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Prepared a detailed article about the rest on New Year in Prague - 2019. We will tell you where to celebrate the New Year and Christmas in Prague, what weather to expect, where to go, how much tours and accommodation cost during the New Year holidays.
When preparing the article, we took into account the reviews of tourists who were in Prague for the New Year or Christmas.
Prices are current at the time of writing and may change in the future.
Keep in mind that the closer the New Year holidays, the higher the prices for tours and hotels. If you find a good option, it is better to book it in advance while the cost has increased.
Weather in Prague for the New Year
Winter in Prague is quite mild and comfortable. December pleases travelers with temperatures ranging from -1˚C to +2˚C and little rainfall. If they do fall, it is mostly in the form of rain. True, December days in the Czech Republic are mostly overcast or cloudy.
Closer to the New Year and Christmas holidays, the temperature in Prague remains about the same. Snow on New Year's Eve in Prague is not always - as lucky. The temperature in the city is often positive during the day, but at night it drops to -3…-5˚С.
January, considered the coldest month of the Czech winter, will delight tourists average temperature about -3˚С. At that time more snow falls and the sun comes out.
Thanks to the combination of comfortable sub-zero temperatures and shimmering white snow in the sun, Prague has a fabulous atmosphere. Bright illumination in the evening only adds to the festive mood.
In January it's worth good weather for outdoor walks in the historical center of Prague or the narrow cozy streets of its outskirts.
Photo: snow in Prague doesn't always fall on New Year's Eve © elPadawan / flickr.com
Where to celebrate the New Year in Prague - 2019
On the street
If you want to celebrate the New Year - 2019 in Prague noisy, fun, in the company a large number people (both local and tourists), it is best to go to Old Town Square. During the holidays, a large Christmas tree is set up and decorated there.
A lot of celebrants traditionally gather near the chimes on the tower, who sing, dance, drink champagne and set off fireworks. You won’t be able to walk around the square at this moment - there are too many people there.
By the way, be prepared for the fact that you will not see a big fireworks display on New Year's Eve in Prague - it is traditionally launched on the evening of January 1st.
Note! If you are traveling to the Czech Republic with children, celebrating the New Year on Stramestskaya Square is not the best option. It's too noisy, drunk, and a lot of randomly used pyrotechnics.
Where to celebrate the New Year in Prague besides the Old Town Square? Can you go to Wenceslas Square- usually there are no less people, but the same festive atmosphere.
Another good option is to go to The Charles Bridge or on the waterfront. In addition, fireworks are clearly visible from there.
If you want to celebrate the New Year in the fresh air, but away from crowds of people - great option there will be a boat trip on the Vltava. From the ship you can admire the festive lights of Prague and from the side you can see a lot of fireworks in different parts of the city. By the way, it's not very expensive:
- A boat trip around Prague on New Year's Eve costs from 140 euros (dinner included).
- A two-hour boat trip on January 1 (to watch the fireworks) - from 40-50 euros.
Photo: New Year's Prague © Priit Tammets / flickr.com New Year in Prague restaurants
For those who want to celebrate the holiday in the warmth, there are many cafes and restaurants in Prague on New Year's Eve. Prices for food will be different, but a warm welcome, a delicious meal and unique beer will await in each of them.
Prices for New Year's dinner in Prague vary from 120 to 500 euros. IN the best restaurants city the cost of the evening will be around 250-500 euros per person, in less popular places New Year's dinner will cost 120-200 euros.
Another option to celebrate the New Year in the Czech Republic well is to visit Oblaca Restaurant. This establishment stands out among others for its location - the restaurant is located 66 meters above the ground, in the television Zizkovskaya tower. In addition to the stunning view of Prague at night, the moderate pricing policy can be called an advantage of the restaurant.
A more budgetary, but original option for celebrating the New Year 2019 in Prague is U Ceskych Panu. The restaurant is located just a few minutes walk from Wenceslas Square, there is a menu in Russian. The interior is made in the style medieval castle with the corresponding attributes - armor and weapons on the walls.
On a note! It is necessary to decide on the venue for the New Year's Eve in Prague in advance. It is advisable to book places in a restaurant 2 weeks in advance or earlier, especially if you choose an institution in the city center.
Where to go in Prague on New Year's holidays
The mild climate of the Czech Republic in winter favors outdoor walks along the old streets of Prague. Be sure to take a walk along the Charles Bridge - it looks especially impressive in the evening, powdered with snow and illuminated by the lights of lanterns.
