Best time to visit Prague, month by month

Prague is worth visiting in every season, but each one feels different. Spring and early autumn are the sweet spot for most travellers: comfortable weather for walking, long days and fewer crowds than in July and August. Winter has its own magic, from the Christmas markets to empty streets in January. Here is what to expect, season by season.

Spring: March to May

• March is still cool and often grey, and the streets are quiet. Easter markets open on the Old Town Square around Easter, which falls in March or April.
• April brings blossom on Petřín hill and in the parks, and average highs of about 16 °C. From 1 April the historic buildings of Prague Castle switch to summer opening hours, from 9:00 to 17:00.
• May is one of the best months of the year: long days, gardens in bloom and pleasant evenings by the river. The Prague Spring international music festival opens on 12 May, the anniversary of the death of Bedřich Smetana, and runs into early June.

Spring weekends and the May public holidays are popular with visitors from across Europe, so book hotels early.

Summer: June to August

Summer is the warmest and busiest season. Average highs in July are 26 to 27 °C, with some hotter days, and short thunderstorms are common in the afternoon. Days are long, beer gardens such as Letná are full and evening cruises on the Vltava are at their best.

The downside is the crowds at Prague Castle, on Charles Bridge and around the Old Town Square in the middle of the day. Start early, plan museums or a long lunch for the hottest hours and keep the evenings for walks. Our evening walk with a river cruise and dinner is made for summer nights.

Autumn: September to November

• September is excellent for walking tours and day trips: warm days, cooler evenings and fewer families than in summer. It is also the season of burčák, the sweet young wine that is sold only in late summer and autumn.
• October turns the parks golden, with average highs of about 14 °C. The Signal Festival of light art fills the streets with installations in mid-October (in 2026 from 15 to 18 October), and 28 October is a national holiday.
• November is grey and quiet. Around St Martin's Day on 11 November, restaurants serve roast goose with the first young wine of the year, and the Christmas markets open at the end of the month.

Autumn is also the best time for day trips to places like Český Krumlov, before many castles close their interiors for the winter.

Winter: December to February

• December belongs to the Christmas markets, Advent concerts in the churches and the lights on the Old Town Square. Days are short, with sunset around four in the afternoon. Weekends are busy, weekdays much calmer. Read our guide to the Prague Christmas markets.
• New Year's Eve is celebrated on the squares, in restaurants and on boats, but without official city fireworks.
• January and February are the coldest months, with average highs of about 4 °C and frequent frost at night. Snow is possible but not guaranteed. The city is at its quietest, hotels are easier to book and museums, concerts and cafés come into their own.

Czech public holidays

The Czech Republic has 13 public holidays: 1 January, Good Friday, Easter Monday, 1 May, 8 May, 5 and 6 July, 28 September, 28 October, 17 November and 24, 25 and 26 December. On many of them large shops are closed or open only in the morning, while most museums and sights stay open. Check opening hours if your trip includes one of these days.

The best time for your kind of trip

• First visit: May, June or September, for good weather and long days.
• Families: school holidays work well if you start early and keep the afternoons light. Late spring and early autumn are more comfortable.
• Seniors and travellers who prefer a slow pace: April, May, September and October, avoiding the summer heat.
• Groups and incentive trips: book six to twelve months ahead for May, June, September and October, which are the busiest months for group hotels.
• Christmas lovers: the first half of December on weekdays.
• Company Christmas parties: start planning in September or October, because December dates fill up early.

Planning your dates with us

Tell us when you would like to travel and what matters to you, and we suggest the best dates, book the hotel and plan the days. Our guide to how many days to spend in Prague helps with the length of your stay.