November is a bit of an in between month – the weather is definitely colder than at the beginning of autumn, the days are suddenly a lot shorter. Saying that it’s still a great month to visit Prague if you prefer the quiet months of low tourist season. The main Prague historic attractions and museums are still fully open (some are switching to the weekend-only opening).
There are plenty of autumnal festivals focusing on food, culture and music. If you are thinking of coming at the end of the November, then you can already see the Christmas Markets and festive decorations starting to appear around the Prague.
If you are thinking of visiting Prague in November, then I’ve put together practical travel tips, my favourite places to go and events to help you to plan your trip to Prague.
Is november a good month to visit Prague?
November, I would say, is a bit of a gap month weather-wise between the end of warm Indian summer and the festive snow winterland of December. The weather is much cooler than in September, or October, so you’ll need warm clothes and good shoes.
Most attractions outside of Prague such as museums and castles close in November for the winter, reopening usually in April or might be open only at weekends and for a slightly shorter time.
The clock goes back too, which means that at the beginning of November, you’ll find it’s getting dark at 5 pm. You’ll need to plan your day from 8-9 am – 4-5pm to get any sunlight and then plan something for the evening, when it gets dark.
Prague is fairly quiet during November and it’s much easier to escape the tourist crowds although you can still follow my fun non-touristy list of things to do in Prague.
Travelling to Prague for the first time
- Everything you need to know before you travel to Prague for the first time >>
- How to avoid tourist traps in Prague >>
- Czech currency & how to pay >>
- How to communicate in Prague >>
Planning your stay in Prague in October
- One-day Prague travel itinerary >>
- Tram 22 route – The self-guided tour of Prague >>
- 39 top free things to do in Prague (as recommended by a local) >>
What’s the november weather like?
Most years, Prague and Czech Republic has a warm autumn, but by November the temperatures are dropping to 0-3 C during the night and 10-12 C during the day. You might get lovely sunny days in November, but it will feel chilly at the same time and especially when the sun comes down in the afternoon.
November also brings a lot more rain and 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 4-5 pm if it’s cloudy and raining, so definitely plan some indoor activities.
As you get closer to the end of November, you might even get a chance of snow, so be prepared for that. If you are staying in Prague, you might see that the minute the snow falls it melts away and you’ll rarely get snow staying on the ground. Still, it makes for great photos – but be quick!
If you are heading away from Prague, either for a day trip or staying outside Prague, the snow is more likely to stay unmelted once it sets, especially if you are in the mountains.
Day light in November
In the morning the sunrise is from 6.52 am at the beginning of the month and from 7.15 am by the middle of November. By the end of November the sunrise moves to 7.38 am.
The sunset is at 4.39 pm at the beginning of the month, moving towards the 4.18 pm by the middle of the month and to 4.03 at the end of November.
You also have an extra 30-40 minutes maximum after the sunset when you can easily see and you can carry on exploring the town. This I would say is on a good sunny day. If it’s raining or overcast it can start feeling dark by 2 or 3 pm.
This means that in November you only have between 8,5 hrs – 9.5 hrs maximum of day light each day to plan your activities in Prague, which is not a lot, but it’s a great time to spend the long evenings at leasurely dinners, going to cinemas, theatres or late night gallery openings.
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 warm or 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 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 could be quite freezing.
You’ll also need gloves and a scarf, depending on much you feel the cold.
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 sensible 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.
If you have an early start you’ll be probably wearing all your warm clothes in the morning too, so you’ll want to have space in your bag to keep them during the day.
Instead of a water bottle, I often take a hot coffee flask with me on my day trips. I’ll 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.
How to get around Prague
I find that the best way to get around Prague is by using public transport and then walking in the historic centre of Prague.
Prague has an extensive and efficient network of trams, buses, and metro lines that can take you to all parts of the city. The metro system is particularly useful for getting around quickly and it operates from 5 am until midnight every day.
You can buy one ticket (from 40 CZK for 90 minutes) that covers all trams, buses and underground and the easiest way to do that is at any metro station, from ticket machines, or via mobile apps.
The only exception is the Petrin HIll Funicular that costs 60 CZK one way unless you have a day travel card, which costs 120 CZK. It’s no brainer to buy the day travel card on the day you are travelling up the Petrin Lookout Tower and then visit other sites that are perhaps not in the centre of Prague to make the best use of your travel card.
