Month by month
Prague in December
The markets, the lights and a beer hall after dark. Book the first half, not the Christmas week.
The figures
- Avg high
- 4°C
- Avg low
- -1°C
- Sunshine
- 120 h
- Rain
- 41 mm
- Wet days
- 10 days
- Snow days
- 3 days
Thirty-year averages, 1995–2024, computed from daily observations. Source: Open-Meteo Historical Weather API (ERA5)
December is Prague's showcase month. The markets on the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square are among the most photographed in Europe, the tree stands under the Týn towers, and the combination of a cold night and a warm vaulted beer hall is what people remember.
The month has two halves and they are priced very differently. The first two weeks are markets, lights and reasonable rates, with Mikuláš on the evening of the 5th, when Saint Nicholas, an angel and a devil walk the streets. From mid-month prices climb, and over Christmas and New Year the city is full and expensive.
Note how Czechs keep Christmas: the main celebration is on the evening of 24 December, when most shops and restaurants close from the afternoon. 25 and 26 December are public holidays too, though the central markets generally stay open.
What to know
- 24, 25 and 26 December are public holidays; large shops close from noon on the 24th.
- Mikuláš (St. Nicholas Eve) is the evening of 5 December.
- The first half of the month is meaningfully cheaper than the second.
What is on this month
Mikuláš — St Nicholas Eve
Streets and squares across the city · 2026-12-05
New Year's Eve in Prague
Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square and the river banks · 2026-12-31
Where to stay
Live prices and availability on a map centred on this exact spot — hotels, apartments and hostels, so you can judge the walk from here rather than guess from an address.
Bookings made through this map earn us a commission. Your price is unaffected.
Read next
Questions about this month
What is the weather like in Prague in December?
The average daily high is 4°C and the average low -1°C, with around 41 mm of rain across 10 days and 120 hours of sunshine. These are averages of 30 years of daily observations (1995–2024).
Is December a good time to visit Prague?
The markets, the lights and a beer hall after dark. Book the first half, not the Christmas week.
How busy is Prague in December?
Busy by the standards of the Prague year, and prices are high. The table on the weather page compares all twelve months side by side.
Does it snow in Prague in December?
There are 3 days with at least 1 mm of snowfall in an average December. Snow rarely lies long in the city, but the bridges and the rooftops of Malá Strana under snow are among the finest sights Prague has — and a vaulted beer hall is the right place afterwards.