10 Things to Do in Prague in January

In January the city of Prague is interesting to see despite the low temperatures, January being the coldest month of the year. However, this feature will make you enjoy a good time skiing on frozen rivers, an activity you will remember for the rest of your life. You will also be able to enjoy various cultural events such as Christmas markets and various Christmas-related performances.

January 19 is a very important day for Czechs and especially in Prague, even if the cause was not very joyful. On that day it is remembered how a student set himself on fire in protest against the Soviet invasion. And yes, this country also had its communist past.

Although it seems a sad cause, the Czechs celebrate it with great pride (as it was a turning point), laying flowers in several of the city's squares, lighting candles in Wenceslas Square and hanging the flag of the Czech Republic on several important buildings. You will also find lots of patriotic music and fireworks celebrations in the evening to end the day.

If you want to learn more about the Soviet past of the Czech Republic to better understand its present, I recommend taking the interesting Soviet communism tour, where you can also enter a nuclear bunker.

Prague Castle is one of the most visited places in the Czech city. Therefore, it is a must on your visit to the capital in January.

Despite having suffered several invasions and fires throughout its history, it has not lost its splendor, also housing in its interior nothing more and nothing less than the Prague Cathedral, the Basilica and the Convent of St. George, several galleries of Baroque and Renaissance paintings, among other spaces.

One of the good things about visiting in early January is that you will be able to see the Christmas markets nearby and enjoy delicious food and local handicrafts, as well as the beautiful decorations.

The abundance of delicious street food is a point to keep in mind when visiting Prague in January, as this is not common in the other months of the year. As Christmas approaches each year, the streets of Prague fill up with dining options, so many are the varieties of street food that you might not even set foot in any of Prague's restaurants.

Among the best of Czech cuisine in January are langosse (a kind of fried bread with tomato sauce and grated cheese), chlebicky (open sandwiches with cheese, ham, egg, salami and pickles), Czech sausages and Palacinky (French-style pancakes). Of course, don't forget to try the Trdelnik (a soft dough in the shape of a cylinder with cinnamon-sugar and filled with chocolate), something unique to Prague.

Don't run out of drinks either, remember that the best breweries in Prague are also some of the best breweries in the Czech Republic. I recommend trying svarak (Czech mulled wine with apples).

The Czechs' way of extending the New Year's celebration is with the Bohemian Winter Festival, an annual celebration that lasts the first week of January and focuses on the classical arts of dance, opera, ballet and classical music. These concerts usually take place at the National Theater in Prague.

The traditional celebration is also reflected on the street where fireworks light up the sky and the Vltava River. Videos are also often projected on the walls of the city's most important buildings, including the National Museum.

If you're looking for a livelier, noisier celebration, I recommend taking a Bohemia excursion and heading to Old Town Square, where crowds create atmosphere and the music of street performers accompanies it.

While Prague's theaters and churches offer concerts throughout the year, there are many special performances to see in January. Dance performances, choir performances, orchestras and special concerts.

In addition, many of the January performances are also unique opportunities to see inside those buildings usually closed to the public.

If you are in Prague in January, look for special classical music performances at St. George's Basilica, Prague Castle or the Mirror Chapel in the Klementinum Library complex, one of Mozart's favorite places. Both the Smetana Concert Hall in the Municipal House and the Lobkowicz Palace also have their own concert programs in January.

If you need a break from the cold city streets, hop on the quirky Christmas streetcars, which are adorned with thousands of tiny lights and operate from the end of December until Epiphany, January 6. The streetcars run on routes 2 and 22 (which go up to the Castle), and routes 42 and 43 which go around the city in a picturesque circular route, where you can see the city's most important monuments, such as Charles Bridge, Prague Castle and the city's Gunpowder Gate.

But if you visit Prague in January after Christmas you can also enjoy the city on wheels while you take shelter from the cold. These are some of the options available to you:

• Tourist bus: you can hop on and off whenever you want at the 9 stops it makes for 24 or 48 hours. If you prefer, you can also just stay inside during the whole tour and enjoy the city comfortably.
• Bus tour: usually includes lunch and even a cruise on the Vltava River to see the city from another perspective.
• Minibus tour: this option is perfect if you want to tour the city in an express way, so it is ideal if you do not have much time, but do not want to miss the most important things.

