Czech Republic in December

Christmas markets fill Prague; cold, festive, packed around New Year.

December is rated mixed. These months rate higher:

• MayGreatOne of the best months: green parks, long evenings, Prague Spring music festival.
• JuneGreatWarm and long days; Český Krumlov's Five-Petalled Rose festival — book beds early.
• SeptemberGreatBest all-round month: warm days, fewer groups, wine harvest in Moravia.
• AprilGoodSpring blossom on Petřín hill; Easter markets and first outdoor beer gardens.

• Bohemia (Prague, Český Krumlov) · Prague, Kutná Hora, Český Krumlov, Karlovy Varycool

  Continental: grey, frosty winters around 0 °C (32 °F), warm summers with 30 °C (86 °F) spells and thunderstorms; May–June and September are the sweet spots.Continental: grey, frosty winters around 32 °F (0 °C), warm summers with 86 °F (30 °C) spells and thunderstorms; May–June and September are the sweet spots.

• Moravia (Brno, Olomouc, wine country) · Brno, Olomouc, Mikulov, Lednicecool

  A degree or two warmer and drier than Bohemia; wine harvest and burčák season run September–October.

• Mountains (Krkonoše, Šumava, Jeseníky) · Giant Mountains, Bohemian Forest, Jeseníkycool

  Ski season roughly December–March; summer hiking June–September; snow can linger on ridges into May.

• Central Bohemia: Central Bohemia lowlands · Elbe and Vltava basins around Prague, Kutná Hora, Mělníkcold

  Continental: warm summers, cold winters with snow. The south has hills up to about 864 m, cooler and wetter than the basins.

• East Bohemia: Elbe lowlands (Pardubice, Hradec Králové) · Polabí plaincold

  Warmest, driest part of the region; July–August can pass 30 °C (86 °F).Warmest, driest part of the region; July–August can pass 86 °F (30 °C).

• East Bohemia: Giant Mountains (Krkonoše) · North border with Polandsnow

  Snow cover roughly December–March; trails above the tree line close in winter for avalanche risk — check.

• Highlands: Highlands uplands · Jihlava, Telč, Žďár nad Sázavoucold

  Higher and wetter than Prague; May–June and September are the pick. July–August is warm but afternoon storms are common. Snow and frost from December to February.

• North Bohemia: Elbe valley and lowlands (Ústí nad Labem, Litoměřice, Děčín) · river valley, 150–250 mcold

  The valley is the mildest part of the region; conditions are check — verify the forecast before a specific day.

• North Bohemia: Mountains (Jizera, Ore, Lusatian) · border ranges, 600–1100 mcold

  Snow and ski lift dates vary by season — check current conditions; trails can be icy into spring.

• North Moravia and Silesia: Olomouc and the lowlands · Haná plain, 200–300 mcold

  Warm, fairly dry summers; the old town is walkable year-round but sights thin out in winter.

• North Moravia and Silesia: Ostrava basin · Silesian industrial beltcold

  Similar to Olomouc; air quality is worst on still winter days.

• North Moravia and Silesia: Jeseníky mountains · Hrubý Jeseník, 800–1490 msnow

  Ski season roughly December–March; the Praděd road and shuttle run in the warm months only.

• South Bohemia: České Budějovice / Třeboň basin · Central lowlandcold

  Warmest, driest part of the region; ponds are swimmable in July–August.

• South Bohemia: Šumava and Novohradské hory · Southern hills and bordercold

  Cooler and wetter; snow for cross-country skiing most winters, but not reliable downhill terrain.

• South Moravia: Brno basin and Pálava hills · Brno, Mikulov, Lednice, Znojmocold

  Warm, dry and sheltered — one of the country's mildest corners. July and August reach 30 °C (86 °F)+; cellars stay cool, so bring a layer.Warm, dry and sheltered — one of the country's mildest corners. July and August reach 86 °F (30 °C)+; cellars stay cool, so bring a layer.

• West Bohemia: West Bohemia uplands · Karlovy Vary, Cheb, the Ore Mountains bordercold

  Cooler and wetter than Prague; the spa season runs May–September, and winter is quiet with some colonnade and castle closures.

