Christmas and New Years Eve 2026 at ELF

The holidays can be a funny time to travel. Flights are full, cities glow with lights, and suddenly you find yourself far from home — but somehow surrounded by people who feel like friends. That’s exactly the magic of Christmas and New Year 2026 at Hostel ELF. Every year, travelers from all corners of the world gather here to celebrate together, and what starts as “just another stay” often turns into one of those memories you talk about for years. If you’re spending the festive season in Prague, here’s a little taste of what the end of the year looks like at ELF.

December 24th: A Czech Christmas Eve, Hostel-Style
Christmas Eve is the heart of the Czech Christmas, and on December 24th we love sharing this tradition with our guests. The hostel fills with festive smells, laughter, and conversations in many different languages. We arrange a free traditional Czech Christmas Eve dinner for our guests, so everyone can relax and enjoy the evening. In Czech households, Christmas dinner is traditionally potato salad with fried carp. Since carp has a lot of small bones and isn’t everyone’s favorite, many people replace it with schnitzel — and that’s the tradition we follow at the hostel too. Our Czech potato salad is the real classic, made with mayonnaise, boiled root vegetables, and potatoes. To keep things cozy, we also serve mulled wine, perfect for a warm, shared holiday evening.

December 30th: Pre-New Year Party at the Hostel
Just when you think things might slow down, we turn things up again with our Pre-New Year Party on December 30th. This is a special one, because many of the Hostel ELF staff join the party, giving guests a chance to meet the team in a laid-back, social setting — no reception desk, just real conversations, laughs, and maybe a beer or two together. Our terrace comes alive again. We fire up the outdoor grill, and make classic Czech špekáčky (sausages), and enjoy free mulled wine to warm up, all for free. It’s the kind of evening where plans don’t really matter — you come down “just for one,” and suddenly it’s midnight and you’ve made new friends from three different continents.

December 31st: New Year’s Eve at Hostel ELF
New Year’s Eve is where everything comes together. At the hostel, we prepare free snacks for our guests, set the mood, and roll out our legendary happy hours, where beers are 50% off — because celebrating the new year should be fun and backpacker-budget friendly. Behind the bar, you’ll find some true Czech classics: Pilsner Urquell – The original pilsner and a national treasure. Crisp, golden, slightly bitter, and incredibly smooth. This is the beer that defined Czech lager culture worldwide. Pernštejn – A more traditional, full-bodied Czech beer with a rich malt character. Loved by locals who appreciate honest brewing and a stronger taste. Braník – Light, easy-drinking, and popular across Prague. Perfect for a long night of celebrating without having terrible hangover. As midnight approaches, some guests stay in the hostel to toast the new year together, while others head out for a special local tradition. For those who love fireworks, many guests go for a midnight toast at Vítkov, which is about 100 meters above the hostel. It’s a popular viewpoint where you can watch fireworks explode over the whole of Prague — a pretty unforgettable way to welcome the new year.

January 1st: Hangover Cures & Good Luck Traditions
After the celebrations, January 1st at Hostel ELF is all about recovery — and tradition. We serve classic New Year’s soups, known across Czech households as the ultimate hangover cure: Zelňačka (Czech sauerkraut soup) – A hearty soup made with fermented cabbage, potatoes, spices, and often sausage. It’s sour, warming, and surprisingly refreshing — exactly what your body needs after a long night. Lentil soup – Lentils are traditionally eaten on New Year’s Day because they resemble small coins and are believed to bring good luck and money in the year ahead. Even if you don’t believe in superstition, it’s a delicious and comforting way to start the year. Guests slowly reappear in the common areas, sharing stories from the night before, planning next destinations, or just enjoying a quiet moment before hitting the road again.

More Than a Party
What really makes Christmas and New Year at Hostel ELF great is how easy it all feels. People from everywhere end up here around the same time, with no pressure and no expectations — just good vibes and a place to hang out. You show up with a backpack, grab a beer, and before you know it you’re part of the evening.

Every year it’s the same in the best way: Christmas dinner, the terrace grill going, some drinks, late-night talks, and the countdown to midnight with people who were strangers not long ago. It’s relaxed, social, and fun — no big speeches, just a really good time.

Everyone’s invited, everyone’s welcome, and if past years are anything to go by, it’s going to be great again. We’re already looking forward to it — and we’d love to have you with us.