My preferred way of getting around is to walk as many of the historic Prague attractions are within walking distance of each other in the centre of Prague. The centre doesn’t have much of a public transport anyway, but trams tend to get fairly close to the centre and then you only need to walk few streets to get to the middle.
You can also rent a bike or a scooter, although I wouldn’t recommend using it unless you have a bit of experience and are happy to ride over cobble stones (which are everywhere in the middle of Prague).
Local taxis and app taxis such as Bolt or Liftago are also available, but they are more expensive than public transport.
TRAVEL AROUND PRAGUE
- Getting from Prague airport >>
- Using public transport >>
- The full guide to tram network in Prague >>
- Comprehensive guide to Prague underground >>
- Florenc Main Bus Station >>
- How to buy a train ticket >>
- The main Prague Train Stations >>
- Guide to Hlavni Nadrazi – The Main Train Station >>
Important dates in November 2023
2 November – All Souls Day
This is day when most people (especially the older generation) go to visit their family graves and light candles to commemorate ‘All Souls Day’. It’s also an opportunity to tidy up the grave, plant new flowers or bring a commemorative wreath.
11 November – St. Martin’s Day
A lot of restaurants and pubs celebrate the St.Martin’s Day by preparing special meat dishes, mainly goose, but other meats too.
17 November – National Holiday
The Velvet Revolution started on 17 November 1989 and ended 40 years of communist reign. 17 November wasn’t a random day, it was also a day on which the Czech Universities were closed to students during the German occupation in 1939. Each year is celebrated with various free events, concerts, museums openings and talks.
It’s also a day off for most people, so you’ll find that some shops, banks and government offices are closed on that day.
Last weekend in November
The last weekend in November is usually the first Advent Sunday marking the 4 weekends before Christmas. Most shops and venues will start to put up their Christmas decorations and food venues will start to introduce festive twists on their regular offerings.
Outdoor markets and other festive celebrations start to take place during the last November weekend, so keep an eye on the local news for updates on what’s happening near you.
Things to do in Prague in November
Whisky Life Festival (3-4 November 2023)
Whether you like whisky or you want to try something a bit different, you’ll get the chance to sample over 150 types of whiskies and bourbons.
The tickets are 470 CZK in advance or 550 CZK on the day and you can also buy cheaper ticket for both days. The ticket includes tasting glass and festival programme and entry to some of the free workshops. The ticket doesn’t include tasting or tasting workshops, which are about 300 – 400 CZK extra.
Location: New Town Hall – Charles Square, Prague 2 – nearest underground station Karlovo Namesti
Hardmission Festival (10 November 2023)
This is a large scale indoor electronic dance music festival with promise of great headlines throughout the night. Tickets start at 1200 CZK
Location: PVA Expo Praha, Beranovych 667, Letnany, Prague 9 (nearest underground station is Letnany on the line C)
Prague Sounds Festival (1 – 18 November 2023)
This is a great way to enjoy classical, jaz and more modern music. The concerts are performed in different venues around the Prague and this year it includes Benjamin Clementine (Rudolfinum), Ron Carter (Rudolfinum), Jack Quartet (La Fabrika), Angelique Kidjo (Forum Karlin), Alva Noto & Ensemble Modern (Veletrzni Palac – Industrial Palace), Owen Pallett (Dox), Nathan Fake (Camp), Kofi Stone (Lucerna Music Bar) and Bert & Friends (Rudolfinum).
St Martins Wine Festival (11 November 2023)
St. Martins celebrations at the St.Wenceslas Vineyard are always popular and they include food, local wine and music. There are great views of Prague from the top of the vineyard and you also get the chance to explore the vineyeard itself, which is the oldest vineyard in Prague and the whole Czech Republic with more than 1100 year history. It’s said that it was founded by the St. Wencelass, who also planted the first wine plants. The entry to the festival is free.
Location: St.Wenceslas Vineyard, Old Castle Steps no.6 – Prague Castle (nearest underground or tram stop is Malostranska and then about 15 minutes walk up the hill towards the castle).
St. Martin’s Celebrations & Roasted Goose Festival (11-12 November 2023)
Another place to celebrate the St.Martins feast is at the Smichov Embankment (Naplavka), where you will be able to find plenty of traditional food, wine from different locations within Czech Republic and other foodie treats as well as music and entertainment. The festival is free to enter and starts from 11 am till 9 pm. The entrance to the market is free, but if you want to taste the wine, you will need to buy the festival glass for 100 CZK. This is instead of the ‘entrance ticket’ and you get to keep the glass too.
