Fly from Split Airport to Stuttgart Airport—in December, plan for a connection and roughly 3–6 hours door to door, and check the live timetable before choosing a morning departure. From the airport, take the S-Bahn lines S2 or S3 toward the city; Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof is about 27 minutes away, with trains generally running every 10–20 minutes. A taxi is simpler with bulky luggage, but costs more. Leave your bags at your accommodation or the station before heading into the center.
Make Schlossplatz your starting point for the Stuttgart Christmas Market, which usually runs from late November into December. Browse the stalls around the square and through the Old Town, leaving about 1½ hours; weekday stalls typically close around 9 pm, but check the 2026 hours closer to your trip. It gets dark early, so the lights should be on by the time you arrive. Warm up with a mug of Glühwein, and remember there’s usually a small deposit on the mug.
From the market, walk a few minutes to Stiftskirche for a quieter pause amid the crowds. Allow about 30 minutes; weekday visiting hours are generally daytime into early evening, though services or events can affect access, so go before it gets too late. Then head back toward Schlossplatz for dinner at Carls Brauhaus. Book or expect a short wait during market season, and settle in for Swabian favorites such as Maultaschen or Käsespätzle; budget about €20–35 per person.
Keep the morning for your train departure and allow around 5–6 hours for the trip; with a transfer, you’ll likely arrive in Prague in the afternoon. Check the final timetable and your arrival station before setting off, and leave time to drop your bags before sightseeing.
Head to Old Town Square in Staré Město for about an hour among the historic façades and seasonal market stalls. Prague’s Christmas markets usually open in late November, but the exact 2026 schedule and hours should be confirmed closer to your trip. The square is a good first wander on foot—take it at an easy pace, especially after the train.
For dinner, Lokál Dlouhááá is a lively, casual introduction to Czech pub food; allow about 1.5 hours and roughly €15–25 per person. It’s a short walk from the square, and booking ahead is sensible. Afterwards, walk around 15–20 minutes to Charles Bridge for a 45-minute stroll across the Vltava as the city lights come on; the bridge is free and can be busy, so pause for the views rather than rushing across.
Start around 9:00 in Hradčany at Prague Castle. Allow 2½–3 hours for the courtyards and St. Vitus Cathedral; in December, the castle’s historic buildings generally keep shorter hours (often 9:00–16:00), so check the official schedule and ticket options before you go. The grounds are atmospheric in winter, but expect chilly, exposed courtyards—wear shoes with grip and bring a warm layer. The main visitor circuit is roughly 450 CZK, with some areas accessible without a ticket.
Continue inside the castle complex to Golden Lane, a compact, colourful street of historic little houses and exhibits. Give it about 45 minutes, and try to arrive before the historic buildings close for the day; your castle ticket usually covers it. From the castle, walk downhill toward Malá Strana—the route is scenic but cobbled, so take your time.
Settle in at Café Savoy for coffee and a generous pastry, or make it a longer lunch; budget about €15–30 per person. Its grand interior makes a welcome warm-up after the castle, and it can be busy, especially at lunchtime, so booking ahead is sensible. Check the day’s hours before setting out.
After lunch, wander to Kampa Island for an easy riverside stroll and the outdoor sculptures. An hour is plenty, though you can linger by the water if the weather is kind. Paths can be damp or slippery in December; take care on the cobbles, and leave the rest of the afternoon unplanned for a relaxed walk around Malá Strana.
Start in Josefov with the Jewish Museum in Prague sites. One important Saturday caveat: the museum and its synagogues are closed on Saturdays for Shabbat, so you won’t be able to go inside on December 5. You can still walk the neighborhood and see the exteriors; if visiting the interiors is a priority, check whether you can rearrange this for Friday. On a day when it’s open, allow 2–3 hours; winter hours are generally around 9:00–16:30, but confirm the current schedule before you go.
Walk about 15 minutes toward Municipal House at Náměstí Republiky. Its Art Nouveau public areas are lovely to admire, and guided interior tours usually take about an hour; tour times and prices vary, so check the official schedule and book ahead if you want to see the interiors. Then walk roughly 10 minutes to Café Imperial for lunch. The tiled dining room is a highlight in its own right; expect about €20–35 per person, and reserve a table if you can.
Head about 15–20 minutes on foot, or take the metro from Náměstí Republiky to Můstek, to Wenceslas Square. Give yourself an hour to browse the shops and seasonal displays along the boulevard, then linger for a warm drink nearby as the lights come on. It’s a busy central area, so keep an eye on your belongings, especially around the metro entrances.
Give yourself about 1½ hours wander the ramparts and park Vyšehrad; the grounds are usually open daily, while indoor sights can have shorter winter hours. The views across the Vltava are especially lovely on a clear morning. Wear shoes with decent grip—the paths and steps can be slick in December.
Walk downhill from Vyšehrad to Náplavka in roughly 15–20 minutes, then take an easy riverside stroll. Sunday can feel quiet in winter, so think of this as a scenic stretch-your-legs stop rather than a busy market visit; riverside stalls and boats may keep reduced seasonal hours.
Head to Café Jen in Vršovice for brunch and coffee; budget about €10–20 per person and check its Sunday hours before setting out. Allow around an hour, then leave plenty of time for your flight: a taxi to Prague Airport typically takes about 25–40 minutes depending on traffic, while public transport can take roughly 50–60 minutes with a change. Aim to reach the airport at least two hours before departure, especially with a connection to Split.
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