Christmas markets in Christmas Markets in the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic opens its Christmas markets from mid-November and closes the largest ones after New Year. Prague sets up two on its central squares, Brno gathers around 230 stalls, Olomouc serves dozens of punches and Český Krumlov fills náměstí Svornosti at the foot of the castle. You pay in Czech crowns.

Christmas markets in the Czech Republic, city by city

The Prague Christmas market occupies Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square from 28 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, every day from 10am to 10pm. In 2025, Old Town Square had 82 points of sale around a 26-metre tree. It is the only Czech market worth a dedicated trip from western Europe: a Brussels-Prague night train runs in 2026.

The Brno Christmas market is the largest in this guide: around 230 stalls in 2025, spread between Zelný trh, náměstí Svobody and several other squares in the centre. Two public organisers share the city and each publishes its own dates. The Brno-střed district council opens from 13 November to 31 December 2026; the TIC BRNO tourist office, from 27 November to 23 December 2026. Brno-střed has organised its markets since 1993, and náměstí Svobody carried the first public Christmas tree in the Czech lands in 1924. CzechTourism and Brno-střed present the city as “European Capital of Christmas 2024”.

The Olomouc Christmas market is the one Czechs search for most. It gathers more than a hundred stalls on Horní náměstí and Dolní náměstí, around a tree of about 15 metres raised in front of the UNESCO-listed Holy Trinity Column. The City announces a 2026 edition from late November to early January; CzechTourism gives 20 November to 23 December. Wait for the organiser’s confirmation on vanocnitrhy.eu.

The Český Krumlov Christmas market takes place on náměstí Svornosti from 21 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. The tourist office has not published the number of stalls. The market benefits from a UNESCO-listed town, which you can visit in a day from Prague.

The other cities

Other cities hold a market without a listing in this guide. In Plzeň, the market on náměstí Republiky opens from 21 November to 23 December 2026 according to CzechTourism. Karlovy Vary sets up its own in front of the Mlýnská kolonáda from 29 November 2026; the City shows two closing dates, 1 and 6 January 2027. České Budějovice surrounds Samson’s Fountain with an ice rink from 18 November 2026 to 6 January 2027. Ostrava and Liberec held their markets in 2025, from 22 November to 1 January and from 26 November to 23 December respectively; their 2026 dates had not been published as of 8 October.

Svařák, medovina and punch: the specialities

Svařák, mulled wine, and medovina, hot mead, are served at every market. Olomouc calls itself the kingdom of punch: dozens of recipes, a punch trail and souvenir cups. In Brno, the city-centre markets apply a single 50-crown deposit on cups; visitors can donate it to the “Daruj kelímek” scheme, which collected more than 5 million crowns in 2025. To eat: roast chestnuts, gingerbread (perníčky), sausages (klobásy), bramborák and trdelník. Crafts take up a large share of the stalls: decorations in glass, straw, wood and corn husk, ceramic and wooden nativity scenes, bobbin lace. On Brno’s Zelný trh, more than half of the 125 stalls sell handmade goods.

Advent traditions in the Czech Republic

St Nicholas hands out his gifts on 5 December, at the Mikulášská nadílka. In Český Krumlov, a Krampuslauf parades on 4 December 2026 at Port 1560, the Ježíšek post office (Ježíškova pošta) and the White Lady arrive from 28 November to 6 December, a living nativity is performed on 23 December and the castle bears receive their presents on 24 December, at the Medvědí Vánoce. The markets often last until Epiphany, the feast of the Three Kings, on 6 January: Prague and Český Krumlov close after New Year, Brno-střed runs until 31 December. Hand-carved nativity scenes hold a special place, as in Brno on Dominikánské náměstí and in the district council courtyard.

Getting to the Czech Republic and travelling between the markets

No direct train runs from France to Prague. In 2026, European Sleeper runs a Brussels-Prague night train via Amsterdam, Berlin and Dresden, as well as a Paris-Berlin line. We have checked neither the running days nor direct flights: see the operators. Brno and Olomouc are reached by train from Prague or Vienna; in Brno, the main station is a ten-minute walk from the markets. Český Krumlov is reached by road or by coach from Prague, Munich, Vienna or Linz. We have not recorded any journey times between these cities: read the operators’ timetables before you book.

Practical tip

Pay in Czech crowns: the euro is not accepted. In Prague, most stalls take cards, according to the organiser. From 28 November to 23 December 2026, all four markets are open at the same time; Brno starts as early as 13 November, Prague and Český Krumlov stay open until after New Year. Český Krumlov opens later on weekdays, from 11am to 6pm Monday to Thursday, and from 10am to 7pm Friday to Sunday.