18 Things to do in Prague in December

It’s December 18^th 2022 and my niece and I were off to Prague for a few festive days. The trip didn’t get off to the best start with the addition of very very heavy motorway traffic, the longest security queue I’ve ever experienced, having my body and hand luggage searched for the first time ever and being the last passengers to board. All panicking aside, we made it by the skin of our teeth, and we were on our way to the Czech Republic.

Let’s jump straight in with a list of 18 of the best things to do in Prague in December. 

1.   Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral

What is a European city without a castle? As well as the castle itself you can also visit St. Vitus Cathedral, Basilica of St. George, a small Christmas market, various shops and eateries and more. According to the Guinness Book of Records, the Prague Castle complex is the largest in the world covering almost 70,000 square metres and has been around since the 9^th century.

The castle was beautiful but I felt like we didn’t get to see a lot of it. I think we were able to see three or four rooms before being shown the exit. Having access to the whole complex made the price of admission more than worth it though.

St. Vitus Cathedral was a personal highlight for me. A gorgeous gothic building and the largest and most important church in the country.

We purchased our tickets through the Get Your Guide app and it worked out to be £9.36 each.

2.   Astronomical Clock and Town Hall

The Prague Astronomical Clock (or Prague Orloj) is attached to the Old Town Hall in the Old Town Square and was first installed in 1410. This makes it the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest still in operation.

When the clock strikes the hour, you’re guaranteed to see a large crowd gathered around with their phones aimed at the clock for “The Walk of the Apostles”. This is when the apostles move around the clock and a skeletal figure representing death strikes the time. It’s fairly touristy but well worth trying to catch. 

Once you have seen the Walk of the Apostles, pop into the Old Town Hall. This was established in 1338 and includes the state rooms, Chapel of the Virgin Mary, medieval underground and viewing platform 70 meters up. We paid CZK125 (£4.54) for admission.

3.   Walk The Narrowest Street in Prague

The Narrowest Street in Prague is located in the neighbourhood of Mala Strana and is exactly what it sounds like. Tucked away and attached to a quaint looking restaurant overlooking the river, this is another attraction I would recommend visiting but you won’t spend a lot of time there.

As there are people wanting to climb up and down the street, a traffic light system is in operation (as you can imagine there is only room for one at a time).

4.   Say hello to the Yellow Penguins

The Yellow Penguins of Prague are located on the river of Vltava near Kampa Park. 34 penguins stand proud in single file on a metal beam along the river.

These were created by the Cracking Art Group from recycled bottles to spread awareness of the dangers of climate change. 

If you are a fan of quirky art, it is worth mentioning that next to the penguins you will find the famous “Babies” sculpture by David Cerny. The installation includes three giant crawling babies with barcodes instead of faces…no thank you. 

5. See the Book Tower

Visiting a library while you’re exploring isn’t something a lot of people would think to do, but when in Prague the Municipal Library is a must see for its Book Tunnel.

The Book Tunnel is made up of 8000 books in a Jenga-like circular structure with strategically placed mirrors that makes it look like a never-ending tower of books. An absolute dream for a bookworm like me.

This is another spot where you probably won’t stay for very long but it’s very impressive and definitely worth visiting.

6.  Walk over Charles Bridge

It’s hard to picture Prague without picturing the Charles Bridge. The bridge is an iconic part of the city and is always included on the city’s “must do” lists.

Originally named the Judith Bridge, it was destroyed by flooding in 1342 and by 1357 Charles IV had re-built the landmark in his name. This makes the bridge the oldest still standing over the Vltava river and the second oldest in the whole of the Czech Republic.

From the 1^st to 23^rd of December a lamplighter dressed in medieval clothes, lights the gas lamps lining the bridge. For the rest of the year the lamps are operated automatically but I love how they have brought back this tradition to add a little extra magic during the festive season. These were installed in 2010, making Charles Bridge the only gas-lit bridge in the world.

7.   Franz Kafka Rotating Head

Another of David Cerny’s creations; the Franz Kafka Rotating Head. Standing at 11 meters and weighing in at 45 tonnes, this kinetic sculpture is made of 42 rotating panels that rotate individually. 

Franz rotates twice an hour for 15 minutes before lining himself up and stopping for another 15 minutes. Unfortunately, when we went to see it, it was temporarily out of action but I imagine it is far more impressive when moving.

8.   Christmas Markets

The absolute main draw of Prague in December has to be the Christmas markets. The main markets are held in the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square with market stalls dotted all around the city. Prague Castle even has its own little market. 