The same company who organises the Naplavka festival also has stalls at the farmer’s markets on Saturday at Rezacovo Square, Prague 7 (Hermanak Farmer’s Market) and Kubanske Square, Prague 10 (Kuban Farmer’s Market).
Location: Smichov Naplavka Embankment close to the Palackeho Square (nearest underground station is Karlovo Namesti on line B) or trams 10,16, 17,18 or 3 stops Palackeho Namesti or Vyton.
Global Champions Prague Playoffs (16 – 19 November 2023)
This is a great four day event which showcases the best national and international horse riders and jumpers to compete. There are also horse related performances and each day is packed with activities. Tickets start from 300 CZK for one day or your can purchase ticket for the whole 4 days.
Location: O2 Arena, Ocelarska 460/2, Prague 9 (Underground station Ceskomoravska line B is 2 minutes walk)
Visit a museum for Free (17 November 2023)
To celebrate the Velvet Revolution, many museums open for free on the 17 November. 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 Technical Musem next to Letna Park, which is open at very reduced rate of 80 CZK (normally it’s 280 CZK), the Public Transport Museum or the Prague Museum close to Florenc Bus Station, which will re-open later this year.
- Narodni Museum – The National Museum (top of the Wenceslas Square)
- Museum of Czech Music – Karmelitska 2/4, Prague 1 (close to the Malostranske Square)
- Naprstek’s museum of Asia, Afrika and America Cultures – Betlemske Square, Prague 1 (close to the Old Town Square)
- National Folk Museum – Kinsky Garden, Prague 5
- National Memorial at Vitkov Hill in Zizkov
- Museum of Antonin Dvorak – Ke Karlovu 20, Prague 2
- Museum of Bedrich Smetana – Novotneho Lavka 1, Prague 1 (at the end of Charles Bridge)
Mint Market – 30 November – 1 December 2024
Mint Market is a wonderfull fair with handmade gifts, pottery, designer stationery, fashion clothes, jewellery and also food stalls. There are between 50-80 stalls with seller from whole Czech Republic. All products are handmade or produced in small quantities by companies in the Czech Republic and the quality is always very high.
Location: Exhibition Centre Holesovice, Prague 7, trams 5, 6, 12, 18 stop right in front of the exhibition area – tram stop ‘ Vystaviste’ and the entry to the event is free
Opening times: 10 am – 6 pm
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), which is why I think it’s a perfect solution to a rainy or cold day. Don’t forget to visit the Golden Lane, which is open after 5 pm for free every day and walk down the cobbles to see the little houses, shops and lookout towers.
There are plenty of coffee shops and restaurants within Prague Castle, which means you can really spend the whole day exploring the area.
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.
Prague Christmas Markets
From the first advent weekend – the end of November – you’ll find outdoor markets, festivals and other events starting to appear and celebrate the beginning of the festive season.
There are always plenty of stalls with traditional Christmas decorations, crafts and you can try traditional Czech Christmas food and drink such as sweets, mulled wine, hot chocolate and roasted chestnuts. The markets are usually open from 10 am in the morning until 8 or 10 pm (food stalls usually stay open later than the non-food stalls).
This year, you will find the main Christmas Markets in the following locations:
- Old Town Square – Staromestska Underground Stop
- Wenceslas Square – Mustek Underground stop or Vaclavske Namesti Tram Stop
- Republic Square – opposite the Palladium Shopping Centre (Namesti Republiky underground stop)
- The Peace Square – Namesti Miru Underground or tram stop
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Nativity exhibition at Bethlehem Chapel
This is my favourite place to visit around Christmas but the exhibition usually opens during the first advent weekend and it’s open throughout the Christmas period until the first week in January.
It’s beautifully set out in the chapel’s crypt with different sets of nativity scenes – some very old and traditionally made from wood; some modern made from textiles, glass or even gingerbread. There is usually a carol singing on the 24 December in the morning (which is when Christmas is celebrated in the Czech Republic). It’s also a great way to find out more about Czech Christmas Traditions and how it’s perhaps different from your own home country.
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This blog post was originally written on 1 November 2021 and last updated on 24 September 2023