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Prague is set to welcome up to 300,000 visitors over the Easter holidays, as the city gears up for one of its busiest spring travel periods in recent years. But while tourists will flock to enjoy markets, tower views, and blooming parks, getting here might be more complicated than usual, especially for those traveling by car or train.
Rise in visitors from Canada
According to Prague City Tourism, the majority of Easter visitors will come from nearby European countries, especially Germany, the UK, France, Italy, and Spain. This year also sees a noticeable uptick in guests from North America, particularly Canada, helped by increased interest and an upcoming direct air connection between Toronto and Prague launching in June. About one-fifth of Easter tourists will be from the Czech Republic itself.
Prague expects around 2.2 million visitors between April and June, a 5 percent increase from last year. “Easter is an important period for Prague in terms of tourism,” said František Cipro, Chairman of the Board at Prague City Tourism. “Visitors come not only from Europe, but increasingly from long-haul destinations as well.”
Heavy traffic expected
But Prague is not the only destination expecting high volumes of spring travelers; roads and railways across Central Europe will be under pressure as the Easter holidays begin.
Germany’s ADAC automobile club warns that beginning Thursday, April 17, congested travel could reach a peak. Road repairs and early school holidays are contributing to delays. (See this list of highways that are expected to be problematic.)
Austria’s ÖAMTC is also cautioning travelers to expect traffic jams on motorways leading to Salzburg and the Alps and at key border crossings with Hungary and Switzerland.
Drivers heading into Czechia may experience slower traffic on the D8 motorway toward Dresden, where tunnel reconstruction is causing delays. Czech police have said they’ll be increasing roadside patrols nationwide over the holiday period, with a focus on speeding, distracted driving, and alcohol checks.
Public transport, often seen as a way around Easter traffic, won’t necessarily be smoother. Deutsche Bahn has reported fully booked trains on high-demand routes such as Berlin–Munich and Frankfurt–Cologne. Czech Railways is adding capacity to its long-distance connections and advising passengers to travel outside peak times where possible.
To maintain order, police will increase patrols on roads nationwide, focusing on drivers using mobile phones or under the influence of alcohol. Meanwhile, Prague City Tourism promotes cultural events and Easter markets via a dedicated website (prague.eu/velikonoce) to help visitors navigate the chaos, which includes a live cam from the Old Town Easter markets.
