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Christmas marketsChecked Nov 2026

Edinburgh to Prague Christmas Markets

Prague is one of Europe's best Christmas market cities, and it's an easy trip from Edinburgh with direct flights. This guide covers getting to the airport, flights, the transfer into Prague, and the markets themselves.

By the Embark Routes team

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Quick answer

3 ways compared · checked Nov 2026
  1. Fly direct from Edinburgh, then into Prague4–5h££Best for most
    Compare flights
  2. Fly direct from Edinburgh, then a taxi or app3h 30m–4h 30m££Families
    Compare flights
  3. Train via London, then Eurostar and the sleeperAllow 1–2 days£££Flight-free
    See how
28 Nov – 6 Jan Wenceslas Sq market 2026/27Edinburgh (EDI) Direct to Prague2h 10m–2h 20m Direct flight time
Hotels in PragueAll 3 options compared

The short answer

Fly direct from Edinburgh to Prague (2h 10m–2h 20m). Ryanair and easyJet both fly direct from Edinburgh, with around 11 flights a week between them recently. From Prague Airport, take trolleybus 59 and metro line A to Staroměstská, about 45 minutes in all, a few minutes' walk from Old Town Square.

All options compared

Typical times and relative costs. £ is cheapest, £££ is priciest.

OptionDoor to doorCostBest for
Fly direct from Edinburgh, then into Prague4–5h££Most trips
Fly direct from Edinburgh, then a taxi or app3h 30m–4h 30m££Families, groups, late arrivals
Train via London, then Eurostar and the sleeperAllow 1–2 days£££Rail fans, avoiding flying

Plan your trip to Prague

Add your airport, dates and group once. Every booking link below then opens with them filled in.

✈️ Search flights to Prague🏨 Hotels in Prague

Set your dates and every booking link on this page fills them in for you.

⚡ FastestFly direct from Edinburgh3h 30m–4h 30m door to door · ££💰 CheapestFly direct from Edinburgh4–5h door to door · ££🌱 Flight-freeTrain via LondonAllow 1–2 days door to door · £££

Market essentials

Prague runs several Christmas markets, but the two big ones are on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square.

Dates

Prague's official tourism site lists the Wenceslas Square market from 28 November 2026 to 6 January 2027. The Old Town Square market usually runs on similar dates, but its 2026 dates aren't confirmed yet, so check prague.eu before you book.

Opening hours

Wenceslas Square is listed as open from 10:00 to 22:00. Last season, food stalls on the main squares stayed open until midnight.

Where

Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí) is the centrepiece, with the main tree. Wenceslas Square is a 10-minute walk away. Smaller markets run at Náměstí Míru, Náměstí Republiky and Jiřího z Poděbrad.

Good to know

The currency is the Czech koruna (CZK), and cards are widely accepted. Opening weekend, when the Old Town Square tree is lit, gets very busy. Visit on a weekday if you can.

Every way to get there

From Edinburgh to Prague, best options first. Times are typical door to door; check live schedules for your dates.

1

Fly direct from Edinburgh, then into Prague

Best for most
Door to door4–5h
£ Cost££
Best forMost trips
  1. Get to Edinburgh AirportThe tram from the city centre takes about 35 minutes (£7.90 single), and the Airlink 100 bus from Waverley Bridge about 30 minutes (£6 single), running around the clock. Allow 2 hours at the airport.
  2. Edinburgh (EDI) to Prague (PRG)2h 10m–2h 20m direct. Ryanair and easyJet both fly direct from Edinburgh, with around 11 flights a week between them recently. Check current winter schedules for your dates.
  3. Trolleybus 59 and metro A to Old Town SquareTrolleybus 59 runs from the terminal to Nádraží Veleslavín. From there, take metro line A to Staroměstská, a short walk from Old Town Square. It takes about 45 minutes and costs about 50 CZK on a 90-minute public transport ticket.
Find EDI–PRG flightsExpediaAviasalesBook a private transferWelcome PickupsBus and train: Prague Airport → Old Town Square

With only a few direct flights a week on some routes, plan your dates around the flight days and book early for December weekends.

