The Final Information to the Prague Christmas Marketplace

Christmas is coming briefly and there’s no higher position to benefit from the festive spirit than on the best Eu Christmas markets.

When making plans your subsequent iciness getaway, why no longer talk over with one of the gorgeous markets on this planet?

The Prague Christmas markets within the Czech Republic are recognized for his or her magical environment, native Christmas traditions, nice buying groceries, and scrumptious meals. Those are simply a number of the the reason why it’s probably the most easiest Christmas markets in Europe.

As Czechs, who’ve been residing in Prague for a couple of years, we talk over with the Christmas markets within the Czech capital so much. In truth, it’s a large a part of Czech Christmas custom to talk over with the marketplace.

Additionally, it by no means will get dull!

However Prague doesn’t have only one marketplace, it has a number of, and each and every of them has one thing distinctive to supply. So in the event you’re no longer positive which Prague Christmas Marketplace to talk over with or what to anticipate, that is the complete information!

Why Make a choice Prague for Christmas Markets?

A Christmas Marketplace is without doubt one of the easiest tactics to get into the spirit of Christmas. It’s the place you’ll unwind from the pre-Christmas buying groceries insanity, get into the festive temper and feature a cup (or two) of mulled wine.

However why will have to you go back and forth to Prague when there are such a large amount of Christmas markets in Europe?

The principle explanation why we like the Christmas markets in Prague is that they aren’t as giant as the ones in Germany or Austria, in order that they really feel much more intimate.

You additionally get locals visiting the markets, no longer simply vacationers, so you’ll get a extra unique festive environment right here.

The preferred markets are situated shut to one another and you’ll simply stroll from one to any other and not using a wish to use public transportation. Which makes exploring the entire Christmas markets in Prague relaxing, in comparison to different puts in Europe.

You’ll additionally discover a nice number of distinctive merchandise, Christmas decorations, crafts, items, food and drink, in addition to festive-themed leisure right here.

On the whole, costs within the Czech Republic are decrease than in Western Europe so you are going to get significantly better worth in your cash in Prague on the Christmas marketplace.

And we aren’t speaking handiest about costs of Christmas products or meals. The top of the 12 months (apart from for Christmas time and New Yr’s Eve) is thought to be because the off-season so you’ll seize a discount in your flights or lodging to Prague.

To not point out the beautiful ancient heart, probably the most most pretty towns on this planet, that you’ll discover when you become bored with Christmas carols.

When to Pass to the Prague Christmas Markets?

The Christmas markets in Prague (‘vanocni trhy’ within the Czech language) get started smartly prior to the vacations so you might have a lot of time to get into the merry temper.

There are lots of markets unfold around the town, they’re open day-to-day and are unfastened to go into, and they’re probably the most easiest issues to do in Prague.

Most often, the largest and the most well liked Prague Christmas markets (Previous The city Sq., Wenceslas Sq., Republic Sq.) get started originally of December and remaining till the start of January.

The smaller markets (Peace Sq., Tyl’s Sq., and others) already get started on the finish of November however end on Christmas Eve.

What are the Very best Christmas Markets in Prague?

Christmas markets are a very powerful a part of the Christmas custom within the Czech Republic and a must-do process in Prague, and that’s why you’ll in finding them in maximum towns and cities around the nation.

The ones in Prague are the largest they usually be offering the most efficient number of Christmas products.

You’ll in finding them in lots of puts within the town heart (particularly squares), however the hottest markets are situated within the districts of Prague 1 and a pair of.

You shouldn’t pass over the next markets; those are the most efficient Prague Christmas markets, in addition to the largest and hottest.

1. Previous The city Sq. Marketplace (Staromestske Náměstí)

The most important and maximum crowded Christmas marketplace in Prague is unfold across the Jan Hus Memorial close to the Previous The city Corridor and Astronomical clock.

Nestled a few of the backdrop of the Gothic Tyn Church, this marketplace is as gorgeous as it’s vigorous. The marketplace has a tendency to be one in every of the primary to open, lights its tree in past due November. It most often closes on 3 Kings Day, which is hung on January 6^th.

