Smartwings: New Winter Flights from Prague to Bergen and Venice

According to a recent announcement from Smartwings, two new direct routes will be added to the Prague offering in the 2026/2027 winter schedule: Venice will be available via direct flight from October 22, and Bergen from October 26. While this news does not concern departures from Hungary, it may still be of interest to Hungarian travelers, as Prague can be a realistic alternative airport for many, especially when prices, schedules, and transfers from Budapest or Vienna do not provide a good solution for a winter city break or a trip to Norway.

The airline announced on June 25 that it is further expanding its scheduled network from the Czech capital. The new Prague-Venice flight starts on October 22, 2026, four times a week, on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The Prague-Bergen flight launches on October 26, 2026, with two frequencies per week, on Mondays and Fridays. These dates are important because both routes arrive specifically for the winter schedule period, when some Central European travelers are no longer looking for classic summer vacations, but rather long weekends, Advent city visits, skiing, fjord region trips, or more flexible flight combinations.

This announcement does not stand alone. Smartwings recently indicated that it will launch a direct Prague flight to Lisbon starting October 23, while increasing the number of flights to Porto, Bilbao, and Toulouse from two to three per week, and Nice will become available year-round after previous seasonal operations. The current Bergen and Venice expansion is thus part of a broader Prague network development: the Czech capital is strengthening not only as a starting point but also as a regional alternative for winter European travel.

What exactly changes in the winter schedule?

The four-day-a-week rhythm of the planned Prague flight to Venice is specifically tailored for city breaks. Due to the Thursday, Friday, and Sunday flights, long weekend trips are easier to organize, and the Monday frequency may be useful for those who would prefer not to choose the most crowded weekend return journey. Venice in winter is a completely different destination than in summer: there is less heat, the dynamics of accommodation prices are different, and the city's cultural programs, museums, and islands can be explored more comfortably by many travelers outside the peak season. However, due to the weather, periodic high water levels, and local visitor regulations, it is still advisable to check daily programs in advance.

In the case of Bergen, the two flights per week support a different type of travel. The Norwegian city is the second largest settlement in the country and often appears in itineraries as the gateway to the fjord region. Monday and Friday departures can be used for shorter city visits, longer Norwegian circuits, or even winter nature-oriented programs, but when planning, the season, daylight hours, weather, and local transport are particularly important. The area around Bergen is spectacular in winter, but it does not require the same travel logic as a Mediterranean city break: it needs more buffer time, a flexible program, and appropriate clothing.

The Smartwings sales manager emphasized in the announcement that the expansion of scheduled flights serves to strengthen Prague connections, and Bergen and Venice are popular tourist destinations. This phrasing is also important for the Hungarian reader: the airline is talking about scheduled network building, not an isolated seasonal charter. Even so, the current schedule, fare packages, baggage conditions, and any changes must be checked before every booking, as airlines may refine capacity based on demand in the winter schedule.

Why could this be interesting for Hungarian travelers?

From a Hungarian perspective, Prague is not an obvious starting point for every trip, but in certain situations, it can be very competitive. For those starting from Western Hungary, Northern Transdanubia, or a Central European route involving multiple cities, Prague Airport can sometimes be a point of comparison just like Vienna. The choice between Budapest Airport, Vienna Airport, and Prague Airport then depends not only on the airfare: the cost of ground transport, parking, baggage, departure day, return time, and whether the traveler builds their trip with a single ticket or separate bookings all matter.

In the case of Venice, Hungarian travelers already have several comparison options. Those who would depart directly from Hungary should keep an eye on flights between Budapest and Venice, while travelers from Western Hungary often include flights between Vienna and Venice in their search. The Prague Smartwings flight can be a viable alternative if someone already starts their journey in Prague, combines the Venice visit with a Czech or Slovakian program, or finds a schedule combination that is more favorable in terms of total travel cost.

Bergen is a different scenario. Flight options to the Norwegian city can be sought from Budapest and Vienna as well, typically with transfers or combinations that vary depending on seasonal offerings. The pricing, travel time, and connection convenience of the Budapest-Bergen and Vienna-Bergen routes can differ significantly by period. A direct flight from Prague can become attractive if the passenger is willing to include ground transport in the equation, and the total journey thus results in fewer transfers, better timing, or a more predictable schedule.