2

Fly direct from Edinburgh, then a taxi or app

Families
Door to door3h 30m–4h 30m
£ Cost££
Best forFamilies, groups, late arrivals
  1. Edinburgh (EDI) to Prague (PRG)2h 10m–2h 20m direct.
  2. Taxi, Bolt or Uber to the Old TownAbout 20–35 minutes. Expect roughly 400–800 CZK, depending on traffic and demand. Use the official taxi rank outside the terminal or book through an app, and don't accept rides from drivers who approach you inside the terminal.
Find EDI–PRG flightsExpediaAviasalesBook a private transferWelcome PickupsBus and train: Prague Airport → Prague Old Town

The Airport Express (AE) bus goes to the main railway station, not the Old Town. It's only handy if you're staying near the station.

3

Train via London, then Eurostar and the sleeper

Flight-free
Door to doorAllow 1–2 days
£ Cost£££
Best forRail fans, avoiding flying
  1. Edinburgh to LondonLNER trains from Edinburgh Waverley to London King's Cross take about 4h 20m. Then cross to St Pancras for the Eurostar.
  2. Eurostar: London St Pancras to Brussels-MidiAbout 2 hours. Choose a train that arrives by mid-afternoon to leave a buffer.
  3. European Sleeper: Brussels-Midi to Praha hlavní nádražíLeaves Brussels on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at about 18:00. It calls at Amsterdam, Berlin and Dresden and arrives in Prague at about 11:00 the next morning. Fares start at about €30 for a seat, €50 for a couchette and €119 for a sleeper. Check times for your date, because timetables can change from mid-December.
  4. Prague main station to Old Town SquareAbout 15 minutes on foot, or a short tram or metro ride.
Train tickets on Northern RecommendedTrain times: Edinburgh → LondonBook Eurostar: London → BrusselsTrain times: London → BrusselsTrain times: Brussels → Prague

You arrive at Prague's main station, close to Wenceslas Square, so it's a good fit for a Christmas-market break.

🎄 Our hand-picked stays

Where we'd stay in Prague

Hotels within walking distance of the markets in Vienna, Prague, Budapest and Kraków. Every hotel scores 8.5 or more from Expedia guests.

  • Hotel Josef9.2
  • Hotel U Prince Prague9.0
See prices in our Christmas Markets: Best Stays collection

Expedia guest ratings out of 10, checked 28 October 2026. Affiliate link: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Where to stay

Find your perfect stay in Prague

Hotels, guesthouses and apartments in Prague with live prices for your dates. Rooms near the markets go fast for December weekends, so lock one in early.

  • ✓Reviews from real guests who booked
  • ✓Filter for free cancellation and stay flexible
  • ✓24/7 customer service by phone
🎁Late Escape Deals: 15% or more off selected stays until 7 January 2027
See hotels in Prague on Booking.com Compare on Expedia

💡 Tip: tick “Free cancellation” in the filters. You can book now and change your mind later on those rooms.

Affiliate links: we may earn a small commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.

🎟️ Things to do

Make the most of Prague

Tours, tickets and experiences in Prague. See real reviews, prices and free-cancellation options, then book in minutes.

🏰 Castle tours🚤 Vltava cruises🍺 Beer tastings
See things to do in Prague On Booking.com · affiliate link

🅿️ Before you fly from Edinburgh

Save at least 10% on airport parking, hotels and lounges with Holiday Extras*, and start your trip relaxed.

🅿️ Edinburgh parking🏨 Edinburgh airport hotels🛋️ Airport lounges🛡️ Travel insurance
Code automatically applies. Search on Holiday Extras to see the discounts apply. *Up to 25% off applies to airport parking at selected car parks (Runway Meet and Greet North at Gatwick); at least 10% at other Holiday Extras car parks, and 10% off airport hotels, lounges, transfers and car hire. Exclusions apply; offers can change.

Plan the rest of your trip

Things to do in Prague Airport transfer Car hire

Where to stay and day trips

Prague is compact, so stay central and add a day trip if you have time.

Your base

Prague Old Town

Stay in the Old Town (Staré Město) or New Town (Nové Město) to walk to both main markets. Malá Strana, across Charles Bridge, is quieter.

Hotels in Prague Expedia
About 1h by train

Kutná Hora

Kutná Hora is a UNESCO-listed silver-mining town with a striking cathedral and the bone chapel at Sedlec.

Hotels in Kutná Hora Expedia
About 2h 30m by train

Dresden

Dresden's Striezelmarkt is one of Germany's oldest Christmas markets, and the scenic Elbe valley line runs from Prague.

Hotels in Dresden Expedia

Local tip: Change money only at banks or reputable bureaux, never on the street. Taking out koruna from a bank ATM usually gives a better rate than airport exchange desks.

