10 Things to Do in Prague in January

In January, the city of Prague is interesting to see despite the low temperatures, with January being the coldest month of the year. However, this characteristic will make you enjoy a good time skiing on frozen rivers, an activity you will remember for the rest of your life. You can also enjoy various cultural events such as Christmas markets and Christmas-related performances.

The 19th of January is a very important day for Czechs and especially in Prague, even if the cause was not very joyful. It is a day to remember how a student set himself on fire in protest against the Soviet invasion. Yes, this country had its communist past too.

Although it seems a sad cause, the Czechs celebrate it with great pride (as it was a turning point), laying flowers in several of the city's squares, lighting candles in Wenceslas Square and hanging the Czech Republic flag from several important buildings. You will also find lots of patriotic music and fireworks celebrations in the evening to end the day.

If you want to learn more about the Czech Republic's Soviet past to better understand its present, I recommend taking the interesting Soviet communism tour, where you will also be able to enter a nuclear bunker.

Prague Castle is one of the most visited places in the Czech city. Therefore, it is a must on your visit to the capital in January.

Despite having suffered several invasions and fires throughout its history, it has not lost its splendour, and its interior houses none other than Prague Cathedral, the basilica and convent of St. George, several galleries of Baroque and Renaissance paintings, among other spaces.

One of the great things about visiting in early January is that you'll be able to see the Christmas markets nearby and enjoy delicious food and local crafts, as well as the beautiful decorations.

The abundance of delicious street food is a highlight of your visit to Prague in January, as this is not common in the other months of the year. As Christmas approaches each year, the streets of Prague fill up with dining options, so many varieties of street food that you might not even set foot in any of Prague's restaurants.

Among the best of Czech cuisine in January are langosse (a kind of fried bread with tomato sauce and grated cheese), chlebicky (open-faced sandwiches with cheese, ham, egg, salami and pickles), Czech sausages and Palacinky (French-style pancakes). Don't forget to try the Trdelnik (a soft cylinder-shaped dough with cinnamon-sugar and chocolate filling), which is unique to Prague.

Don't run out of drinks either, remember that the best breweries in Prague are also some of the best breweries in the Czech Republic. I recommend trying svarak (Czech mulled wine with apples).

The Czechs' way of extending the New Year celebration is with the Bohemian Winter Festival, an annual celebration that lasts the first week of January and focuses on the classical arts of dance, opera, ballet and classical music. These concerts usually take place at the National Theatre in Prague.

The traditional celebration is also reflected on the street where fireworks light up the sky and the Vltava River. Videos are also often projected on the walls of the city's most important buildings, including the National Museum.

If you're looking for a livelier and noisier celebration, I recommend taking a Bohemia excursion and heading to Old Town Square, where crowds create atmosphere and the music of street performers accompanies it.

Although Prague's theatres and churches offer concerts throughout the year, there are many special performances to see in January. Dance performances, choir performances, orchestras and special concerts.

In addition, many of January's performances are also unique opportunities to see inside those buildings usually closed to the public.

If you are in Prague in January, look out for special classical music performances at St. George's Basilica, Prague Castle or the Mirror Chapel in the Klementinum Library complex, one of Mozart's favourite places. Both the Smetana Concert Hall in the Municipal House and the Lobkowicz Palace also have their own programme of concerts in January - so there is plenty to see in Prague!

If you need a break from the cold city streets, hop on the quirky Christmas trams, which are adorned with thousands of tiny lights and operate from the end of December until Epiphany on 6 January. The trams run on routes 2 and 22 (which go up to the Castle), and routes 42 and 43 which run around the city in a picturesque circular route, where you can see the city's most important monuments, such as Charles Bridge, Prague Castle and the city's Gunpowder Gate.

But if you visit Prague in January after Christmas you can also enjoy the city on wheels while you take shelter from the cold. Here are some of the options available to you:

• Tourist bus: you can hop on and off at any time at the 9 stops it makes for 24 or 48 hours. If you prefer, you can also simply stay on the bus for the whole tour and enjoy the city in comfort.
• Bus tour: usually includes lunch and even a cruise on the Vltava River to see the city from a different perspective.
• Minibus tour: this option is perfect if you want to take an express tour of the city, so it's ideal if you don't have much time but don't want to miss the highlights.

