Prague is a year-round city, but the experience changes a lot between a grey January afternoon and a July evening on Charles Bridge with ten thousand other people. This guide goes month by month through weather, crowds, prices and what is on, so you can pick the dates that suit you.
The quick answer
May, June and September are the best months to visit Prague: daytime temperatures of 18 to 25 °C, long evenings, gardens open, and fewer people than in high summer. December is the most atmospheric month thanks to the Christmas markets, and January and February are the cheapest. July and August are hot and the busiest of the year.
Spring: March to May
March is still cold (3 to 10 °C) but quiet, and hotel prices are low. April brings the Easter markets on Old Town Square and the first café terraces; expect 8 to 15 °C and changeable weather. May is one of the two best months: 15 to 21 °C, blooming Petřín Hill, the Prague Spring music festival from mid-May and the castle gardens reopening. Book accommodation ahead for May weekends.
Summer: June to August
June is warm (20 to 24 °C) with the longest days of the year and river cruises running late into the evening. July and August are the hottest months (25 to 30 °C, occasional storms) and the most crowded: Charles Bridge and the castle courtyards are packed from mid-morning to sunset. Go early, spend the middle of the day in a museum or on a day trip, and book tours in advance. This is also the best season for day trips to Bohemian Switzerland and Český Krumlov.
Autumn: September to November
September is the other best month: 17 to 22 °C, stable weather, autumn colours from the end of the month, and crowds dropping after the first week. October is cooler (10 to 15 °C) and beautiful in the parks; November is grey and damp, but hotel prices reach their low point and the Christmas markets open in the last week.
Winter: December to February
December is cold (0 to 4 °C) and busy again, because of the Christmas markets on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, which run from late November until the first days of January. Christmas Eve is the main Czech celebration; most shops close on 24 to 26 December, restaurants and hotels stay open. January and February are the quietest and cheapest months, with occasional snow, short days and the city to yourself in the mornings. Museums, concerts and the spa towns are the winter programme.
Month by month
| Month | Typical daytime °C | Crowds | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0–3 | lowest | prices, museums, Karlovy Vary spa |
| February | 1–4 | low | prices, winter atmosphere |
| March | 3–10 | low | early spring, quiet sights |
| April | 8–15 | medium | Easter markets, terraces |
| May | 15–21 | medium–high | gardens, Prague Spring festival |
| June | 20–24 | high | river cruises, day trips |
| July | 24–28 | highest | long evenings, national parks |
| August | 24–28 | highest | same as July, more storms |
| September | 17–22 | medium | everything |
| October | 10–15 | medium–low | autumn colours, wine |
| November | 4–8 | low, rising late | prices, first markets |
| December | 0–4 | high | Christmas markets |
Whatever the month: getting in and out of Prague
Arriving by plane? A private transfer from Prague Airport to the city centre is a fixed 750 CZK for a sedan with up to 4 passengers, 20 to 40 minutes, with the driver waiting in the arrivals hall.
Day trips run in every season; in winter the driver waits with the car warm while you visit, which matters more than it sounds in Kutná Hora in January. See the complete list of day trips from Prague.
Get an instant fixed price in the booking form — the quote you see is the price you pay, for the whole car.