Christmas markets operate from late November until just after New Year's day, with stalls and Christmas carols, bringing the city to life at Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square, Havelske Trziste and Namesti Republiky. Traditional Czech handicrafts such as Bohemian Crystal, wooden toys, scented candles, hand-made jewelry, ceramics, hats, scarves, puppets and tree ornaments are among the items for sale. Hot food such as corn, sausages and local specialties, are typically washed down with Czech beer, and hot wine. A Christmas tree goes up in Old Town Square, and a blaze of lights is turned on each night around 5pm.

Easter markets take over the city center, harbingers of Springtime. Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square typically have over 100 stalls with crafts such as wooden toys, crystal and glass-ware, jewelry, candles, embroidered cloth, and traditional puppets and dolls. Hand-painted Easter eggs are sold by traditionally costumed women, and barbecued sausages, roasted ham, and local Pilsner beer aren't hard to find either. The hot sugared pasty Trdelnik may also be sampled. Folk singers and dancers travel from all over the Czech Republic to perform on stages set up around the markets.

Vaclav Glazar is an actor known to most Czechs as the corpulent matka predstavena (mother superior) in a 2003 movie comedy. Now he spends most of his time running Srdce a Kamen -or Heart and Stone - the last cabaret in Prague. Before World War II there were 81 he says. When Vaclav opened his own in 1996, he wanted it to be a Czech affair. No Cher and Madonna impersonators, please. Instead, he wanted lots of "old Prague songs" -cherishing them as the essence of traditional Czech entertainment. These are what were sung in Prague pubs, at least since the 19th century as Czech national identity blossomed within the Austro-Hungarian Empire. For a change of pace from the same old thing, check it out. Even if you don't understand a word of it, the music and performers should make you smile.

The first performance of the National Marionette Theatre (Zatecka 1, Old Town) was a marionette version of Don Giovanni in1991. Since then they've gone on to stage more than 20 premieres of traditional puppet performances for both adults and children, with 6,000 re-runs. Don Giovanni still tops the list with 4500 re-runs, and they also have The Magic Flute on the marquee.

Performances of ballet and opera, and concerts of classical music take place all year in beautiful concert halls and churches, even at Lobkowicz Palace in Prague Castle. The opera houses of Prague are some of it's finest treasures.

There are three opera houses, each is quite unique in architecture, and they have constantly changing repetoires. The Prague State Opera near Wenceslas Square has three by Verdi in August: Aida, La Traviata, and Nabucco. The Estates Theatre which dates to 1783, features works by Mozart through August and September. The National Theatre on the banks of the Vltava River, will have different operas, concerts and ballets almost every day, by composers such as Dvořák, Verdi, Bizet, Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky. PragueExperience.com has dates, venues, prices and bookings for these and also for Jazz and popular music concerts.

Speaking of Antonín Dvořák, a most Czech composer, a series of concerts devoted to his works will take place from August 20 to September 4 at the Rudolfinum Concert Hall (Alsovo Nabrezi 12). For details see the website of the Dvorak Prague Festival.

Prague swimming pools are important social meeting and relaxation spots, with saunas, as well as indoor and outdoor heated pools, sports and games. Often they accommodate nude sunbathers too. These include: Na Petynce (tram 8 to Vozovna Stresovicka, open May to September); and Podoli (take tram 3 or 17 to Podolska 74 - open year-round) which is surrounded by sunning lawns and a wooded rise overlooking the river. At Podili the cost is around $5-6, depending how long you stay (open to 9:45pm), and they take a deposit for the locker which is returned as you leave. Here you'll likely find no English spoken, and few tourists, but it's a slice of life among Czechs, to enjoy sunshine, steam rooms, exercise, cool relief on a hot summer day, and a few coy glances. Beer, ice cream and pizza can be bought alongside the outdoor pool, and there's a cafe with typical Czech fare and beer at the front area of the building.

Vodni nadrz Dzban is the largest lake in the Prague area, part of a large nature reserve on the outskirts. There are hiking trails, beaches, sports facilities, boat rentals, and a nude swimming and sunning area on the lake. A swimming pool complex also has table tennis and a restaurant. Entry is about $3. From Dejvicka Metro station, take a tram to Divoká Šárka stop.

Hostivar is a lake, with a sandy beach and an impressive waterslide. Take tram 22 or 26 to Hostivařská, or Metro to Háje then walk - the lake is past the main street Vystavní - $2 to enter.

Zlute Lazne is a sports and activities center in one of the most attractive natural areas on the east bank of the Vltava River. There's a large beach for river dips that includes a nudist area, beach volleyball courts, a three-on-three football cage, a climbing wall, table-tennis tables, and a pétanque area.  There's a restaurant and beer garden, frequent DJ sets and WiFi hotspots all over. Price of admission: $3-5. Take tram 3, 16, 17, or 21 to Dvorce.

First Prague Beach, (Prague 5-Smíchov) has 700 tons of imported sand along the west bank of the Vltava, a floating swimming pool in the river, beach volleyball nets, badminton and pétanque. The bar and restaurant Mirage Sun serves food and drinks late into the night, with music from DJs, and live concerts. $3 admission. Find it on the banks by the Botel Admiral, three blocks from Metro Andel station.