On most days in January, a lighter dressed in period costume arrives at the Charles Bridge at 4 pm to manually light the gas lamps and take pictures with tourists. This tradition dates back to the 19th century, when most of Prague's street lighting, including park and island lights, was installed.

Take the opportunity to have your photo taken with the lamp lighter on Charles Bridge or to witness him light lamp by lamp just at dusk.

While most of Prague's street lighting was already running on electric power in the 1950s, the lamps on Charles Bridge still run on gas, as do more than 700 other gas lamps throughout the city, mainly for tourist purposes. The gas lamps on Charles Bridge usually light up automatically when the sun goes down, but things are a little different during January, giving the bridge a very romantic feel.

The month of January is well known for a visual phenomenon related to Prague's geographical position that makes it possible to take pictures and enjoy unprecedented views of Prague, especially during the second and third week of January. If you get up early on those days you can appreciate a combination of fog and light, a light that reflects off the thick fog in three colours (yellow, orange and red).

The sun rises late in January in Prague (6:30 to 7 am), so you won't have to get up too early to take some stunning photos.

My favouriterecommendation is to catch the colourful fog as it hugs the Charles Bridge. Other great places to photograph the sunrise with a touch of mist include the terrace of the Strahov Monastery (just behind the monastery restaurant), Petrin Hill (although you'll have to climb a steep hill) and the Hanavsky Pavilon in Letna Park.

The Czech Republic has a long tradition of ice hockey, so it's no surprise that the locals also have an innate passion for ice skating. With January being Prague's coldest month, it's not uncommon to see many small rivers and streams freeze over and turn into spectacular ice rinks.

When the water freezes over, Czechs can be seen ice skating on the Vltava River or at the Slapy Dam, an hour's drive from Prague. Moreover, being able to skate in the middle of nature and above a river gives skating a unique feeling.

If you prefer something much safer, in that case I recommend the ice rinks around the city, where you will also get a great experience skating between baroque buildings in the cold month of January. Most outdoor rinks also offer equipment rental, so you don't have to bring anything from home. The Tower Ice Park under the famous Zizkov TV Tower and the Na Frantisku rink near the Vltava River are the most popular.

One of the most interesting artistic events in Prague during January is the opening of the State Opera for a marathon of classical music concerts. It would be as impressive as seeing the opera in Vienna, but at a much lower price. Tickets in January must be booked well in advance, so I recommend you book yours from the official Státní Opera website.

Don't forget that Prague has a long musical history, and when you visit in January, you can't pass up the opportunity for an evening of orchestras, choirs and breathtaking dance performances.

Even if ballet or classical music is not something you appreciate, the neo-Renaissance and Rococo interiors place Prague's theatres among the most beautiful theatres and opera buildings in Europe.

January is the coldest month of the year, with daytime temperatures rarely exceeding 2°C. There are between 6 and 7 hours of daylight on average per day and a lot of cloud cover, especially at the end of the month.

In addition, the average humidity for the city at this time of year is 84 per cent, which makes freezing temperatures feel even colder than they already are.

There is hardly any rainfall during the month, but plenty of snow, usually snowing an average of 11 days.

Packing warm is key when visiting Prague in January. Also, bear in mind that you'll be outside for a long time, and the best of Prague in January, apart from the concerts, is outside.

So I recommend a long winter coat, a good scarf, warm gloves and warm, comfortable boots or shoes. Socks, wool socks if possible, and a hat or cap to protect your head from the cold snow will also be useful.

I also recommend bringing some wool jumpers, an umbrella in case it rains and, of course, a good camera to capture the aesthetics of this magical city.

One of the best tips for travelling to Prague Prague is to warm up and rest your feet after a long walk by popping into one of Prague's restaurants or bars; as well as being an excuse to keep out the cold, it's a great way to sample the local cuisine.

When it's too cold to walk, I recommend using Prague's public transport system. Be sure to check the operating hours of museums and other attractions, as January is a very festive month for the Czechs.

If you're short on clothes or looking to buy something, I recommend visiting New Town, as there are usually a lot of sales in January.