We are doing a river cruise in Germany that ends on Christmas Day and are considering going on to Prague for several days after the river trip. Our Christmas experience in Germany last year included Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and St. Stephen's Day when just about everything (shops, restaurants, museums) was closed for the holiday. Is the situation the same in Prague?
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
We went to Prague the day after Christmas through New Years and everything especially the Christmas markets were open - damn cold but open.
Posted by
Seattle
4637 posts
Germany has laws about closing shops (maybe restaurants?,too) on Sundays and holidays, Czechs don't have (yet). Maybe on Christmas Eve toward evening and Christmas many shops and restaurants as well as museums will be closed. St. Stephen's Day is also holiday but more shops, restaurants and museums will be open. It is interesting; Czechs are one of the least religious people and have 3 days holiday: Christmas Eve, Christmas, St. Stephen and we are much more religious people and have only one day. It's not fair.
Posted by
pittsburgh
162 posts
Prague tends to slow down on Christmas eve in the early afternoon. In the evening a few places reopen, and the churches all have services, of course. By Christmas Day things are almost back to normal. They don't celebrate St. Stephens day that I know of.
Posted by
Seattle
4637 posts
St.Stephens Day (Dec.26th) is a holiday. A lot of concerts in Prague. In traditional villages people are visiting each other singing carols.
Posted by
OP
9 posts
Thank you all for your prompt replies. Is there anything specific to the time of year that we should plan on doing or seeing? I'm just beginning my research/planning and now that I know that things will be open any direction is appreciated.
Posted by
Seattle
4637 posts
In Prague concerts and Christmas markets.
Posted by
Prague, Czech Republic
356 posts
In recent years, the National Theatre has played its Nutcracker in December and January. However, it isn't being reprieved this year, and the Christmas offering instead appears to be Hansel and Gretel, which with its themes of child abandonment and cannibalism, sets an unusual tone for a family Christmas fairytale. Also, it's an opera, so it is not necessarily everyone's bag, but it is playing in the National at 5pm on Christmas Day.
Christmas tends to be a fairly brief affair in Prague. The main closure takes place on the afternoon and evening of December 24. The city is hugely depopulated as many residents leave the capital to return to their places of origin so that they can spend time with their families. The traditional meal takes place on Christmas Eve; a supper of potato salad and fried carp (however, some Czechs abandon the traditional boney carp in favour of a more flavourful salmon). The 25th and 26th of December are traditional family visiting days, with lots of closures in Prague. However, by December 27th, the city transport returns to its workday timetable and life continues as normal.
Posted by
San Francisco
1008 posts
we are visiting too likely dec 24-26 here is a site I found that talks about closures... looks like it will be ok.
https://www.pragueexperience.com/events/christmas-opening-times.asp
Posted by
Lewiston, Idaho, USA
2092 posts
Kim, thanks for the great link!
Posted by
San Francisco
1008 posts
You will probably find it poking around that site but there are tons of other pages here like for:
https://www.pragueexperience.com/events/christmas-markets.asp
is that the one I gave you?
If you scroll down you can find links to theater and concerts too....
that is a great website!!