New Year in Prague. How we celebrated the New Year in Prague

Winter holidays are one of the most wonderful periods in Prague. At this time, the city is transformed and seems to be filled with magic. Ancient buildings, cathedrals with high spiers, medieval narrow streets, severe Gothic towers - all this beauty at any time of the year resembles fabulous scenery. But during the celebration of Christmas and New Year, Prague opens up from a special side. It seems that a fairy tale has settled in these streets and squares. Haven't decided where to go for the New Year yet? Plan a trip to a fairy tale! In this article we will talk about the features of Prague during the period winter holidays and about important details that will help you when planning your trip.

How to organize a trip to Prague for New Year and Christmas:

Things to do in Prague during the winter holidays:

Organization of a trip to Prague for the New Year and Christmas

Choose the right travel time

Of course, travel dates depend on many factors and are often tied to your work schedule, ticket availability, etc. However, if you have a choice, try not to miss the very heat of events - the Czech Republic celebrates Christmas according to the Catholic tradition, on December 25th. And this day is celebrated especially solemnly and brightly. The New Year is not so magnificent, but still festive. Elegant Christmas trees, traditional fairs, fireworks and other attributes of the holiday are still "in place". But already in the first days of January, Prague returns to a completely everyday atmosphere and to ordinary city life.

Accordingly, in order to get the maximum impressions, it is worth coming to Prague at the beginning of the 20th of December. And if you have a lot of time to relax and want to contemplate how the city is gradually filled with a fabulous atmosphere and anticipation of a miracle, then even earlier. But if you don’t have the opportunity to escape to Prague in December, don’t be discouraged. At the end of December and the first days of January, you will still find general fun. And after - you can take a break from the crowds of people densely filling the streets. And although there will be no more magnificent mass celebrations and wild fun in January, Prague will still not lose its unique winter charm.

Book in advance

This advice is, of course, obvious, but we cannot but recall it. You are not the only one dreaming of visiting Prague for the New Year and Christmas. Many tourists from the most different countries want the same! And Prague, like some other cities, is not made of rubber! Hotel rooms should be chosen and booked in advance.

In advance, you need to decide on the how will you get to the Czech Republic. Winter holidays are a hot time, and it is better to buy tickets as early as possible in order to fly away at affordable prices. Check

If you plan a restaurant and want to spend Christmas Eve there or new year's eve, book your table in advance. You will be able to attend the Christmas parties that are held in many establishments - just pay attention to the signs next to the restaurants to find out the details.

A few years ago, we would have advised you to also take care of excursion program, book excursions, find Russian-speaking guides in advance .... If you are traveling with iPhone, now you don't have to worry about it. There is a great alternative group excursions– . With it, you can learn a lot of interesting information about Prague, while you can listen to it at a convenient time, interrupting when necessary and jumping to a new topic when it is interesting. You don’t even need to think about what kind of attraction is in front of you - Travelry will determine where you are, show and tell you what is interesting nearby, and why, in fact, these objects are worthy of your attention.

Weather in Prague in winter

Although the winter in Prague is much milder than in Russia, you still need warm clothes. On New Year's Eve and during the winter holidays, the temperature averages up to +1 degrees during the day and can drop to -2-4 at night. However, do not forget about the high humidity, due to which this temperature is perceived to be several degrees lower. So do not rush to undress, especially if you are walking along or along the embankment of the Vltava River. You can learn more about the features of different seasons in Prague.

Read also:

What to do in Prague during the winter holidays

Where does the holiday live

Of course, the feeling of a holiday is born and lives in our heart! But you must admit that external attributes are very important for creating mood and atmosphere. In Prague, this mood literally fills all the central streets of the city, decorated with bright illumination and garlands. In the evenings, the squares of the city are flooded with light and fun - concerts are held, many festively dressed people walk around singing beautiful Christmas carols. Among them are many Father Frosts, Santa Claus, Mikulash and Hedgehogs - four images of the same person, beloved in Russia, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. I wonder if you can tell them apart?

holiday fairs fill the squares with noise, fun and pleasant pre-holiday fuss. Trays with local sweets beckon with magical aromas of cinnamon, ginger, roasted chestnuts and delicious pastries. This Christmas "aromatherapy" is complemented by the aromas of mulled wine and traditional fried sausages. Crowds of relaxed, idly (not, perhaps, even festively!) staggering tourists create a feeling of general fun. Some days this feeling is complemented colorful fireworks(as a rule, they paint the sky over Charles Bridge or Wenceslas Square).

