New Year's Eve in Prague: Everything You Need to Know
Celebrate New Year's Eve in Prague with NYE fireworks, club nights, best parties, romantic river cruises, and top Prague events. Our guide will reveal all the best things you can do in Prague on New Year's Eve on December 31, and on New Year's Day on January 1.
It has been quite a year, and it's only right to reward yourself with a fun New Year's Eve night while in Prague.
And honestly, it would be hard to find a better destination where to celebrate the end of the year than in the capital of the Czech Republic. Sure, the prices are skyrocketing, but we believe you won't leave the city disappointed after the big night.
Whether you are thinking of an exuberant party in a club, a romantic river cruise with dinner or a relaxing concert of classical music, Prague has it all.
Every winter, Prague is flocked with tourists on New Year's Eve, and although the Czech capital can't compete with cities such as Sydney when it comes to New Year's Eve celebrations, there are still plenty of things to do to welcome New Year.
Get inspired by our tips on the best things to do in Prague on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
And by the way, we wish you all the best and happy New Year!
BEST THINGS TO DO IN PRAGUE ON NEW YEAR'S EVE
With the end of the year approaching, we believe you must be looking for tips on how to spend the day and night.
You already have your flight tickets, you secured a room for a reasonable price, your Prague itinerary is full as there are plenty of things to do in Prague, and now it is time to have some fun.
The good news?
Prague offers a large number of activities and things to do for every type of traveler, and there are even many things you can do entirely for free (for more information check out 15 Free Things to Do in Prague).
Let's have a look at where you can go and what you can do in Prague on December 31 and January 1.
PRAGUE NEW YEAR'S EVE FIREWORKS
It's always been a little bit complicated with the Prague New Year's Eve fireworks, and this year is no exception.
Back in the days, there was a traditional enormous fireworks show on New Year's Eve at midnight, later on, the show was moved on the New Year’s Day, but this has been changed once again.
Lately, there are a lot of debates going on whether the fireworks are environment-friendly, and also thoughtful to animals, and the residents. So the popular NYE fireworks traditionally organized by the local officials were replaced by projection mapping (Czech: video mapping) this year.
Does this mean that there will be no fireworks in Prague this year?
Not at all, many locals still like to set off fireworks, and you will still be able to see plenty of private (although much smaller) fireworks around the city, and there will be probably bigger fireworks in Prague 2 district on New Year's Day.
The most famous places in the historical part of the city where people gather before midnight to set off fireworks and toast are Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square.
There will be also people celebrating on the shores of the river near Charles Bridge and other places, such as Letna Park, Vysehrad or Petrin Hill.
The advantage of heading to these places is that you will get amazing views of the city.
PROJECTION MAPPING
Instead of traditional big fireworks near the Vltava River, Letna Park or Prague Castle, a projection mapping show will be held on the Wenceslas Square on New Year's Day.
In case you survived the New Year's Eve night, video mapping is an event you cannot miss. Historical buildings are enlightened by lasers, and the visual show is accompanied by thematical music as well.
This light show has been getting increasingly popular and also, this technology that project objects onto a facade of buildings, is believed to be more citizen and eco-friendly.
OLD TOWN SQUARE
Throughout the month of December, Old Town Square is home to Prague Christmas Markets.
Except for the markets, each year, visitors can also enjoy a cultural program, usually consisting of several concerts. Buy a hot drink (mulled wine will do), dance, listen to the music and take in the exceptional atmosphere, while being surrounded by great architecture.
Old Town Square will likely be pretty crowded on New Year's Eve, but we have a small tip for those of you who won't be completely wasted the next day. It is not a bad idea to get up early, let's say around 7 AM.
We guarantee that you will have the otherwise touristy city just for yourself.
WENCESLAS SQUARE
Wenceslas Square is the main square in the Czech Republic, it is the traditional place where local people gather, so no wonder that you should for sure stop by here, even for a while when celebrating New Year's Eve in Prague.
