12 Things to Do in Prague in October
So you're planning to visit Prague in October? I think it's a fantastic choice; from pumpkin carvings, theatre festivals, design events and international jazz, all month long fun is more than guaranteed!
Sunrise on Charles Bridge. | ©Zhi Xuan Hew
October in Prague is a month to enjoy the local festivities and autumn traditions accompanied by pleasant weather and the advantages of travelling in less crowded seasons. Here is a list of things to do in Prague during this month, which I hope will inspire you when planning your holiday. Bon voyage!
1. Attend Prague's food and drink festivals
October is one of the best times to visit Prague, not only for the great weather, but also for the delicious food and drink you'll find at its seasonal festivals. The great thing is that they take place throughout the month so you can arrange your trip to coincide with the dates.
Where they take place
They take place all over Prague and this is a list of my favourites and will be available depending on the date of your trip. All listed below are free to attend.
- Nusle Beer Festival offers tastings of various craft beers made by small local companies. You'll also find live music, food and creative workshops and theatrical performances with a focus on children.
- The Brevnov Fair is a popular and well-attended event in Prague where you will find various food stalls with mostly traditional Czech food. It is the perfect opportunity to sample a variety of dishes and see the medieval brewing process first hand.
- The soup festival is quite popular in Prague, and is a way of welcoming the mild autumn weather. A tasting of soups from all corners of the world takes place on the Smíchov promenade. In addition to soups you will find other dishes such as fresh pastries, mulled cider or mulled wine, draft beer and a variety of desserts.
2. Join the Halloween celebrations
Halloween in Prague is a really fun celebration. If you find yourself in the city on October 31st, let yourself be embraced by the "spooky" and festive atmosphere that fills the whole city. The beautiful medieval buildings, small streets and night lights give the city a fairytale charm that is hard to match.
On this day you will find a number of celebrations especially recommended if you visit Prague with children and adults: parties, carnivals, story readings, markets, workshops... all with a Halloween theme invade the streets.
Where they take place
Halloween parties for adults are usually held in Prague's many nightclubs with themed costume parties and live music. The best Halloween parties in Prague are at:
- OMY Music Bar Yalta, entrance costs approximately €8.
- One Club Prague, ticket prices vary depending on availability and sell out very quickly.
While looking for Halloween activities for the whole family, check out the following list for inspiration:
- Halloween in the Prague Castle Gardens; at dusk in the shadows of the Great Castle a candle lighting is held in honour of the departed.
- FREEX Trampoline Park; the modern amusement park holds a themed party with competitions, dancing and interactive games on Halloween and the days leading up to it.
- Another plan for the whole family on this special spooky day is to book a ghost tour of Prague. A guide will tell you all the unsolved stories, legends and mysteries of the city's streets.
3. Enjoy the theatre with the Pražské křižovatky or Crossroads Festival
One of the most interesting theatrical productions of recent times has been taking place in Prague for several years now under the name of the Crossroads Festival. With the presentation of outstanding international productions, it aims to nurture and nurture local theatre and talented Czech artists.
It takes place in the first days of the month and is enriched by the addition to the programme of activities such as debates with authors, lectures and discussions about the local and international scene. If you are passionate or curious about this art, the experience will be invaluable to say the least.
Where it takes place
In the Laterna Magica building, which is the building dedicated to the new halls of the National Theatre. It is a modern and imposing building with a glass façade built just a few metres from the National Theatre in Prague.
How to buy tickets
On the official website of the National Theatre in Prague you can find all the details of the event, including the programme of performances. You can also purchase your tickets.
Another option is to book tickets for the black light theatre performance in Prague. This is a very special theatre performance because it is, as you read, in the dark. Coloured and neon lights will be the protagonists of this very different and spectacular kind of art.
4. Come to the Prague Lights show
Every year in Prague, for four days in the first half of the month, there's a show you won't want to miss if you're in town. Known as the Festival of Lights, it was inaugurated in 2013 and since then thousands of people have flocked to the city's most important historical monuments every year.
