Ever since I was lucky enough to go to the Dusseldorf Christmas Markets nine years ago, I’ve found Christmas markets magical. Last year I went to Brussels, and this year I went to Prague.
Prague has been on my bucket list for a while, so when an old housemate moved there to teach English, it seemed like too good an opportunity to miss. And I’m pleased to say it was every bit as magical as I had hoped.
Whether you love or loathe Christmas, I would recommend going to a proper continental Christmas market. There’s something about the smell of gingerbread mixed with mulled wine, the way it looks lit up at night, and the crisp coldness in the air that just can’t be replicated at a UK Christmas market, however hard people try.
The old town square in Prague, with its large market and beautiful Christmas tree just felt like something out of a film. I also love the way that the markets are split up in different areas. For example, walking through the Náměstí Míru market was yet another different experience – as this one had much more craft stalls (including a gorgeous notebook stall!) than in the old town square. Some of the unexpected entertainment at the market came about through the Christmas tree music and lights show, where different parts of the tree lit up in time to music. It was much more impressive than it sounds!
Prague itself is a beautiful city, and I’m really pleased I’ve finally had chance to visit. The castle is definitely worth visiting, and the stained glass windows in St Vitus Cathedral are absolutely stunning. I’m also pleased to have finally seen the astronomical clock and Charles Bridge having heard so much about them. Prague is definitely the sort of city where you can walk around an unexpectedly stumble across something wonderful. It was a fantastic place to visit before Christmas, but I’d love to see it in the summer too. If you are yet to experience a proper continental Christmas market – I’d recommend Prague.
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