Visiting Prague in January 2025 - Travel Tips & Things to do

My favourite places to visit in Prague in January 2025, including travel tips, weather and what to pack when you are heading off to Prague in winter.

Is January a good month to visit Prague?

This really depends on what you want to do in Prague. It will be quiet, cold and nothing much will be happening, but equally, it could be a great opportunity to come to Prague during the low tourist season.

When I visit Prague in January or in February, I usually spend a lot of time re-visiting museums, galleries, reading books in cosy cafes and going to the theatre or seeing the latest movie in my favourite independent cinema.

On a bright sunny day, I also love getting out of Prague for a day trip (like my recent trip to Pardubice) and a long walk in the countryside.

One thing I should say is, be prepared to be cold! The weather is much cooler than in November, or December so you’ll need warm winter clothes and good shoes.

Most attractions outside of Prague such as museums and castles are closed for winter or might be open only at weekends and for a slightly shorter time. But, I’ve recently found out that quite a lot of castles within a day trip from Prague stay open for the winter season and it’s been lovely to visit them during what’s normally a non-tourist season.

If you want to plan any day drips, it’s worth getting up earlier in the morning as by 3 pm it can be virtually dark or very grey.

Prague is very quiet during January, especially as most people leave at the beginning of January, after the New Year’s Celebrations.

It’s the perfect month to visit Prague if you want to escape the tourist crowds and you can follow my fun non-touristy list of things to do in Prague to enjoy your stay.

PRACTICAL TRAVEL TIPS

What’s the January weather like?

Most years, Prague and Czech Republic’s January weather is very cold with temperatures dropping well below 0 C.

One important thing to mention about the cold in Prague. It might be below zero, but because this cold is ‘dry’ it doesn’t feel as cold as if it was 0 or even 2-3 C in London or UK. This is because of relatively low humidity.

The reason why I’m saying this is, as long as you are sufficiently wrapped in good warm clothes and have decent winter shoes, you don’t have to worry that you’ll be cold!

What is the January temperature in Prague ?

During the night the temperature can drop down to -3-10 Celsius and during the day (and if it’s sunny) might hover around 2-3 Celsius but can easily stay well below 0 Celsius.

You might get lovely sunny days in January, but it will feel chilly at the same time and especially when the sun comes down in the afternoon.

January day light

The daylight is from about 8 am to 4 pm with light visibility until about 4.30 pm.

If you are unlucky you might get days when the sky will be grey and permanently cloudy. It will feel like it’s getting darker even sooner than 2-3 pm if it’s cloudy and raining, so definitely plan some indoor activities.

Does it snow in Prague in January?

Yes, you are more likely to see snow in Prague in January than in early part of the winter. This is because traditionally January is the coldest month of the winter season and when the temperature drops to 0-2 Celsius, it often snows.

The snow often doesn’t stay for very long, especially in the centre of Prague. If you visit the outskirts of Prague (or Prague parks) you will see that the snow stays there for much longer.

If you venture for a day trip to the mountains, you are pretty much guarantee to get snow on the ground and the skying slopes.

MORE TRAVEL TIPS

What to pack for your visit

Apart from the general packing advice make sure that you have warm walking shoes, warm fleece or jumper and a winter jacket.

I tend to go for warm layers, so I pack a warmer body layer with long sleeve, fleece and a jacket or a coat.

If the weather is warm (for whatever reason), it might rain instead of snow, so bring an umbrella or rainproof jacket.

An umbrella is also handy unless you have a good waterproof rain jacket.

If you are planning to do longer day trips, it’s a good idea to bring a good day backpack and add an extra layer, hat or extra pair of socks for when the temperature drops in the evening.

Instead of a water bottle, I often take a hot coffee flask with me on my day trips. I’d still stop for a coffee or a tea during the day, but you never know if there is going to be a suitable place open where you are heading.

This is especially useful if you are thinking of travelling further from the centre in the afternoons or weekends.

What to wear in Prague in January

You definitely want to wear warm winter clothes in January. Plan to wear different layers rather than one thick jacket or jumper as layers will protect you agains the cold better.

Whenever you go indoors you will feel quite hot, so wear layers that are easily removable.

