Winter Weather in the Czech Republic

Czech winter lasts from December through February/mid-March. Winters are cold, cloudy, icy and wet with freezing temperatures. The lowest temperatures (-5°C/20°F to -10°C/10°F, less in higher elevations) can be expected in January and February. The first half of March is usually chilly and wet with temperatures below 10°C/50°F. There can still be lots of snow in March.

Be prepared to layer and bundle up when visiting the Czech Republic in winter; wear shoes that can handle snow and water; check the weather forecast online before you go. If you are coming to Prague for the Christmas holidays, please read about December Weather in Prague.

However, Czech weather can be unpredictable in every season. The winter of 2005/2006 lasted from November into April and was one of the longest and coldest in a very long time, with unusually large amounts of snow. The next winter of 2006/2007 was another extreme thanks to its mild, unseasonably warm temperatures, almost complete lack of snow, and flowers and trees blooming in Prague in January. For an illustration of how dramatically different Czech winter weather can be between two years, check our blog post: Prague Is Blooming.

Winter days are short. It gets dark around 4:30 p.m. in December, 5:30 p.m. in February.

Notes:
- Most monuments remain open in winter but have reduced opening hours.
- Most castles outside of Prague are closed from November through March.
- Read about December opening times in Prague.

Old Town Square with Snow, December 28

Tourists on Charles Bridge, February 16