Do not forget to visit the Old Town Square, where the city hall and the ancient Orloj chimes are located. During the New Year holidays on the Old Town Square in Prague unfolds Christmas Fair where you can drink hot mulled wine, enjoy fresh pastries, try roasted chestnuts and buy Christmas souvenirs.
Wenceslas Square is less crowded. But even there there are enough tourists who want to see the monument to St. Wenceslas, ancient buildings and sculptures. And you can warm up in an unusual and cozy restaurant Vytopna Railway Restaurant. The kitchen and the hall with visitors are connected by a network railways, along which small trains ply - they deliver beer to visitors. In the restaurant you can taste traditional Czech cuisine at affordable prices. If you are traveling to New Year's Prague with children, they will be delighted (besides, there is a children's menu and a playground).
Majority attractions in Prague All New Year's holidays except January 1st are open as usual. Restaurants, bars and pubs on the first day of the New Year receive visitors only after lunch.
Individual excursions in Prague for the New Year
Closer to the holidays in Prague become available individual excursions in Russian, related directly to the New Year and Christmas. The advantages of such excursions are that the guide will conduct them only for your company.
Prices are quite democratic - 60-90 euros (regardless of the number of participants) - you can go with the whole family with children.
At the time of writing, for the winter in 2019, 2 types of excursions were available:
- – 88 euros (1-7 people)
- – 80 euros (1-6 people)
- – 60 euros (1-6 people)
Photo: Czech sweet Trdlo at the Christmas market © Rodney Ee / flickr.com New Year in Prague - 2019: prices for tours
The cost of New Year's tours to Prague in 2019 depends on the date of departure - the closer to the New Year, the more expensive.
Please note: the prices below are current at the time of writing (September 2017) and may change in the future. It is better to buy tickets in advance, as prices increase in November and December.
The cost of tours to Prague for the New Year 2019 is indicated for 2 people with a departure from Moscow.
How to find cheap trips to the Czech Republic? This is easy to do with the help of search engines and - they compare prices for tours from all tour operators, allowing you to find the most profitable options.
7 nights
- On New Year's Eve, it is cheapest to fly to Prague on December 28 - ticket prices start at 50,000-60,000 rubles for two. For example, a tour to a hotel with breakfast costs 58,800 rubles. Prices for trips to the Czech Republic with a child - from 70,000 rubles.
- The cost of tours with a departure on December 29-30 is much higher - from 70,000-75,000 rubles.
- New Year's tours to Prague from Moscow with a departure on December 31 and accommodation in the city center cost from 80,000 rubles for two people. Good feedback get hotels near the Old Town Square (from 84,000 rubles with breakfast) and (from 88,000 rubles).
Prices for trips to Prague to 5-star hotels for the New Year start at 103,000 rubles. One of the best options is not far from Wenceslas Square (129,000 rubles with a departure on December 28).
3-4 nights
Holidays in Prague for 3-4 nights on New Year's dates cost from 45,000-50,000 rubles. For example, a tour to a hotel with a departure on December 31 costs 51,600 rubles for 3 nights and 58,600 rubles for 4 nights.
5-star hotels are more expensive - from 67,000 rubles for 3 nights. One of the most best reviews receives a hotel (rating - 9.8/10); a ticket to it for 3 nights with a departure on December 31 costs 77,500 rubles.
Another option popular with tourists is in the very center of Prague (72,400 rubles for 3 nights, 82,400 for 4 nights).
Advice: if you want to spend the New Year holidays in Prague, but it is not necessary to celebrate the New Year there - good option The trip will be in early January. The festive atmosphere will remain, but prices for tours and accommodation in Prague will be lower.
Photo: Prague at New Year's Eve (fair on the Old Town Square) © Roderick Elme / flickr.com Housing prices in Prague
In many hotels in Prague, the cost of living during the New Year holidays increases significantly. As a rule, breakfast is already included in the room rate. in the city center (from 15,000 rubles per night).