The festival takes place against the backdrop of the dark night and the magnificent façades of medieval Czech buildings.Lights are projected onto the façades in combination with artificial intelligence concepts to create a creative fusion of digital culture and creativity. It is an emerging art form that aims to support young local artists.
Where it takes place
All over the city; for full details of locations, dates, artists and other programme details please visit the event website before you travel.
How to buy tickets
You can buy tickets directly from the Signal Festival website. Some festival venues are free to enter, others require a fee. Ticket prices start at approximately €8 for an adult ticket and go up to €38 for a family ticket. You can purchase a discounted pass which allows you to see several of the paying venues.
5. Take a cruise on the Vltava River
Taking advantage of the still warm temperatures in October in Prague you can consider booking a lunch cruise on the Vltava River. You will get to know the city from a completely different perspective and discover some of its most emblematic places on board this boat: Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, the Powder Tower, the Dancing House, among others...
On arrival you will have a welcome drink and live music during the trip, which lasts approximately 2 hours. And to round off the tour, you can enjoy a delicious buffet where you can sample some Czech cuisine, with vegetarian options also included in the menu.
Where it takes place
All over the city. You will see the most important sights, but this tour also includes the Smíchov district.
How to buy tickets
You can buy tickets for the Prague cruise online. The price is around €45 per person and includes a welcome drink and buffet lunch.
6. Take a tour of the beautiful surroundings
If you are staying in the city for several days, you might consider taking a trip from Prague to some of the nearby towns and villages, many of which are well worth discovering. Here is a list of some of the possibilities for which you can book your tickets in advance:
- Excursion to Bohemia: the Bohemian region is known for its handcrafted crystal and this excursion also includes a visit to a crystal factory and the Pilsen brewery.
- Excursion to Karlovy Vary and Marianske Lazne: which includes a full day trip to these spa towns where you can sample the thermal springs as well as visit the towns.
- Excursion to Tezerín: in this city you will witness the trail of destruction left by the Second World War in the Czech lands. This is the largest concentration camp in the Czech Republic.
- Excursion to Saxon and Bohemian Switzerland: with this excursion you will enjoy a tour through the national parks of Saxon Switzerland and Bohemian Switzerland, one of the most impressive and paradisiacal landscapes in Europe.
- Excursion to Kutná Hora: a city that will surprise you with its impressive buildings and a guide will accompany you to visit all its most famous monuments, as well as its old town, considered a World Cultural Heritage Site by Unesco.
- Excursion to Český Krumlov on this excursion you will get to know an attractive medieval town in the Czech Republic. You will discover its beautiful landscape of roofs, alleys, mountains and paths along the Vltava River on foot.
7. Don't miss the International Jazz Festival!
The International Jazz Festival tradition has been held in Prague for more than 50 years. It lasts approximately two weeks, usually starting in the middle of the month.
The festival started in 1964, so it is considered one of the oldest and most established music festivals, not only in the Czech Republic, but also in the whole of Europe. If you visit Prague in October, this world-famous festival is definitely worth attending. Over the years, music legends such as B.B. King, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Benny Goodman and many more have performed on stage at the festival.
Where it takes place
Historically, the festival has been held at various venues in the Czech capital, the most popular of which are the LucernaMusic Bar and the Reduta Jazz Club.
How to buy tickets
For such highly anticipated events it is best to purchase tickets in advance. You can buy them on the official website of the Reduta Jazz Club
.
8. Enjoy an open doors weekend at Wallenstein Palace
Wallenstein Palace is one of the oldest baroque palaces in Prague; however, it is not always available for tours. However, in October the doors of the Palace are open to the public every weekend of the month. From November onwards the Palace is closed until March. Access to the palace is free of charge on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm.
It is worth visiting the complex to admire the popular Hall of the Knights with baroque style frescoes adorning all the ceilings. Don't miss the fabulous Palace Gardens admired all over the world for their perfect geometrical design.
