The best time to see the clock
The Prague Astronomical Clock can be watched all year from the Old Town Square. The apostles appear on the full hour from 8 am to 11 pm. The first show is at 8 am and the last at 11 pm. The show does not run through the night.
Crowds gather before every show, so there is no reliably quiet hour. A useful routine: find your spot before the hour for the show, then return between shows to look at the dials. If you also want the tower, the Knights' Hall or a guided visit, read the Old Town Hall tickets page first, because those have different opening hours from the show.
Best time of day
Show, tower and queue.
For the show
Arrive a few minutes before the hour and stand where you can see the upper dial and the windows. The twelve apostles pass the windows, Death rings the bell, and the cock crows after the windows close. Then the clock strikes. See the show times page for the sequence.
For the details
Come back between two shows. The crowd thins out, and you can read the dials, the zodiac ring and the calendar. The how it works page explains what each part shows.
For the tower
The first opening hour of the tower carries a 50 percent discount on regular admission, with exceptions for special openings and holidays. That is a price advantage, not a promise of a shorter queue. See the Old Town Hall tower page for hours and access.
In the evening
The last show at 11 pm can fall after the building has closed, so do not plan a tower visit around it. For evening options see the clock at night.
Our pick: an evening walk
Our take: in the evening the square is calmer, and this walk starts when the day crowds thin.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Tickets and tours near the clock
Old Town Hall visits, walks and underground tours, with live prices and availability.
Prague weather by month
Long-term averages for 1981 to 2010, not a forecast for 2026.
| Month | Average high (°C) | Average low (°C) | Precipitation (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2.6 | -2.4 | 20.4 |
| February | 4.4 | -1.8 | 18.7 |
| March | 9.1 | 1.5 | 25.7 |
| April | 15.1 | 5.1 | 23.6 |
| May | 20.3 | 9.7 | 53.2 |
| June | 22.8 | 12.7 | 56.9 |
| July | 25.3 | 14.5 | 64.4 |
| August | 25.1 | 14.2 | 60.4 |
| September | 19.9 | 10.5 | 34.5 |
| October | 14.2 | 6.4 | 23.6 |
| November | 7.2 | 2.1 | 28.3 |
| December | 3.4 | -1.1 | 25.3 |
The highs and lows are averages of the daily highest and lowest temperatures. Precipitation includes rain and snow. For city walks, late spring and early autumn are milder than midsummer and winter. For most visitors, May or September is a sound pick, but no month is guaranteed dry.
The seasons at the clock
What changes through the year.
Spring
March to May warm up from a 9.1 °C average high to 20.3 °C. The Easter market in 2026 ran from 21 March to 12 April, daily from 10 am to 10 pm, on the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square. Dates change every year.
Summer
June to August have average highs of 22.8 to 25.3 °C and the most rain of the year, 56.9 to 64.4 mm per month. Plan for showers and for crowds at every show.
Autumn
September has 34.5 mm of precipitation, well below the 53.2 to 64.4 mm of May to August, and October is drier still at 23.6 mm. Highs fall from 19.9 °C in September to 7.2 °C in November. Bring a layer for the evening.
Winter
Expect cold evenings and average highs of 2.6 to 4.4 °C from December to February. The Christmas market is announced for 28 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, daily from 10 am to 10 pm, on the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square. Snow is not guaranteed.
Tower hours around Christmas 2026
Special days differ from the regular schedule.
| Date | Tower hours |
|---|---|
| 24 December 2026 | 9 am to 3 pm |
| 25 December 2026 | 11 am to 6 pm |
| 26 December 2026 | 9 am to 8 pm |
| 31 December 2026 | 9 am to 4 pm |
These are the tower hours; the show times are on their own page. Do not apply Christmas hours from other years to 2026. For the square in winter and the market, see the Old Town Square. If the Charles Bridge is also on your list, the best time for the Charles Bridge covers it.
Plan the rest of your visit
What to look at next.
Best time to see the Prague Astronomical Clock: frequently asked questions
What time does the Prague Astronomical Clock show start?
The apostles appear on the full hour from 8 am to 11 pm. The first show is at 8 am and the last at 11 pm.
Is there a quiet time of day?
There is no reliably quiet hour. Groups wait before each show. Come back between shows to see the dials with fewer people in front of you.
Which month is best for visiting Prague?
Late spring and early autumn are milder than midsummer and winter. May has an average high of 20.3 °C and September 19.9 °C. These are long-term averages, and no month is guaranteed dry.
When is the Christmas market?
The market is announced for 28 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, daily from 10 am to 10 pm, on the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square.
Is the clock being restored?
A restoration of eight outer figures has been announced for 2026. The show times stay the same, but short technical changes are possible. Check the current state before you visit.
Is this the official site of the clock or the city?
No. This is an independent guide and is not connected to the Old Town Hall or the city. Check current hours before your visit.