best time to visit Prague?

We went in mid-May last year and it was excellent. We had excellent weather (high 60s and low 70s) and the crowds were not bad at all. April will generally be a bit colder and potentially rainier, but still a good time to go. I would say best time to go is May into early June, and then September into early October. Just my two cents. I'm sure it's lovely in the summer too, but will be more crowded.

April or October might be considered shoulder season for crowding, but May and September are high season.

We enjoyed our end of February visit three years ago staying at the Green Garland in Prague. Winter low season rates end March 31. Their high season rates seem to run April 02 to June 30. July 01 to August 31 is their middle season. See
http://www.uzv.cz/room-rates-services/

I like Prague during the Christmas Holidays; the crowds aren't heavy and the past three years the weather has been fairly mild for December, with temps in the 40s most of the time. However, the town gets mighty crowded if you stick around for New Years. Hotel prices spike upward after 12/28 or thereabouts, also.

Have to echo what Frank said. We were there this past Christmas and had a great time. Crowds were very manageable, weather was fairly mild, and prices were great. Also, the festive Christmas Markets were out and there were musical events happening all over.

Oh yes Dale, I forgot to mention the Christmas Markets. I found them a bit touristy, but still great fun (and with great food!). But I cant stress enough the difference in the crowds between Christmas and New Years. This past year I left Prague on the 26th to go to Budapest and Vienna, and returned to Prague on the 30th for New Years and it was almost like night and day as far as the crowds went. The bartender as a place I frequent there rolled his eyes and called it "the Russian invasion" when I mentioned how much more crowded it was. "Obnoxious people in fur coats and hats everywhere" His words, not mine. I find both nice and obnoxious people of all races when I travel. No need to put down the Russians. :)

Xmas to NY is Prague's "holiday" season meaning higher room rates than high season.

sanderskn,

I always travel in the shoulder seasons (May/June or Sept./Oct) and that usually works well. My last visit to Prague was in the month of September, and the weather was great for the entire visit. There were lots of people but the crowds didn't seem to be excessive or a nuisance.

Shoulder season: March, April, October, November. The best time: May. All trees are in blossom. Looking from the Old Town toward Hradcany Castle and left of it Petrin hill (with mini Eiffel Tower on the top) fully in blossom is one of the most beautiful views in Prague. Then every May there is Prague Spring - international music festival:
http://www.prague.eu/en/event/707/prague-spring-2015-70th-international-music-festival
And in May this year Prague together with Ostrava is hosting World Championship in Ice Hockey. The best teams including USA. http://www.icehockey-2015.com .

Thank you all for your replies! Looks like April/May or September/October would be perfect.

sorry for the late reply but just joined the website today.
May is a lovely time to visit but be aware that this year there is the World Ice Hockey championships starting on the 2nd may till the 17th May so the city will be buzzing. There is also the Czech Beer Festival on from the 7th-23 may , it is based in Letna park so should not affect anything on in the city center but worth visiting if you fancy it as there is usually a rock fest/ battle of the bands thing goes on if you are into that.
I will be back in the city on the 15th may and hoping to get to the Hockey semi or final if my mate can get me tickets but if not we will just go to the fan zone to watch the games.

The results may vary. best weather in Central Europe is without a doubt mid September to mid October. For Prague because it's north I would tend to want to stay closer to mid September. For Budapest closer to mid October is fine. Past historical averages are not indicate of actual events your results may vary. But it is the driest season and the weather is cool without being too cold. Most outside cafes are open and the theaters are in full swing.

And Prague will only be over crowded at this time vs over, over, over, over crowded as it is in June, July or August.

Hey unclegus! Nice seeing you here! Anyway, while I usually travel to Prague at Christmas, this year plans have changed and it looks like I will be there in mid September. Was going for the right mix of mild weather with just a bit fewer people than in high summer.

Thanks Frank , nice to be here .Seems more like my type of travellers on these forums .hopefully I can be of some help to folk and pick up some info for my own travels.

I'm in Prague right now. I think the weather is great and the crowds aren't bad at all. The only place where there was a crowd was the Astronomical Clock. There was no lineup for St. Vitus in the afternoon. I just zipped straight in. No reservations needed for a 7pm dinner at any place I've been to so far except for Cestr which was fully booked on a Friday night.

Admittedly it was a bit windy when I first arrived but a decent sweater is all you need. I'm from Canada though, so I might be more used to the cold?

I just returned from Prague 2 days ago and found it quite crowded, lots of tour groups of various nationalities, and my hotel seemed to be full of Americans. The weather was chilly for the first 3 days and the last day it was lovely and mildly warm. If I stayed out of the main squares I didn't feel quite so bothered by the throngs of people.