Useful information for Christmas and New Year’s Eve in Prague
Whether it’s the popular Christmas traditions or the festive New Year’s Eve parties, the end-of-year festivities are always an opportunity to get together and share moments of conviviality.
More and more of you are coming to Prague at this time of year. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for your stay and avoid unpleasant last-minute surprises.
Accommodation
Hotels do not hesitate to charge high prices for the New Year’s Eve period as demand is very high. Some hotels are fully booked several months in advance, so it is advisable to make your reservations as early as possible to ensure availability. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to get a room at the last minute, especially for New Year’s Eve.
Do not hesitate to contact us for a proposal and a quote, specifying the type of hotel you want and the precise period of your stay.
Catering
- Christmas Eve:
The traditional Czech Christmas menu consists of carp soup, breaded carp with potato salad, followed by small home-made pastries. It is traditionally a family holiday where people stay at home, which is why many restaurants are closed on the evening of 24 December and all day on 25 December.
Most restaurants that are open offer traditional menus, but places are limited.
Check out our online selection and book your evening now!
- New Year’s Eve:
Many restaurants offer special menus and even live entertainment on this night.
Check out our online selection and book your evening now!
Regular guided tour in English
The Grand Tour of Prague tour takes place daily (including 24th, 25th, 26th and 31st December, as well as 1st January).
Christmas Masses in Prague
Christmas masses will be held in many churches in the historic centre of Prague. Here are some of them:
- St Vitus Cathedral
- Church of Our Lady before Týn
- Church of St Saviour in Prague
- Church of St Francis of Assisi
- Church of Our Lady Victorious
- Church of Our Lady of the Snows
- Basilica of Saint Peter and Saint Paul
Opening / closing of monuments and tourist sites
Prague Castle (visit of the interiors): open every day from 9 am to 4 pm. Please note that Prague Castle is closed on 24 December.
The Jewish Museum: closed every Saturday and during Jewish holidays. On January 1st, the Jewish Museum opens from 11 am.
National Gallery Museums (St Agnes Convent, Trade Fair Palace, Schwarzenberg Palace, Sternberg Palace, Kinský Palace): closed on 24 December, open from 12 pm to 6 pm on 25 December, from 10 am to 4 pm on 31 December and from 12 pm to 6 pm on 1 January.
From 25 to 30 December, all sites are open at regular times.
Concerts and shows
Throughout December, you can choose from a variety of Christmas concerts held in Prague’s famous churches. We particularly recommend the concerts at Saint Giles Church: Festive Christmas Concert and Christmas Concert in Old Prague, as well as the Christmas Concert in the Mirror Chapel of the Klementinum.
On 25 December, you can attend the Christmas Gala Concert held in the prestigious Dvořák Hall of the Rudolfinum. Book your tickets now!
Check out our Tickets tab to find out what’s on during the period of your stay.
New Year’s Eve Fireworks
Previously, the official fireworks display was set off on 1 January at 6 pm from the Prague Metronome on Letná Hill. At the stroke of midnight, as the new year began, the Prague sky was also lit up by a huge number of spontaneous fireworks displays set off by Prague residents from all over the city. However, a few years ago, fireworks were banned in the city centre in order to protect the environment, property, and the health of people and animals.
WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
PŘEJEME VÁM VESELÉ VÁNOCE A ŠŤASTNÝ NOVÝ ROK!