Although there is usually not an official program, you can buy here a drink at one of many stalls, and enjoy the lively atmosphere, especially closer to midnight.
RIVER CRUISE
Seeing the most beautiful Prague sights from the comfort of the heated boat while cruising along the Vltava River is always a great way to treat yourself.
A boat ride in Prague is a wonderful experience you shouldn't miss any time of the year, and when combined with a tasty dinner, it's one of the best things to do on New Year's Eve in Prague.
As usual, make sure to book your boat trip in advance, as the Prague boat trips are popular among visitors.
You can choose from several types of cruises.
It is possible either to reserve a classic Vltava River Boat Tour with Lunch running during the day.
Another popular option is to take a Prague Sightseeing Dinner Cruise.
Lastly, you can enjoy a special party on a boat featuring live music, or boats with DJs. This Prague Jazz Boat Evening Cruise is the most popular one.
What all the boats have in common? Perfect views of winter Prague, plenty of drinks, and delicious food.
PRAGUE PARTIES
Are you looking to have fun on the last day of the year?
Dancing like a maniac into a New Year is always a great way to spend the last hours of the year.
Prague has a solid reputation for fun parties on New Year's Eve, and you have two choices here.
Go big and spend the evening with masses in one of the most popular Prague clubs (Duplex, Roxy, Epic, Karlovy Lazne, etc.) or do the exact opposite, as there will be a ton of small local events going on in small pubs, local clubs or cool restaurants.
For the big parties, buy the ticket in advance.
EATING OUT
New Year's Eve is fast approaching, and you might want to spend a romantic dinner in a restaurant with your beloved one or with your family.
Most of the restaurants host a special New Year's Eve dinner, often accompanied by live music and an exciting program.
Furthermore, they prepare a special set menu only for this evening usually paired with drinks.
However, you need to make a reservation to get a seat once they launch the event. If the restaurant of your choice is fully booked, ask at the hotel you are staying at, as they also might prepare New Year's dinner menu and more surprises for the evening.
It is the truth that dinner on the last day of the year is usually more expensive because we are talking here about several courses with drinks, but believe us, it is well worth it.
THEATRES & MOVIES
You might think that theatres and cinemas will be closed on New Year's Eve in Prague, but the opposite is true.
Many theatres usually prepare a special play, and you will have a unique chance to celebrate the last day of the year with actors, who will surely figure out how to make this day and evening even more special for their audience.
In case you are a movie nerd, no worries, cinemas in Prague are open either on December 31 and January 1.
CLASSICAL MUSIC CONCERTS
Prague is famous around the world for its classical music concerts, and New Year's Eve might be a perfect opportunity to attend one.
Municipal House hosts a traditional New Year's Eve Concert by Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, though the tickets sell out quickly.
You can also visit a gala evening that features a combination of classical play or concert with a fancy dinner and dancing party after midnight. One of the most popular gala is in Estates Theather, but be warned, the admission is very expensive.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE CELEBRATING NEW YEAR'S EVE IN PRAGUE
There are several essential things you should know about New Year's Eve in Prague before you go.
First, you need to book everything in advance. Do you want to stay here overnight? Book a room well ahead. Would you like to go eating out? Make a reservation beforehand. Sometimes it's easier to say it than do it, but with a bit of luck and careful planning, you should be able to arrange most of the things and activities to have a great time in Prague.
Also, the prices during the festive season are higher than usual, and it really pays off here to be one of the first guests who will make a reservation in a hotel of your choice. It is very unlikely you will find a good last-minute deal in Prague on New Year's Eve.
Also remember, that most of the hotels apply a restriction during this time of the year, and you might need to book minimum three-night stay.
And lastly, New Year's Day is a national holiday, and for us Czechs, much more than just a celebration of the New Year, as on the 1st of January 1993, the Czech Republic became an independent country after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia.
