Month guide · Prague · Czechia
Prague in December
What December is really like in Prague: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Tilman2007, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 3°C (37°F), lows of -2°C (28°F), about 7 rainy days and roughly 8.1 hours of daylight. Cold and festive, with Christmas markets on the Old Town and Wenceslas squares; busy at weekends and over New Year.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 3°C (37°F) / -2°C (28°F)
- Rainy days
- About 7
- Daylight
- About 8.1 hours
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in December
December is the 11th-warmest month in Prague: days average 3°C (37°F) against a yearly average high of 14°C (57°F), and nights fall to about -2°C (28°F). Rain falls on roughly 7 of its 31 days. Compared with November (7°C (45°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 2°C (36°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:55
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 16:01
- Daylight
- About 8.1 hours
Winter (December–February). Freezing temperatures and short days, but Christmas markets in December and the lowest prices in January and February.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 4 for crowds (the peak is June at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in June). Book accommodation early: December is one of the pricier months.
Events in December
- Christmas markets on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square (December)
- Carp sellers in the streets before Christmas Eve (around 20–24 December)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Neighbourhood · Malá Strana
Kampa Island and the Lennon Wall
Kampa is a riverside island park separated from Malá Strana by the Čertovka millstream, with a working water wheel and David Černý's giant faceless crawling babies outside the Museum Kampa.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Experience · Vltava
Vltava boat or paddle boat
A paddle boat at sunset is cheaper and more fun than many cruises; some come shaped like swans or vintage cars.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Couples
- Views
- Outdoors
Park · Holešovice
Letná Park
A high plateau above the river with one of Prague's best-known beer gardens and a classic view of the bridges stepping across the Vltava.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
- Food
Zoo · Troja
Prague Zoo
Take the bus from Nádraží Holešovice, and in summer return by river boat to the centre.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
What to pack
For highs near 3°C, lows near -2°C and 7 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Prague?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–June and September are better overall. Compare every month.
Prague in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Prague?
It is a shoulder-season month. Cold and festive, with Christmas markets on the Old Town and Wenceslas squares; busy at weekends and over New Year.
+How warm is Prague in December?
Average highs are around 3°C (37°F) and lows around -2°C (28°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Prague in December?
Expect rain on about 7 days of the month.