# When is the best time to visit Prague?

> Best time to visit Prague: May, early June and September for 18-24°C and fewer crowds on Charles Bridge. Month by month, Prague Spring, markets.

- Source: https://clevertourists.com/resources/best-time-to-visit-prague
- Authors: Evan & Clara, Clever Tourists (first-hand, from years of travel across 20 countries)
- Published: 2026-09-11

**The best time to visit Prague is May, early June or September:** highs of about 18 to 24°C (64 to 75°F), long light evenings for the Castle and Petřín views, and thinner crowds on Charles Bridge than in July and August. The second-best window is late November to Christmas, for the markets, if you accept cold and short days. The honest trade-off: summer is warm but packed, winter is cheap but grey. We spent 5 days in Prague from 19 to 24 September 2022, then went on to Hřensko in Bohemian Switzerland, Karlovy Vary, Pilsen, Kutná Hora and Brno before crossing to Budapest.

## Quick answer by priority

• **Best weather:** late May to mid-September, highs about 22 to 25°C (72 to 77°F) in July and August.

• **Fewest crowds with decent weather:** May (outside the long weekends) and the second half of September.

• **Cheapest:** January to early March, excluding Valentine's weekend and Easter.

• **Festivals:** Prague Spring classical music festival (mid-May to early June), Christmas markets (late November to early January).

• **Avoid if you can:** July and August if crowds bother you, and January and February if you want outdoor walks: highs hover around 2 to 4°C (36 to 39°F).

## Prague month by month

Typical long-term averages; Prague is inland, so summers are warmer and winters colder than in London.

• **January and February:** highs about 2 to 4°C (36 to 39°F), lows below freezing, around -1 to -4°C (25 to 30°F). Cheapest months; occasional snow on the Castle roofs. Good for beer halls, concerts and museums.

• **March:** highs around 8°C (46°F). Still cold, prices still low; Easter markets on Old Town Square in years when Easter is in March (Easter Sunday is 28 March in 2027).

• **April:** highs around 14°C (57°F), blossom on Petřín Hill late in the month. Changeable, but rates are good.

• **May:** highs around 19°C (66°F). Our first pick. Prague Spring starts on 12 May each year, and the gardens below the Castle open for the season.

• **June:** highs around 22°C (72°F), the longest evenings and the thunderstorm season begins. Busier from mid-month.

• **July and August:** highs about 24 to 25°C (75 to 77°F), with heatwaves above 30°C (86°F) and short, heavy thunderstorms. Peak crowds on Charles Bridge and the Royal Route.

• **September:** highs around 19°C (66°F), cooler nights. When we were here. Still long enough days for the Castle, Vyšehrad and a day trip.

• **October:** highs around 13°C (55°F), autumn colour in the parks and on Petřín. A good value month.

• **November:** highs around 6°C (43°F), grey, often foggy. Quiet until the Christmas markets open late in the month.

• **December:** highs around 3°C (37°F). Markets on Old Town and Wenceslas Squares; busy weekends, quieter weekdays.

## Beyond Prague: when the rest of Bohemia works

If you're adding day trips, season matters more outside the city than inside it. **Kutná Hora**, with the Sedlec Ossuary and St Barbara's, works in any month: see our [Kutná Hora day trip guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/kutna-hora-day-trip-from-prague-train-bone-church-guide). **Karlovy Vary** and its colonnades are pleasant year-round, and the hot springs suit cold months; see our [Karlovy Vary day trip](https://clevertourists.com/resources/karlovy-vary-from-prague-day-trip-guide). We spent 2 days there.

**Bohemian Switzerland** (Hřensko, Pravčická brána, the Edmundova soutěska gorge boat rides) is different: it is a hiking area, at its best from May to October. We spent 3 days at Hřensko at the end of September. In winter, boats on the gorges don't run and some trails close. Our [Prague and Bohemia guide](https://clevertourists.com/guides/prague-and-bohemia) covers the route.

## Festivals and events in 2027

• **Prague Spring International Music Festival:** traditionally opens on 12 May and runs about three weeks into early June. The 2027 programme is announced in November 2026, so book concert tickets then.

• **Easter:** Easter Sunday is 28 March 2027 and Easter Monday 29 March is a public holiday. Easter markets run on Old Town Square in the weeks before.

• **Czech public holidays** that bring domestic crowds: 1 and 8 May, 5 and 6 July, 28 September (St Wenceslas), 28 October and 17 November. Some museums keep shorter hours, but the main sights stay open.

• **Christmas markets:** usually from late November or early December into early January. See our [Prague Christmas markets guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/prague-christmas-markets-2026-dates-old-town-square) for current dates.

## Prices, crowds, and Prague with Budapest

Hotel rates in the Old Town and Malá Strana peak in July, August, Easter weekend and the Christmas market weeks. January and February are the cheapest, often by a wide margin. Our [where to stay in Prague](https://clevertourists.com/resources/where-to-stay-in-prague) guide covers which areas hold value outside the centre.

Charles Bridge is crowded from mid-morning in any month from April to October; before about 8am it is close to empty even in August. That matters more than the month you pick.

For **Prague and Budapest** together, the same windows apply to both cities: May, early June and September. Budapest is a little warmer in summer and shares the late-November Christmas market season. We went on from Czechia to Budapest in early October 2022; see our [Budapest guide](https://clevertourists.com/guides/budapest).

## When not to go, honestly

• **Mid-July to mid-August:** the heaviest crowds and the hottest weather; old buildings and trams often lack air conditioning.

• **January and February:** cold, dark by about 4:30pm, and grey for long spells. Fine for a cheap city break, poor for Bohemian Switzerland.

• **Christmas market weekends:** Old Town Square can be shoulder to shoulder on Saturday evenings. Go on weekday mornings.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the cheapest month to visit Prague?

January and February, excluding Valentine's weekend. Highs are only about 2 to 4°C, but hotel rates are at their lowest of the year.

### What is the rainy season in Prague?

Prague has no distinct rainy season. Summer brings the most rain, as short heavy thunderstorms in June, July and August; winter is drier but grey.

### Is September a good time to visit Prague?

Yes. Highs are around 19°C, crowds ease after the school holidays, and days are still long enough for the Castle, Vyšehrad and a day trip.

### When is the best time to visit Prague and Budapest?

May, early June and September work for both cities, with the late-November to December Christmas market season as a cold-weather alternative.

### When does the Prague Spring festival start?

It traditionally opens on 12 May and runs about three weeks into early June. The 2027 programme is announced in November 2026.