When is the best time to go to Prague?

14.07.2024 - 18:30 / lonelyplanet.com

Jul 13, 2024 • 4 min read

The good news for travelers is that Prague is a stunningly beautiful European capital. It's the pride of Czechia with gasp-inducing art and architecture tucked around every corner and town square.

The slightly less good news is everyone wants a piece of that prettiness. Countless feet cross the cobblestones and wander through churches and museums every year and queues form to take in the breathtaking view of Prague Castle from statue-lined Charles Bridge. During the height of the peak tourist season, the city's medieval charm can evaporate as quickly as your drink on a hot day when those pretty backstreets are suddenly crammed with visitors.

Luckily, there is joy to be found during every season and timing a visit to sync perfectly with your wishlist will ensure you experience just how magical Prague can be.

Most visitors come during Czechia's short summer, when the weather is warm and the days reliably sun-drenched. All the attractions are open, parks and gardens are in full bloom, cafes and restaurants have outdoor seating, and daylight stretches as late as 10pm near the summer solstice. The downside is that Prague is packed to the rafters. Expect higher prices for lodging and meals and long waits to see A-list sights like St Vitus Cathedral and the Prague Jewish Museum.

June brings plenty of sunshine, but without being uncomfortably hot. As July hits, daytime highs reach the mid-30°Cs (upper 80°Fs and 90°Fs). The city empties out the first week of the month as locals decamp to summer cottages to enjoy the public holidays of St Cyril and Methodius Day (July 5) and Jan Hus Day (July 6). In August, which continues to be hot, thousands of people from around Europe come to attend the annual Prague Pride Festival, a week of parties and happenings at venues across the city.

If you're visiting during these high-season months, double-check your accommodations have air-conditioning – not everywhere does.

The spring and autumn months draw fewer crowds to Prague but offer the possibility of sunny days and warm weather (though bring a jacket and umbrella just in case). April and May are particularly beautiful as trees and flowers bud and bloom. Book in advance during the busy Easter holiday – the unofficial beginning of the tourist season – when a festive, three-week Easter market takes over Old Town Square.

In May, days are comfortably warm but the nights are cool. On May 1, couples traditionally climb Petřín Hill to toast their romance with flowers. The city’s ambitious festival season kicks off in mid-May with the annual Prague Spring Music Festival, the high point of the cultural calendar.

September brings the best of all worlds: warm days but without the summer crowds. The familiar rhythms