A Snow Day in Prague – The Best of Winter in Prague

There is something truly special about a snow day in Prague.

“With luck, it might even snow for us”, says Haruki Murakami in his book After Dark. Was he talking about Prague? Probably.

Because if you ARE lucky, it will snow when you visit the City of a Hundred Spires.

Personally, we have a well-documented love affair with the capital of the Czech Republic (or Czechia, as a few very insistent people, have beseeched us to call it). It is our favorite city in the world, a place that we have been happy to call home over the last few years.

That said, we are not winter people…and winter in Prague can be a drag. It gets gloomy in late October, and the sun becomes like that friend you used to hang out with all the time but now rarely see. Sometimes the friend texts you with vague plans to meet up, but those plans never materialize.

An anti-social sun, potentially frigid weather, and slipper cobblestones can make for a pretty miserable winter season.

And yet, when it snows…

A Snow Day in Prague

…it’s all good. A day in March in Prague, for instance, can turn from dreary to magical in a few brief hours of snowfall. 

The majestic city, with its Baroque towers and Gothic spires, gains a stark white blanket, and it looks and feels freaking incredible.

Snow makes winter in Prague not just bearable, but TOTALLY WORTH IT.

Now, it’s our opinion that most cities benefit from a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow. Having lived in New York City for years and years we both think NYC is most amazing just after a large snowfall. Peaceful and clean, there is a certain stillness that comes over the city along with the falling snow. A calm, as soft and serene as the white flakes falling from a grey sky.

So, in that sense, Prague is no exception.

However…

…the contrast created by a blanket of white snow juxtaposed against Prague’s Gothic stone structures is incredible. It is almost as if the people who built Prague over the centuries did so with a winter aesthetic in mind.

We strongly suspect that they did.

As you guys can see, winter in Prague doesn’t have to suck. It can actually be awesome!

As an added bonus to the potential beauty of snow, there are seemingly 40% fewer people in Prague during the winter. January till the end of March is considered low season for tourism in the city, and as our readers know off season travel has many advantages! Clever travelers can take advantage of lower prices on accommodation and airfare!

If you are anything like us you loved fairy tales as a kid. You thought dragons were dope and castles looked badass. What’s cooler than a castle?

A castle covered in snow, of course.

While the above photo is not exactly a castle (the incredible building on the upper left is actually St. Vitus Cathedral which is located IN Prague Castle) you get the point. Right?

Check out our complete guide to visiting Prague Castle for everything you need to know about exploring this amazing work of wonder!

Weather or not (forgive the horrible pun) you love castles, it’s hard to foresee anyone with even a teensy-weensy bit of love for Gothic or Baroque architecture NOT enjoying a snow day in Prague.

The Best Views in Prague On a Snow Day

So, you’re in Prague and it’s snowing. Lucky you! Where should you go to soak in the ambiance and take some sweet photos? There are many places along the Vltava River, on both sides, to pause for photos and incredible views. But the best way to take it all is to gain some elevation and look down on snow encrusted Prague from above.

These spots are all personal favorites guaranteed to deliver sweet views!

The Charles Bridge – This is a no-brainer. You will find yourself on this iconic bridge regardless, but make sure you visit during snowfall for an extra bit of magic.

The Charles Bridge Towers – We are always surprised by how few people choose to go up to the two towers that flank the bridge. Excellent views abound.

Old Town Square Town Hall Tower – For sky-high views from Prague’s Old Town this is the place to go. The 360° vantage point allows you to see most of the city, and its gorgeous snow covered rooftops and spires.

St Nicholas Bell Tower – An underrated viewpoint in Mala Strana, this tower gives you immaculate views of the Mala Strana neighborhood, and of Petrin Hill.

Hradčany – This neighborhood is home to Prague Castle, and some really, really sweet views of Mala Strana and the river. If you are visiting Prague for the first time you’re doubtlessly going to end up here.

Letna Park – For awesome views of Prague’s bridges Letna Park is the place to go. The park itself is quite gorgeous as well.

Riegrovy Sady – One of our favorite places in Prague, this park is in Prague 2. The photo below was taken from a hill in Riegrovy Sady.

Where to Stay When Visiting Prague during the Winter

We highly recommend the following establishments for anyone visiting Prague. If you plan on staying longer than ten days you might want to look into an Airbnb rental, otherwise pick from one of these great hotels & hostels in Prague.

One of the Best Luxury Hotels in Prague is Hotel Augustine: Spread out over seven buildings, one of which is a 13th-century Augustinian monastery, the Hotel Augustine is located next door to one of Prague’s most beautiful and peaceful locations, Wallenstein Gardens.

Click the following links for more information, reviews, or to book your stay.

One of the Best Mid-range Hotels in Prague is Prague Boutique Hotel: If you want to be in the center of it all and not destroy your budget on accommodations, the tiny ten room Prague Boutique Hotel could be your best bet.

Click the following links for more information, reviews, or to book your stay.

One of the Best Budget Hotels in Prague is the Dahlia Inn: We’re a sucker for family-run accommodations, so we couldn’t resist recommending the Dahlia Inn, especially since the hotel aims to feel like a second home for guests.

Click the following links for more information, reviews, or to book your stay.

Two Awesome Hostels in Prague:

Czech Inn: From the moment you set foot inside the Czech Inn you’ll appreciate its beautiful and unique decor.

Click here to book your stay at Czech Inn on HostelWorld or Booking.com.

Sir Toby’s Hostel: It’s one of the most unique and visually appealing hostels in Prague!

Click here to book your stay at Sir Toby’s on HostelWorld or Booking.com.

So there you have it folks. As you can see you should TOTALLY visit Prague in the winter just in case it snows. As always happy travels, and we’ll see you guys on the road!

Click here for a list of all of our Prague travel guides and articles!

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