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.
1. When the Prague Christmas markets start and when do they end?
All the Christmas markets, including the biggest and most popular ones on the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, open up on November 30, 2024.
The most centrally located markets (Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square, Square of the Republic, Mariánské Square) stay open until January 6, 2025.
The markets on Náměstí Míru, Jiřího z Poděbrad and Náplavka are only open until Christmas. So, hurry up!
Old Town Square Christmas Market: 30.11. – 6. 1. 2024 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. But mostly only visual:-) I wouldn´t call it traditional local Christmas market. It´s quite overpriced show for tourists.
My opinion about the Old Town Square market: I went there on December 1 (the first Advent weekend), and just like every year the market is highly overrated and touristy, nothing that I could call authentic. Weekends are rather extreme there; weekdays are better. Plus, I wasn’t impressed by the offer, nothing really special I could recommend to you. But of course, the surroundings are beautiful!!!
My tip: climb up the Astronomical Clock Tower for the best photos of the Christmas market.
Wenceslas Square Christmas Market 30.11. – 6. 1. 2024. 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. Additionally, there are plenty of tables and a lovely ice skating rink!
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.
2. 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!
Charity Christmas markets at Mariánské Square: is located only 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, friendly atmosphere, charity-focused products, better prices, more space (even for sitting), and a cottage where you can write your Christmas wish and send it to Ježíšek (Baby Jesus).
This lovely market will be open until January 6, 2024.
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!!!
My opinion about this market: I visited the market today (December 10) and was pleasantly surprised by the variety. There were around 60 stalls with Christmas cookies, roasted nuts, handmade baskets, Christmas ornaments, ceramics, clothes, gloves, and warm socks. All drinks were served in deposit cups instead of single-use ones = less mess around!! Thank you!!
3. Visit all the Christmas markets easily by subway!
Yes, all the Christmas markets mentioned above are conveniently located on the same metro line (green). Don´t worry about getting lost, as each market is situated near the metro exits.
So, where can you find these markets, and which stops should you use?
- Old Town Square market + Charity market at Mariánské Square = “Staroměstská” metro stop (green line)
- Wenceslas Square market = “Můstek” or “Muzeum” metro stops (green line)
- Náměstí Míru market = “Náměstí Míru” metro stop (green line)
3. How to pay there: 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.
4. 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.
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!
Wishing you a wonderful Advent season in Prague, free from any scams, and a delightful Christmas holiday surrounded by your loved ones.🎁🎄🎁
If you find this article worthy, you can gift me a virtual coffee to fuel my writing spirit. Thank you for your kind support. -Dana –
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or want to see Prague in a more authentic way: dana@praguebehindthescenes.com
You can also follow Prague Behind The Scenes online for more inspiration.
Where to next?
How tipping works in Prague: where to tip and how much?
3-hour private tour of Prague downtown with Dana
Where to stay in Prague: 5 tips for hotel locations, sightseeing and friendly downtown neighborhoods.
3 hidden gems of Prague food scene (still undiscovered by food bloggers and masses)
Where to exchange money in Prague and how much?
How to read (and understand) the Astronomical Clock in Prague?