If it’s very cold and I decide to wear a shorter jacket I also wear a pair of leggings, especially under jeans. Jeans are one fabric that doesn’t actually make your body warm, so leggings or warm tights are a must (for me anyway!).

I also bring a winter hat or a cap as it gets colder in the evening and the wind can be quite freezing.

You’ll also need warm gloves and a scarf, depending on much you feel the cold.

If you feel the cold, I really recommend walking shoes with thick rubber soles (that keep your feet off the ground), thick socks (or two pairs of socks), leggings or thick tights under good warm trousers, long winter feather down jacket, scarf, gloves and a winter hat that covers your forehead.

I find by that stopping the cold from getting into my body through thin shoes and stopping it from escaping by wearing a winter beanie hat, I feel always nice and toasty!

Important dates

1 January – New Year

The first day of each year is a national holiday, but if it falls on the weekend, you don’t get another day off during week.

Most shops (especially the larger ones, including food shops) are closed on this day as well as offices, banks and government buildings. Small food shops are usually open as well as museums and other attractions.

6 January – Three Kings

The 6th of January celebrates the arrival of three kings to Jerusalem to see baby Jesus. Many churches celebrate this with special services, concerts and theatre events.

Traditionally, Czech people would keep their Christmas trees and decorations until 6th January, so if you are around after this date, you might see a lot of discarded Christmas trees lying around.

The town Christmas lights and decorations are also put away around this date.

Things to do in Prague in January 2025

Visit the ice sculpture exhibition – Ice Magic – 5.12. 2024- 16.3. 2025

Coming back for it’s second year, this is the most amazing ice sculpture exhibition called Ice Magic, where you can see over 33 sculptures made from ice. The sculptures were made by talented artists from across Europe.

This year, you can also enjoy a drink at an ice bar, walk through a ice corridors to explore the ice sculptures or have a go at snowtubing. The whole ice park is over 2000 m2, but it’s all indoors. The exhibition is held in a special chilled tent with a temperature below zero, so make sure you wrap up warm!

Location: Riegrovy Sady, Prague 2, Vinohrady – 10 min walk from Jiriho z Podebrad Underground Station
Opening Times: Every day from 10:00 to 22:00
Admission: adults 250 CZK, seniors 200 CZK, children under 80 cm go free, Bar with one drink 190 CZK, Snowtubing 150 CZK, All in one ticket 330 CZK or 530 CZK VIP ticket

Visit a museum

There are so many museums in Prague on so many topics, that I’m sure you’ll find one that interests you. My favourite includes the National Technical Museum next to Letna Park or the Prague Museum close to Florenc. The largest Prague museum is the National Museum, which also has a dedicated space for Children Museum (one of the many child friendly museums in Prague).

If you are travelling to Prague on a budget, you might like to check out my favourite free museums in Prague (most of them are also open in January).

If you are a literary fan, the you should visit the Kafka Museum, which is mainly focused on his books, letters and the complicated relationship with his father and women in his life.

Prague Museum (Florenc) – Exhibitions about the history of Prague or particular areas and permanent exhibitions about Prague history.

Technical Museum – (close to Letna Park) – transport and travel exhibition (including trains, old cars, motorbikes and planes), home exhibition (how domestic helpers have developed over the century).

National Museum – (at the top of Wenceslas Square) Interesting exhibitions from the history of the Czech Republic and an impressive building to see from the inside.

Visit Prague Castle

You can easily spend a whole day at Prague Castle (both inside the various buildings and outside walking around the different squares and little lanes including the historic Golden Lane), which is why I think it’s a perfect solution to a cold day.

Prague Castle opening hours are slightly shorter during the winter season, but only by about 1 hour (and that’s because it gets darker a lot sooner than in summer season).

Tram no 22 will take you all the way to the top of Prague Castle and you can explore the whole area walking downhill.

There are plenty of coffee shops and restaurants within Prague Castle, which means you can really spend the whole day just exploring the area.

If you want to experience ‘snowy village like’ atmosphere visit the New World Area (see photo above) at the back of Prague Castle (close to Pohorelec Tram Stop), where you can walk around in practically empty streets and admire this hidden area of Prague.

Visit Prague parks in the winter

Prague parks are magical all year round. If you happen to get snow whilst you are in Prague, do visit some of the parks to get some fresh air and enjoy the winter scenery.

