Last updated: 22 October 2026
Prague's two big Christmas markets, on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, run from Saturday 28 November 2026 to Wednesday 6 January 2027, according to CzechTourism. Smaller neighborhood markets open earlier, from 20 November, and close on 24 December. The 2026 tree lighting time and daily hours had not been announced by 22 October 2026; last year the stalls opened daily from 10 am to 10 pm.
2026 dates at a glance
| Market | 2026 dates | Status on 22 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí) | Sat 28 November 2026 to Wed 6 January 2027 | Dates listed by CzechTourism; hours not yet published |
| Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí) | Sat 28 November 2026 to Wed 6 January 2027 | Dates listed; hours not yet published |
| Republic Square (náměstí Republiky) | Wed 25 November to Thu 24 December 2026 | Dates listed |
| Tyl's Square (Tylovo náměstí) | Thu 26 November to Thu 24 December 2026 | Dates listed |
| Peace Square (náměstí Míru) | Fri 20 November to Thu 24 December 2026 | Dates listed |
| Prague Castle, Anděl, Jiřího z Poděbrad Square | Not announced | Listed without dates |
| Tree lighting, Old Town Square | Not announced | In 2025 the tree was lit on opening day, Saturday 29 November |
Source: CzechTourism's Christmas markets in Prague page. For comparison, the 2025 Old Town Square market ran from 29 November 2025 to 6 January 2026, daily from 10 am to 10 pm (e15), and Czech Television reported the tree lighting on its first evening (ČT24). That is last year's pattern, not a 2026 announcement.
Our Czech Republic page sells the Europe plans, which also cover a side trip to Vienna, Dresden or Bratislava: $11.99 for 7 days with 1.5 GB a day, or $19.99 for 15 days.
Old Town Square: the big one
The Old Town Square market fills the square between the Gothic Týn Church and the Old Town Hall with its astronomical clock, around a tall tree brought each year from a different Czech region, according to CzechTourism. It is the market most visitors come for, and on December evenings it is packed: the square is the center of Prague's old town and every walking route passes through it.
When to go. Weekday mornings are the calmest. In the evening the lights are the reason to come, so go once by day for the stalls and once after dark for the tree. Watch for pickpockets in the evening crowds, as in any busy city center.
Getting there. Metro line A to Staroměstská, then a five minute walk. From Wenceslas Square it is about ten minutes on foot down Na Můstku and Melantrichova.
Wenceslas Square and the neighborhood markets
Wenceslas Square, the long boulevard in the New Town, hosts the second big market on the same dates as Old Town Square. It is a short walk away and easier to move around in. Metro lines A and B stop at Můstek, line C at Muzeum.
The smaller markets are where people who live in Prague go:
- Peace Square (náměstí Míru), in Vinohrady, in front of the Church of St. Ludmila: the first to open, on 20 November. Metro A, Náměstí Míru.
- Republic Square (náměstí Republiky), beside the Municipal House: from 25 November. Metro B, Náměstí Republiky.
- Tyl's Square (Tylovo náměstí), in the New Town: from 26 November. Metro C, I. P. Pavlova.
These three close on 24 December, Christmas Eve, which is the main day of Christmas in the Czech Republic.
Prices: Prague is not on the euro
The Czech Republic is in the EU but uses the Czech koruna (CZK), not the euro. Stalls price food, mulled wine (svařák) and crafts in koruna. Two tips:
- Pay in koruna when a card terminal offers you a choice. If it offers to charge you in dollars or pounds, decline: the conversion rate it uses is worse than your card's.
- Carry a little cash for small stalls, and use a bank ATM rather than a stand-alone currency machine or exchange booth.
