermal-lined winter boots from Vivobarefoot, which let us feel like we’re walking around the city barefoot (these are mine & these are Jeremy’s). We’ve got more packing tips at the end of this post!
Celebrate Prague’s Musical History
Is there anything more exciting than getting all gussied up, throwing on your fanciest coat, and heading to a classical music concert in one of the most famous historical musical capitals in Europe?
Sure, OK, I’m a bit of a classical music nerd – I’ve been playing cello since I was 2, and I grew up attending orchestra and chamber music concerts. I even performed in an opera … twice (my hometown’s cultural scene is unusually accessible).
But the appeal of classical music defies musical nerd-dom, particularly when it comes to the musical masters who have graced Prague with their talent. Like Mozart, who reigned supreme in Prague after leaving Vienna. Or Antonín Dvořák, whose famous cello concerto gives me CHILLS and makes me go “yassssss!” the way my husband does when he listens to T-Swift.
Here’s a video of one of my favorite cellists, Jaqueline du Pré, playing the famous Dvořák cello concerto in 1968. It’s 46 minutes long, so … skip to 3:37 and then just put it on in the background while you read the rest of this post. Head to the Antonín Dvořák Museum to learn more about the famous Prague native composer.
- Antonín Dvořák Museum | Address: Ke Karlovu 20, Prague 2
The best way to experience Prague’s musical history is by listening to the music that was created there in its storied concert halls. There are a few ways to do that:
- Enjoy a 3-course meal and the best of Mozart’s operas in Boccaccio Hall in Old Town Prague. Yes, that’s a ballroom. Baller. Check pricing & availability
- Listen to the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra in Prague’s Lobkowicz Palace, the only privately owned building in the Prague Castle complex. Check pricing & availability
- The National Theatre offers a variety of musical and theatrical offerings, from opera to ballet to theatre and everything in between. Check pricing & availability
If you really want to take a deep dive into Prague’s many musical and cultural offerings, TripAdvisor has an epic list.
Discover Prague’s History in its Museums
The National Museum of Prague is probably it’s most famous. Explore the rich history of Prague in several buildings at Wenceslas Square. (Note: some are currently under construction.)
- The National Museum of Prague| Address: Václavské nám. 68
Museum Kampa is a modern art gallery in Prague, with collections that highlight Central European and Czech artists.
- Museum Kampa | Address: U Sovových mlýnů 2
The Prague Jewish Museum isn’t exactly a mood-booster, but it is incredibly important. Bring some tissues, because if you’re anything like me, you’re going to cry a lot. In this museum, you’ll find everything from textiles and manuscripts to old photographs, as well as spine-tingling chronicles from victims and survivors of the Holocaust.
- Prague Jewish Museum | Address: U Staré školy 141/1
… Or, Visit Prague’s Much Weirder Museums
Y’all already know we love our weird museums (to jog your memory, here are 25 of our favorite weird museums in Brussels).
Exploring a weird museum is a great way to escape the cold, learn stuff that satisfies your morbid curiosity, and giggle nervously/uncomfortably/hysterically to yourself or with your traveling companion. Classify these as ironically delightful.
Franz Kafka was born and raised in Prague. And if you’ve read literally anything he’s ever written, you probably have a lot of questions. The Kafka Museum will help answer… some of them. It might also raise new ones…
We read The Metamorphosis, A Hunger Artist, and The Trial in high school, and I recommend any/all of them.
In front of the museum you’ll find a lovely status of 2 dudes peeing, so we’ll file that away with “European statues of things peeing” (current count: 4, 3 of which were on this tour).
- The Kafka Museum | Address: Cihelná 635/2b
The Sex Machines Museum is the only one of its kind in the world. In the sexy museum of historical sex machines, you’ll find old-timey erotic appliances dating back to the 16th century (ooooh, hot).
There are also chastity belts (oh, my) and even thrones designed to elicit Game of Thrones-level royal banging. If this sort of thing is up your alley, czech it out (ha HA!) but be warned: this spot is popular with tourists.
- The Sex Machines Museum | Address: Melantrichova 476/18
Head to the Torture Museum if you have a sense of the macabre or a kinky sense of pleasure (hey, no judgment – we live in San Francisco, remember?). You’ll find everything here from chastity belts – including chastity belts for men, because Gender Equality, I guess – to saws that cut people in half (lengthwise).
