The Czech Republic is a country of picturesque landscapes, interesting sights, good restaurants and pubs. The capital of the republic is especially beautiful in winter, so many Russian tourists prefer to celebrate the New Year in Prague. In addition, the Czechs are famous for their delicious cuisine, and a table with delicious dishes during the winter holidays is one of the most important attributes. The Czechs have been preparing for the New Year celebration since the beginning of December, so that by the end of the month the country turns into one continuous abode of fairy tales and magic.
In the Czech Republic, modern traditions are closely connected with ancient customs, myths and legends. The last day of the outgoing year is called St. Sylvester's Day, in honor of the Pope St. Sylvester. According to legend, he fought the biblical dragon Leviathan, killed him and thereby saved the world from the end of the worldSome people are captivated by winter Prague with its New Year's city views, some choose the Czech capital because of its budgetary accessibility compared to other European cities, and some because of the wide variety of entertainment for every taste.
In the Czech Republic, it is customary to celebrate New Year (as opposed to family Christmas) in restaurants, pubs, and squares in large and noisy groups. In Prague, hotel rooms, entire pubs and even restaurant ships are often booked in advance. "Czech fun" includes lots of delicious food, live music and, of course, dancing until your legs hurt. Tourists can dance local traditional dances with the Czechs, as well as a polka or, for example, a waltz.
On New Year's Eve, fireworks roar in the capital of the Czech Republic, music plays in the streets, and incredible show programs take place in restaurants and hotels. Many Czechs and guests of the country prefer to celebrate the New Year on Old Town Square, under Prague's Orloj Astronomical Clock. On the square and streets of the city, kiosks with mulled wine, beer, champagne and hot snacks (pancakes, fried cheese and sausages, dumplings, etc.) are open all night.
The culmination of the holiday is a large-scale fireworks show, which is considered the most beautiful in all of Europe. Some tourists even specially come to Prague on New Year's Eve to enjoy the wonderful spectacle. The fireworks are launched from a platform on the Vltava River, so it is best to take seats on Smetanova Embankment or Chekhov Bridge. After the chimes, you can go to the Charles Bridge, touch the bronze statue of John of Nepomuk and make a wish.Weather in Prague on New Year's Eve
If you want to spend the winter holidays in Prague comfortably and pleasantly, you should prepare for the trip as best as possible. Information about the weather on New Year's Eve in the Czech capital will be useful:
Average temperature: for the new year it is usually from −5 to +5 ̊ C. This year they promise above-zero temperatures (2-5 ̊ C) and rain. In the Czech Republic there are rarely severe frosts. December 31st is usually sunny and above zero during the day, but gets a little colder at night.
Precipitation: from There is often no bliss at all, sometimes there is wet snow, but it is quickly removed. Large snowdrifts in the city center are an almost impossible occurrence.
How to dress in this weather: December is windy, but thanks to the hilly landscape of Prague, the wind is almost not felt. You shouldn’t wear “everything in your closet,” but a hat, a warm scarf and gloves are a must.
Where to celebrate the New Year
We have already talked about celebrating the New Year on the street, the main square of the city and the Charles Bridge, and now let's look at some more extraordinary options.
On a pleasure boat
The Vltava River is a great option for those who want romance and a little magic in the New Year. You can pre-book a cruise on one of the pleasure boats-restaurants that cruise along the river throughout the holiday night. On the ship you will find:
- buffet or rich and satisfying menu;
- welcome drinks;
- live music;
- an excellent overview of the biggest fireworks show in the Czech Republic;
- inspection of the historical center of the capital.
The winter night landscapes of Prague, which will constantly appear overboard, will add a special charm to the trip. If you get tired of admiring the picturesque views, you can be distracted by the interesting stories of the guide.
One of these trips will take place on deck - a luxury ship with a glass roof, excellent sound insulation and high power. The passenger ship is considered one of the fastest in Prague.
An atmospheric and pleasant evening with live music can be spent at. This is a whole jazz club on the water with a cozy restaurant and bar, where ship guests enjoy the relaxing melodies of blues and jazz.