The period of Christmas and New Year celebrations is also unique in Prague because at this time you can see such a rare and colorful character as a lamplighter! Dressed in a colorful frock coat and armed with a special long stick, he takes to the streets of the city in the evenings to light a live fire in gas lamps, which today illuminate many streets and squares in the city center. In particular, the streets Celetná, Melantrichova, Karlova, Jilská, Železná, Mostecká, Malostranska. They can be seen on Staromestskaya. Malaya, Hradchanskaya squares, Staraya Zamkova Stairs and other places.

Curious:

The profession of a lamplighter has existed since the 19th century, when the first gas lamps began to illuminate Prague. But with the advent of electricity, lanterns and, accordingly, lamplighters disappeared from the streets of the city. What was the joy of tourists, and the inhabitants of Prague themselves, when the profession of lamplighters was revived in the 2000s, as gas lamps reappeared on the streets. They filled the streets of ancient Prague not only with soft and lively light, but also with unique romance!

Happy tourists who meet a lamplighter can not only watch the action, but also take part in it themselves, lighting a fire in a lantern with a special long pole!

Let's not forget that Christmas (namely, this holiday in Prague is dedicated to the main fun) is a Christian holiday. Therefore, during this period it is worth looking into churches in Prague. They arrange beautiful nativity scenes, as well as festive masses, where you can hear an old organ. However, Prague churches, with their rich history, luxurious interiors and an abundance of works of art, are interesting in themselves. We talk about many of them in ours.

Where to celebrate Orthodox Christmas

If you are going to Prague not only for the New Year, but also for the entire period of the Russian winter holidays, you may also find Orthodox Christmas, which is celebrated on January 7th. In Prague, this day is not a holiday, but this does not mean at all that you cannot celebrate it. On this day, solemn services are held in Orthodox churches, of which there are several in Prague. Here are some of them:

Church of St. George at the Embassy of the Russian Federation
Address: Korunovační 34, Praha 6 - Bubeneč
Website: http://www.georgi-prague.orthodoxy.ru/

Temple of the Dormition Holy Mother of God at the Olshansky cemetery
Address: Olšanske hřbitovy, Prague 3
Website: http://www.pravoslavie.cz/

House church of St. Nicholas in Dejvice
Address: Rooseveltova 29, Prague 6 - Bubeneč

Cathedral of Saints Cyril and Methodius
Address: Resslova 307/9a, 120 00 Praha 2

Shopping time

Many tourists who come to Prague for Christmas and New Year are not averse to shopping, looking for gifts for themselves and loved ones. When planning shopping in Prague, keep in mind that almost all shops are closed on Catholic Christmas - the life of the whole city, including shopping, switches to a festive mode. Before Christmas, all Czechs attack shops in search of gifts - this is the busiest time for trading. But after the New Year, many stores will delight you with winter sales.

And here are a few ideas of what is unique to buy in Prague, what traditional Czech souvenirs to get:

Bohemian glass (famous Czech crystal).
Jewelry with stones traditional for the Czech Republic - red garnet and green vltavin.
Natural Carlsbad cosmetics - shampoos, various creams and masks.
Traditional Czech drinks are the famous beer, Becherovka liqueur.
Czech shoes.

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If you are going to Prague for New Year and Christmas, wander around the Christmas markets that are open during this period on many central squares cities. There you will find not only a lot of interesting souvenirs, handmade crafts, unique Christmas decorations, original puppets, but also a special festive atmosphere. It will not be difficult to find such fairs. Walking around the center, you will definitely see rows of brightly decorated stalls. Their largest concentration will be on the Old Town and Wenceslas squares. Just keep in mind that some street fairs are only open until Christmas (December 25), while others are open until January 1. Therefore, it is worth hurrying with some purchases. It is also worth a look at the old Havel market (it is open all the time).

If you want to not just walk around and choose gifts, but also listen about these places interesting stories, download - in it we talk about the amazing and rich history Old Town Square, Havel Market and many other places in the Old Town.

But jewelry, crystal, shoes and clothes are worth buying in stores. Great demand for popular items generates a large supply of fakes. But if you buy, for example, wine glasses in large mall or in a reputable store, you will most likely get real Bohemian glass. Before Christmas in Prague, you can get to very profitable sales - usually they are arranged in large stores.

Time for culinary delights

It seems that during the celebration of Christmas and New Year, the Czechs forget about the rules of healthy eating and allow themselves to eat even beyond measure. Although we note that Czech restaurants and cafes are already famous for huge portions! Basically, during this period, it is customary to lean on sweets - on the streets you will find many mini-kitchens where pastries will be prepared right in front of you. Try the famous waffles, honey gingerbread, hazelnut cookies, vanilla bagels…. And by the way, it's best not to look for something specific, but to take what you like. Everything here is delicious, everything perfectly energizes for walking along the winter streets.

