12 Things to Do in Prague in October
So are you planning to visit Prague in October? I think it's a fantastic choice; from pumpkin carvings, theater 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 traveling in less crowded seasons. Here is a list of things to do in Prague during this month, in the hope that it will inspire you when planning your vacation. 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 most interesting thing is that they take place throughout the month so you can organize your trip to coincide the dates.
Where they take place
They take place all over Prague and this is a list of my favorites and will be available depending on the date of your trip. All of the listings below are free admission.
- Nusle Beer Festival offers tastings of various craft beers made by small local companies. You will also find live music, food and creative workshops and theatrical presentations focused 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 first-hand the medieval brewing process.
- The soup festival is quite popular in Prague, and is a way to welcome 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 31 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 are held
Halloween parties for adults are usually held in multiple nightclubs in Prague organizing themed costume parties with live music. The best Prague Halloween parties are at:
- OMY Music Bar Yalta, the entrance costs about 8€.
- One Club Prague, ticket prices vary according to availability and sell out very quickly.
While looking for plans with Halloween activities for the whole family get inspired by the following list:
- Halloween in the Prague Castle Gardens; at dusk in the shadows of the Grand Castle a candle lighting is held in honor of the departed.
- FREEX Trampoline Park; the modern amusement park holds a themed party with contests, dancing and interactive games on Halloween and the days leading up to it.
- Another plan to do with the family during this terrifyingly special day is to book a ghost tour of Prague. In it a guide will tell you all those stories, legends and unsolved mysteries of the streets of the city.
3. Enjoy the theater with the Pražské křižovatky Festival or Crossroads Festival
One of the most interesting theatrical productions of recent times has been taking place in Prague for a few years now under the name of the Crossroads Festival. With the presentation of outstanding international productions it seeks to nurture and grow the local theater and talented Czech artists.
It takes place in the first days of the month; the proposal is enriched with the addition to the program of activities such as: debates with authors, lectures and discussions on the local and international scene. If you are passionate or curious about this art, the experience will be, at the very least, invaluable.
Where it takes place
In the Laterna Magica building, which is the building dedicated to the new halls of the National Theater. A modern and imposing work with a glass facade built a few meters from the National Theater in Prague.
How to buy tickets
On the official website of the National Theater in Prague you can see all the details of the event including the program of plays. You can also purchase your tickets.
And, another option can be to book tickets for the black light theater show that takes place in Prague. This is a very special theatrical performance as it is, in the dark, just as you read it. Colored and neon lights will be the protagonists of this very different and spectacular kind of art.
4. Come to the Lights of Prague show
Every year in Prague, for four days and in the first half of the month a show takes place that 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 every year thousands of people gather at the most important historical monuments of the city.
The festival takes as its backdrop the dark night and as a backdrop the magnificent facades of the Czech medieval buildings.Lights are projected onto the facades, combined with artificial intelligence concepts to create a creative fusion of digital culture and creativity. It is an emerging art form that seeks to support young local artists.
Where it takes place
All over the city; to know in detail the locations, dates, artists and other details of the program should visit the website of the event before the trip.
How to buy tickets
You can purchase 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 family tickets. You can purchase a discounted pass that allows you to see several of the paid facilities.
5. Take a cruise on the Vltava River
Taking advantage of the good temperatures in October in Prague you can consider booking a cruise with lunch on the Vltava River. You will see the city from a completely different perspective and you will discover some of its most emblematic places aboard this boat: the Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, the Powder Tower, the Dancing House, among others...
Upon arrival you will have a welcome drink and live music during the trip that lasts about 2 hours. And to top it all off, you will enjoy a delicious buffet where you will taste some dishes of Czech cuisine, also with vegetarian options 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 about 45€ per person and includes a welcome drink and lunch buffet.
6. Take a tour of the beautiful surroundings
If you are going to stay several days in the city you can consider taking an excursion from Prague to some of its nearest towns and villages, as many of them are worth discovering. Here we leave you a list with some 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 taste their thermal waters as well as visit the cities.
- Excursion to Tezerín: in this city you will witness the trail of destruction left by the Second World War in the Czech lands. It is a visit to the largest concentration camp in the Czech Republic.
- Excursion to Saxon Switzerland and Bohemia: 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 World Cultural Heritage by Unesco.
- Excursion to Český Krumlov in this excursion you will get to know an attractive medieval town in the Czech Republic. You will discover on foot its beautiful landscape of roofs, alleys, mountains and paths on the banks of the Vltava River.
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 for about two weeks usually starting in the middle of the month.
The festival started in 1964, so the date 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 it is absolutely worth attending this world-famous festival. 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 is held
Historically the Festival has been held at various venues in the Czech Capital, the most recurrent being 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 and you can buy them on the official website of Reduta Jazz Club
.
8. Enjoy a weekend of open doors at Wallenstein Palace
Wallenstein Palace is one of the oldest baroque palaces in Prague; but 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 remains closed until March. Access to the palace is free on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
It is worth visiting the complex to admire the popular Hall of the Knights with baroque style frescoes that adorn all the ceilings. Do not miss the fabulous Palace Gardens admired all over the world for their perfect geometric 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 October 15 visitors can enjoy the most impressive artistic creations made from pumpkins.
The festival closes the celebrations on October 31 with the pumpkin parade after 6 pm. The rest of the days, in addition to the exhibitions, you can enjoy afternoons with craft workshops, food stalls, drinks and much more.
Where it takes place
The exhibition takes place at the Troja Botanical Garden. It is a perfect activity to attend with children.
How to buy tickets
You can purchase tickets directly at the ticket office. The highest price is around 4,5€ on average 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 days of the month, an event takes place that lovers of contemporary theater will thoroughly enjoy. It is the "International Theater Festival 4+4 Days in Motion" organized by the NGO Four Days which is dedicated to the management of all kinds of unique cultural and international projects.
The festival was born in 1996 and in a series of presentations that take approximately 8 calendar days, great artists from Europe and the world are presented with theater and dance projects that are characterized 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 throughout Prague, but the most recurrent is the Divadlo Archa or Archa Theater in the Jewish Quarter.
How to buy tickets
The official website of 4+4 Days in Motion publishes the calendar of presentations for the current year as well as the links to purchase tickets; just go to the section that says "Festival".
11. Attend the Designblok Fashion and Arts Festival
The most important fashion and design festival in Central Europe takes place every year in Prague during practically 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, jewelry, 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 well-established young designers and studios.
Where it takes place
For each new edition of the event, a different venue is taken as the 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 get to know 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 popular event 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 program of proposals the organizers have created three major categories each with a different musical focus. These categories are: Inspiration, Crossover and Luminaries.
Where it takes place
In the first years of the festival the performances took place at the Prague Castle, however, since 2004 different locations and historical buildings of the city are taken as stage every year. Prague Autumn Strings have been from famous concert halls, theater and churches. It is best when planning your trip to Prague to check out the official Strings of Autumn website.
Prague in October: How to deal with the weather and what to wear in this month
With autumn colors in full swing Prague in October couldn't be prettier. Characterized 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. You should expect an average rainfall of about 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 are almost certain to encounter.
Prague in October: Tourist inflow.
As far as Prague's tourist flow in October is concerned, it could be rated in the average range. The vacation excursions are completely over and finally the locals get some space back. If you want to have a quiet vacation, avoid the hustle and bustle but without suffering the low temperatures of January. October is an alternative you should consider if you are planning to travel to this city.