In a pub or tavern - a Czech drinking establishment like a bar
Beers and taverns are a great place to celebrate the New Year with a large group. It's better to book tables in advance. In the Czech Republic, beer and beer culture have a special place, so the corresponding establishments are found throughout the city and it will not be easy to choose. Whatever establishment you choose, you will remember New Year's Eve for its warm atmosphere, noisy companies, delicious drinks and hearty food.
If you want to spend New Year's Eve in the spirit of the Middle Ages, go to the tavern at Detenice Castle (an hour and a half from Prague to the northeast). Here guests are entertained with an enchanting show program (live music, fiery dancers, knights, a fakir with a python, a fire show) and treated exclusively to traditional national dishes. At the end, guests will enjoy a stylized disco and a magnificent fireworks display in the castle park.
Do you want something equally atmospheric, but don’t want to leave Prague? Book your seats. Here you will try a variety of hot and cold appetizers (smoked duck breast, lettuce, pumpkin soup, pork knuckle baked in Flekov beer, leaf spinach), unique wines and Flekov beer. Guests also receive a welcome drink.
At the restaurant
Restaurants are a traditional option for a cozy New Year's celebration. Fortunately, there are a lot of them in Prague and all establishments differ in price category, style, show program and menu.
Do you want something very unusual? Head to the “Great Monastery Restaurant” (located near Prague Castle in the Strahov Monastery complex). An exciting entertainment program with 70s music and dancing is already being prepared for guests.
If you want more romance, come for dinner at. The establishment is located on the roof of the Kotva shopping center (Republic Square). The restaurant is famous for the “highest” and largest (650 m2) terrace in Prague and a large assortment of beer: 60 types of bottled and 9 types of draft beer.
In the center of the Czech capital there is another interesting establishment called. Here you can enjoy the atmosphere of the Middle Ages, authentic interiors, hearty traditional dishes and an exciting show with dancers, fencers, fakirs and jugglers.
- After Christmas, Prague residents rest for 3-4 days (most establishments and shops are closed), so it’s better to come for the winter holidays right before the New Year.
- We advise you to pay attention to New Year's invitations from restaurants. If the hotel offers you a mini-show for a fee, then in the restaurant for just 100 euros you will get a buffet, a limited amount of alcohol, a bright concert and a disco.
- If you are not a fan of crowds and noisy companies, but you don’t want to stay within four walls for the New Year, go to Wenceslas Square. Unlike the Old Town, there are not so many people here on New Year's Eve, but it is also beautiful and atmospheric.
- Please note that on January 1, pubs and restaurants in Prague open only in the afternoon, but from the 2nd all establishments operate as usual. If you really want to have a snack in the morning, you can do it right on the street - there are numerous kiosks and stalls with hot snacks and drinks.
- If you want to diversify your New Year's celebration by visiting attractions, it is better to see them a few days before the holiday. Most attractions are closed on New Year and Christmas.
Now you know that:
- You can celebrate the New Year in Prague on a ship, in a pub, in a restaurant or even on the street (Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square, Charles Bridge).
- In the Czech capital you can watch the largest New Year's fireworks show in Europe.
- On New Year's holidays in Prague it is not at all cold, but there is a cool wind.
- It is necessary to reserve seats for New Year's Eve in any establishment in advance.
- For just 100 euros in the restaurant you can get a show program and a buffet.
- Stock up on a couple of bottles of mineral water and food for the morning of January 1, as establishments are closed until lunchtime. And just in case, also pills for headaches or hangovers.
Amazing impressions and a wonderful New Year!
Probably, if you go to the Czech Republic, then in the winter before Christmas. Or already in the summer, when it’s warm and everything is green. For me, these are the 2 best periods for a trip. I'll only go in the summer, but I was just before Christmas. I’ll try to tell you how it was, especially since I visited not only Prague, but also several other cities, including very small ones.
The most popular food in the markets is meat in different variations.
Old Town Square is the main square in the city
Christmas in Brno
Brno is the second largest city in the Czech Republic. Less crowded, less touristy, more spacious, and deprived of the attention of Russian tourists (if this is important to anyone). But you know, to me personally it seemed less elegant or something, and generally somehow simpler. The architecture in general is not what many would like to see. Either the old city is much smaller in size, or in general there are more buildings in the functionalist style instead of baroque.
