Prague In Snow: Why You Should Visit This Wintry Wonderland

First of all, get up early, as Prague City Council’s employees do the same, with the express intent of clearing away all the magical white stuff before most people walk – and possibly – slip on it.

Another reason for rising early is that if there has just been a dusting – a centimetre or two – chances are it will melt away, even from the rooftops, by late morning.

The two busiest places in Prague in snow are Charles Bridge and Old Town Square – and these tend to be the first to get the snow-plough and shovels treatment.

That said, I once saw someone skiing across the Charles Bridge in snow – and here’s the photographic proof!

It’s worth keeping an eye on the snow in Prague by checking the webcam overlooking Old Town Square.

If you’re photographing Prague in snow, it’s worth seeking out some of the best viewpoints in Prague, as described in our article.

Among these, seek out some of the best towers in Prague – the Powder Tower, Old Town Hall Tower, Old Town Bridge Tower and Lesser Town Bridge Tower – are likeliest to offer the best views.

The Best Places To See Prague In Snow

The Charles Bridge and Old Town Square are an absolute must, but these are likely to be cleared (at least partially) of snow early in the day, and they are where many others will be heading too.

If you’re up and about early, Charles Bridge is gorgeous in the snow, with the statues still coated in snow at first light. The stunning Prague architecture at either end of the Bridge, with its magnificent lookout towers, is another compelling reason to visit. And you also get views over Kampa Island and up to Prague Castle.

The streets of Mala Strana are another happy hunting ground if you’re seeking out snowy Prague scenes. Streets like Hrozovna (off Na Kampe on Kampa Island) are wonderful, with the snow sticking to the cobblestones and centuries-old roof tiles.

I also headed for Hradčany, Prague Castle district. On the way, I stopped at Chotkovy Sady, one of the prettiest Prague parks next to the serene Renaissance Queen Anne’s Summer Palace, with views few visitors see over the Deer Moat to the ‘back’ or north side of Prague Castle. It’s one of the best places to appreciate Prague in snow, with a wonderful view across to the Castle.

I continued on the 22 tram two stops to Brusnice to one of my favourite places in Prague, a viewpoint overlooking the narrow Nový Svět street in the most off the beaten path part of Prague you could probably find. From there it’s a short walk into the heart of the district, down Loretanska, one of the most beautiful Prague streets, to Hradčanské námestí and the gateway to Prague Castle.

It’s just a short walk from there to viewpoints over magical Malá Strana, dominated by the Baroque dome of St Nicholas Church, one of the most beautiful churches in Prague.

Heading for the heights is always a good idea in the snow – firstly, you get to look down on the clusters of rooftops where the snow sticks. If you visit Prague in snow, you’re more likely to find the snow sticking around considerably longer than down below at river level. This is especially true of the open area just below Prague Castle.

I took my son to one of his favourite playgrounds in Prague on Petřin Hill a few days later, after an overnight snowfall had all but melted away. We took the funicular to the top, and found ourselves in another world, the whole of the summit area covered in 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) of brilliant white snow, contrasting with the deep blue winter sky.   

Many Prague’s just head for the lower slopes of Petřin Hill which is one of the best places in the city to go sledding. If there’s snow, many shops sell plastic sleds for €10-15, and it’s a brilliant way to spend a couple of hours.

When does it Snow In Prague?

It’s the million-dollar question. We had asked several Czech friends about the likelihood or frequency of Prague snow, and answers varied. One told us that Prague snowfall had become a rarity over the last decade, that they had only had one ‘decent’ snowfall in the last ten years. 

Another advised that it tended to snow every year, that it was never very deep, and that it might stick around for a week or so, snowing from time to time.

We lived in Prague for over four years – which included almost five full winters. We had five or six substantial snowfalls in this period, with the snow lingering on the ground for a week or more.

I also have a friend who visited one March and got an unexpected helping of snow. You can never really tell – it is potluck, ultimately.

Can It Snow In Prague At Christmas?

Yes, it can. We had one official White Christmas in Prague, and also one December when snow stayed on the ground for almost two weeks.

This meant that we got to enjoy the Prague Christmas Markets in the snow, which was a wonderful experience.

Prague Winter Weather

It is fairly cold throughout winter in Prague, with temperatures only inching a degree or two above freezing point (0°C or 32°F) between December and February.

Prague weather in January tends to be the coldest – on average by a degree a day. The weather graphs don’t tend to tell you about the occasional bone-chilling day where the temperature doesn’t rise above -5°C and drops as low as -12°C – well, we’ve experienced more of these in January than any other month over almost five winters.

Generally, the most common weather in Prague in the winter tends to be cold and cloudy, with the odd glorious sunny day thrown in. There are also a few rainy days each month. Even if you don’t get to experience Prague in snow, it’s still magical, even on the greyest, murkiest of winter days.

Visiting Prague In Snow – Final Thoughts

I hope you have enjoyed my guide to Prague in snow. And that you find it useful if you happen to be visiting Prague with snow on the ground.

If you’re in Prague and there is snow, get up and out early. The Charles Bridge Prague is stunning, and the best time to see it is first thing in the morning.

To see the best of Prague in snow, take a walk around the backstreets of Old Town Prague or the Mala Strana district. Then catch Prague tram 22 up the hill behind Prague Castle. Alight there and head towards Nový Svět, and some of the most picturesque Prague streets.

Many visitors to Prague never make it outside the city, but the rest of the Czech Republic in winter is a different and wonderful experience. Also check out my article on Český Krumlov in Winter, and see what this gorgeous medieval town looks like with snow on the ground.

Looking for more places to visit in the Czech Republic?

• Brno Christmas Markets
• Things to do in Cesky Krumlov
• Cesky Krumlov in Winter
• Lednice Castle – stunning World Heritage chateau near the Austrian border
• Kutná Hora Bone Church – the amazing art of the Sedlec Ossuary
• Best Places To Visit On The River Elbe
• Visiting Terezin Concentration Camp
• Prague in Springtime
• Regions of Czech Republic
• Czech Republic Travel Guide
• Europe Travel Guide