Getting there from Václav Havel Airport
Prague's airport (PRG) has no train. Public transport into the city, per the airport's own page:
| Route | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Trolleybus 59 to Nádraží Veleslavín, then metro A | The airport recommends this as the fastest public transport to the center; metro A runs to Staroměstská and Můstek | About 15 minutes to the metro |
| Bus 100 to Zličín, then metro B | For hotels on line B | About 18 minutes to the metro |
| Airport Express (AE) to Prague main station (Praha hlavní nádraží) | Separate ticket; regular public transport tickets are not valid on it (details) | About 40 minutes, depending on traffic |
Buy your ticket before you board: machines in both arrival halls take contactless cards, and the PID Lítačka app sells tickets too. Prague public transport fares, per PID on 22 October 2026:
| Ticket | In the PID Lítačka app | Paper ticket |
|---|---|---|
| 30 minutes | 36 CZK | 39 CZK |
| 90 minutes | 46 CZK | 50 CZK |
| 24 hours | 140 CZK | 150 CZK |
| 72 hours | 340 CZK | 350 CZK |
A 90-minute ticket covers the trolleybus and the metro into town. For three days of markets, the 72-hour ticket covers every metro, tram and bus.
Will my phone work in Prague?
Yes, any recent phone works on Czech networks. The question is the bill.
From the US: Verizon's TravelPass and AT&T's International Day Pass cost $12 a day per line in the Czech Republic as in the rest of Europe; T-Mobile's Experience plans include a few gigabytes. Details: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile.
From the UK, check first: you may not need anything. The Czech Republic is in the EU, and many UK plans include EU roaming: giffgaff, iD Mobile and SMARTY include it within their fair-use limits. Sky Mobile charges £2 a day for Europe with Roaming Passport Plus, and EE, Vodafone and Three charge a daily fee on most plans taken out in recent years. Check your plan; if it includes Prague, use it.
If you are paying by the day, a travel eSIM costs less. Prices from our catalogue on 22 October 2026, data only:
- A long weekend or a week: 1.5 GB a day for 7 days, $11.99
- Prague plus Vienna or Germany over two weeks: 1.5 GB a day for 15 days, $19.99
- Heavy use: unlimited for 7 days, $19.99
Your own number stays on for calls and texts. The days start when the eSIM first connects in a covered country, so install it at home before you fly: iPhone or Android.
Going on to Strasbourg or Colmar? See our guide to Christmas markets in France 2026. Vienna is about four hours away by direct train: Vienna Christmas markets 2026. For Dresden and Nuremberg, see the best Christmas markets in Germany.
FAQ
When is the Prague Christmas market in 2026?
The Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square markets run from 28 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, according to CzechTourism. Peace Square opens on 20 November, Republic Square on 25 November and Tyl's Square on 26 November; those three close on 24 December.
When is the Christmas tree lit in Prague in 2026?
The 2026 date had not been announced by 22 October 2026. In 2025 the Old Town Square tree was lit on the market's opening day, Saturday 29 November. Check Prague City Tourism in November.
What are the Prague Christmas market opening hours?
The 2026 hours had not been published by 22 October 2026. In 2025 the Old Town Square market was open daily from 10 am to 10 pm.
Is the Prague Christmas market open after Christmas?
Yes, the two big ones are. The Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square markets stay open until 6 January 2027. The neighborhood markets at Peace Square, Republic Square and Tyl's Square close on 24 December.
Does Prague use euros?
No. The Czech Republic uses the Czech koruna (CZK). Stalls price in koruna; if a card terminal offers to charge you in your home currency, choose koruna instead.
How do I get from Prague airport to Old Town Square?
Take trolleybus 59 to Nádraží Veleslavín, about 15 minutes, then metro line A to Staroměstská. A 90-minute ticket costs 46 CZK in the PID Lítačka app or 50 CZK on paper, and you buy it before you board.
Will my UK phone work in Prague without roaming charges?
On many UK plans, yes: giffgaff, iD Mobile and SMARTY include EU roaming within their limits, and the Czech Republic is in the EU. EE, Vodafone and Three charge a daily fee on most recent plans. Check your plan before you go.
Facts checked on 22 October 2026 against CzechTourism (visitczechia.com), Prague Airport (prg.aero), PID (pid.cz), e15.cz and ČT24 for the 2025 season, the UK carriers' terms as summarized in our carrier guides, and our own catalogue. Prague had not announced its 2026 hours or tree lighting: check again in November.