Visiting Prague In Winter: What To Do And Where To Stay

27 Dec Visiting Prague In Winter: What To Do And Where To Stay

Prague transcends into a magical winter wonderland in the Wintertime. Between the foggy mornings, dreamy sunrises, and lightly snow-dusted rooftops of ‘the city of a hundred spires’, you have yourself one of the most romantic cities in the world.

So what is there to do, and where should you stay to ensure all the cozy Winter feels? Keep reading and we’ll surely convince you to book your next Winter trip in the beautiful city of Prague.

 

 

Visiting Prague In Winter – What To Do

 

Christmas Markets

 

If you happen to find yourself wandering through Prague’s old alleyways between the end of November and early January, you’re going to be blessed with Christmas cheer and wafts of Honey Mead and Gingerbread. There’s over fifty markets scattered throughout the city, and each and every one will be offering you some festive delight.

For something local…make your way to Náměstí Míru – the Peace Square in the Prague 2 district. The square is dominated by the neo-Gothic Cathedral of St Ludmila, and unlike some other markets, this one is still kept fairly tourist-free.

 

 

For something modern…visit the Prague Manifesto – a new gastro pop-up market, offering everything from craft beer and cider, to art stalls and heated igloos…yes, igloos – ones you can rent out for a couple hours for just 150 CZK (US$6) per person (or an entire igloo for groups of 7 for 899 CZK – approximately US$40).

 

 

For something grand…be at Old Town Square at 16:30 for the melodic Christmas tree lighting (and of course at anytime of day for the Christmas decorations, wood-carved toys, confectionery and other Czech specialities). Although it gets extremely crowded, it’s still worth a visit as the Old Town Square market was ranked as one of the top 10 markets in the world (and after seeing our fair share, we can definitely vouch for that stat too).

 

 

Cozy Wine, Beer, and Absinthe Bars

 

It’s no secret that Czechs love to drink, and rightfully so – they have some of the best beer in the world. But just like the eccentric mix of Christmas markets on offer, Prague has an array of beer, wine, and absinthe-centric pubs and bars scattered throughout the city (drinking indoors is also a great way to defrost between all the sightseeing #justsaying).

For something intimate…wine not spend an evening or afternoon at Vinograf – a cozy wine bar just a few cobblestone streets away from Charles Bridge and the Augustine Luxury Collection Hotel? It boasts the largest selections of Czech wine in Prague, and with only eight candlelit tables, it’s bound to be the perfect warmer-upper during the chilly months.

For something cultural…visit one of the oldest bars in the country to taste the beer of Bohemian kings. For centuries, monks have been brewing the St Thomas beer, and after the Communist government interrupted brewing for 58 years, the original recipe was handed to the Augustine Luxury Collection Hotel where it is now served exclusively in the cellar of the original St Thomas Brewery.

 

 

For something experimental…make a reservation at the popular, Ernest-Hemingway-inspired, speakeasy-style cocktail bar between the Charles Bridge and the National Theater, aka Hemingway Bar. The experienced bartenders are more than happy to play around and invent cocktails for you based on your flavour profile, so go have fun (and maybe consider the locally-made, limited-edition Hemingway Absinthe for a real local treat).

 

Top Sites

 

A visit to Prague (whether it’s your first or umpteenth time) would not be complete without a little sightseeing, and with the winter breeze and (holding thumbs you get to have the) light sprinkle of snow, there’s really no better time to see this spellbinding city, filled with architecture from the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque eras. Listing all our favourite spots would probably require another post entirely, so we’ve chosen our favourite three.

For the romantics…stroll across Charles Bridge at sunrise. There will be less people (we’d like to say ‘no people’, but alas, the photographer in each of us is finding the urge to wake up earlier and earlier to catch the iconic bridge sans tourist, so you certainly won’t be alone) and if you’re lucky, the sky will glow multiple shades of fuschia and apricot.

 

 

For the peculiar…go see Fred and Ginger (as the building is affectionately called after the famous dancers Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers) aka The Dancing House. This one-of-a-kind building is a collaborative piece between the Croatian-Czech architect Vlado Milunić and Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry.

 

 

For a trip through time…visit the famed Prague Castle which sits atop one of the seven hills of Prague. Founded in the 9th Century, this castle is one of the largest complexes in the world, and besides the beauty from the outside, you can also visit the Lobkowicz Palace (within the complex) to see one of the finest art collections in the world, hand-annotated manuscripts by many of the greatest composers including Beethoven and Mozart, and even stick around to watch the midday classical concert, which really will transport you to a different period. You can also get some of the best views of the city from up there.

 

 

 

Visiting Prague In Winter – Where To Stay

 

Augustine – A Luxury Collection Hotel

 

When you’re tired of the cold, or simply want to enjoy the “quintessence of Prague’s history, character and beauty”, the Augustine Luxury Collection Hotel will be the perfect place. We spent three nights exploring all seven of the historical buildings, and between the private church library adjoined to the Baroque St. Thomas Church and 13th century Augustine monastery, and the delicious St Thomas dark beer sold exclusively in the brewery bar, we found it very difficult to leave.

For the best view in Prague…book the Tower Suite. Housed in the former astrological tower of the monastery, this three-storey penthouse suite, offers 360-degree panorama views of the city of Prague from the top floor. Something no other room in the entire city can offer.

 

 

For the bucket list…stay at the Fresco Suite. This unique suite is protected by UNESCO as the reconstruction of the former monastery uncovered a piece of history behind the old plaster – the original fresco from the 19th century, and an original parquet floor.

 

 

For local luxurious indulgence…reserve the Moser Suite. Located on a private level in the monastery building, this suite offers a sense of sophistication and pieces from the famous local glass company, Moser.

 

 

You may also like: The 5 Best Places To Stay In Prague

 

We hope this post’s been informative and inspiring. If you do happen to visit Prague in the Wintertime, please tag us in your pics on Instagram, or pop us a mail with some of your highlight selfies. We’d love to see it through your eyes too!

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