elcon

Hi All,
Wondering if anyone has travelled to Prague in December? Is it very dreary? I have never been and am hoping to go in early Dec. What are the Christmas markets like? I asked before about itineraries for four days and got great responses. Thanks!!

Cholmondley_Warner

I've been there for Christmas and it was chuffin' cold - about -10c.

Other than that it was great - not too many tourists around.

Dukey

Last time I visited it was in very late November in order to buy glass. It was overcast and damp but certainly not bone-chilling (down jackets are wonderful) and there seemed to be very few visitors.

I easily ate in one of those covered restaurants near the astrological clock and thoroughly enjoyed being out of doors in that heated space.

Go for it...that misty atmosphere just brings even more romance to the old town setting IMO

Maria_H

I've been a couple of times between Christmas and New Year. Each time below freezing at night, just above in the day, we even had a little snow on one of the visits. At that time the crowds steadily increased each day towards New Year - I'm not sure earlier in the month. We loved it and there was plenty to keep us occupied. These pictures were all taken in December.

http://www.worldisround.com/articles/322640/index.html

Therese

I was there in mid-December (as you know from my post to your other thread) and found it very pleasant. It was actually sunny one day (not too common, as per my friend who lives there), and it rained one afternoon. I'm fairly susceptible to the cold, especially my extremities, and came prepared with long underwear and chemical toe warmers (the sort that you use when snow skiing) and didn't wear either of them. Below freezing at night, above freezing during the day.

Plenty of tourists around, but not unpleasantly mobbed. The Christmas markets are actually nicer at night, as you tend to notice the pretty lights rather than the cords that hold them up. The larger markets feature live musical performances, especially on the weekend. It gets dark early and gets light late, so you've got more time to enjoy the markets and other holiday events.

Lots of nice things to eat at the markets: roasted chestnuts, those barrel-shaped pastries, fresh spa wafers with Nutella, fresh syrup waffles (like stroopwaffels), fried cheese pastries, etc.

Lots to drink as well, with all sorts of hot alcoholic things on offer.

All in all, a very nice time to visit Prague: tourist crowds smaller, but very festive environment.

elcon

Thanks! Maria H, your pics are great and Therese, you've got great info! I have the option of going to Prague or Paris the first week of Dec(I know, what a horrible dilemma)and am having difficulty deciding since I have never been to either city. There seems to be something about Prague that is pulling me in that direction. Should I be concerned about the language barrier or do some/many people speak English? Thanks again for all of your help, I have travelled alone before, but a new place always leaves me a bit nervous.

Maria_H

You will have no problems with the language - my Czech is restricted to hello, goodbye, please and thank you and we never had any problems making ourselves understood. There are many people who speak English. I'd go for Prague - but I am biased.

Therese

I agree with Prague over Paris for this particular trip. And also agree re no problems with not speaking Czech (apart from greetings and thank you and "do you speak English?&quot in Prague. I did deal with a number of people who didn't speak any English at all, but managed to just fine. One was an older couple at an outdoor market who didn't speak English but were still able to show me where I was on a map, and another was a young woman from whom I bought Christmas ornaments at the market in Namesti Miru. Again, sign language and smiles work just fine.

Cholmondley_Warner

Doing traditional tourist things in Paris and Prague, language won't be a problem. They're used to yanks/brits/aussies/moose botherers etc and have enough english to deal with us.

I would plump for Paris of the two. Prague is nice - but it's no Paris.

Paris has more things to see and do, better food and more places to eat it and a wider range of hotels. The public transport is better too (it's not too shabby in Prague either).

Therese

I'd argue that public transit in Prague is better than it is in Paris due to Prague's use of trams in addition to the metro (and buses, which I don't like nearly as much).

Bailey

Not quite December...but February. I thought the chill was nice. It was sunny, a little snow on the ground. I loved the wintery look of mystery.
We ended up staying an extra day...blizzard in New York.