One of the traditional Czech dishes for Christmas is carp. The tradition of fattening carps for Christmas has now given rise to another one - releasing them into the river. Near the Vltava, you can meet people who sell young fish specifically for this. Also, the festive tables of the inhabitants of Prague are rich in a variety of snacks, traditional sausages or sausages and all kinds of baked sweets.

Street food adds a lot of positivity, but do not ignore Prague's restaurants and cafes. It is a special feeling to sit in them in winter, sipping hot “winter” drinks and admiring the lights outside the window, snowflakes flying in the wind, people walking around, and not in a hurry to go anywhere, just relax. Among the mentioned “winter” drinks in Prague, Krampampuli punch is popular.

A traditional Christmas dinner is served on Catholic Christmas Eve, on the evening of December 24th. Usually these are Lenten dishes, because the Advent ends on Christmas itself, that is, on December 25, on the very day of Christmas (in the Catholic tradition), they already eat geese and other meat delicacies. Those who observe the Orthodox Christmas fast will have a harder time, however, they will be able to choose among the many traditional Czech dishes suitable for themselves.

We are in Prague for the third time (and for some reason all the time in winter), all the main attractions were covered in past visits, therefore, we wander around the city just as if we lived there and spent the weekend, discovering something every day. something new and enjoying New Year's Prague.

The squares, decorated at Christmas, are full of people.

Souvenirs, fried meat, sausages and mulled wine by the river:

If you visit Prague for the first time, then new year holidays- not the best option. Festive Prague, of course, is beautiful, but it is too crowded, the restaurants are packed, there are queues at lunch and evening hours and it is better to book tables in advance, especially with a large company.

Always near:

Shop with strange windows:

Of course, it is impossible not to cross the Charles Bridge!

Touch the dog:

Christmas stories with straw figurines are so cute:

A dressed-up sailor invites visitors:

Suddenly:

To my collection of misprints and subtleties of translation - "rabbit feet" and "schnitzel through the stove":

The rest of the rudder:

Speaking of beer, this time we ordered an interesting restaurant on Wenceslas Square (Výtopna Railway Restaurant - Václavské náměstí), where beer is not served by waiters, but is transported by railway wagons. The food in this restaurant is so-so, so we had a hearty dinner in an excellent tavern, took a walk and went to drink beer in an exotic restaurant. The queue to enter starts 20 meters away! But we had a table booked

We order:

In this restaurant, not all places with access to the railway, there are ordinary tables served by waiters. We had a great table, we could observe all the simple logistics:

Ours arrived:

Someone is ordering:

Empty containers are also returned:

The beer in the restaurant is not bad, a little overpriced, in Prague you can find both tastier and cheaper, the food is expensive and some kind of fast food or something, I didn’t see something that stimulates the appetite on a single plate of visitors, but the place is very atmospheric and everyone can visit there it's worth it!

At night, there were no fewer people in the squares, there was fireworks:

Since we were leaving for Bavaria early in the morning, we met the New Year, drank champagne and went to bed.

Well, traditionally advice, where without them:

Where to live. Prices in Prague are high compared to the European average! You need to settle in Prague in the historical center, yes, it's expensive, but you can walk everywhere and see the main beauties, feel the atmosphere of the city, especially in the evening, this is important! Once we settled in a sleeping bag (more precisely, a travel agency settled us), where we had to go by metro + bus. No, of course, you can get there and back, but the road eats up strength, their transport is loaded no less than in Moscow. This is a completely different quality of rest, I will not repeat such a mistake again.

We really liked the location between the train station and Wenceslas Square. Everything is nearby - the train station (if you go somewhere, arrive, express trains and buses go here from the airport), metro, square, shops. Our hotel was sooo good, would love to stay there again. There are tons on AirBnB good suggestions, our friends rented good apartments in this area much cheaper than a hotel.

From Prague you can rush to Karlovy Vary for a day.

What is. In Prague you need duck and pork knuckle with cabbage! This is the most amazing gastronomy in the Czech Republic, apart from beer, of course.

Shopping. Great! The main stamps are available, it is enough to go around Wenceslas Square and the street "on a prikope", how much time will it take. It is better to buy souvenirs in the small streets near the Charles Bridge, I love puppets very much, they are so beautiful! And in Prague, just a cult of cats - charming pictures, magnets, figurines, jewelry and household utensils such as hangers. Cute and original!

