Things to Do in Prague in Winter: Best Indoor and Outdoor Activities
Prague in December gets dark before 4.30 pm, and daytime temperatures usually sit around freezing. That still does not stop it from being one of the busiest winter destinations in Europe, largely thanks to the Christmas markets, the snow on the Castle roofs and the fact that a mulled wine is never more than a few steps away.
The trick is to mix time outside with things that get you indoors or moving. These are the activities we recommend to our own guests who come in winter.
Christmas markets
From late November to early January the markets are the main reason many people book a winter trip to Prague.
- Old Town Square: The biggest market, with a tall Christmas tree, carol singing on the stage and rows of wooden stalls. It is also the most crowded, so go in the morning if you can.
- Wenceslas Square and Prague Castle: Smaller and a bit calmer, with the same mix of sausages, handmade decorations and hot drinks, typically svařák (mulled wine) and medovina (hot mead).
An outdoor shooting session
After two days of walking between markets and churches in the cold, most people are happy to do something active. A session at the Outback Prague outdoor range gets you out of the centre for a few hours, and you warm up quickly once you start shooting.
- Open all year: You shoot Czech and international guns, from CZ pistols to the AK-47, with an instructor beside you.
- Warm transport: We pick you up at your hotel in a heated car, drive you to the range and bring you back afterwards.
- Short daylight: Morning and early afternoon slots let you shoot while it is still light and be back in town in time for the markets at dusk.
A heated river cruise on the Vltava
A covered, heated boat is the easiest way to see Charles Bridge, the Castle and Vyšehrad in winter without freezing. Several operators run lunch and dinner cruises, and the glass roof means the view is still good when it snows.
Museums and galleries
Grey afternoons are a good time for the indoor sights. The National Museum at the top of Wenceslas Square has natural history and Czech history exhibitions in a large Neo-Renaissance building. Museum Kampa on Kampa Island is small and focuses on modern Central European art. At Prague Castle, the ticket covers St. Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace and the Castle Picture Gallery, all of which are indoors.
Czech comfort food
Czech food is heavy, which is exactly what you want after a day in the cold. A traditional pub or cellar restaurant will usually have:
- Svíčková: Beef sirloin in a creamy vegetable sauce, served with bread dumplings and cranberries.
- Guláš: Beef stew with onion and paprika, usually with dumplings (tourist spots also serve it in a bread bowl).
- Trdelník: A sweet rolled pastry coated in cinnamon sugar, sold at the markets. It is more of a tourist snack than a Czech tradition, but it tastes best hot on a cold day.
Planning your winter days
A winter weekend in Prague works well if you plan one outdoor block per day and keep the evenings for food and the markets. A shooting session fits easily into a morning, and with hotel pickup you do not have to deal with public transport in the snow.
Send us your travel dates and we will check which morning slots are free at the outdoor range.