Photo: Prague at Christmas © elPadawan / flickr.com When planning a trip to Prague for the New Year and Christmas holidays in 2019, it will be useful to read the reviews and advice of travelers who have already been there this time:
- Be prepared for the fact that there are a lot of tourists in Prague during the Christmas and New Year period;
- When choosing travel dates, keep in mind that in the Czech Republic the main holiday is Catholic Christmas (December 25). Therefore, the meeting of the traditional New Year for us is already the end public holidays. Soon after New Year's Eve, the Czechs begin to remove the Christmas trees and all street illumination;
- Most stores will be closed after December 24-25. This is important if you are planning to go shopping in the Czech Republic;
- According to many tourists, food and clothing prices in Prague are slightly lower than in other European capitals;
- You can't buy tram tickets on public transport. To do this, there are vending machines near the metro and at major stops;
- Most shops and exchange offices are closed on January 1 - stock up on everything you need in advance;
- If you plan to celebrate the New Year in the center of Prague, choose a hotel within walking distance. On New Year's Eve, the only way to get somewhere is by taxi. And this pleasure is not cheap;
- Some tourists are advised to check the bill in restaurants, as in the New Year's bustle it happens that an extra dish is included in the check;
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Prague is one of the most romantic cities in Europe, which is rightfully proud of its medieval charm. During the New Year holidays, Gothic architecture serves as an advantageous backdrop for colorful garlands, Christmas performances and attractions. Tourists and locals unanimously try to stock up on positive and gifts not only for Christmas, but for the whole next year.
(Total 16 photos)
1. The embankments and bridges of Prague, painted with lights, are business card cities. The Vltava River rarely freezes even in the dead of winter, so you can start with a boat trip.
3. On New Year's Eve, a chic fireworks display is traditionally arranged in Prague. Tourists are even advised to book rooms to appreciate the fireworks.
4. Prague lights up at night all year round, but at Christmas it creates a special festive atmosphere.
5. 10 bridges are thrown across the Vltava, each of which, if not centuries of history Well, at least it's photogenic.
6. What is the New Year without gifts? During the Christmas weeks in Prague, shops are open at every step where you can buy souvenirs and small gifts or have a tasty snack between excursions.
7. Old Town Square even during the day looks like an old Christmas card: everything is powdered with white snow, decorated with garlands, sparkles and pleases the eye.
8. On New Year's Eve, many people from all over the world will gather in the square near the Christmas tree and look forward to the chimes.
9. During the day, all these people will meet with friends and celebrate the holiday in numerous cafes and restaurants that Prague is famous for.
10. An elegant Christmas tree is an obligatory attribute of Christmas Prague. Who can resist and remain a skeptic next to such beauty!
11. A little gloomy during the day, at night Tyn Cathedral becomes one of the colorful scenery of the Prague performance.
12. Something interesting happens all the time next to the New Year tree: concerts, a fair, festivities.
13. A rare tourist refrains from taking a picture. Prague chimes with zodiac dial. Fortunately, many begin and end on the Old Town Square.
14. You can walk around the Old Town Square and not miss a single building: here is the town hall with an astronomical clock, here is the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, in which hangs a crystal chandelier donated by Nicholas II. And here - cozy restaurant with a special Christmas menu 🙂
15. The astronomical clock on the town hall is remarkable not only for its unusual dial, but also for the statuettes, some of which are visible all the time - like this Death in the form of a skeleton with a lantern and a musician, and some appear only once an hour, under the chimes.
16. As in any city, in Prague a lot of attention is paid to the illumination of historical buildings. Thanks to her, the Tyn Church at night looks no less interesting and mysterious than during the day.
New Year's Eve in Prague lasts all of December and most of January, with something new and exciting happening every day. Traditional Catholic Christmas, modern European New Year, Czech festive feasts or Christmas markets - you can try it all by choosing. The company offers tours for every taste and budget, with or without an excursion program - the main thing is that you want to go to Prague.
If you absolutely do not want to celebrate the New Year in your native walls and even in your own country, if you want to know how it is met in European countries, then it is best to go to the Czech Republic and, first of all, to its capital. In Prague, the spirit of the holiday begins to soar from the first days of December, namely from the 5th, when, according to popular belief, St. Nicholas comes to the city, accompanied by a retinue of angels and demons. They knock at the houses where children live and ask them how they behaved in the past year. The diligent and obedient are rewarded with gifts, and the naughty ones and bullies are rewarded with tough potatoes.
Photo: "Christmas decorations on the square."
For almost a month, festive excitement reigns on the streets and everyone can plunge into it at any moment. One of the most beautiful cities Europe, with its ancient medieval castles, spacious squares, traditional festivities at Christmas and New Year's fairs, will welcome everyone who wants to plunge into a fairy tale. Prague is a unique symbiosis of modernity and history. Here, every house, every street keeps its legends and secrets. The lack of greenery in winter and the gray sky - this look of the city also suits. The special beauty gives the capital of the Czech Republic a more authentic gothic atmosphere.