• Prague3 °C (37 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 9 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 9 rain days
• Aš3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 10 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 10 rain days
• Benešov4 °C (39 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 13 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 13 rain days
• Beroun3 °C (37 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 8 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 8 rain days
• Břeclav2 °C (36 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 8 rain days
• Brno3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 7 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 7 rain days
• Bruntál3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 9 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 9 rain days
• Červená Lhota3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 12 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 12 rain days
• Česká Skalice3 °C (37 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 9 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 9 rain days
• České Budějovice3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 8 rain days
• Český Krumlov2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 8 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 8 rain days
• Český Těšín4 °C (39 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 9 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 9 rain days
• Cheb4 °C (39 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 9 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 9 rain days
• Dačice3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 9 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 9 rain days
• Děčín3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 10 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 10 rain days
• Dolní Kounice3 °C (37 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 6 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 6 rain days
• Dvůr Králové nad Labém3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 11 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 11 rain days
• Františkovy Lázně2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 10 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 10 rain days
• Hluboká nad Vltavou4 °C (39 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 9 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 9 rain days
• Holašovice3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 11 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 11 rain days
• Hradec Králové4 °C (39 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 9 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 9 rain days
• Humpolec3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 8 rain days
• Jeseník1 °C (34 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 9 rain days34 °F (1 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 9 rain days
• Jičín3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 9 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 9 rain days
• Jihlava3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 9 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 9 rain days
• Jindřichův Hradec4 °C (39 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 8 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 8 rain days
• Kadaň4 °C (39 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 10 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 10 rain days
• Kamenice nad Lipou2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 9 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 9 rain days
• Karlovy Vary2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 11 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 11 rain days
• Karlštejn2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 9 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 9 rain days
• Karviná3 °C (37 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 11 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 11 rain days
• Kladno4 °C (39 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 11 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 11 rain days
• Kolín3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 9 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 9 rain days
• Kopřivnice4 °C (39 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 10 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 10 rain days
• Kralupy nad Vltavou3 °C (37 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 8 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 8 rain days
• Krnov3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 10 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 10 rain days
• Kroměříž4 °C (39 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 10 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 10 rain days
• Kutná Hora3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 8 rain days
• Liberec2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 13 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 13 rain days
• Lipno3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 13 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 13 rain days
• Litoměřice3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 8 rain days
• Litomyšl3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 8 rain days
• Litovel2 °C (36 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 9 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 9 rain days
• Litvínov3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 11 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 11 rain days
• Loket4 °C (39 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 10 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 10 rain days
• Mariánské Lázně1 °C (34 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 9 rain days34 °F (1 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 9 rain days
• Mělník3 °C (37 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 11 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 11 rain days
• Mikulov4 °C (39 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 9 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 9 rain days
• Mladá Boleslav2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 10 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 10 rain days
• Most3 °C (37 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 9 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 9 rain days
• Nové Hrady4 °C (39 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 9 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 9 rain days
• Nové Město na Moravě2 °C (36 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 11 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 11 rain days
• Nové Město pod Smrkem0 °C (32 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 9 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 9 rain days
• Novosedly na Moravě4 °C (39 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 6 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 6 rain days
• Nymburk4 °C (39 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 8 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 8 rain days
• Olomouc2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 8 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 8 rain days
• Opava2 °C (36 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 9 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 9 rain days
• Ostrava2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 12 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 12 rain days
• Pardubice3 °C (37 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 9 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 9 rain days
• Pelhřimov3 °C (37 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 9 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 9 rain days
• Pilsen3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 10 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 10 rain days
• Písek3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 9 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 9 rain days
• Poděbrady3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 11 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 11 rain days
• Prague-East District4 °C (39 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 8 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 8 rain days
• Prague-West District3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 9 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 9 rain days
• Přerov3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 9 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 9 rain days
• Příbram3 °C (37 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 9 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 9 rain days
• Prostějov2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 9 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 9 rain days
• Rakovník4 °C (39 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 9 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 9 rain days
• Říčany3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 8 rain days
• Slavonice2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 8 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 8 rain days
• Šumperk2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 9 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 9 rain days
• Tábor2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 9 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 9 rain days
• Telč1 °C (34 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 8 rain days34 °F (1 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 8 rain days
• Teplice3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 9 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 9 rain days
• Terezín3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 9 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 9 rain days
• Třebíč3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 12 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 12 rain days
• Třeboň3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 9 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 9 rain days
• Třešť2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 13 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 13 rain days
• Uherské Hradiště4 °C (39 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 8 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 8 rain days
• Ústí nad Labem3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 9 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 9 rain days
• Vrchlabí0 °C (32 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 8 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 8 rain days
• Vyšší Brod3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 8 rain days
• Žatec3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 11 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 11 rain days
• Žďár nad Sázavou4 °C (39 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 10 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 10 rain days
• Železný Brod3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 8 rain days
• Zlín3 °C (37 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 10 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 10 rain days
• Znojmo4 °C (39 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 11 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 11 rain days
• Zruč nad Sázavou3 °C (37 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 9 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 9 rain days

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• Christmas big impact

  24–26 Dec

  Christmas Eve is the main day: shops close at midday, restaurants shut, transport runs a holiday timetable.

• Christmas markets check

  Late November to early January (check) · Prague

  Stalls, mulled wine, grilled sausage and dense crowds; hotel prices peak.

• St Nicholas Eve (Mikuláš) check

  5 December · Prague

  Costumed St Nicholas, angel and devil roam; children get sweets.

• New Year's Eve check

  31 December · Prague

  Fireworks and very crowded streets; taxis and ride-hailing surge.

Crowds · Czech Republic

High

Prices · Czech Republic

High

High-price month: see what to book ahead.

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Czech Republic, side by side.

• Layers: a fleece or light jacket

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Rated best or good this month

• České Budějovice

  Best months: May–Sep, plus the Advent Christmas market in December

• Jeseník

  Best months: Jun–Sep (hiking), Dec–Mar (skiing)

• Litvínov

  Best months: May–Sep for hiking and biking; Dec–Feb for skiing

• Nové Město na Moravě

  Best months: May–Sep for hiking and cycling; Dec–Mar for skiing

• Tábor

  Best months: May–Sep; Dec for the Christmas market

• Třešť

  Best months: Dec–early Feb (nativity scenes), May–Sep (walking, swimming)

• Vrchlabí

  Best months: Jun–Sep for hiking, Dec–Feb for skiing