Prague was our first stop on a Christmas Markets trip through Central Europe in December 2022. Over the course of the trip we'd visit markets in Vienna, Budapest, and Bratislava as well, but somehow Prague ended up being the one that stuck with us the most.
Maybe it was because it was our first market of the trip, or maybe it was because the snow started falling right as we arrived, but Prague felt about as close as you can get to the Christmas market experience you picture in your head before actually visiting one.
We spent our first evening wandering through the market, warming up with cinnamon bread fresh off the grill while everyone around us seemed to be carrying mugs of mulled wine. Despite the snow and freezing temperatures, the market was packed and people stayed out for hours. Europeans definitely have a higher cold tolerance than we do.
The next day, we joined a walking tour that I still remember as one of the coldest we've ever done anywhere in the world. There were moments when we seriously debated whether continuing was worth the risk of losing a few toes. Fortunately, we stuck it out and got to explore much of the city's historic core, including Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square, Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, and a small shop overflowing with handmade gingerbread cookies.
A few days isn't nearly enough time to fully experience Prague, but it's more than enough time to know you'll want to come back. The architecture is unlike almost anywhere else we've been, and once the sun goes down and the Christmas lights come on, the city takes on a completely different personality. It felt magical in a way that's hard to describe until you see it for yourself.