Photo: Old Town Square on New Year's Eve.
But New Year's Prague is especially good. At this time, the city looks like one big decoration. Even the smallest street is not deprived of elegant decoration. Multi-colored garlands are everywhere, trees in lights and tinsel, festive illuminations on buildings and even on lawns. The population here professes the Catholic faith, therefore, on the days of the holiday, biblical characters are an integral decoration of any street and any house, among which the most popular are the Magi and the Virgin Mary. Small angels are painted on the windows of the houses with luminous colors. fairy tale picture the inhabitants themselves complement, giving each other gifts and being in a good mood.
The most important New Year's fair.
The approach of the New Year is felt even in the farthest corners of the city. But the holiday is celebrated on a special scale in the most important place of the capital - on the Old Town Square. In December, it is filled with smart little multi-colored houses, on the shelves of which there is a lot of festive assortment. It's time for the Christmas markets, which open simultaneously on all squares. But the main New Year's fair, the most noisy and amazing an abundance of everything, as it should be - on the main square.
Photo: Fairy Life.
There's something you can't see here! Fair life is in full swing - festive concerts with the participation of popular performers and DJs, performances by local celebrities. According to tradition, nativity scenes (betlems) are placed on the square - decorative copies of biblical stories about the birth of Christ, about the Magi, about the Star of Bethlehem. On the square there are elegant carriages - horse-drawn carriages, on which you can ride around the Old City. And then the furs of the real forge swell. Blacksmiths working in it, right before the eyes of curious spectators, make horseshoes and roses of bizarre shapes from metal. These unique products can be bought as a keepsake right away, as they say - "hot, hot".
In the Czech Republic, there is a tradition - before Christmas, bring a sprig of mistletoe into the house, which is a symbol of well-being and happiness. But in order to buy it, you do not need to arrive in advance at other times of the year, for example, organize a trip to Prague in the fall. Mistletoe is an evergreen shrub and its sprigs are always sold at Christmas markets.
Photo: "Christmas Fair on the Old Town Square".
National Czech dishes are one of the most famous cuisines in Europe. And during the days of the New Year and Christmas fairs, all the most delicious are sold on the squares. The air is filled with various appetizing smells - fried sausages, baked goose and fresh pastries. And it is simply unforgivable to visit the Czech capital and not taste the baked boar knuckle - the famous "boar's knee". Several very hungry people can get enough of it at once, because it can weigh up to several kilograms. And as a side dish, potato brambura is perfect for it.
Photo: Potato brambura.
Those who cannot do without the first course should get acquainted with Czech soups. Their peculiarity lies in the density and specific taste. Many of them are served in an unusual plate - a piece of baked bread. For dessert, hot pancakes are suitable and, of course, trdelnik is a Czech signature delicacy made from yeast dough. It is wound in a spiral on a cylinder and sprinkled with spices and sugar. You need to eat it hot, because cooling down the trdlo changes the taste. Local waffles, platters and Christmas cookies are perfect for a snack, but at the same time for getting to know Czech sweets.
Photo: "Czech waffles - payments."
Mulled wine, mead and Czech beer.
The abundance of drinks at the fair is no less than food. And also for every taste. Different types of tea and coffee - goes without saying. But the Czechs cannot imagine Christmas and New Year without fragrant hot mulled wine and mead, which are just perfect for the cold season, and even more so for such favorite holidays, because they not only warm, but also give strength, keep the most courageous, spending good mood. most of the festivities on the street. Traditional Slovak honey wine Vcelovina is made only from honey, water and special yeast. Honey is used in different varieties, resulting in different tastes. It is served warm. Very sweet but very warm.
Photo: Czech mead at the New Year's fair.
Photo: "Mead and mulled wine at the fair."
"Famous Czech beer" is no longer just a phrase. It has become the corporate slogan of the Czech Republic. Naturally, this drink is presented in a huge assortment at Christmas markets. You can taste different varieties both in numerous street stalls and in cozy pubs, cafes, and restaurants. In general, the feeling of hunger will definitely not make itself felt. Rather, on the contrary, you will constantly be in a blissful state of oversaturation. And such pleasure will not require sky-high spending from you.
Photo: Czech beer.