Anything else? Well, Prague will be packed with tourists who want to welcome the New Year, but this is a pretty obvious fact.
Also, the Czech word for New Year's Eve is Silvestr, and you might hear often a phrase 'Silvestr v Praze' while here.
You might want to learn two more useful phrases that will pull you through the night.
Cheers mean 'Na zdravi' and 'Stastny novy rok' is a Czech phrase which means Happy New Year.
WHERE TO STAY IN PRAGUE
New Year's Eve is one of the most popular events in Prague, and the hotels fill up quickly on that day.
You have to book a room way in advance, usually as soon as possible once you will know for sure, that you will visit Prague at the turn of the year. Even the various affordable hostels are not afraid to ask for 100 EUR for a bunk bed, which seems outrageous to us. But the demand obviously fuels the rates here.
In other words, prices skyrocket on this particular date, and if you arrive in Prague without a reservation, you will have difficulty in finding an affordable room, or in general a room at all.
Additionally, many hotels require you to stay at least two or three nights over this period.
Hotels also offer various packages, so you might want to book a room together with dinner and ask for a better price.
Here are the best hotels in Prague in each budget category.
Budget | Hostel Boudnik - This hostel offers both dormitories and private rooms, and features free wifi, clean common areas and great location close to the city center.
Mid-range | Nyx Hotel Prague - It is quite hard to pick only one hotel in the mid-range category as there is simply too many of them, but this hotel lies in the center and beats the others with the unique design.
Luxury | Augustine Prague - A luxury hotel located close to Prague Castle set in an old monastery offers beautifully appointed rooms and apartments with stunning views over Prague.
WHAT TO PACK FOR VISITING PRAGUE
December is one of the coldest months of the year in the Czech Republic, and you will need to pack some extra warm layers for your trip to Prague.
The average temperature in December is 0 degrees Celsius and if you plan to welcome the New Year outside, you want to stay warm throughout the evening.
Bring winter jacket, hat, scarf, gloves, wool socks, and warm shoes or boots. And don’t forget to read What to Pack for Prague in Winter.
GETTING AROUND & HOME
Prague Public Transport makes getting around Prague by metro, trams, and buses on New Year's Eve as accessible as possible.
Metro runs past midnight every ten minutes, so you will have plenty of time to get back to your hotel (the last metro usually runs at 2:30 in the morning, but times may vary every year).
You can also pre-arrange a taxi to get home, although many of them will be booked out. We wouldn't recommend you to hail a taxi on the street, as you will probably end up paying a lot more than you should.
A better way to get home is to use a taxi app such as Uber or Liftago, though there will be a waiting time.
Prague is a very compact city, and most of the parties, pubs, bars, clubs, river cruises, and other top attractions are centrally located, so getting around on foot is a perfectly viable option.
STAY SAFE
In general, Prague is safe for visitors. However New Year's Eve might be a little bit different story, so we've decided to share a few safety tips to help you enjoy New Year's Eve without any incidents.
First, you should drink responsibly. Drink slowly, and mix it with non-alcoholic beverages. Alcohol in the Czech Republic is still really cheap compared to many western European countries, and it often leads to overconsumption.
For solo travelers, it's better to meet with some friends before you head out. Not only it is safer to travel in a group of people, but it is always better to have someone around in case you drink too much.
While you might be tempted into purchasing some firecrackers, sparklers or bottle rockets, it's not worth the risk.
The fireworks you can buy in the small corner shops are usually cheap low-quality stuff and potentially very dangerous to use. There are many victims of burn injuries of careless fireworks handling each year.
Also, some places such as Wenceslas Square might not be safe for families with small kids, as there will be a lot of action going on. It's better to avoid this place, especially around midnight, when many people (often very drunk) will light fireworks.
Also, some places will be crowded, so look out for pickpockets.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Get Around: Buses and trains are an affordable way to get around the Czech Republic. Regiojet offers clean and modern buses and trains with all the amenities.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