Learn how torturers maimed, inflicted pain on, and killed their victims, and why they did it (tl;dr humanity is horrible). This museum also tends to be quite popular with tourists, so don’t head to the torture museum seeking an authentic local connection. That’s what pubs are for.
- Museum of Torture and Torture Instruments | Address: Celetná 558/12, 110 00 Staré Město
The House of the Black Madonna isn’t just the name of Beyonce’s next album. It’s also the oldest Cubist house in Prague and is today a fantastic museum dedicated to cubism. It is also home to the world’s trippiest staircase.
- The House of the Black Madonna | Address: Ovocný trh 19, 110 00 Staré Město
The Museum of Communism in the Czech Republic: From propaganda posters to an interrogation room, relive the Red Scare in this fascinating little museum.
- The Museum of Communism in the Czech Republic | Address: V Celnici 1031/4, 118 00 Nové Město
Check out the Apple Museum to satisfy your curiosity about Steve Jobs and his weird obsessions with black turtlenecks and all-fruit diets. We would expect this kind of museum back home in San Francisco, but instead, it’s here in Prague. There’s also a juice bar inside. Because sure, why not?
- Apple Museum | Address: Husova 21, 110 00 Staré Město
Take an Off-Beat Tour of Prague
We love off-beat tours as much as we love weird museums. They offer a totally unique way to explore a city – like underneath it, for example. And they illuminate little-known history and stories that will have you seeing Prague in a brand new way.
Not all of these tours are fun, quirky sight-seeing opportunities. A couple of them tackle serious, heavy sh*t such as Prague’s complicated history with communism & with its Jewish population. These aren’t fun or happy subjects, but addressing historical issues, even depressing ones, is incredibly important.
We think it’s important to learn and face these things head-on, both in the context of today’s (insane) world, which we find is eerily repeating some incredibly scary history, and also for being a respectful and considerate guest in another country.
Prague wears its scars on every corner, and if you don’t know its story, we recommend taking the time to listen and learn.
Here are the off-beat tours of Prague that we’re dying to take:
- Prague Communism and Nuclear Bunker Tour
- Prague Oldtown, Underground & Dungeon Tour
- Prague Through the Eyes of Franz Kafka
- Prague Ghosts and Legends Walking Tour
Take a Day Trip to Český Krumlov
Craving more stunning architecture, Medieval steepled roofs and spires, and stone bridges spanning twinkling rivers? We highly recommend making the trip from Prague to Český Krumlov, a UNESCO World Heritage site and Bohemian fairytale town a few short hours away from Prague.
Český Krumlov, Czech Republic is a medieval town and UNESCO World Heritage site located in Bohemia and dating back to the 1200’s. The town is built around a windy river at the foot of a giant castle, exactly like the cover of every fairytale book ever written.
The easiest way to take a day trip to Český Krumlov from Prague is by booking a tour, like this one.
Or, you can take public transit, which is super easy and cheap. By bus, it will take about 2.5 hours to get from Prague to Český Krumlov. Here’s the pricing & timing for the bus routes. Look for the RegioJet bus – it’s comfortable and only costs about 300 CZK. We were also able to use our Eurail pass to get from Prague to Český Krumlov!
We spent several nights in Český Krumlov and were absolutely charmed by it. If you need somewhere else to add to your itinerary, take a look at our complete guide to visiting Český Krumlov in the winter.
Where to Stay in Prague
Y’all, Prague is SO affordable compared to most of Europe. There are plenty of amazing places to stay in Prague at super reasonable prices.
We’ve compiled the best places to stay in Prague that are the perfect blend of luxury and comfort – at reasonable prices. That way, you can leave plenty of room in your budget for all of the winter activities in Prague that we’ve listed below!
Budget: Mid-Range
- Miss Sophie’s Prague: An adorable boutique hotel in the heart of Prague, Miss Sophie’s combines gorgeous design with cozy luxury. The hotel has been featured in publications like Glamour and Elle, which means that it’s really photogenic and will look amazing in your Instagram photos. Check availability for your travel dates on Booking.com.