And, of course, when you return to your native land, you will definitely want to bring the memory of New Year's Prague with you. If you celebrate the New Year on the Old Town Square, you won't have to leave it to buy souvenirs. In elegant multi-colored stalls, you can buy anything - national New Year decorations, handmade toys, cute home and interior accessories, author's handicrafts, scented candles, dishes.
Photo: “Sale of souvenirs”.
What to buy for New Year in Prague?
The malls are literally bursting with souvenirs for every taste and wealth. If finances allow, here you can buy Bohemian crystal products and jewelry made of silver and gold. You can take with you a piece of festive Czech flavor in the form of a doll in a national costume, a heart-shaped Christmas gingerbread or a chocolate bar, the wrapper of which resembles a colorful postcard with a national theme. Here you can buy gifts for every taste and bring them with you, so that later you can make a pleasant surprise for your relatives or friends.
Photo: "Christmas decorations and New Year's souvenirs."
The Christmas market on the Old Town Square is buzzing like a beehive at any time of its work. But in the evening, the crowd becomes even more. Both locals and tourists gather to watch the lights on the main Christmas tree come on. Of course, she is beautiful in the daytime too. She comes from the Kralove Hradec region, the city of Peck. A slender spruce with fluffy forms, 31 meters tall and 70 years old. Main decoration central square topped by an angel. Every hour, from 17:30 to 20:30, a garland is lit on the beautiful Christmas tree, which entangled it from the lower tier to the very top. It consists of more than two thousand light bulbs, and the length is almost 5 kilometers.
Photo: "Walking around the New Year's night city."
Light animation accompanied piece of music Rossini. Separate islands of lights flash on the Christmas tree here and there. They either fly up, then fall down, then sway like pendulums along their entire length. And to the final chords of beautiful music, the whole Christmas tree flares up and freezes in indescribable beauty for several minutes, causing a storm of applause from the audience. And at its foot, like any Christmas tree in Prague, there is a nativity scene with mangers, which are inhabited by living animals from biblical stories. Donkey, sheep and goats can be stroked and even fed if you don't regret giving 20 crowns for food.
Photo: “Goat on the square”.
Many are interested in the question - How to celebrate the New Year in Prague? The best answer would be a personal visit this amazing city. In just one trip, you can fully satisfy your curiosity, see everything with your own eyes, get acquainted with Czech cuisine and even make a wish under the chimes of the famous Orloj astronomical clock on New Year's Eve.
These days the population of the capital becomes especially multinational. But most of all it is our compatriots. So a comfortable stay "like at home" is guaranteed to you.
Photo: Astronomical clock.
If you are planning a trip to the Czech Republic on your own and do not want to overpay for housing, then here is a useful link to a budget 3-star hotel in the center. This is where we stayed during our New Year's Eve trip.
Budget hotels in the historical center of Prague.
We always try to stay in inexpensive hotels and as close as possible to the city center, so that after walking you don’t have to spend 1-2 hours returning to your room. Popular services offer hundreds of options and you can choose a week. For you, we have selected HOTELS IN THE CENTER - 3, 4 STARS WITH BREAKFASTS AND WITHOUT. These are the most popular booking options Russian tourists. You can also immediately buy tickets to Prague at favorable price. We wish you more interesting trips.
Everyone should spend the New Year in Prague, at least once in their life! A great many enthusiastic stories about new year's eve you won't hear of any European capital. In this article, we will learn how to celebrate Christmas and New Year in Prague, we will see Christmas and New Year's Prague in the photo.
In Czech, Christmas is called Vánoce. The Czechs have been preparing for it since December 4 - the day of St. Barbara. Many people put branches of cherry trees in the water, as a kind of divination. If the branch turns green by Christmas, all plans for the new year will certainly come true.
December 6, on the day of St. Nicholas, mummers walk around Prague: the Bishop in a tiara with a staff, Mikulas, an Angel and the Devil. They ask the children if they behaved well, and then treat them with sweets.
In a couple of weeks, Christmas covers all of Prague. Everywhere there are Christmas concerts, sales, festivities. And even on the quietest outskirts you can see posters "Vesele Vanoce!" ("Merry Christmas!"). Owners of shops and restaurants consider it their duty to decorate the doors of establishments with a Christmas tree. Betlems appear, images of the Bethlehem manger where Jesus was born.
On the squares of Prague, in churches and even in the windows of houses, compositions with a baby, Mary, and the Magi appear. The townspeople do their best, the figurines are made of wood, straw, gingerbread and paper. The biggest betlem is placed on the Old Town Square. Reality is given by live sheep. And if in Italy the figurine of the Christ Child appears in the manger only after Christmas midnight, then the Czechs put the baby right away.
