If you are coming to Prague in December, be ready to bundle up. The average high is 2°C/36°F and average low -2°C/28°F, which are temperatures comparable to southern inland Canada, Chicago or Detroit in the USA, and Zurich in Switzerland. The average precipitation in December is less than 25 mm (1 inch) and can be in the form of snow or light rain. Prague winter weather can be quite crisp and you will be happy to put on gloves, a warm scarf, and a hat. Layering your clothes is helpful. Make sure your feet are kept warm in winter boots with a water resistant sole. Avoid high heels if you can – this goes for any time of the year if you plan to do a lot of walking in Prague.
You will need to get lucky to experience a white Christmas in Prague. Snow often comes and melts before Christmas or doesn’t come at all until January. There is a Czech saying that goes like this: “St. Catherine on ice, Christmas on mud.” St. Catherine’s Day is on Nov. 25, so if you trust the folklore wisdom, you can see what the weather’s like on that day and you’ll know what to expect at Christmas.
December days are short and it gets dark around 4:30 p.m.
More information about Czech weather can be found on our Czech Weather page.