10 Things to Do in Prague in February

Despite being a month of fairs and parades, it is interestingly one of the months with the fewest tourists in Prague, which is why it is considered one of the best months to visit Prague, especially if you like the party atmosphere. It's also a very gastronomic month and you can enjoy some of the delights of Czech cuisine.

The downside is that it gets dark early, between 4 and 5 pm, so you should plan your day well to make the most of the daylight hours.

Nowadays Prague is one of the best destinations for lovers, as the baroque and neo-renaissance style of most of the city's buildings and squares gives it a very romantic feel. In addition, there are several gas-lit bridges with spectacular views of Prague.

Many venues offer special Valentine's Day packages, and some of Prague's best restaurants serve special menus for lovers in front of the warm fireplaces. It is also the day with the biggest discounts on jewellery, especially on Czech garnets.

But if there is a top plan with which to surprise your partner, it is by taking one of Prague's river dinner cruises. I do recommend that you book in advance because, as you can imagine, at this time of year there are a lot of requests. Re-enamour your partner by sailing on the Vltava River.

One of the most important celebrations of the month of February in Prague is the Masopust, the largest parade or procession, which takes place at the end of February and is a great way to say goodbye to the month in style.

The procession usually starts in the evening and takes place on Jiriho z Podebrad Square in the Zizkov district. From here, a ceremonial procession of masked characters and huge papier-mâché puppets in the form of devils, farm animals and carts takes to the streets with music and dancing until it reaches the Town Hall. You can enjoy the parade free of charge and even participate.

On arrival at the town hall, tradition dictates that the mayor must come out and give the marchers the key to the city. This procession continues to the Viktoria Zizkov stadium, a huge green lawn where a fair of dancers, food and entertainment continues late into the night.

Take a tour of Prague's best pubs

A great way to round off the day's festivities is to take a tour of Prague's best pubs, one of the best things to do at night in the Czech capital. Thanks to a local guide, you'll get to know the trendiest pubs, enjoy the best music and even have an open bar.

Victorious February' lasts from 21 February to 28 February, as it coincides with the confrontation between the former Soviet Union and the former Czechoslovak Republic. Given the historical importance of this week, many museums in the city open their doors completely free of charge so that tourists can learn more about the history of this great nation.

If I have to recommend one museum in particular to enjoy a free visit, it would be the Museum of Communism (this museum will be open from 9am to 9pm).

Victorious February is a date celebrated by all Czech communities, as in 1948 the Soviet-backed Communist Party officially took control of the government in what was then Czechoslovakia.

If you want to learn more about the city's communist past I recommend you take the communism tour with access to a nuclear bunker, one of the best tours and excursions to do in Prague.

While it's true that winter in Prague is the best time to enjoy snow and good food, February is the month when Prague 's gastronomy is at its peak.

Some of the dishes that thrive in February are cesnecka (garlic soup with croutons), gulás (thick stew) or knedliky (steamed and sliced meatballs).

Another gastronomic highlight in February is cheese, which is served almost everywhere. Highlights include nakládaný hermelin cheese, a soft cheese that has been marinated in oil, peppers and onions; and smazený sýr cheese, a fried cheese coated in breadcrumbs that is usually served with a side of fries and tartar sauce.

You can discover all the Czech delicacies on a gastronomic city tour of Prague. The accompanying guide will also tell you about the origins of traditional dishes and how they are made.

The carnival as we know it is called the Bohemian Carnival in Prague and is one of the most famous in Europe. It takes place at the end of February and usually lasts about a week.

The streets and squares of the capital are transformed into a fantasy party filled with colours, costumes, masks and floats. During the carnival, there are many festivities on George of Podebrady Square. This square is home to live music, food, drink, street parties and costumed characters.

However, if you're looking for a more colloquial carnival atmosphere, I recommend visiting the Žižkov or Prague Castle districts, which are the most atmospheric at this time of year. It is also a good time for a tour of the Jewish Quarter, which also joins in the festivities.

The Mala Inventura Festival is an annual festival that takes place for about a week at the end of February at some of the most important venues such as Alfred ve dvoře or The Fabrika (cultural centre located in the Holešovice district of Prague).