The Old Town and Wenceslas Square turn into huge holiday bazaars for Christmas. Rows with souvenirs appear: candles, ceramic toys, copper bells, wooden dolls and musical Santa Clauses, jester's hats.
Almost all souvenirs are Chinese, except for candlesticks, which are forged immediately at the customer's place.
Bohemian crystal, beer mugs, plates, cups with views of the city, author's photographs and paintings, T-shirts, puppets and wooden toys are brought from Prague as souvenirs. All this can be found and bought in the area of st. Celetna and the Golden Cross in the Old Town, where there is a whole pedestrian zone with shops, boutiques, stalls and benches.
New Year's sales start earlier every year, already in October you can see the "sleva" signs. By the way, be careful with money, they say Prague is a paradise for pickpockets. In the metro you can see posters: under the photo with a mountain of wallets there is an inscription: “Thank you for our rich Christmas!” signed: "Union of Pickpockets of the Czech Republic".
The main Czech Christmas tradition. A few days before December 24, vats appear on Prague streets and crossroads, in which “carps” splash - large fish up to 1 m long. Czech fried carp for Christmas is the same tradition as our Olivier for the New Year. I ate a river carp on Christmas evening - you can be calm: well-being will be with you all year. They say that fish bones should not be thrown away, but buried in your garden to preserve well-being. To make money, you need to put the scales of the eaten carp in your wallet.
Throughout the year, carps are grown in special ponds. They say that it is profitable to breed them, and this business goes back to the Middle Ages. Ponds with an area of up to 1000 hectares created at that time changed the face of the Czech Republic. There are more than 20 thousand ponds in the Czech Republic.
In mid-December, the water is drained, and tanks with fish are transported around the country. There is a long queue for each vat, because it is necessary to buy carp. At least in order to release him to freedom - another tradition of Prague.
On Christmas Eve or "Generous Evening" everyone gathers as a family at a large table. "Karpa" is eaten with potato salad, on the table there are always fried chestnuts, sausages in sauce, bread with raisins woven from nine strips, painted gingerbread, dumplings, nut "hornet nests". They sit down at the table with the first star, because whoever fasted before Christmas, a golden pig will come to him and bring doubly happiness.
The smell of mulled wine hovers on the streets of Prague these days. Grog, mulled wine and punch are sold throughout the city. Starter: bacon, roasted chestnuts, skewered pig and boiled corn.
Mulled wine - warm drink! 
Czech trdelnik - national street sweet
On December 25, exactly at midnight, the Orloj Astronomical Clock opens on the tower of the Town Hall. With the crow of a mechanical rooster, the bells of Prague churches beat. Three masses are held on Christmas: a symbol of the birth of Christ in the bosom of the Father, in the womb of the Mother of God and the soul of believers. Most of the people in the Basilica of St. George, Church of the Virgin Mary the Victorious, Bethlehem Chapel. A place in the church should be taken in advance, the sculpture “Ezulatko”, or the Infant Jesus, is kept here.
After the ringing of bells, Prague plunges into silence! We do not recommend coming here on Catholic Christmas. From December 24, many companies do not work, everything stops working at lunchtime - clubs, museums, restaurants and supermarkets, and around 18:00 city transport operates in standby mode. After that, on the street you can meet only policemen, tourists and taxis who came to Prague for a Christmas fairy tale.
Life goes back to normal on December 27, with the opening of shops, transport also begins to run. Closer to the New Year, there are more visitors to the city than citizens; the locals leave Prague for the Christmas week.
New Year in Prague
In the Czech Republic, the New Year is called Sylvester. According to legend, in 314 Pope Sylvester caught a monster that in 1000 was supposed to destroy the world. Since that moment, people have been celebrating a joyful event, residents of the city and guests take to the streets, shoot fireworks, drink, dance and have fun.
core New Year's Prague are the chimes of the town hall Orloj on the Old Town Square. Half an hour before the new year, the square is filled with people.
If you do not like a cheerful crowd, you can watch Orloi in the new year from the Milena cafe, located opposite. From "Milena" both dials of the town hall will be in front of you.
A few hours after the explosions of fireworks, dealers in firecrackers sell them for half the price, later for a third, and then completely pour out the remains on the square.
