Czechia gets lit! A complete guide to Christmas lights and illuminated fun in 2025

Prague’s Advent magic centers on the Old Town Square tree, illuminated by nearly 95,000 LEDs that create a stunning snowfall effect, complemented by a daily musical light show.

But beyond the main market, Prague’s districts offer dazzling displays until Three Kings Day. Prague 1 maintains a traditional look with 274 elements and towering trees on Kampa and Vodičkova Street. Prague 2 hosts the free, fairytale-like Charles Kingdom light installations on Karlovo náměstí.

And for something entirely different, Prague 3 is using original children’s drawings of angels, snowmen, and gifts to create custom light decorations for street lamps.

Starting in November, Prague’s outdoor venues transform into massive, ticketed light and sound festivals perfect for a high-tech holiday outing.

Light Park Europe (at Žluté lázně): Take a glowing trip across the continent without leaving Prague. This festival guides you through nine European countries using light, sculpture, and sound effects to create a truly luminous journey.

The Garden of Lights (Prague Zoo): A brilliant excuse to visit the animals after dark! Located in Troja, the entire area is transformed under a Wild Asia theme, featuring glowing tigers, elephants, and a jaw-dropping 55-meter Sakura tunnel.

Lumina Park (Džbán Swimming Area): Step straight into a fairy tale. The Adventure of Lights focuses on themed worlds inspired by beloved legends—think illuminated scenes straight out of Narnia or even a Christmas corner.

Wonderland Prague (Letňany): This is where amusement park thrills meet light art. With hundreds of light sculptures (including Pinocchio and the Smurfs) and unlimited access to rides included in the ticket, it's a huge hit for families.

Prague Christmas trams are a beloved tradition, with carriages completely covered in thousands of LED bulbs. Follow the schedule for the city’s Christmas Flotilla here, and catch one of these illuminated trams rolling through the city streets for a photo opportunity and a moving display of festive cheer.

The Coca-Cola truck: This year, the Coca-Cola Christmas truck has stops planned at Černý Most, Vršovice, and Chodov. Proceeds of all refreshments sold will go to support the Red Cross.

For the serious light pilgrim, put down the metro map and head out to the tiny village of Kladruby in the Havlíčkobrodsko region. The entire community collaborates to transform their home into a donation-based light village, creating a Christmas dream inspired by the paintings of the revered Czech artist Josef Lada. With over 100,000 LEDs and two kilometers of cables, it features sparkling angels, a traditional nativity scene, and runs from Dec. 5 to Jan. 5.

Loučeň Castle's Labyrinths of Light for an evening walk through the castle’s hedge labyrinths on Saturdays through Jan. 25. Karlovy Vary's Vánoční dům (Christmas House), located in the Zámeček Doubí (Château), is a year-round, indoor Christmas spectacle featuring an extensive retail exhibition, a Museum of Christmas, a Magical Town display of glowing miniatures, and the largest Museum of Teddy Bears in Czechia.

Head to the Moravian-Silesian city of Ostrava for a truly unique light show at the historic Dolní Vítkovice industrial complex. The Universe of Light features half a million LEDs illuminating cosmic objects—think glowing planets, rockets, and astronauts—in a breathtaking astronomical exhibition. This low-energy show, created with Czech astronomers, merges science, art, and the striking architecture of former blast furnaces until Dec. 31.

A Czech zoos hold special evening Christmas events with light shows and glowing angels, offering a beautiful, family-friendly atmosphere. You can find these illuminated encounters at Zoo Dvůr Králové, Zoo Olomouc, Zoo Ústí nad Labem, and Zoo Zlín.

Historically considered the darkest night of the year, this day honors St. Lucie (whose name literally means “light”). The collective behind Prague’s annual Signal Fest puts on a St. Lucie light show each year on Dec. 13-Dec. 14 on the grounds of Troja Chateau from 5 p.m. to 12 p.m. Entry is free; it's Signal on a smaller, wintertime scale.

One of Prague’s most atmospheric traditions: watch as a period-costumed lamp lighter manually illuminates the gas lamps on Charles Bridge each evening. This Victorian-era practice was revived in 2008, and it's absolutely worth timing your evening stroll or commute home to catch it.