Christmas market Prague

Most of the traditional "Christmas markets" towns are in areas which are cold in December -- it's part of the charm. And a good excuse for glühwein. Lots of markets in Germany and Austria and Switzerland. Strasbourg and Colmar in the Alsace region of France. So many choices!!

Yes, we did this last Christmas. We also went to the markets in Brussels and Frankfurt on a train trip from London to Prague. It was cold, but not too cold to enjoy walking around the markets. Besides the markets in central Prague, a guide we used directed us to a market that was frequented more by locals that was one two subway stops from the old city.

I think you would enjoy the trip. Prague is certainly worth a visit and it is interesting to visit Europe other than in the summer.

Prague in the winter is beautiful! One of my fondest memories is of walking across the square in Old Town around 11 pm one night as the snow was falling. Everything was lit with a glow and the pastel colors blended together in a scene I wish I could paint.

KGC describes it well. We were there after Christmas/over new years a couple years ago. Our accommodation was the Conductors apartment on the top floor of Municipal House (no longer available). We had views over Tyn Church. The rooftops covered in fresh snow and the soft lights of the city in the evening were magical. There was a monstrous tree in the old town square with lots of lights on it, and the uplighting on the buildings surrounding the square after dark and the Christmas music created some lasting memories of our time there.

Your screen name doesn't say where you are from, so if you're not used to cold weather make sure to bring gloves, toque, scarf and warm footwear.

Here is some help
https://budapestlocal.com/9-reasons-visit-budapest-winter/
https://welovebudapest.com/en/toplists/12-reasons-to-visit-budapest-in-winter-2016-2017/
https://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2014-02-04/winter-best-time-visit-budapest
https://dailynewshungary.com/budapest-bucket-list-best-things-winter/
https://theculturetrip.com/europe/hungary/articles/13-ways-to-enjoy-winter-in-budapest/

I was in Prague just after Christmas last year and over the New year period.The Christmas Market was still on in Old town Square and at the bottom of Wenseslas square also behind St Vitus in the castle area.All the others were packed up by then. Interesting enough for an hour or so but very repetitive , just not my sort of thing as I really don't do "Christmas". Some of the food stall very good but expensive and it was nice to get a mulled cider or two.
We have Christmas Markets in Edinburgh and a whole festive programme from the end of November and into the first few days of the new year.Very expensive though and there are complaints every year about the cost,£4.50 for 2/3 of a pint of beer.................................. someone is having a laugh. I leave that all to the tourists.
http://www.edinburghschristmas.com/#stq=&stp=1

Are there other cities to consider that are wonderful in the weeks
leading up to Christmas?

Well, first of all I wouldn't expect good Christmas markets in countries which adopted them only 20 years ago to promote tourism. In German-speaking countries they are part of the local culture and exist since hundreds of years. In the rest of Europe they are pretty new (in case of Czechia they existed as long as the German minority lived there, and died out afterwards). It's not only about selling stuff, it's about the festive atmosphere when the locals come together and celebrate their traditions. Christmas markets are a part of it.

Germanys Christmas country is just 2h to the north of Prague: Saxony and the Ore mountains are the region where most of the country's Christmas traditions come from:
Overview
It's always Christmas in the Ore Mountains
Hugging the Czech Republic's border, east Germany's Ore Mountains influence Christmas worldwide
Trip Report: Germany and Prague for the Christmas Markets

I would recommend Saxony + Prague, more or less what the lady in the trip report did.

Martin, wow, thanks for that last link to the Fodor's trip report. Very detailed and alluring.

Well, first of all I wouldn't expect good Christmas markets in
countries which adopted them only 20 years ago to promote tourism.

Other people do:

https://www.europeanbestdestinations.com/christmas-markets/
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/best-christmas-market/index.html
https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-christmas-markets-in-europe
https://www.travelchannel.com/interests/holidays/photos/10-best-christmas-markets-in-europe
https://www.travelzoo.com/uk/blog/europes-6-best-christmas-markets-2/
https://www.businessinsider.com/the-best-european-christmas-markets-youve-probably-never-heard-of-2017-12
https://blog.inyourpocket.com/blog/2017/12/02/11-best-2017-christmas-markets/
A little history with this one: https://www.eurosender.com/blog/en/oldest-christmas-markets-in-europe/
https://www.destinationtips.com/holidays/christmas/festive-christmas-markets-europe-get-spirit/8/

Granted they are just lists; and all biased. But look for where they overlap. I suspect there is some reality in that circumstance.