All the parks on my list are free to enter and they are easily accessible by public transport from the centre of Prague. If you have a children with you, the Kinsky Garden and Riegrovy Sady have a slope, where local children sledge when the snow falls (just bring a large bin bag to sit on!)

Go for a coffee in a cosy old-fashioned coffee house

There are so many amazing coffee places in Prague and winter is the perfect opportunity to sit indoors, relax and enjoy a nice hot drink (with a good book!). I sometimes start my day with having a breakfast in one of my favourite places and then carry on with my day – it’s such a treat!

Most of the places, such as the historic cafes in Prague are open during day too (and well into the night), so you can pop in for a coffee and a cake any time!

If you are short of time, you can also pop in to one of my favourite artisan bakeries, that bake amazing bread, rolls and traditional Czech pastries and cakes called ‘Kolace’ with poppy seeds, curd or fruit jam fillings. You can also pick up freshly made sandwiches and have a have a coffee to go!

Taste Czech traditional food

If you want to try something a bit different, taste some of the delicious Czech food, such as hearty beef goulash with dumplings, potato soup, filled potato dumplings with smoked meat and sauerkraut.

The fact that it’s so cold outside is the perfect excuse to join the locals for a lunch at one of my favourite self-service canteens in Prague where you can taste traditional Czech meals. If you are happy to eat meat, you won’t have problems to choose a dish, but if prefer non-meat based meals, I recommend the fried cheese, potatoes and tartar sauce (or mayonnaise).

TASTE MORE OF PRAGUE

Visit the Fata Morgana Greenhouse at Botanical Garden in Troja

If you are a bit fed up with the cold (and honestly I don’t blame you), why not warm up and transport yourself into a tropical forest by visiting the Fata Morgana Greenhouse in Troja. While it’s run by the Prague Botanical Garden, the entrance is separate from the main area and you can visit the Greenhouse separately.

The entrance fee is 100 CZK (about £3. 50 or $5) and you’ll need about 60-90 minutes for your visit. The greenhouse is open every day, apart from Monday and in January it opens 9 am- 4pm

If you fancy a longer trip, you can visit the Fata Morgana in the morning and then walk around Troja or visit the Zoo or go to Troja Castle (it’s more like an art gallery)

Location: Nádvorní 2, 171 00 Praha-Troja, Bus 234 from Holesovice underground station

Ice-skating at outdoor ice-rings

Each year, there are different locations for outdoor ice-skating rinks, which is often next to a beautiful backdrop of old houses in the middle of Prague, such as the Wenceslas Square. You can borrow ice skates at the rink, so all you need to do is to turn up and be dressed appropriately.

A large ice-skating ring is also at the top of Letna Park (opposite Sparta Football Stadium – tram stop – Sparta) and another one with a great view is at Naplavka in Smichov, which is in Prague 5 town area, and this one is on the boat!

Letna Ice Ring

This year, the ice ring at Letna will have two separate rings – the usual large ring for everyone and a smaller ring for children. The ice ring facilities include refreshments, ice-skating rentals, lockers, toilets and seating areas.

Location: Letna ice ring, Letna, Prague 7, nearest tram stop Sparta, tram numbers 12
Opening Times: 1 December 2023 – 18 February 2024 (special opening times are 24. 12. 2023: 9.00–14.00, 31. 12. 2023: 9.00–16.00) open daily – Monday – Sunday 9 am – 9 pm
Tickets: whole day entry 100 CZ – anyone over 18 years, under 18 years – free, ice skates rent 130 CZK for 2 hrs (adults) or 60 CZK under 18 years old (or you can bring your own ice skates), lockers 30 CZK

Capadlo Ice Ring

This is much smaller ice ring next to the Vltava River, but with beautiful views of Prague Castle and Charles Bridge. Since it’s right next to the river, it’s also quite cold, so wrap up warm!