At every market around something is fried, boiled...
Christmas in Liberec
This city is even smaller than Brno. And therefore, you can get around the old city in about 30 minutes. If you are not interested in the sights, then 1-2 days is enough. But all small towns have their own charm. And in Liberec, I would recommend climbing at least Jested, this is a mountain with a tower, in which there is a restaurant and a hotel with several rooms. From there the views are quite good and the architecture of the tower is unusual. I’ll write about it separately later. A romantic hotel where it makes sense to spend at least one night.
Christmas in Valasske Klobouki
And lovers of something authentic, calm, and not at all touristy should visit very small towns, almost villages. For me, Valašské Klobouky became such a city; I still can’t pronounce the name without a hint. Only about 5,000 residents live there. I don’t think there are many tourists there, especially Russians. But on Christmas, many locals from surrounding villages and towns gather there for a fair (essentially a Christmas market). There was not a single tourist. It seemed to me that there weren’t even any Czech tourists, but rather residents. But there were a lot of people in the square.
Strip food, various souvenirs, a blacksmith shoeing a horse, devils in various funny costumes. Well, and, of course, everything is parochial, not pretentious. I personally really enjoyed this trip, considering that we went there on a real steam locomotive from the museum. He walks this route once a year. I was told that other provinces also have steam locomotives, but no one knows how to find out the specifics and buy tickets.
Every year during the Christmas and New Year holidays, hotels in the Czech Republic are crowded with tourists from all over the world. Both people who have already visited the Czech Republic and those who are traveling to the Czech Republic for the first time want to celebrate the New Year in Prague. Why do tourists strive to come here specifically for the winter holidays? It's very simple - for most people, Christmas and New Year remain fabulous and beautiful holidays. The Czech Republic, and especially its beautiful capital Prague, is a place steeped in ancient traditions and filled with a mysterious medieval atmosphere.
If you are choosing a country where you can spend a family holiday in the atmosphere of European New Year celebration traditions, it is difficult to find a place where this is felt more strongly than in the Czech Republic.
Preparations for the New Year begin at the end of autumn and at the beginning of December, the houses and streets of the Czech Republic delight with the light of their decorations. Catholic Christmas is celebrated in Europe from December 24 to 25 and is a purely family holiday. Having paid tribute to the Christmas tradition, the Czechs are preparing to celebrate the New Year. In the Czech Republic, as in many European countries, the last day of the outgoing year is called St. Sylvester's Day or simply Sylvester. Therefore, if you hear the question “Where will you go to Sylvester,” then know that you are being asked about celebrating the New Year.
How is Sylvester or New Year celebrated in the Czech Republic?
In the Czech Republic, ancient traditions are intertwined with modern ones. Saint Sylvester was the Pope of Rome. Only the year of his death is known for certain - the 335th. He earned his fame among Catholics through heroic deeds. He is believed to have saved the world from the end of the world by slaying the biblical dragon Leviathan.
Unlike the family holiday of Christmas, on December 31, Czechs gather in the evening in restaurants or gentlemen, which are open all night. Companies often book hotel rooms in advance, where they have a lot of fun on New Year's Eve. It is worth noting that fun in Czech means not only abundant and tasty food and drinks, but also dancing! In restaurants and cafes, hotels, live music is played and people dance not only traditional Czech dances, but, for example, polka or waltz. Well, those who did not manage to book a place in a restaurant for New Year's Eve are greeted by the ringing of the clock in city squares, where you can buy a glass of hot wine and snack on sausages or sweet trdelnik.
From the evening of December 31 until the onset of the New Year, fireworks thunder and sparkle all over the country, music plays, and an hour before midnight there are no fewer people on the street than during the day. In Prague, tourists flock to the Old Town Square, to the famous Orloj clock. Here, trays and stylized kiosks are open all night, selling traditional mulled wine, hot old Bohemian potato pancakes, fried sausages and champagne on tap. After the “chime” of the astronomical clock ends, everyone goes to the Charles Bridge, where, by touching the bronze statue of John of Nepomuk, you can make your most cherished wish.