In the Czech Republic, the president of the republic delivers a New Year's speech, but this takes place at 13:00 on January 1. The day when Czechs celebrate the renewal of Czech statehood.
Christmas trees and betlems in Prague stand until January 6 - the feast of the "Three Kings". Kashpar with a staff, Baltazar with a bag, Melichar with a drum - they paint walls and doors, sprinkle houses with holy water, leave symbols of the gifts of the sorcerer: myrrh, gold, incense, wax and dry flowers. By the feast of the Epiphany, Christ grows up and moves to the knees of St. Virgin.
Three places to visit on New Year's Eve
1. Go on a boat trip on the Vltava at night.
2. Climb the television tower, where observation cabins are located at a height of 93 m.
3. Go to the Charles Bridge - the main decoration of the city. Among the sculptures of the bridge you need to find a statue of John of Nepomuk. There is a belief that if you make a wish and touch the statue, it will come true. There is another way - after making a wish at the statue, silently step aside, put your palm on the cross embedded in the railing of the bridge, stand with your foot on the bronze spot in the pavement and repeat your request to the saint.
or . We arrange insurance for We rent a car for You can also buy a railway ticket for and for the bus. If necessary (for example, to organize a shopping tour), we buy package tours for.
We embarked on this journey very spontaneously. The husband was finally given the long-awaited second half of the vacation. And we decided to go to Prague for a week. Up to this point, we have never traveled anywhere in the winter, and by plane with the whole family. On our part, it was a purely experimental trip.
We made an anti-pedagogical decision to take the children with us, may the teachers of our children forgive us. You can see the composition of our team at
We bought plane tickets 2 days before departure, booked an inexpensive hotel. The hotel is very well located, there is a bus station opposite it and you can walk to the Powder Gate in 20 minutes. From the metro station of the same name 3 minutes to the hotel. There are grocery stores nearby. Rooms for 4 people are not found in every hotel, for which we chose it. They don’t vacuum the carpet every day, but it’s normal to see it in Prague, the houses on Zlata Street also have dust, and a much thicker layer than in a hotel.
December 1st to 7th is considered low season, although the Christmas markets start on November 26th. IN low season prices are more than reasonable the hotel cost us only 300 euros, room for four people for 6 nights with breakfast. It is curious that one night in this hotel during the period New Year holidays would have cost us 200 euros. Sales in stores have not yet begun.
Prices for plane tickets are jumping right before our eyes, we looked after tickets for three days, and each time there was a different price for the same flight, the spread was in the range of 1,500 rubles per 1 ticket. As a result, we took tickets for a Lufthansa flight with a transfer in Munich. Direct flights St. Petersburg - Prague are carried out only by Russian and Czech Airlines. Direct flights are more expensive. A night flight with a transfer, of course, is hard, the youngest was sick on the plane, during the day he slept in the hotel for three hours while we were walking.
Munich Airport is very good - many shops, free coffee or tea (now no longer free), comfortable chairs, almost folding beds, 2 hours flew by like one minute.
The plane on the Munich-Prague flight was only a quarter full. The flight lasts only 55 minutes. Takeoff, tea, coffee, cookies and the plane is already landing.
General impressions of Prague, our review of the trip to Prague
Prague greeted us with the sun and spoke to us in Russian in the face of a strange, homeless-looking man. While we were standing at the map of Prague, trying to get our bearings, the aforementioned man approached us and offered to take us to the hotel and exchange money, we accepted his first offer. At the reception we were served by a Russian girl.
Many residents of Prague speak and understand Russian, this is due to the fact that before the Velvet Revolution of 1989, Czechs studied Russian at school. The restaurants in the city center have a menu in Russian, in public places there are inscriptions in Russian. There are many Russian tourists and residents in the city, native speech is heard all around. So if you don't know English, Prague is your choice.
Below are unkind posters, most likely caused by the entry of troops of the countries participating in the Warsaw Pact in 1968. The troops were brought in to save Czechoslovakia from the counter-revolution, you can read more about this on Wikipedia, the event was called Operation Danube.
Prague boards with posters are pasted over with such curious posters
Unlike the cities of Germany and France, many shops are open in Prague on Sunday, we can say that rare shops are closed. On the streets they offer to change money and offer tours of the surroundings in Russian. The price for an excursion to the nearest suburb starts from 35 euros, everyone definitely recommends Cesky Krumlov as the most beautiful place.