Winter in Prague photos:
http://www.pbase.com/baileyzim/prague

galiano

We will be in Prague 4 days early in December so I've read these posts with interest. We'll be driving from Frankfurt via Rothenburg and Cesky Krumlov then on to Prague. As to your original question elcon, I think the weather won't really matter much as the city will be decorated for Christmas. We are really looking forward to the Christmas markets.

As to Paris versus Prague, I love Paris anytime but I think for the Christmas season Prague might be a better choice with its traditional Christmas markets.

MademoiselleFifi

Not yet, but that's on my list of things to do. I was there during a horrible July heatwave (2003) which ruined the experience. How I wish it had been winter-- and all the guide books have those gorgeous pictures of Prague in snow, and Czech food is more suitable for cold weather.

yasron

We were there in December and it was great. The Christmas Markets had just opened and there were tourists- mainly
from Europe and many from Czeck itself who come for the Christmas school performances each evening in the Square.

Yes it was cold but I prefer a little bit cold to sweating and looking for the best airconditioned buildings all the time.

Zeus

We were pickpocketed on Christmas Eve at Prague Castle. I can assure you it was quite crowded in the Old Town that day. Probably not nearly as bas as the Spring and Summer, but we were bumped and jostled by mostly Russian tourists all day long. We were so used to being pushed and shoved that day which is why my wife didn't notice the guy try to lift our passports. Luckily for us, they fell to the ground in his clumsy attempt. As a result Prague has left a slightly bitter taste in our mouths.

What is nice is that unlike the rest of Europe the touristy part of town is still open Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Souvenir shops and restaurants were still willing to legally take our money.

It is particularly cold out on the Charles Bridge. There were herds of tourists everywhere but very few artists and buskers. Maybe that's a good thing? I normally enjoy the cold but the wind just cut right into us as we traversed the bridge. It made those cups of hot chocolate on the other side of the river that much more rewarding.

We got to the Christmas Market in the Old Town Square just as night fell on Christmas Eve. It looked beautiful but was just about to close as we arrived. Lots of interesting drinks and food but we didn't see any merchandise that knocked our socks off like we had seen in Dresden, Berlin and Munich. Maybe my family's tastes run more toward traditional German Christmas decorations.....

imared5

I went last December and it was very cold, but it was not snowing. It was OK, but not good for walking tours, we hired a private tour guide with a car, and we could see a lot of Prague without the freezing temperatures. About the Christmas Market, I found it OK, but it closed too early (by 10 pm it was already closed).

George Unger (Ph 00420602366198) was the guide we had,I recommend him highly. He is a great tour guide, very reliable and very concious. He took us to nice restaurants for Czec food which are not in the touristic area, which made it much cheaper and good quality. He took us to Karlovy Vary as a side trip and we enjoyed a great SPA treatment with massage and mineral water bath.

Even though it was very cold, the sun was out, it was just cloudy sometinmes, but no rain which made the trip even better. We were there for 4 nights from Dec 14-18.
Have a great trip!

crefloors

Not Prague, but a few years ago I was in Copenhagen and Stockholm right after Christmas. Landed in Copenhagen in a white out...we were one of the last planes to land that day. It was cold, cold, cold!!!!! I loved it. You have to layer and a scarf and gloves are essential. Also,, I had lined boots that kept my feet totally warm, didn't even need heavy socks. My brother had leather boots and even with socks his feet would get cold.

All the holiday decorations were still up, and it was delightful. We did NOT see much of the sun however.

Anyway, I think it would be a wonderful time to go to Prague. Just dress right and I'll bet you'll have a wonderful trip.

lvk

I'm also reading with interest. We're thinking of heading to Prague and Karlovy Vary for few days from Munich just after Christmas. DH's concern was that it would be too cold and dreary, and our teens would be bored.

Any thoughts on what there is to keep teens interested when the weather is "chuffin' cold"?

thur_henrik

Hi,
I traveled all over the Eastern Europe in the last summer and was in Prague for 5 days. Itīs the great city with interesting places, galleries and museums. I booked room through www.a-prague.com. It seems to be interesting website full of cheap and interesting hotels in Prague. They have discount now so you can look at www.a-prague.com.