This marketplace has the whole thing that embodies a Christmas Marketplace spirit. It has stalls promoting distinctive products, meals vehicles serving up conventional Czech meals, and are living leisure maximum nights.

Any customer to Prague should no longer pass over this Christmas Marketplace. It’s the longest-running Christmas marketplace in Prague and essentially the most colourful one within the town with a number of twinkling lighting fixtures and decorations.

Closest metro stations: Staromestska, Mustek

2. Wenceslas Sq. Christmas Marketplace (Vaclavske Náměstí)

Held on the decrease a part of Wenceslas Sq., only a brief stroll from Previous The city Sq., is Wenceslas Sq. Christmas Marketplace. As a result of it’s so as regards to the Previous The city Marketplace, it’s the second one busiest Christmas marketplace in Prague.

The marketplace is ready at the back of the Nationwide Museum, and is just about all the time stuffed with locals and vacationers having a look to seek out some distinctive handicrafts to get as items.This marketplace isn’t so busy with are living leisure and most commonly specializes in buying groceries.

It’s the most efficient position in Prague to pick out up hand-crafted picket and metal items

It’s open rather past due to house the ones past due night time customers.

This marketplace has a tendency to open on December 1st and runs till early January.

Closest metro stations: Mustek, Muzeum

3. Republic Sq. (Náměstí Republiky Christmas Marketplace)

One a part of the marketplace will also be present in entrance of the buying groceries centre Palladium, the opposite close to the Previous Customs Space (Stara Celnice). It’s no longer vastly busy, however its nice location makes it a very easy stroll from each Previous The city and Wenceslas Squares.

It’s probably the most quieter Christmas markets which is why I adore it. It’s unique and at ease, and an excellent spot to sip some honey wine and benefit from the backdrop of a festive marketplace.

Right here you’ll store for Christmas decorations comparable to Creation calendars, wreaths and mistletoe – this isn’t one thing all markets promote, so if you wish to select some mistletoe up then that is the marketplace to seek out it.

You’ll additionally in finding a couple of sizzling snacks and beverages, that are a bit inexpensive than the Previous The city Marketplace, however simply as tasty.

Closest metro station: Namesti Republiky

4. Prague Fortress (Prazsky Hrad)

Positioned at St. George’s Sq. (Namesti sv. Jiri) at the back of the St. Vitus Cathedral (Katedrala sv. Vita), this marketplace is surrounded via ancient landmarks and unbelievable structure.

It’s a small marketplace, with handiest 70 or so picket stalls promoting your same old products. This marketplace has a tendency to shut rather early, so it’s the most efficient Christmas Marketplace in Prague for households touring with children, because it closes round 6pm on weekdays and 7pm on weekends.

Closest metro stations: Hradcanska, Malostranska

5. Peace Sq. (Náměstí Míru Christmas Marketplace)

Held in entrance of the Church of St. Ludmila (Kostel sv. Ludmily) within the Vinohrady district. That is most often the first Christmas marketplace of the season that opens across the twentieth November.

It’s a small marketplace that has handiest round 60 stalls or so, and most often sells reasonably priced embellishes and decorations.

It’s an excellent spot to pick out up a standard Creation calendar and Christmas decorations for your own home, in addition to stocking filler items comparable to soaps and candles, and painted by hand decorations.

This isn’t a vastly busy marketplace, so it’s undoubtedly up there as one in every of my favourite unique Prague Christmas Markets.

Closest metro station: Namesti Miru

6. Tyl’s Sq. (Tylovo Náměstí)

Some other small market in Vinohrady, a residential house in Prague. This can be a in point of fact at ease, chilled marketplace that the locals love to talk over with.

There are a couple of stalls promoting products, most often picket toys and trinkets, in addition to a couple of decorations.

The principle reason why to talk over with this Christmas marketplace in Prague is for the meals. You’ll in finding a number of other choices for snacks (see beneath for more information about foods and drinks you’ll in finding on the markets).

