Smaller Christmas markets are held on Náměstí Republiky and Naměsti Míru and are mostly visited by Czechs. Or you might want to check out Havelské tržiště, established in 1232, it is one of Prague's oldest marketplaces. The Havel market was originally called Gallus, after the St. Gall Church that dominated the area and was one of the four main churches in Prague back in XIII century. Newly crowned kings used to hold celebrations and feasts there.

A very special Christmas market is held at the Holešovice Exhibition Grounds in Praha 7 (December 7-16). This is the largest outdoor market in Prague – over 100,000 m2. It is accompanied by weekend events and prices are generally lower, as the market is located out of the city centre and not tourist-oriented. That's the place where Czechs come to shop.

If you are looking for inexpensive gift ideas, Christmas markets are the place for you. Check out traditional Czech crafts – glass jewelry, ceramics, wooden toys, colorful knitwear, handmade candles, and more – you will find a lot of original cute little things. But don't forget that Christmas markets are not only about shopping – come for the atmosphere! Whether it's cold, whether it snows or rains, Christmas markets are always full of people. Take your time and walk around, try freshly made traditional food and have some famous Czech svařák (hot wine), enjoy Christmas carols and special performances, and just share the holiday spirit!

And if you plan some travelling, consider German Christmas markets. For example,  Dortmund – the biggest city in the Ruhr Valley. With a height of 45 metres and 13,000 festive lights, the Dortmund Christmas tree is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest in the world. It is formed by stacking 2,000 spruces into a pyramid shape. Worth seeing, isn't it?