- The Nicholas Hotel Residence: Located in Prague’s Mala Strana neighborhood on the other side of the river, this tiny romantic hotel on the top floor of a 1786 Rococo palace offers rooms, suites and apartments for rent. Each has stunning views of the neighborhood and luxe amenities, like kitchenette slippers (I LOVE hotel slippers). The hotel is located 1 minute away from Charles Bridge, which helps with those early morning selfies you’re gonna want to take, and a five minute walk up the hill to Prague Castle. Check availability for your travel dates on Booking.com.
- VRBO: There are some fantastic options to be found in Prague on VRBO! We recommend booking directly through VRBO because it has fewer fees and more flexible cancellation policies than Airbnb – also, we’re not fans of Airbnb’s unethical track record and lax security. We love the Honest Loft Apartment, a bright apartment by the river that’s crisp and modern but still super cozy. Plus, you get to wake up to the winter sun coming through huge skylight windows. Pretty fancy! We also love this stunning spacious apartment located steps away from Old Town Square in the heart of Prague. Browse VRBOs in Prague.
Budget: As Cheap as Possible
- Czech Inn: If you’re looking for affording luxury and names that are puns, look no further than Czech Inn. The name drew our attention, but the insanely reasonable prices and comfortable amenities hooked us – this is where we stayed during our visit to Prague. Although this is a hostel and there are (swank) dorms available, there are also lush private rooms with glass-enclosed rain head showers. The private rooms look like luxury hotel rooms but cost hostel prices. Yasss! The only downside is the location: the hostel is located a bus ride away from most tourist attractions, and there’s not much within walking distance. Check pricing & availability on Hostelworld.
- Sophie’s Hostel: A cousin of one of our Mid-Range picks, Sophie’s Hostel shares the modern design and boutique luxury of its costlier counterpart. But it’s a hostel, not a boutique hotel, which means it’s less expensive and there are dorms! Check pricing & availability on Hostelworld.
Travel Tip: Checking out early or taking advantage of a long layover and not sure where to store your bags? Check out LuggageHero, a service that helps you find a safe place to keep your luggage while you’re running around.
What to Pack for Prague in Winter
Now that you’ve got plenty of ideas for things to do in Prague in December or January, we have a few tips to help you stay warm while you’re sightseeing!
Prague in the winter is cold, and you’ll want to layer up every day. Luckily, winter layering is the perfect vehicle for adorable accessories like scarves and hats!
Here are a few recommendations for clothing that’s travel-friendly, functional AND super cute to wear in the winter. If you’re looking for more details, we’ve got a full Europe in winter packing list guide.
- Warm Coat: Like good warm shoes, a warm winter coat is absolutely necessary. I typically bring 2 jackets with me to Europe in the winter: a long wool coat like this one that keeps me incredibly warm and looks amazing in all of my pictures, and a travel-friendly packable down jacket that I keep stuffed in my daypack. Jeremy wears a wool-blend coat similar to this one and this one. (Travel Tip: wear your bigger coat – and thickest layers, bulkiest shoes etc – on travel days so you don’t have to stuff it into your luggage.)
- Travel Jeans: Unlike regular jeans, travel jeans are designed specifically to solve travel-related woes. One of my personal woes is the lack of pockets on women’s jeans. My favorite travel jeans have 6 POCKETS. 6!! And 2 of them are zipped and hidden inside other pockets, for extra pickpocket protection – crucial in any European country. Jeremy and I each have a pair of Aviator USA black jeans. They’re super stretchy and buttery soft, dry quickly in the rain or when wet, and keep our legs warm when it’s cold out. They’re cozy enough to wear on a plane, stretchy enough to accommodate that 5 extra pounds of holiday weight I always seem to bring back home with me, and they’re super cute! We’re both obsessed. You can get a pair of men’s or women’s jeans on the Aviator USA website.