Closest metro station: I. P. Pavlova

What Can You Be expecting at Prague Christmas Markets?

Czech Christmas markets are most often nestled round a embellished and lit Christmas tree, which is without doubt one of the maximum iconic issues to peer in Prague at Christmas time.

There’s even a contest each and every 12 months the place folks can ship their ideas for the suitable Christmas tree and the one who discovered the selected tree wins some cash.

The most important and essentially the most well known Christmas Tree is located on the Previous The city Sq..

The lights of the Christmas tree takes position at the first night of the marketplace and is a large tournament. It formally opens the precise Christmas marketplace. If you’ll, don’t pass over the primary ceremonial tree illumination in Previous The city Marketplace Sq., which is most often scheduled for the remaining weekend of November.

You’ll most often in finding some type of a Nativity scene, both static or are living, and it’s most often situated close to the Christmas tree.

Christmas markets include picket stalls or picket huts embellished with Christmas embellishes, the place more than a few Christmas merchandise (most often hand-crafted) or refreshments are on be offering.

The commonest pieces you’ll in finding on sale are Christmas tree decorations, handicrafts, glassware, picket toys and puppets, iciness equipment, gingerbread, chocolates, and so on.

We adore to drop into probably the most refreshment stalls to get a roasted ham or sausage. You’ll additionally wash it down with Czech beer (check out Pilsner Urquell or Budvar), or some mulled wine.

There are lots of leisure choices that occur all the way through the season of Prague Christmas markets – from concert events, youngsters’s concert events, and choirs who sing Czech Christmas carols.

Most of the occasions are family-oriented performances devoted to native craftsmen showcasing their jobs (blacksmiths are the commonest and their stalls also are the warmest – simply pronouncing!).

Maximum Christmas markets are family-friendly and there are many actions in your little ones.

Youngsters can puppy sheep, goats, or donkeys in animal stables, or get busy in kid workshops, input more than a few competitions, style Christmas chocolates, and so forth.

You don’t wish to spend your whole time in Christmas markets, there may be all the time such a lot happening within the festive season – don’t pass over probably the most Creation concert events carried out in historic constructions or church buildings, theatre, opera, ballet, or exhibitions.

You’ll even in finding a couple of out of doors ice-skating rinks around the town – talk over with the only within the Fruit Marketplace (Ovocny trh) within the Previous The city.

What to Purchase on the Czech Christmas Markets

You could be crushed via the good number of Christmas products within the markets as it all seems so beautiful and it’s laborious to come to a decision what to get.

The next are probably the most standard pieces that you simply will have to take a look at as a result of they make best possible Christmas items (and souvenirs to take house):

• Christmas tree embellishes
• Christmas decorations
• Creation wreaths
• Handicrafts
• Wood toys
• Scented candles
• Glassware
• Spices
• Ceramics
• Jewellery
• Wintry weather equipment (scarves, hats, gloves)
• Gingerbread merchandise

What to Devour & Drink on the Prague Christmas Marketplace?

Some other nice reason why to talk over with a Christmas Marketplace in Prague is for the meals. You’ll check out many native dishes, in addition to some seasonal favorites.

Whilst visiting Prague, you are going to see ‘Trdelník’ round each nook. It’s a candy pastry constituted of dough this is wrapped round a steel stick (trdlo) and grilled over an open flame.

It’s offered as normally Czech nevertheless it’s no longer fully true, it’s commonplace in maximum of Central Europe. As an example, in Budapest in Hungary it’s known as a chimney cake.

On the other hand, you will have to nonetheless give it a check out – you’ll have it empty, sprinkled with sugar, or with a filling (ice cream is the most well liked). You’ll watch ‘trdelnik’ being made in maximum markets and status via the hearth may also heat you up.

They’re distinctive as a result of they resolve while you devour them. They’re candy and scrumptious!