I love Prague! But I still like it with fewer people.

Prague is one of the most beloved and famous European capitals, it has its own unique "face". Christmas and New Year's Prague is an enchanting spectacle that makes an indelible impression on those who first get to know the Czech Republic, and on those who have already visited this amazing country more than once.

Sights of Prague - what is worth seeing on New Year's holidays?

Many plan ahead, already well aware of what excursion program they want to get what beauties of the capital to see. Of course, it is much more difficult to choose an entertainment program for beginners who will get to know the Czech Republic for the first time.

It is for those who doubt that the information of good tourist guides, as well as reviews of experienced tourists, is the most valuable.

There are a lot of sights that are in such a multifaceted and magnificent Prague. The question is not to find an interesting excursion for yourself, but to choose only a few of the most interesting for your vacation, from huge amount proposed travel itineraries.

Each traveler begins to get acquainted with Prague from the Vltava River, or rather, from the view of the bridges thrown over it. In total, 18 beautiful, modern and very old bridges soared over the Vltava, but the most famous of them is The Charles Bridge. This beautiful building in the center of Prague is decorated with statues of many saints - the Virgin Mary, John of Nepomuk, Anna, Cyril and Methodius, Joseph, and others. As a rule, on the first sightseeing tour in the city, tourists come here - for beautiful photos and vivid impressions, because this bridge has never deceived their expectations. On the eve of the upcoming New Year holidays, it can be recalled that on New Year's Eve a huge queue of people who want to touch the monolithic bronze figure of the patron saint of Prague, St. If, however, to stroke the dog at the feet of this saint, as has long been claimed, then all pets will be in good health.

Another great attraction of the capital of the Czech Republic - Old Town Square. It hosts significant city events and holidays, including folk festivals on the most famous night of the year - New Year's Eve. On the Old Town Square there are old astronomical clock Eagle with interesting figures of the apostles, Christ, a merchant and a dandy, a skeleton, which you can see and exact time, and the date and time of sunrise and sunset and the moon, and even the location of the zodiacal signs in the sky. It is these chimes that will attract thousands of glances of jubilant people on New Year's Eve, when they methodically begin to beat midnight. On the very famous square Prague has the Old Town Hall, which has been turned into a museum, the Gothic Tyn Cathedral (Church of the Virgin Mary), St. Vitus Cathedral, the Golts-Kinsky Palace, and a monument to Jan Hus has been erected in the center of the Old Town Square.

During the New Year holidays, not far from Prague, those who wish can go skiing. These are places Mnichovice And Chotoun, which are located twenty kilometers from the capital, and have large hills with artificial white snow and ski tracks of 200-300 meters. Of course, professional skiing on this track will not work, but the joy and vivid emotions from this holiday will be provided to both adults and children. The cost of a ticket for 1 day is 190 - 280 kroons, which is 7.5 - 11 €.

Arriving in Prague for the holidays, you must definitely climb the high television tower to admire the bewitching beauty of the winter capital, with bright illumination and unique architectural ensembles. This tower has three observation cabins that allow you to view the city from a height of 93 meters.

Little travelers who came to celebrate the New Year holiday are waiting for golden street, reminiscent of a street from a fairy tale, where little gnomes live. There are small houses on the street, you can enter them, get acquainted with ancient tools and paintings, look at furniture and utensils, buy souvenirs. At the exit from this street is Toy Museum, it has a hall of toys of past eras, and halls of modern toys with their history - for example, Barbie dolls, tanks, etc. Golden Street is famous for the fact that the writer and philosopher F. Kafka lived on it.

How shops, restaurants, bars, banks, transport work in Prague on New Year's holidays

Excursions in Prague and attractions during the New Year holidays

A lot of people flock to the capital of the Czech Republic, Prague, for the Catholic Christmas and the holidays of the New Year, who want not only to celebrate the holidays in an interesting and fun way, but also to get vivid impressions from getting to know the country.

In the last days of the outgoing year, travel and excursion agencies provide very interesting programs that charge with a pre-holiday mood, give positive emotions and allow you to get acquainted with a fairy tale. Most interesting: excursion to Cesky Krumlov (50 €); tour in Detenitsa, watching a medieval show (55 €).

On the last day of the outgoing year, you can perform a traditional ceremony and visit Charles Bridge touching the wish-fulfilling sculpture of St. John of Nepomuk. Along with this walk, you can go to Walking tour of Prague Castle(20 €), getting to know the city better, feeling the onset of the holiday.