Venice in Winter: Not Just an Italian Weekend, But a Planning Matter

Demand for Venice from Central Europe remains consistently strong, as the city can be interpreted as a short trip yet provides a unique experience. The advantage of the winter period is that summer heat and peak-season crowds are often milder, while the city's cultural offerings remain strong. The disadvantage is that shorter days, seasonal opening hours, and weather risks can better influence the program. Those arriving by plane should plan their transport into the city from Venice Marco Polo Airport in advance, especially for late evening arrivals or early morning departures.

The four-day-a-week distribution of the Prague flight is useful because it allows for more than just classic Friday-Sunday trips. A Thursday departure can provide a longer weekend, and Monday can offer more flexible return or outbound planning. This is often worth more for city breaks than a flight ticket that is initially cheaper but departs at an inconvenient time. Hungarian travelers should, however, look at the entire route: if there is a more direct, cheaper, or time-advantageous flight from Budapest or Vienna, then Prague is not necessarily the better choice, just another option in the search.

Bergen and the Fjord Region: Attractive, But Not a Spontaneous Destination

Bergen may be particularly interesting for those who are not looking for a conventional winter city break. The city is one of the most important gateways to the Norwegian west coast, from where fjord tours, rail and ship combinations, nature-oriented programs, and longer circuits can begin. The direct Prague flight can shorten the planning for those who previously looked at the Norwegian route via multiple transfers through Copenhagen, Oslo, Amsterdam, or other European hubs.

Norway, however, is a costly destination, so the airfare is only one item. Accommodation, local transport, dining, excursions, baggage, and insurance together make up the real cost. Bergen Airport and the Bergen airport transfer options can be important right at the start of the trip, as a late arrival or early departure in Norway can easily make ground transport more expensive. Due to the two flights per week, the length of stay is less flexible than on a major city route operating with multiple daily frequencies.

What Should Those Departing from Prague Pay Attention To?

The first question is not whether the Prague ticket is cheaper, but whether the total trip is better. From Hungary, one can reach Prague by car, train, bus, or flight combination, but each has its cost and risk. With separate bookings, it is particularly important that the airline is not necessarily responsible for missing the next flight due to ground delays or a slip in the first leg. If someone flies from Budapest to Prague first and then continues on a separate ticket, they need a larger time buffer than with a transfer issued on a single ticket.

Searching for Budapest-Prague and Vienna-Prague routes can help assess whether a Prague departure is realistic for the given dates. Additionally, Prague airport transfers and hotels near Prague Airport may be considered if the passenger arrives the day before or does not want to undertake a long ground journey on the day of departure due to an early flight. An overnight stay in Prague often makes the trip more comfortable, but it is only worth it if the additional accommodation and transfer costs do not cancel out the savings achieved on the airfare.

What Does This Mean for the Regional Aviation Market?

Smartwings' move shows that Central European airports are trying to build stronger city-break and leisure offerings even in winter. Prague is both a competitor and a complement to Budapest and Vienna. Competition can benefit the passenger, as more departure points, more travel days, and more routes can be included in the price comparison. At the same time, more options mean more planning responsibility: the cheapest ticket is not always the best choice if getting to the airport is expensive, the transfer is risky, or the schedule requires paying for an extra night.

The Prague expansion is particularly noteworthy because Smartwings is adding not only a Mediterranean destination but also a Northern, fjord-region route. Venice is a city-break destination easily understood by wide audiences, while Bergen is more of a conscious, nature-oriented, and higher-cost trip. The two routes together indicate that winter demand is not uniform: there is a need for short cultural trips, as well as a need for more unique Northern experiences.

Practical Conclusion

Smartwings' new Prague-Venice and Prague-Bergen flights do not automatically replace departures from Budapest or Vienna, but they expand the options for Hungarian travelers. The news is most useful for those who search flexibly, compare multiple airports, and look not only at the ticket price but at the total travel cost. In the case of Venice, the four flights per week can bring more convenient long weekends, while in the case of Bergen, the two direct Prague connections can make a rarer Northern route simpler.

Before booking, it is advisable to check the airline's current schedule, baggage and modification conditions, airport access, accommodation prices, and weather characteristics. The current announcement is good news from the regional offering perspective, but the best decision remains date-, price-, and route-dependent. For Hungarian travelers, the main message is simple: when planning winter European trips, Prague is increasingly an alternative departure point that is worth including in the comparison alongside Budapest and Vienna.