Best Time to Visit Prague

Prague has a continental climate: cold, grey winters with occasional snow, warm summers with afternoon thunderstorms, and two comfortable shoulder seasons in between. For walking weather and fewer people, aim for late April to early June or September to mid-October.

Spring arrives in April. The orchards on Petřín Hill blossom, the castle gardens open for the season, and the Prague Spring music festival begins on 12 May each year with Smetana's Má vlast. Easter brings smaller markets to the Old Town Square. Days are mild, though a cold snap is common well into May.

July and August are the hottest and busiest months. Afternoons regularly pass 25°C, the centre fills with tour groups and school trips, and the castle queues stretch longest. The upside is long evenings, open-air cinema and the Letná and Riegrovy sady beer gardens at full strength. Plan sightseeing early and keep the afternoons for shade, museums or the river.

Autumn is our favourite season in Prague. September is still warm, October brings golden trees on Petřín and in the Wallenstein Garden, and the Signal light festival projects art onto buildings across the city in the middle of the month. Crowds thin noticeably after the first weeks of October.

Winter is cold, with daytime highs around freezing in January. The Christmas markets on the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square run from late November into early January, with mulled wine (svařák), grilled sausages and a huge tree in front of the Týn Church. Snow on the castle roofs is a bonus but not guaranteed. January and February are the quietest months, with the lowest hotel rates, short days and the clearest view of the city without crowds. Pack properly using our packing list.

Month by month at a glance

• December: Christmas markets, festive but busy at weekends.
• January to March: cold, quiet and cheapest; ideal for museums and synagogues.
• April to June: blossom, gardens reopening, Prague Spring festival.
• July and August: hot, crowded, long evenings and beer gardens.
• September to November: warm then crisp, autumn colour, the Signal festival.