Christmas in Prague: the markets of Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, and the Czech Christmas table

Old Town Square

The Christmas market on Old Town Square is one of the largest and most visited holiday events in the country, in Prague City Tourism’s words: dozens of stalls of traditional Czech products and food, a festively lit Christmas tree, and a daily programme of music and folklore. It runs from 28 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, organised by Taiko. Look for glass and straw ornaments, ceramic and wooden nativity scenes, lace, cookie cutters and wooden rolling pins: the markets traditionally support Czech makers.

Wenceslas Square

The Wenceslas Square market fills the lower part of the square with wooden huts, handmade gifts from Czech workshops and modern street food, with choirs, music and family programmes through to Three Kings’ Day. It runs from 28 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, 10:00–22:00 (prague.eu; organiser Taiko).

Náměstí Míru and Náměstí Republiky

In Vinohrady, the market on Náměstí Míru, in front of St Ludmila’s Church, is one of the city’s largest, with ornaments, ceramic nativity scenes, wooden toys and sheep’s-wool goods. On Náměstí Republiky, the market runs from 25 November to 24 December 2026 on the side facing V Celnici, with Advent wreaths, mistletoe, candles and treats (prague.eu).

St Martin’s wine and goose

Advent is heralded on St Martin’s Day, when the first young wines of Moravia and Bohemia are opened with roast goose and cabbage. In Prague, the St Martin’s festival on the Rašínovo embankment is on 14 November 2026 (prague.eu).

The Czech Christmas table

On Christmas Eve, Czech families traditionally fasted until the evening meal, when, in the old days, only meatless dishes and fish were eaten, as CzechTourism records. Today, fried carp with potato salad is served in the majority of Czech families; it is a fairly recent tradition, from the mid-19th century, like the decorated tree. Many meals begin with fish soup, and some families still make the old mushroom and barley dish, kuba.

The sweet side of Christmas is older. The braided vánočka, rich with butter, almonds and raisins, has been part of the Christmas menu since the 14th century, says CzechTourism; and in the weeks before, families bake trays of cukroví, the Christmas biscuits, with vanilla rolls the favourite of all, often hidden in boxes to rest for a fortnight. Erhartova cukrárna takes orders for cukroví each Advent.

Music for the season

The National Theatre, the State Opera and the Rudolfinum publish their December programmes on their own sites, and St Nicholas Church in Malá Strana holds concerts; see stnicholas.cz. Book early: Advent is one of the busiest seasons of the year.

Our advice

Visit the markets in the morning on a weekday, when they are quieter, and come back after dark for the lights. Book hotels and restaurants early for Christmas and New Year. Prague City Tourism publishes the full Christmas programme on prague.eu from late November.

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