On one of the evenings, or even on New Year's Eve, you can make boat trip on the Vltava river(25 €). You will be shown the surrounding views and sights, as well as fed a delicious dinner.

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We have prepared a detailed article about holidays for the 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 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, the weather is good 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 noisily, cheerfully, in the company of a large number of people (both locals 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, a boat trip along the Vltava would be an excellent option. 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 a 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)

New Year in Prague - 2019: prices for tours

Price New Year 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.

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).

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 does not work 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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Magic, a fairy tale, a miracle... We associate New Year's holidays with these words. If you can’t create a fairy tale at home, then you must definitely go to some magical, enchanted city. We chose Prague. In this fabulous Czech capital We visited at the beginning of January 2015.

Walks in the Christmas city

We checked into the hotel closer to dinner, so we ended up in the center of Prague at dusk. Our the tour started from the Old Town - the historical center of the Czech capital. Prague looked really magical. And above all, due to the festive illumination. The atmosphere was also created by expressive living sculptures.

Under the murmuring speech of the guide (and this was a local resident who knows Russian), we got to. The main attraction here is, of course, the city hall. They say that now the building houses a museum and tours are conducted. But we limited ourselves to studying the exterior of this old building.

The Old Town Hall, today it is a museum.

On the Old Town Square, we carefully studied the peculiarities of Prague trade. In January, it is quite sparsely crowded by Prague standards. The fact is that the main festive events in this Catholic country take place in. And yet the Prague capital's Christmas market was quite lively. What is not for sale here! Edible and inedible! We limited ourselves gastronomic journey. But more on that later.

Warm up with mulled wine at the Christmas market.

On the Charles Bridge, we crossed the Vltava, on the banks of which Prague once appeared, and ended up in Mala Strana, another historical district of the capital. Climbing up a little We ended up in Prague Castle - an ancient fortress. Today this fortress serves as a residence for the President of the Czech Republic. The central building of Prague Castle is St. Vitus Cathedral. This is the main Catholic church for all Czechs, which was built over several centuries. Access for tourists to the cathedral is open.

St. Vitus Cathedral is the main attraction of Prague.

Gastronomic tour of Prague

Prague is not only ancient architectural structures, but also simple, . On our first day of travel around the Czech capital, we explored street food. The national food for the Czechs, as well as for the Germans, is sausages, cooked according to a variety of recipes. Roast them right on the street. I don’t know how it is in the summer, but the fire sausage on a cool January evening goes with a bang.

In Prague, all kinds of sausages are fried right on the street.

In the Czech capital, they also bake on the street. It is also sometimes called trdelnik. Just lick your fingers. But this delicacy is only for those who love crispy pastries with cinnamon and powdered sugar. We washed down the trdlo with hot tea and fragrant mulled wine.

Trdlo is a local sweet fast food.

In Prague, you should definitely visit one of the local bars. These are very colorful places. First, because it is often a family business for Czechs. Some bars have been owned by the townspeople from generation to generation for several centuries. Secondly, because it is here that you can taste real live beer.

To visit Prague and not drink beer is a big sin!

For satiety in a Prague bar, you must definitely take it. In Czech, this dish is called "boar's knee". The waiters (they are most often the owners of the bar) sincerely advise taking one knuckle for two. Otherwise, you can just burst from the large volume of the dish.

The famous knuckle hardly got into the frame because of the delicious salad.

Trip to the Prague Zoo

One day of our short trip we devoted to . This is one of the best institutions of its kind in the world. And that's why. The living conditions of animals in this zoo are as close to natural as possible. Here you will not find standard small cages in which animals can hardly fit. Enclosures for animals in the Czech zoo are quite spacious.

The white bear misses the snow.

We went through the zoo far and wide. This amazing place to get to know the nature around us. It is unfortunate that in 2002 the Vltava overflowed its banks so much that it sank most of the zoo's territory. More than 100 animals died due to the raging elements. It's good that a few years after the tragedy, the zoo was completely restored and now welcomes guests again.

But flamingos are happy with the warm Prague weather.

At the zoo, in one of the souvenir shops, we bought an illustrated book about the zoo and its inhabitants in order to better explore this marvelous Prague corner of wildlife.

For ourselves, we decided that somehow else for the New Year holidays we will rush to Prague, because here:

warm (while in Russia there are sub-zero temperatures, in Prague the weather is zero);
everything is festively decorated (the city seems to be dressed in a big garland);
delicious (it’s hard to get out of Prague without having a belly full).

Anastasia, PR, 35 years old, Volgograd,
travel date: January 2015