9. Admire pumpkin creations at The Pumpkin Autumn festival
If you visit the city in October, in addition to seeing Prague's most impressive sights and monuments, take a few hours to see the traditional Autumn Pumpkin display. Every year from 15 October visitors can enjoy the most impressive artistic creations made from pumpkins.
The festival closes the celebrations on 31 October with the pumpkin parade after 18h. The rest of the days, in addition to the exhibitions, you can enjoy afternoons with craft workshops, food and drink stalls and much more.
Where it takes place
The exhibition takes place in the Troja Botanical Garden. It's a perfect activity to attend with children.
How to buy tickets
You can buy tickets directly from the ticket office. The highest price is around €4.5 for an adult ticket, and children and seniors get in at a special rate.
10. Contemporary Art Festival 4+4 Days
In October in Prague, usually in the first few days of the month, there is an event that lovers of contemporary theatre will thoroughly enjoy. It is the "International Theatre Festival 4+4 Days in Motion" organised by the NGO Four Days, which is dedicated to the management of all kinds of unique cultural and international projects.
The festival was founded in 1996 and in a series of performances taking approximately 8 calendar days, great artists from Europe and the world are presented with theatre and dance projects that are characterised by their innovative and often provocative touch. The idea is always to enrich the local theatrical proposal.
Where it takes place
Over the years, the festival has used different stages and venues all over Prague, but the most popular is the Divadlo Archa or Archa Theatre in the Jewish Quarter.
How to buy tickets
The official website of 4+4 Days in Motion publishes the calendar of performances for the current year as well as the links to purchase tickets; just go to the "Festival" section.
11. Attend the Designblok fashion and arts festival
The most important fashion and design festival in Central Europe takes place every year in Prague for almost the whole month of October since its foundation in 1999. It is an event inspired by the famous Milan Design Week, so it includes categories such as interiors, fashion, jewellery, accessories, lighting design and much more.
Although prestigious brands participate in the event, Designblok pursues as one of its objectives to give visibility to emerging talent. For this reason, it presents a sample of the work of the most outstanding designers and manufacturers in Europe. You will find prototypes from young, well-established designers and studios.
Where it takes place
Each new edition of the event takes place in a different location. Historically, old buildings such as castles and stately homes have been used throughout Prague.
How to buy tickets
The best way to purchase tickets is to find out about the performance schedule and the artists in detail by visiting the official Designblok website.
12. The best of jazz and classical music at the Autumn Strings Festival
This international festival focusing on the best of music takes place in Prague every year from mid to late September until November. Consequently, the entire month of October is filled with fabulous performances.
First established in 1996, the Springs of Autumn Festival has become a firm favourite with audiences due to its innovative, multi-genre musical approach that offers audiences a mix of jazz, classical, traditional and experimental sounds. To sort out the varied programme of proposals, the organisers have created three main categories, each with a different musical focus. These categories are: Inspiration, Crossover and Luminaries.
Where it takes place
In the early years of the festival the performances were held at Prague Castle, but since 2004 the festival has been taking place in different locations and historical buildings in the city every year. Prague Autumn strings have been from famous concert halls, theatres and churches. It is best when planning your trip to Prague to check the official Strings of Autumn website.
Prague in October: How to deal with the weather and what to wear in October
With autumn colours in full swing Prague in October couldn't be prettier. Characterised by an average maximum temperature of 13°C, this is the month where things in Prague start to cool down; however, being outside is still quite pleasant if you wear some warm clothes. With an average of 10 hours of sunshine during the day, though much of it cloudy, sunsets in October occur around 5pm. Expect an average rainfall of around 24mm. Bring your autumn clothes ready for battle, and don't forget a light hat and some umbrellas to protect you from the rain you're almost certain to encounter.
Prague in October: Tourist crowds.
Prague's October tourist flow could be described as average. The holiday excursions are completely over and the locals are finally getting some space back. If you want to have a quiet holiday, avoid the hustle and bustle without suffering the low temperatures of January. October is an alternative you should consider if you are planning a trip to Prague.