In Prague, light drugs are allowed, as in, even more widely. In Amsterdam, it is allowed to buy and consume them only in coffee houses, and in Prague, in the very first small shop on the shelves, they saw a large assortment of cannabis tinctures and sweets, and muffins, they were simply seriously surprised by this approach.
A cute alien promoting the use of questionable substances Entrance to most churches is paid for tourists, a legacy of the Soviet past, usually you can enter the operating churches absolutely free of charge.
Prague old City, founded in the 10th century, was for a long time four different cities sometimes at odds with each other. Prague Castle, Stare Mesto, Nove Mesto and Vysehrad existed as independent units. Therefore, it is quite easy to decide how to inspect this city, highlighting for each former city by day.
I suggest you take a look at our plan.
Prague sightseeing plan for 6 days.
First day we examined Republic Square and Wenceslas Square, as we were not sleeping enough from the road. This is a part of the city called
Fourth day. We went for a walk around, after examining it, we went to to please the child.
Fifth day. We have committed great walk along the islands of the Vltava, finished their walk in.
Sixth day. We went to the fortress above the Vltava.
In addition, every evening we spent on, ate all sorts of tasty treats and watched performances by artists. Several times during this time we walked along the famous Charles Bridge.
Our rating of attractions in New Year's Prague
The following is a list of attractions in order from “most liked” to “least liked”, although this is also not entirely true, since we also liked the last Vysehrad, just if we had less time, we would exclude it.
Naturally, the first thing we visited was the largest castle in Europe and the architectural dominant of the city. St. Vitus Cathedral is visible from almost all the places we visited in the city. The cathedral was built for almost 600 years, construction was completed only in 1928. In addition to the cathedral in Prague Castle, there are many more museums, which we all examined by taking a “big circle” ticket.
St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague Castle
Christmas market on the Old Town Square in Prague There is a cheerful festive atmosphere at the fair. Artists perform, there is the main Christmas tree of the city, under it is a magnificent Christmas composition and a manger with live Christmas animals - sheep, goats, a donkey and even a pony. Children crowd around the nursery and stroke the animals.
Christmas composition under the tree Everything is sold at the fair so that you can have a good time and not freeze - mulled wine, hot mead, hot cider, hot apple juice for children. And of course you can eat - Old Prague pork, trdlo, gingerbread, potato chips, made right before your eyes.
This is how trdlo is cooked, it is a sweet cinnamon bun, hot, very good outside The Charles Bridge- Another masterpiece of medieval architecture in Prague. Now the bridge is pedestrian, and there is a thriving trade in souvenirs. Numerous tourists polished the brass parts of the sculptures to a shine for good luck.
It strikes the imagination with the magnificence of the interior decoration, made in the Baroque style.
In Prague, as in Greece, there is everything, even its own Eiffel Tower, it stands on Peterzhin Hill and is a small copy. The hill can be reached by funicular, public transport tickets are valid for it.
Very good, it is located on a huge hill. The aviary "Indonesian tropics" aroused our genuine admiration. The atmosphere of the tropical forest is very truthfully recreated there, even bats fly over the heads of visitors without any fences at all.
The life of mountain goats is shown very well, they are assigned a rocky section of the hill, it turns out that visitors can observe the goats in natural conditions.
We visited, this spectacle will surely interest schoolchildren, where you can press the buttons and the eyes of ghosts will mysteriously flicker, skeletons will move, magic liquids will gurgle in jars.
Pleased us with magnificent views opening from its walls to the Vltava and the whole city. The interior decoration of the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, located in the fortress, is made in the Art Nouveau style. All the walls are covered with paintings on biblical themes.
In the fortress of Vyshegrad there is a magnificent playground in the ancient Slavic style, we lingered on it for an hour, despite the strong wind, the faint echoes of the Xavier storm that swept over Europe on December 6th.
Czech cuisine
The excellent Czech cuisine deserves special mention. We enjoyed such traditional dishes as boar's knee, duck with red cabbage, goulash in bread, Old Prague pork, trdlo, gingerbread. Portions are very large, just huge.
This is how pork is prepared in the Old Prague style, the taste gives an indescribable pleasure. And of course the famous Prague pubs. The oldest one was founded in 1499, they serve only one kind of beer and they brew it themselves, in other places this beer is not sold.
Beer "U Fleku", founded in 1499 And the most ordinary beer house in Prague, friends, locals took us to it, Kozel beer is served there, there is no menu in any languages other than Czech, but you can feel local resident, portions of food are even larger than in restaurants on the Old Town Square.
