CNN ranks Prague's Christmas markets among best to visit in 2022

In a new list of the best Christmas markets taking place this year, CNN rates Prague's markets at Old Town and Wenceslas Square among the top 15.

Jason Pirodsky

Written by Jason Pirodsky Published on 20.11.2022 09:36:00 (updated on 05.12.2022) Reading time: 2 minutes

Prague's Christmas markets are routinely named among the best in the world, and this year is no different. Ahead of opening next weekend, November 26, the Christmas markets in Prague have been selected as some of the best taking place in 2022 by CNN.

The news server specifically cites Prague's markets in Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square among the best in the world in a recent article in their travel section. The list is unnumbered, but Prague's markets are the fifth included.

Familiar Christmas markets in Prague's neighbors, including the Wiener Christkindlmarkt in Vienna, Austria, which opens this weekend, are also included on the list. The Gendarmenmark in Berlin and Christkindlesmarktin in Nuremberg also make the list, representing Germany.

Christmas market at Old Town Square. Photo: Facebook / Trhy Praha/Prague Markets
Christmas market at Old Town Square. Photo: Facebook / Trhy Praha/Prague Markets

Almost all of the Christmas markets on CNN's list are in Europe. The Winter Village at Bryant Park in New York City and the Distillery Winter Village in Toronto are the only two non-European Christmas markets to make CNN's top 15.

"To say Prague goes all out at Christmas is something of an understatement," Tamara Hardingham-Gill writes for CNN.

"The Czech Republic capital is the very definition of a winter wonderland during the festive period. While there's no shortage of markets throughout the city, the main ones are found in Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square."

"Old Town Square provides endless entertainment in the form of live shows, dance performances and creative workshops, while Wenceslas Square is great for handmade gifts and locals treats like klobasa (Czech sausage) and mulled wine."

Prague's Christmas markets at Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, along with most others in the city, will open from next weekend.

But you don't have to wait to get into the spirit with mulled wine and other holiday treats. The Christmas market at náměstí Míru in Prague 2 is already open as of this weekend, and tends to be less crowded and more popular with locals than those in the city center.

These are CNN's top Christmas markets to visit in 2022:

  • Wiener Christkindlmarkt, Austria
  • Basel Christmas Market, Switzerland
  • Strasbourg Christmas Market, France
  • Brussels Winter Wonders, Belgium
  • Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square Christmas markets, Prague, Czech Republic
  • Fira de Santa Llucia, Barcelona
  • I Mercati Natale, Piazza Santa Croce, Florence
  • Advent in Zagreb, Croatia
  • Christmas in Tivoli, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • Tallinn Christmas Market, Estonia
  • Skansen's Christmas Market, Stockholm
  • Tuomaan Markkinat, Helsinki
  • Vörösmarty Square and St. Stephen's Basilica Christmas Market, Budapest, Hungary
  • Christkindlesmarkt and Gendarmenmarkt, Germany
  • Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, London
  • The Distillery Winter Village, Toronto
  • Winter Village at Bryant Park, New York
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