Whilst there isn’t necessarily a lot of variety in what you can buy or eat from these markets, the atmosphere is magical. With a dusting of snow on the ground, the smells of roasting meats and sugary pastries, festive music playing and all under the shadow of the town hall…it doesn’t get much more Christmassy then that.

9.   Read the messages on the Lennon Wall

This was one of our very favourite sites in Prague. With such an interesting history.

Within a very short walking distance of the Yellow Penguins and the Narrowest Street, you will find the wall. The decoration started in the 1960s and received its first Lennon inspired graffiti shortly after his assassination in 1980. Ever since visitors have been leaving their own portraits, lyrics and messages.

10. Try a traditional Trdelnik 

I already knew I wanted to try the Czech Christmas market staple; trdelnik (sometimes referred to as a chimney cake). A pastry made of thin dough, wrapped around a spindle or trdlo, glazed with sugar and cooked over coals. I had mine filled with Nutella and it was divine. I would visit Prague again for this alone (even if I did make a mess).

11. Indulge your sweet tooth

If you are near one of Prague’s many sweet shops, you are likely to smell it before you see it. Found across the city and dimly lit, these shops are filled with piles upon piles of sweets displayed in wooden barrels. Honestly the smell is incredible. 

Why not treat yourself?

12. Explore the toy shops

There are many souvenir shops to explore in the city but one of my favourites was Pohadka toy shop just a few minutes walk from the Old Town Square. 

It seems the most popular items available were marionettes and Matryoshka dolls. They were everywhere (I must admit marionettes scare me a bit but I do appreciate the work that goes into them). 

They also have some really beautiful wooden games and toys. I dare you not to feel a rush of nostalgia. 

13. Take home a rubber duck

One of the most unique and fun shops I’ve ever been to: the Duck Boutique. Just a shop full of rubber ducks. Ducks in every form including superheroes, doctors, unicorns, punk rockers and even Queen Elizabeth. And of course the one who started it all…the original yellow duck. 

Drop in for a look around and I promise you’ll leave with a smile if nothing else. 

14. Visit Aux Merveilleux de Fred for breakfast

On our first morning in Prague, we stumbled out of our hotel in hope of finding some breakfast. And we found it in the form of Aux Merveilleux de Fred. A beautiful cafe with a window full of even more beautiful cakes and pastries. 

I decided on the chocolate cramique (a brioche with chocolate chips) and fell in love. I had this in one form or the other for breakfast every day. 

We saw quite a few food tours coming through the cafe, so even the tour guides must think the food is a bit special. 

15. Have a peek at the gallery of steel figures 

This unique interactive attraction features over 100 sculptures made entirely of scrap metal. Some of these include life-size cars, dinosaurs, the Hulk, stormtroopers, the Iron Throne and several Minions in fancy dress. 

The cost of admission for a single adult is 314 CZK which is roughly £11.17 with no time limit. 

Even if you don’t want to go fully into the exhibit there are several sculptures you can see in the reception area as well as a gift shop selling lovely steel souvenirs. 

16. Find some rock n roll treasure at the Hard Rock Cafe

While the Hard Rock Cafe isn’t a unique spot to eat, I personally love searching through all of the displays. In my opinion, Prague has some of the best memorabilia I’ve come across.  Metallica, Guns N Roses, Iron Maiden, Mötley Crüe, Kiss, Prince and Bon Jovi make for a truly impressive archive. 

Hard Rock Prague stands out among other cafes thanks to its beautiful guitar shaped chandelier hanging in the centre of the cafe’s three floors. It was custom made for Prague and is 5 meters wide. 

17. Unleash your inner child at Hamleys

The perfect place to feel like a kid again. You might think of Hamleys as just a toy shop but it is so much more. 

As well as the “try before you buy” toys and games, they have paid rides and attractions. Some of these include the carousel, mirror maze, VR, laser games and even a Butterfly House in the basement. 

If you register for a Hamleys Card in store and load it with credit to pay for the games, you can get a 10% discount on selected activities. 

18. Shop for books at the Shakespeare a Synové Bookstore

Yes, I love a bookshop. No, I cannot just walk past one. This is such a cute little shop with books stacked everywhere (slightly haphazardly) but that just adds to its charm. 

I could’ve spent hours exploring the shelves and buying way too much but ended up leaving with a beautiful copy of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

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Have you done any of these things? What did you think? And what is your favourite spot in Prague?

Don’t forget to check out this post for some hints and tips on visiting Prague.