On January 1, the most grandiose event of the holiday takes place - the New Year's fireworks in Prague. It is considered to be the most beautiful in the entire Czech Republic, and perhaps in all of Europe. Some tourists come to Prague for the New Year just to see this colorful show. The fireworks are launched from a special platform installed on the Vltava River. The best places for spectators are Smetanovo embankment (Smetanovo nábřeží), Manesov or Chekhov bridge (Čechov, Mánesov most). The show, which will last a few minutes, is free, but seats must be reserved in advance.
By the way, the Vltava River is a great place to celebrate the New Year in Prague. If you think ahead, you can book seats on one of the restaurant boats that cruise along the Vltava all New Year’s Eve.
What to do during the New Year holidays in the Czech Republic
After the New Year's fireworks stop, the holidays end. But this does not mean that there is a lull. The fun continues...
- Shopping
On January 2, the time of grandiose discounts and sales begins in the Czech Republic. Discounts can reach 50% and even 70% in the stores of the most famous chains. Posters with the favorite word “SLEVA” for all Czechs appear on the windows of all boutiques. And this word does not indicate the direction of movement, but is translated as the word “DISCOUNT”. Promotions can apply to any group of goods, including electronics, jewelry and the famous Czech crystal, as well as Bohemian glass. Discounts continue until about mid-January.
- Castles of the Czech Republic in winter
Czech castles are especially beautiful during the New Year. Unfortunately, in order to preserve the unique interiors, not all of them are open. However, a number of ancient fortresses and palaces can be visited in winter.
Not far from Prague you can visit Křivoklát and Karlštejn, which are open during the day on all days except Monday.
In the south of the Czech Republic, the castle of Hluboka nad Vltavou, the fortresses of Cesky Krumlov and Rožmberk are open.
- Winter sport
The Czech Republic is a sports country, sports here are part of the life of every family. You can go to the ski slopes or skating rinks right within Prague. Unfortunately, winter in the Czech Republic is not always full of snow. But, nevertheless, finding a place for skating and skiing is not difficult.
The most famous skating rink in Prague is located in the Arena Letňany ice palace. Popular skating rinks are at the Fruit Market and the roof of the Harfa Gallery Shopping Center.
If you like skiing, you can go to the popular ski resorts: Boží Dar near Karlovy Vary or Lake Lipno in South Bohemia. And in the Czech capital itself there is such a pleasant opportunity - a couple of years ago Ski Park Velka Chuchle, a ski center in the Chuchle area, was opened in Prague.
The cost of equipment rental is often simply symbolic.
- Feast of the Three Kings (Tři králové) - January 6
On January 5-6, the Czech Republic, as a Catholic country, celebrates the Feast of the Three Kings; in Orthodoxy it is the Feast of the Epiphany. There are many traditions associated with this day, one of them is costume processions. In Prague it starts at Hradcany Square at approximately 15:00. Three wise men on camels, together with other mummers, go to the Christmas nativity scene installed on Loreto Square to present gifts to the newborn Christ. Everyone joins the procession, singing carols all the way to the nativity scene and asking passers-by for money for charity.
This day ends the Christmas and New Year celebrations in the Czech Republic - fairs are closed, New Year trees in squares and shopping centers are dismantled, and New Year decorations are removed.
The holidays are over, the Czech Republic is returning to its usual rhythm of life until next Christmas!
The population of the Czech Republic is mostly atheists. According to the 2011 census, about 80% of respondents said they had no religion or refused to answer this question.
From December 25 until the New Year, numerous nativity scenes are open, and carolers walk the streets. If two “devils” meet each other, they can arrange a light brawl between themselves until the “Nicholas” separate them.
And on January 1, in the late afternoon, fireworks begin throughout Prague. The most popular fireworks performance takes place on the banks of the Vltava River. 
Take your child to a cooking class, he will love it.
The most convenient way to get from Russia to Prague is by plane from Moscow or St. Petersburg. It is better to entrust your trip to one of the time-tested tour operators.
