With its mediaeval gothic city centre, Prague is one of the most atmospheric festive destinations. It hosts two traditional Christmas markets, in the appropriately-named Wenceslas Square and Old Town Square, just a 5 minutes’ walk from one another. Daily carol concerts are accompanied by hot rum punch, waffles, cut glass and some of the best wooden toys in Europe.

Old Town Square Market

Perhaps the most magical out of the two, the Old Town Square market has a cosy atmosphere, enclosed in a square of illuminated buildings. The floodlit Prague Astronomical Clock stands out against the dark winter skyline, accompanied by an impressive 24m Christmas tree adorned with a string of 100,000 lights. This market has a stage for live performances, ranging from school choirs, folk groups to dancers.

Czechia’s hearty cuisine is the ideal comfort food for cold winter nights. A rage of traditional cooked meats are enjoyed in the winter: grilled sausage (klobása) and roasted ham (šunka).Those with a sweet tooth may be tempted by the traditional gingerbread (perníčky) and chimney cake (trdelník), made from sweet pastry, roasted and topped with walnuts, and can be often filled with chocolate or ice cream. A refreshing Staropramen beer may compliment the grilled meats, or if you opt for a hot drink there is mulled wine, or grog which is a rum punch made using hot water, rum, lemon and sugar.

Wenceslas Square market

The Wenceslas square market is set on a longer stretch of ground, with colourful rows of trees leading up to the illuminated Narodni Muzeum standing at the top. Conveniently located in Prague’s shopping district makes this market ideal for last-minute Christmas shopping.

The markets themselves consist of wooden huts, brightly decorated and selling a range of goods, from handmade, traditional crafts to hearty Czech food. A range of traditional Czechian crafting methods are still in use today, from glass Christmas tree decorations, indigo dyeing and children’s dolls made from corn husks. Look out for Krkonoše ornaments, intricately made decorations using blown glass and beads, as this traditional crafting method earned a place on the UNESCO list of world intangible cultural heritage. Similarly, the Czechian tradition of indigo printing textiles, Modrotisk, is recognised by UNESCO. The market offers a range of Modrotisk printed textile wares, ranging from tablecloths and tea towels to accessories. Prague’s Christmas markets offer an excellent opportunity to browse one-of-a-kind crafted goods that are made using century-old methods.