On most days in January, a lighter dressed in period clothing arrives at Charles Bridge at 4 pm to manually light the gas lamps and take pictures with tourists. This tradition dates back to the 19th century, when most of Prague's street lighting, including park and island lights.

Take the opportunity to have your picture taken with the Charles Bridge lamp lighter or to witness him light lamp by lamp just at dusk.

While most of Prague's street lighting was already running on electric power in the 1950s, the lamps on Charles Bridge still run on gas, as do more than 700 other gas lamps throughout the city, mainly for tourist purposes. The gas lamps on Charles Bridge usually turn on automatically when the sun goes down, but things are a little different during January, giving the bridge a very romantic feel.

The month of January is well known for a visual phenomenon related to Prague's geographical position that makes it possible to take some photos and enjoy unprecedented views of Prague, especially during the second and third week of January. If you get up early on those days you can appreciate a combination of fog and light, a light that reflects off the thick fog in three colors (yellow, orange and red).

The sun rises late in January in Prague (6:30 to 7 am), so you won't have to get up too early to take some stunning photos.

My favoriterecommendation is to catch the colorful fog as it hugs the Charles Bridge. Other great places to photograph the sunrise with a touch of mist include the Strahov monastery terrace (just behind the monastery restaurant), Petrin Hill (although you'll have to climb a steep hill uphill) and the Hanavsky Pavilon in Letna Park.

The Czech Republic has a long tradition of ice hockey, so it's no surprise that the locals also have an innate passion for ice skating. With January being the coldest month in Prague, it is very common to see many small rivers and streams freeze over and turn into spectacular ice rinks.

When the water freezes over, Czechs can be seen ice skating on the Vltava River or at the Slapy Dam, about an hour from Prague. Besides, being able to skate in the middle of nature and above a river gives skating a unique feeling.

If you prefer something much safer, in that case I recommend the ice skating rinks around the city, where you will also get a great experience skating between baroque buildings in the cold month of January. Also, most outdoor rinks usually offer equipment rental, so you won't have to bring anything from home. The Tower Ice Park, under the famous Zizkov TV Tower, and the Na Frantisku rink, near the Vltava River, are the most popular.

One of the most interesting artistic events in Prague during January is the opening of the State Opera for a marathon of classical music concerts. It would be as impressive as seeing the Opera in Vienna, but at a much lower price. Tickets in January must be booked well in advance, so I recommend you do the same with yours from the official Státní Opera website.

Don't forget that Prague has a long musical history, and when you visit in January, you can't pass up the opportunity for an evening of stunning orchestras, choirs and dance performances.

Even if ballet or classical music is not something you appreciate, the neo-Renaissance and Rococo interiors place Prague's theaters among the most beautiful theaters and opera buildings in Europe.

January is the coldest month of the year, with daytime temperatures rarely exceeding 2 ° C. There are between 6 and 7 hours of daylight on average per day and a large amount of cloud cover, especially at the end of the month.

In addition, the average humidity for the city at this time of year is 84 percent, which makes freezing temperatures feel even colder than they already are.

There is hardly any rain during the month, but plenty of snow, usually snowing an average of 11 days.

Packing warm is key when visiting Prague in January. Also, keep in mind that you will be outside for a long time, and the best of Prague in January, except for the concerts, is outside.

So I recommend a long winter coat, a good scarf, warm gloves and warm, comfortable boots or shoes. You will also need some socks, wool if possible, and a hat or cap to protect your head from the cold snow.

I also recommend you to bring some wool sweaters, an umbrella in case it rains and, of course, a good camera to capture the aesthetics of this magical city.

One of the best tips for traveling to Prague Prague is to warm up and rest your feet after a long walk by going into one of Prague's restaurants or bars; besides being an excuse to protect yourself from the cold, it is a way to sample the local cuisine.

When it is too cold to walk, I recommend using Prague's public transportation system. Be sure to check the hours of operation of museums and other attractions, as January is a very festive month for Czechs.

If you are missing some clothes or looking to buy something, I recommend visiting New Town, as there are usually a lot of sales in January.