- Wool Base Layer: Underneath your clothes, you’ll want to wear a head-to-toe base layer to keep you warm on cold days. We love soft merino wool for our base layer because it’s thermal, warm even when wet, and naturally anti-microbial – meaning you can wear it underneath all of your sweaty layers for a week straight and they still won’t smell. Um, not that we’ve field-tested that … or anything. *cough* Above the waist, I wear a wool sweater or wool cami under an acrylic sweater and Jeremy wears a wool sweater or wool T-shirt as an undershirt. Below the waist, we each have a pair of wool leggings (mine, Jeremy’s) to wear under our pants, which make your legs feel like they’re being hugged by an extremely soft sheep. And as a bonus, they also double as the world’s coziest lounge leggings and even sleepwear!
- Fleece Lined Leggings: Perfect on their own as pants, or layered under a skirt or dress (or even another pair of pants).
- Day Bag: We carry this cute day bag every single day packed with our packable down jacket, hats and gloves, a tiny travel umbrella, and anything else we might need for the day – a reusable water bottle, tissues, lip balm, an endless supply of snacks, whatever.
- Wool Socks: Run-of-the-mill acrylic or cotton socks won’t keep your feet warm while you’re out exploring on a cold day. Make sure you get socks with wool blended in to keep your toast toasty warm and insulated, like these or these.
- Warm Hat: A warm hat is an absolute necessity in the winter. It also doubles as a super cute accessory! You want a hat that will stay on your head even in blustery gusts of wind, so stay away from those wool felt ~travel girl types of hats and stick with reliable beanies. Personally I’m a fan of the ones with poofs on top, like this or this. Jeremy is more of a purist, and likes to wear beanies like this one.
- Scarves: I LOVE a chunky scarf. They’re my favorite accessory! And you will absolutely need a good scarf in Europe. I’m a big fan of scarves that are big enough to double as blankets, like this one or this one.
- Gloves: Don’t go outside in the cold without gloves on! You will regret it. I love these wool gloves that work with touchscreens, because let’s face it, I have a hard enough time using my phone without wearing gloves.
For more cold weather packing tips, head over to our Europe in winter packing list:
Are you dying to pack your bags and head to Prague in December or January? Which one of these things to do in Prague in the winter is first on your to-do list? Drop us a comment below.
Psst: Looking for more tips on visiting Europe in the winter? Check out a few of our other wintry European travel guides:
- Two Super-Detailed Winter Europe Itineraries
- 18 Snowy Pictures of Hallstatt, Austria in Winter to Fuel your Wanderlust
- 10 Things to do in Vienna, Austria in the Winter
We’ve also got a FREE printable Europe in Winter guide that you can download for your trip! It includes printable packing lists, travel tips, and two full, detailed itineraries for Europe in winter (including Prague). Enter your email below and we’ll send it to your inbox along with a few tips to help you plan your trip.
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Feature photo credit: “Snow On Rooves” (CC BY 2.0) by zbdh12
Disclaimer: The creation of this post was sponsored by Czech Tourism. We also received support during our trip to Prague from Eurail, Bohemian Hostels, Eating Prague, and Prague City Tourism. All opinions, bad puns involving usage of the word “Czech,” and other inaccuracies or flaws are entirely my own and totally not their fault.
We’ve found a few helpful posts on other travel blogs. Take a look at this guide to the best places in Prague, this guide to exploring Prague like a local as well as how to visit Prague in 2 days or what to do in Prague in 3 days.
Our Top Travel Tips & Resources
- Booking Flights: To score flight deals, search on Google Flights or Kayak. Money-saving tips: fly mid-week or on the weekend; fly carry-on only on a budget airline; and take red-eyes or early morning flights.
- Accommodations: We usually stay in budget-friendly vacation rentals, boutique hotels or private rooms in hostels. We use Booking.com to book hotels (we love their flexible cancellation policy) and Hostelworld to book hostels (low deposit, easy change/cancellation, and excellent reviews). For vacation rentals, we prefer to book using VRBO because they've got lower fees and better support than Airbnb, and we're not fans of Airbnb's unethical track record. You can also book vacation rentals on Expedia and Hotels.com. We also use TrustedHousesitters as both hosts (for our home and our fur-child) and travelers!
- Travel Insurance: We always, always, ALWAYS buy travel insurance for international trips, and we STRONGLY suggest it - visit our Travel Insurance Guide to find out why. We recommend either World Nomads or SafetyWing for international travel insurance. SafetyWing is one of the few policies that covers Covid-19, and they have excellent monthly policies that are perfect for Digital Nomads and long term travelers!