Excluding this, don’t pass over out and check out those standard Czech snacks, which is obtainable in maximum Christmas markets:

• Spit-roasted Prague ham (Pražská šunka)
• Barbecued sausages (klobasy)
• Salty potato pancakes (bramboraky)
• Conventional Czech Christmas braided cake ‘vanocka’
• Christmas cookies (vanocni cukrovi)
• Gingerbread (pernik)
• Russian Pelmeni (Dumplings)
• Langoš (flatbread crowned with garlic, cheese and ketchup)

The next Christmas sizzling beverages will assist you to to stay heat too:

• Mulled wine (svarene vino or Svařák)
• Mead (medovina)
• Grog
• Punch
• Eggnog (vajecny konak)
• Scorching chocolate (horká čokoláda)

Czech Christmas Traditions

Czech Christmas traditions are other from the ones in Western Europe.

For the Czech, an important day of Christmas is Christmas Eve (twenty fourth December), particularly within the night, when we now have relations dinner, youngsters get their gifts and a few households cross to a middle of the night mass within the native church.

For Christmas dinner we experience fish soup and fried carp with potato salad – that’s why you’ll see giant tanks with fish on the market in lots of puts a couple of days prior to Christmas.

Do-it-yourself Christmas cookies are a large a part of the vacation in each family and each and every relations has its personal ‘secret’ recipes for the most efficient cookies.

There’s a Christmas tree colorfully embellished and lit in each space.

The principle determine of Czech Christmas is Child Jesus (Jezisek), no longer Santa Claus (despite the fact that you’ll want to see Santa in most department stores).

All through Christmas Day (25^th December) and St. Stephen’s Day (26^th December), Czech folks love to talk over with friends and family.

Christmas is the time when households come in combination and experience numerous excellent meals and likewise fairy stories (there are lots of Czech fairy stories on TV right through Christmas and we like looking at them yearly).

Retail outlets are most often closed from the afternoon of 24^th December till 25^th December, a few of them open on 26^th December (gross sales time!).

St. Nicholas Day within the Czech Republic

If you’re within the Czech Republic at the night of five^th December (an afternoon prior to St. Nicholas Day), you are going to more than likely meet St. Nicholas (Mikulas) accompanied via an angel and a satan within the streets.

They ask children in the event that they behaved right through the 12 months – if this is the case, they provide them a small provide (most often a bag of chocolates or a chocolate Santa).

If the youngsters have been naughty, they get a lump of coal or potatoes as an alternative (they nonetheless get some treats in order that they aren’t too unhappy).

In Czech traditions, that is the day when ‘Santa’ visits, no longer on Christmas Eve like in different portions of the sector.

Guidelines for Visiting Prague Christmas Markets

We are hoping we satisfied you that the Christmas markets in Prague will have to be in your bucket listing. It’s a good way to start out the vacation season and get some unique Christmas items or decorations.

However prior to you cross, we now have only some guidelines for visiting:

• It’s chilly within the Czech Republic in December (be expecting temperatures beneath 0 stage Celsius / 32 levels Fahrenheit), so get dressed warmly.
• The Prague Christmas markets are very talked-about international and that’s why they are able to get crowded, particularly in Previous The city and Wenceslas Squares. Keep watch over your little ones in the event you’re touring with children.
• If you’ll, attempt to talk over with the markets on weekdays to keep away from the crowds (that’s what we do).
• Take into consideration which marketplace is best for you. As locals, we want the smaller markets for a extra unique enjoy and decrease costs. But when it’s your first time in Prague you shouldn’t pass over the large markets too – it’s simply as much as you the way a lot time (and cash) you are going to spend there.
• Maximum stalls don’t settle for bank cards as they’re simply small distributors, so carry money with you (the native forex is Czech koruna, no longer Euro).
• We adore to talk over with the Prague Christmas markets after it will get darkish and the stalls illuminate, it’s a really magical enjoy (particularly if it snows).

As you may be able to inform via now, there may be not anything like absorbing the original environment of medieval Prague, surfing the picket stalls, being attentive to Christmas carols, taking part in Czech conventional meals, and sipping mulled wine.

If you’re on the lookout for memorable reviews, Prague all the time delivers.

Making plans a Commute to Prague

For those who’re in a position to start out making plans your travel, check out those further assets.