Christmas and New Year's 2023: Shop closures and transport schedules for Prague

In the Czech Republic, stores exceeding 200 square meters must by law observe closures on certain public holidays, with Christmas being no exception. By law, such shops must close on Dec. 25 and Dec. 26, and New Year's Day. Prague's public transport authority also reverts to a holiday schedule. Bookmark this page to help you better plan your holiday shopping and travel.

For those last-minute gifts, select stores might extend hours until 11 p.m. on December 22-23. On Dec. 24, larger stores can stay open until noon. However, specific opening hours vary among supermarkets. Some shops may close as early as 11:30 a.m., while others, won't open at all on Christmas Eve.

By law, all stores exceeding 200 sq m must remain closed on Dec. 25 and 26 as well as on Jan 1. However, exemptions apply to pharmacies, gas stations, and shops in the airport and railway stations (including Prague’s Hlavní nádraží) and hospitals. Most grocery stores offer shortened opening hours on Dec. 31. Grocery delivery is available via Rohlík and Košík on Dec. 26 as well as on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

Prague's public transport authority has posted its schedule for Christmas and New Year's holidays. On Dec. 24, buses and trams will operate on a Saturday timetable until 6 p.m., transitioning to night service afterward. The metro will run until midnight, with a 20-minute interval after 6 p.m.

Daily tram lines cease operations at around 6 p.m. Night tram lines run at regular intervals from approximately 6 p.m. until 7 a.m. on Dec. 25, 2023.

For the first and second days of Christmas and New Year's Day, Prague Integrated Transport services will adhere to Sunday timetables. Between Dec. 27 and 30, as well as on Jan. 2, public transport will run on a typical workday holiday schedule.

On New Year's Eve, the metro will run on the Sunday timetable with extended hours until approximately 2:30 a.m. (Jan. 1, 2024) at 10-minute intervals. Trams will offer a reinforced night service from 10 p.m. to 3:30 a.m., followed by 20-minute intervals until 7 a.m.

For a detailed overview of holiday timetables, consult the official resource here. Plan your festivities accordingly to make the most of the holiday season in Czechia.