- Travel Credit Card: We book all of our trips on our favorite travel credit card. Not only do we earn cash back that we can spend on more travel, but the card offers fantastic travel perks like travel insurance, trip delay and cancellation coverage, lost baggage reimbursement, and rental car coverage, which helps protect us on our travels. Learn more here.
- Vaccines & Meds: We use the travel guides on the CDC website to research recommended medications and vaccines for international trips. We always recommend getting every vaccine recommended by the CDC! You can get them at your primary care doctor's office or a walk-in pharmacy.
- Tours: We love booking guided tours, especially food tours and walking tours, to get a local's perspective and a history lesson while sight-seeing! We book our tours using Viator and GetYourGuide.
- Transportation: We use Rome2Rio to figure out how to get from place to place, and book local transportation online using Bookaway wherever we can. When we book a rental car, we use DiscoverCars to compare rental companies and find the best deal.
- Luggage Storage: Whenever we're checking out early or taking advantage of a long layover, we use LuggageHero to safely store our luggage while we're running around. Use the code PRACTICALW for 2 hours of free luggage storage on us.
- VPN Service: A VPN keeps your digital information (like website login details, bank info, etc) safe, even when you're connected to an unsecured network while traveling. Plus, it lets you use Netflix & other streaming sites abroad! We use NordVPN. Use the code WANDERLUSTPROMO when you sign up!
- What to Pack: Here are the travel essentials that we bring on every trip. We also have packing lists for hot weather, cold weather, and many more. Take a look at all of our packing guides!
Helga Schneider says
I just love your take on destinations, your humour and the level of detail. You have provided me with many hours of armchair travel fun as well as great tips for actual trips. Thank you!
Jane Tera says
We went to Prague in winter once, we stayed in Hotel Golf
Urszula says
Ahhh!!! This is great! Thank you. Hubby and I booked a trip to Prague this December for our honeymoon. So excited and now even more excited after reading this!!
Thanks guys ❤️
Lia Garcia says
How exciting!! Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! You’re going to have an amazing honeymoon 🙂
Lia S says
Hi- I am named Lia too! And I live in Kentucky! (although I am a New England native). I was a travel agent, and my travel agent friends all rave about Prague. Hubs and I are thinking of heading over next winter, so when I searched for ideas and found your wite, I HAD to comment! Just wondering, how hard is it to get around only speaking English? I actually know someone who lives there, but he is sure to busy with work when we are there and cannot be our full-time tour guide/ interpreter. We have traveled a ton in Germany where we speak the language (some) and France and Italy, but I have a familiarity with those languages too. TIA
Lia Garcia says
Hey fellow Lia from Kentucky!! Who knew there were more than one of us? That’s crazy!!
As for your question: you’ll be just fine speaking English. Honestly we found that Czech was one of the hardest languages we’ve ever attempted to learn – we always try to at least pick up on the basics like “please” and “thank you” etc but Czech is TOUGH! You’ll be fine without it, folks there do speak enough English to get by and anything else can be accomplished by friendly arm-waving and such.
Michelle says
Since I started to travel I’m trying to book free city tours, cause it’s a great chance to discover new cities and to see awesome views for a free. When I was in Prague I got a tour at Generation Tours, but also heard a lot of tours in Sandemans company.
Lia Garcia says
Such a great tip, Michelle! Thanks!
Jossus Travelpics says
Prague looks so beautiful, I really need to go there- and visit the christmas market.
Adele says
Thanks for such a comprehensive guide – we’ll be in Prague at the same time as we’re going from the 8th. Going to look up all of this now 🙂 Have a nice trip.
Lia Garcia says
Crossing our fingers for snow- for all of us!
Christin B says
Prague doesn´t usually get meters of snow, but a nice layer makes Prague even nicer.
Kristen Sarah says
Food, beer, and walking around the most beautiful city. We only spent a short time in Prague but can’t wait to get back and explore more!
Emily Hines says
I’d go just for the food 🙂 Sounds fabulous!
Lia Garcia says
TBH that’s pretty much what we plan ALL of our travels around 😛
Lynne Nieman says
What a fabulous detail-filled post! Love all the recommendations and love the photos.