Location: Ice ring ‘Capadlo’ bellow Smetanovo Nabrezi (Smetana Embankment), Old Town, Prague 1, nearest tram stop Narodni Divadlo or Karlovy Lazne, tram numbers 9,22,17, 18
Opening Times: 15 November 2023 – January 2024 – open daily – Monday – Friday 2 pm – 10 pm, Saturday and Sunday 10 am – 10 pm
Tickets: whole day entry 120 CZ – anyone over 6 years, under 6 years – free (when accompanied by adults), ice skates rent 150 CZK per hour (or you can bring your own)

You can find more ice-rings with similar prices and opening hours at:

Wenceslas Square – lower part of the square
Novy Smichov Shopping Centre – on the rooftop

26 top ice-skating rinks in Prague >>

Enjoy taking a stroll through special light display Parks

This year, there are three different light displays in Prague, that will get you into the festive mood, especially if you are travelling with children. Equally, what could be more romantic than to walk through millions of lights, whilst sipping on a mulled wine.

The light displays are colourful and turned into fairy tale scenes, palaces, towns and there are also plenty of twinkling trees, angels and stars.

The Lumina Park and the ‘The lights tell a story…’ park are done in a more traditional way by creating sculptures and shapes with lots of lights. The Lumina Park is more interactive and has a colourful lights.

The Winter Wonderland is the biggest park out of all three and has over 100 different light installations, including colourful cut outs of characters from children’s fairy tales, illuminated large colourful sculptures of animals (from within) and also amusement rides and interactive illuminations as part of the park.

I think, that if you have children they will enjoy the Winter Wonderland the most, but it’s also the most expensive of the parks (see my insider tip for a cheaper entrance fee).

Insider Tip: The tickets for all three parks are always more expensive at the weekend and evening. For example if you come before 4.30 pm to the Winder Wonderland Park the tickets are 240 CZK (adult prices) – weekend prices are 350 CZK. In the winter the sunset is about 4 pm in Prague, so it will be dark by the time you walk around. Tickets are also cheaper if you buy them in advance online.

LUMINA PARK

Location: Lumina Park Light Display – Koupaliste Dzban – entry from Nad Lavkou Street, Prague 6, nearest tram no 20, 1 or 2 ‘Nad Dzbanem’ or 10 minutes walk from underground station Nadrazi Veleslavin.
Opening Times: 20 October 2023 – 25 February 2024 – Tuesday till Sunday (closed on Mondays) from 4.30 pm (December), from 5 pm (January), 17.30 pm (February)
Tickets: from 240 CZ – children/students or 280 CZK Adults (Tuesday – Thursday), 260 CZK – children/students or 310 CZK adults (Fri, Sat, Sun + public holidays) -, family ticket from 900 CZK, children under 2 years – free entry

WINTER WONDERLAND PARK

Location: Winter Wonderland Park – opposite the Shopping Centre at Letnany – entry is from Tupolevova Street, a few minutes walk from underground station Letnany or bus no. 136, 140, 110 to stop Tupolevova
Opening Times: 20 October 2023 – 25 February 2024 – every day Monday till Sunday from 3 pm – 9.30 pm
Tickets: 290 CZK Adults (Monday – Thursday), 350 CZK CZK adults (Fri, Sat, Sun + public holidays) -, family ticket from 990 – 1400 CZK, children under 80 cm (any age) – free entry, 240 CZK Monday – Thursday before 4.30 pm

THE LIGHTS TELL A STORY… PARK

Location: Svetla Vypraveji (The lights tell a story…) – Zlute Lazne (Yellow Spa) – Podolske Nabrezi 1184/3, nearest tram no 2,3, 17 stop ‘Dvorce’
Opening Times: 20 October 2023 – 31 January 2024 – every day – Monday til Sunday from 4 pm – 9 pm (last entry 8 pm)
Tickets: from 150 CZ – children/students or 250 CZK Adults (weekdays), 200 CZK – children/students or 300 CZK adults (weekends + public holidays), family ticket from 700-900 CZK, children under 3 years – free entry

Visit castles & chateaus opened in winter season

The castle and chateau official winter season is from 1 November until 31 March and most state and private castles and chateaus are unfortunately closed during that time. But the good news is that there are still some places that are open in the winter.

I’ve included my favourite 15 castles and chateaus that are open in winter in my latest guide. You can easily visit these as a day trip from Prague and I’ve included opening times, how to get there, ticket costs and my favourite insider tips.

PIN THIS GUIDE FOR LATER

This blog post was originally written on 21 October 2021 and last updated on 10 September 2024