The wife and I want to spend Xmas in either Prague or Paris. Actually we are planning to go to both but not sure which city to actually spend Xmas in.
I'm leaning toward 3 days in Paris before Xmas then going to Prague for 3 days including Xmas.
Which city would have more restaraunts, cafes, etc open?
Also, whats the most cost effective way to travel from Paris to Prague or vise versa?
Any recommendations are appreciated
Posted by
Paris, France
506 posts
Christmas in Paris can be quite lovely. This last year 150 streets were decorated with lights including the typical Champs Elysees, Gallerie Lafayette and the Opera decorations. There is usually a Winter Festival at Place du Concorde and several Christmas Markets. In terms of what will be open - there are always restaurants etc open in the more tourist areas on Christmas Day. Typically, museums, monuments and shops will be closed - but the many churches will be open.
Central Europe can be a real bear in December. The chill that moves down the North Sea and from the arctic combined with minimal sunlight makes for a difficult outdoors experience.
Posted by
Sunnyvale, CA, USA
290 posts
Take a direct flight to Paris, stay 3 days, and then do Prague for 3 days. That's the routing I did for a New Year's trip two years ago. And last December I did London then Prague. Its the cheapest route and will get you climatised to colder weather to make it easier to handle the real cold shock of Prague winter. It also can be cheaper to book open jaw Atlanta to Paris and Prague to Atlanta, and separately book the Paris to Prague flight using a carrier such as Smart Wings. It was also a lot easier to take the flight out from Paris using the smaller carriers as the RER lets folks off closest to the terminal for these airlines. We took the escalator up from the RER stop which is underground, went out the doors, turned right, and walked less than 1000 meters to the terminal for checkin. Folks have to catch a bus outside the doors to get to the other terminals that the big name airlines go out of.
*Don't forget to bring thermal underwear for layering for Prague.*
Posted by
Sunnyvale, CA, USA
290 posts
Take a direct flight to Paris, stay 3 days, and then do Prague for 3 days. That's the routing I did for a New Year's trip two years ago. And last December I did London then Prague. Its the cheapest route and will get you climatised to colder weather to make it easier to handle the real cold shock of Prague winter. It also can be cheaper to book open jaw Atlanta to Paris and Prague to Atlanta, and separately book the Paris to Prague flight using a carrier such as Smart Wings. It was also a lot easier to take the flight out from Paris using the smaller carriers as the RER lets folks off closest to the terminal for these airlines. We took the escalator up from the RER stop which is underground, went out the doors, turned right, and walked less than 1000 meters to the terminal for checkin. Folks have to catch a bus outside the doors to get to the other terminals that the big name airlines go out of.
*Don't forget to bring thermal underwear for layering for Prague.*
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
I arrived in Paris on the day after Christmas this past year, and nothing was closed.
About thermal underwear- unless you plan to spend several hours or more outside, you won't need it. Thermal underwear can be uncomfortably warm indoors, and as long as you walk a fair amount and you wear suitably warm pants, your legs should not get cold.