This is a festival that focuses mainly on Prague' s dance culture and where you can see dance performances along with audiovisual projections and creative creations that will leave you amazed.

To attend you need to book a ticket on the event's official website. This famous festival will undoubtedly make you appreciate an artistic side of Prague that you may not have known about.

If you are a true lover of pork, I recommend you visit the traditional Czech celebration of Zabíjačka meat. This festival takes place in some of the biggest restaurants in the city and is usually held at the beginning of February. Check the tradition's website for changes.

February is the month when most meat is consumed in the Czech Republic. According to medieval tradition, during this period, Czech and Moravian farmers slaughter adult piglets and prepare various meat dishes.

This tradition is also a manifestation of respect, as the slaughter of pigs in Zabíjačka is only allowed by senior butchers, so that all edible parts of the animal can be used. The most popular dishes are blood and liver sausages, cracklings, aspic, meat pie, traditional pork ham and various soups.

This traditional event starts in mid-February and lasts until March. The Matějská Festival in Prague is always full of attractions (traditional Czech and international), but also refreshments, food stalls and a varied accompanying programme. For more information about this fair visit the official website.

The festival stems from the Matějská pilgrimage tradition, a tradition whose first records date back to 1595. Today it is a kind of family fun festival with a little traditional touch. The event also includes a "Day for disabled children and children from orphanages" and you can enjoy all the celebrations and attractions at the Prague Fairgrounds.

Matthew's Fair takes place in a large park called Stromovka in Vystaviste. It is a very traditional fair with many attractions (grasshoppers, roller coasters, car track, fair booths...) and various food stalls. It usually starts in mid-February and can be easily reached by tram from the centre of Prague.

The fair lasts approximately 2 weeks and admission is free on weekdays and around 1 euro on weekends. This, of course, does not include the rides. To go on any of the rides, you have to go to the fair and buy a ticket.

If you visit Prague in January you will find that the ski crowds tend to head for Prague's frozen rivers; however, in February, the crowds and ski fanatics prefer to head for the city's parks. This is because the slightly warmer temperatures and less solid snow make skiing through the trees much safer.

And in February, at parks such as SkiPark Praha, you'll find everything fromequipment rental to experienced instructors and a great course to hone your skills. You don't have to book anything in advance, you can do it all on the spot once you get there - there's more than enough space.

In addition to SkiPark Praha, one of the city's largest parks, Ladronka, offers plenty of open spaces and walking trails - perfect for an afternoon of exploring.

When visiting Prague in February I recommend packing plenty of winter clothing, especially if you plan to go skiing or enjoy the city's most interesting sights on foot.

While it's not as cold as in January, the skies are almost always cloudy, so you'll want to pack some jumpers, long-sleeved shirts, trousers and a warm winter coat.

Thermal leggings and underwear can also come in handy especially on cold days when temperatures drop below freezing. Also, don't forget to bring waterproof shoes and an umbrella, as rainfall is heavy in the middle of February.

As in the rest of Central Europe, the winter weather in Prague in February can be intense. Days are often cloudy and windy. The average high is at 3 degrees, and the average low is -3 degrees.

Temperatures during the month of February can fluctuate, but the maximum rarely drops below -4 degrees or exceeds 12 degrees. In general, you can expect around 12 days of precipitation during the month, with precipitation falling as rain or snow depending on the daytime temperature.

Although days remain relatively short during the first half of the month with approximately nine hours of daylight, daylight hours begin to lengthen significantly towards the end of the month, adding an additional one and a half hours to the day in late February. However, due to thick cloud cover, don't expect much sunshine.

February is one of the months with the lowest prices for both flights and accommodation, as most tourists prefer to visit Prague in summer or spring.

February is a very popular month for Prague's gastronomic scene, so take advantage of this time of year to try some of the more traditional dishes.

Although the Christmas and festive markets will have closed, you will still find some places to buy food and hot drinks to warm up, especially at the craft markets that appear throughout February.

Carnival is not always celebrated on the same day, so if you are visiting Prague especially to enjoy the parades and processions, be sure to check all the dates before planning your trip to Prague.

The first signs of spring in Prague appear at the end of the month, so if you stay until the end of the month you may appreciate the attractive contrast.