Prague's markets the way Praguers do them

Old Town Square is the postcard, but locals do most of their Christmas browsing, drinking and snacking at the smaller squares a metro stop or two away.

Go where locals go

Náměstí Míru, on metro line A (the green line), has around 60 stalls and draws more locals and expats than tourists. It looks best at about 17:00, when the string lights come on, and drinks there come in deposit cups rather than throwaway ones. Mariánské náměstí, by the New Town Hall, is quieter and usually cheaper, with a wooden house where children write wishes to Ježíšek, the Czech gift-bringer.

Eat Czech, skip the trdelník

The spiral chimney cake sold everywhere isn't a Czech tradition, and local guides call it a tourist trap. Look instead for Czech Christmas sweets made with poppy seeds, nuts or Czech rum, and warm up with mead or hot wine. Roast ham and pot-cooked dishes are priced per 100g and portions are big, so ask for a smaller piece if you don't want a large bill.

Carry koruna and say no to pounds

Some stalls still prefer cash, so keep a few hundred koruna on you. If an ATM, particularly a Euronet machine, offers to convert your withdrawal into pounds, decline and choose CZK: the conversion carries a worse rate and can add a fee. Bank-run machines from Česká spořitelna, ČSOB or Komerční banka are the safer bet.

Tickets and tipping

From January 2026, a 24-hour public transport ticket costs 140 CZK in the PID Lítačka app or 150 CZK on paper. App tickets only become valid a minute after you activate them, so activate before you step on board; inspectors charge 1,200 CZK on the spot. In sit-down restaurants, a 5–10% tip is normal: say the total you want to pay as you hand over cash, and check whether a card terminal has a tip percentage already selected.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Buying food and souvenirs only on Old Town Square, where a sausage, bread and a Coke has cost 110 CZK; eat at Náměstí Míru or the Saturday riverside farmers' market at Náplavka, and buy gifts in smaller shops.
  • Leaving shopping until Christmas Eve, the main Czech celebration with carp and potato salad, because shops over 200 square metres close at noon on 24 December and stay shut on 25 and 26 December; small shops, stations, the airport, pharmacies and petrol stations can stay open.
  • Buying glowing LED balloons sold "for charity" around the main squares, which local guides warn is a well-known scam; keep bags zipped too, as pickpockets work the crowds on Old Town and Wenceslas Squares.

A Prague market day, morning to night

  1. Saturday morningIf you're in town on a Saturday, start at the Náplavka riverside farmers' market, which closes at 14:00, for coffee, local produce and views across the Vltava to Prague Castle.
  2. Late morningWalk to Mariánské náměstí by the New Town Hall for a quieter browse, better prices and handmade gifts such as walnut-shell candles.
  3. Early afternoonClimb the Old Town Hall tower beside the Astronomical Clock for the best view down onto the Old Town Square market and its tree.
  4. 17:00Take metro line A to Náměstí Míru as the lights come on, and pick up Christmas cookies, roasted nuts and a hot wine in a deposit cup.
  5. EveningFinish on Wenceslas Square, which is at its best lit up after dark, then walk back through the Old Town once the daytime crowds have thinned.

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to what people ask most about this trip.

When are the Prague Christmas markets in 2026?

The Wenceslas Square market is listed from 28 November 2026 to 6 January 2027. The Old Town Square market usually runs on similar dates, but check prague.eu for confirmed 2026 dates.

Are there direct flights from Edinburgh to Prague?

Yes. Ryanair and easyJet both fly direct from Edinburgh, with around 11 flights a week between them recently. Flights take 2h 10m–2h 20m. Check current winter schedules.

How do I get to Edinburgh Airport?

The tram from the city centre takes about 35 minutes (£7.90 single), and the Airlink 100 bus from Waverley Bridge about 30 minutes (£6 single), running around the clock.

How do I get from Prague airport to Old Town Square?

The cheapest way is trolleybus 59 to Nádraží Veleslavín, then metro A to Staroměstská. It takes about 45 minutes and costs about 50 CZK. A taxi or app ride takes 20–35 minutes and typically costs 400–800 CZK.

Do I need euros in Prague?

No. The Czech Republic uses the koruna (CZK). Some places accept euros, but at a poor rate, so pay in koruna or by card.

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Times and prices are typical estimates, checked Nov 2026. Always confirm with the operator before booking. Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes the order we show options in: how we choose.