Some markets are nothing but Chinese Junk Markets. Some markets require that everything sold be local, represent the region and be approved by a committee in advance. For instance Budapest does this. Some are so thick with tourists (some of the German markets - because of their reputation) that you might as well be at Macy's. But not matter the circumstances I cant imagine a better way to spend a few days at Christmas.

Markets at Christmas I don't think was exclusive to Germany. Well, there really was no Germany when they began. So, would the markets in Austria be "traditional"? What about Romanian Siebenbürger Sachsen and the Hungarian Swabians (or were Hungarians Austrians?) Did they leave their traditions behind? I don't have any idea. Would be a good research opportunity.

One of the wonderful things about Christmas is the sharing and the melding of cultures. Nothing is more Christian; as it is the history of Christianity.

In Prague for the "Picturesque" Christmas market it has to be the Old Town Square. My favourite for a nice atmosphere combined with a bit of a food/drink session is Republic Square (cheaper and less crowded, look for the lady that does Chardonnay Svarak). The guides also mention a market on Wenceslas Square but in the last few years this has split into two separate parts (top and bottom of the square) but in my opinion the others above are better. There's also Namesti Miru which is probably the smallest of all the markets but it has a nice location with ST Ludmila church in the background. If you are eating in the markets make sure you know how "pay-by-weight" works.

Markets at Christmas I don't think was exclusive to Germany. Well,
there really was no Germany when they began. So, would the markets in
Austria be "traditional"?

You are splitting hairs. It's a simple fact that almost no Christmas markets existed outside of the German- speaking world until 20 or 30 years ago. In many parts of Central/Eastern Europe they existed as long as Germans lived there, but stopped when they were kicked out, interestingly. In many of these countries they were actually considered German and weren't wanted. No Czech, Pole, Hungarian or Brit missed them, since they wheren't part of their Christmas traditions. In Eastern Germany on the other hand they survived 40 years of Communism in every little town, despite the fact that there was almost nothing to sell. Because a festive market on the town square is a integral part of the Christmas tradition there, just like the traditions that surround such a market. The opening ceremony, the starting of the pyramid, slicing up a big Stollen, fairy tales and presents for children, meeting with friends for a Glühwein etc.. That's all deeply rooted in the culture and has a long tradition, and copying and exporting the product is simply not the same.

We visited Prague near Christmas several years ago. We enjoyed the visit, but the Christmas markets were nothing special, mostly junk for tourists. The Christmas market in Budapest was far superior. Many of the customers were local residents.

Yes, agreed... we visited Prague Dec 24-28 a couple years ago when we left Germany/Austria which had amazing markets!

I loved Prague, but the markets were not that great - more of a commercial operation with the same merchandise, signs, food in all of them. We had a really great time there, and not much other choice at that time of year since the more traditional markets all close before Christmas - that's why we chose it for after Christmas. But it was beautiful, the main square, big tree....

We went to Berlin after that and they still had some great stuff going on into the New Year.

Blog of that trip here:
https://onatangentweb.wordpress.com/category/christmas-markets-2016/

Kim

Nov 9 is the start of Budapest’s Christmas market - the main one! I met many locals and purchased gifts from them. I had people come out of their booths to hug me because they are not used to Americans attempting to speak Hungarian. It was an amazing experience.

Here is some poop on Christmas markets. I have only been to a few so I cant say one is better than the other. I do know I love the one in Budapest and that the goods are all local and all cleared by some committee in advance. Really quality stuff representative of the culture.

These are only lists people publish, the truth is probably in the overlap.

https://www.europeanbestdestinations.com/christmas-markets/
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/best-christmas-market/index.html
https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-christmas-markets-in-europe
https://www.travelchannel.com/interests/holidays/photos/10-best-christmas-markets-in-europe
https://www.travelzoo.com/uk/blog/europes-6-best-christmas-markets-2/
https://www.businessinsider.com/the-best-european-christmas-markets-youve-probably-never-heard-of-2017-12
https://blog.inyourpocket.com/blog/2017/12/02/11-best-2017-christmas-markets/
A little history with this one: https://www.eurosender.com/blog/en/oldest-christmas-markets-in-europe/
https://www.destinationtips.com/holidays/christmas/festive-christmas-markets-europe-get-spirit/8/

Here is some more on Budapest in the winter:

https://budapestlocal.com/9-reasons-visit-budapest-winter/
https://welovebudapest.com/en/toplists/12-reasons-to-visit-budapest-in-winter-2016-2017/
https://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2014-02-04/winter-best-time-visit-budapest
https://dailynewshungary.com/budapest-bucket-list-best-things-winter/
https://theculturetrip.com/europe/hungary/articles/13-ways-to-enjoy-winter-in-budapest/