Best time to visit Prague
Prague is a fantastic destination year-round, but the timing of your visit determines whether you pay 40 euros or 150 euros for your flight and whether you experience crowds on Charles Bridge or have the city almost to yourself. Here is everything you need to know about the best time to visit. Updated 23 July 2026.
✈️ Plan your trip to Prague →Prague attracts nearly 8 million tourists per year, but crowds and prices are very unevenly distributed throughout the year. Want to see the city at its best without high costs and tourism stress? Choose May or September. Want to go really cheap? Book in January or February. Also see our full Prague travel guide with tips on neighbourhoods, sights and day trips.
By season: when to go?
January and February
Least crowded, coldest months (-3 to 4 degrees), chance of snow. Flights from around 40-90 euros return. Hotels 40-50% cheaper than summer. Perfect for museums and cafes, less suitable for outdoor activities. Few tourists on Charles Bridge: you almost have it to yourself.
March to May
Prague literally blooms: blossoms in Wallenstein Garden (April), Prague Spring music festival (starts 12 May), the city turns green. Temperatures rise from 2-10 degrees (March) to 11-21 degrees (May). Flight prices rise towards May but are still 20-30% cheaper than August. May is the absolute highlight.
June to August
High season: Prague is at its busiest and most expensive. Temperatures 14-26 degrees, summery terrace and river atmosphere. But Charles Bridge is packed, hotels are 40-60% more expensive and flights sometimes cost 120-200 euros return. If you do go in summer: visit sights early (before 9:00 it is still quiet on Charles Bridge).
September and October
Crowds thin out, temperatures are still pleasant (12-21 degrees in September, 7-14 degrees in October). September is the best month for wine lovers (harvest in Bohemia). Signal Festival (light and music festival) in October is a special reason to visit. Prices 20-30% lower than August.
November and early December
November is one of the cheapest months: flights sometimes under 50 euros return, hotels heavily discounted. Christmas markets start at Old Town Square (Staromestske namesti) and Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske namesti) in early December, running until 26 December. Note: the second half of December is actually expensive due to the enormous popularity of the Christmas markets; 26 December and New Year are the most expensive days of the year.
Flights from the Netherlands to Prague
From Eindhoven: Ryanair flies direct from Eindhoven Airport (EIN) to Prague (PRG) in about 1 hour 45 minutes. In low season return prices can be found from around 14 euros per single (including hand luggage); on average you pay 50-90 euros return in low season and 80-160 euros in high season.
From Schiphol: Besides Ryanair, KLM, easyJet and Vueling also fly direct to Prague. Always compare both airports, as sometimes Eindhoven is 40-60% cheaper on the same day. Vueling from Schiphol is sometimes the cheapest option in shoulder season.
Events and reasons to visit
- Prague Spring music festival (starts 12 May 2026) One of the most prestigious classical music festivals in Europe, traditionally opened on 12 May (Smetana Day) with a performance of Ma vlast (My Fatherland) in the Smetana Hall. Runs for three weeks. An ideal reason to go in May.
- Czech Beer Festival (May, 17 days) One of the largest beer festivals in Europe, held each May on the Letna Plain in Prague. More than 150 Czech beers and top-quality Czech cuisine. Free entry on weekdays, small admission on weekends.
- Prague Fringe Festival (late May/early June) International theatre and comedy festival, similar to Edinburgh Fringe but smaller and more intimate, spread through the entire historic centre of Prague.
- Metronome Festival (June) Music festival on the Letna Plain with international headliners. Typically mid-June.
- Signal Festival (October) Impressive light, music and projection festival through the historic city centre. Free to visit, evening/night. One of the most special reasons to visit Prague in low season.
- Christmas markets (late November to 26 December) The markets at Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square are iconic but enormously crowded. Early December (1-15 Dec) is the best period: most beautiful atmosphere, festivity, but not yet the absolute crowd peak of 20-26 December.
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Frequently asked questions about the best time to visit Prague
What is the best time to visit Prague?
The best value is in May and September. May is beautiful with blossoms, the Prague Spring music festival (starting 12 May) and pleasant weather of 14-21 degrees, while September is a bit quieter after the summer peak with golden autumn weather and 12-21 degrees. Both months are 20-30% cheaper than the busy July-August.
When is Prague cheapest?
January, February and November are the cheapest months for both flights and hotels: return tickets from around 40-90 euros from the Netherlands, hotels sometimes 40-50% cheaper than in summer. Note: the second half of December (Christmas and New Year) is actually expensive because of the world-famous Christmas markets.
Can I fly direct from Eindhoven to Prague?
Yes. Ryanair flies direct from Eindhoven Airport (EIN) to Prague (PRG) in about 1 hour 45 minutes. In low season return prices can be found from around 14-30 euros per single. From Schiphol, KLM, easyJet and Vueling also fly direct to Prague.
When is it busiest in Prague?
The busiest and most expensive periods are July and August (high season: warm, many tourists, higher hotels) and the second half of December (Christmas markets at Stare Mesto square and Vaclavske namesti draw enormous crowds, higher prices). Flight tickets in those periods are 40-80% more expensive than in low season.