Smartwings: new Prague winter flights open to Venice, Bergen and Lisbon

The Smartwings 2026/2027 winter schedule further expands its Prague network: from the end of October, direct flights will start to Venice, Bergen and Lisbon, while the offer on several West and South European routes is also increasing. This news is not only important for the Czech market: for Hungarian travelers, Prague is increasingly becoming a regional starting point that is worth comparing with Budapest, Vienna and Bratislava, especially when it comes to winter city breaks, Norwegian fjords or more flexible schedules.

According to information appearing on Smartwings' fresh, own sales platforms and in Prague reports at the end of June, the airline will launch new direct flights between Prague and Venice from October 22, and between Prague and Bergen from October 26. The planned flight to Venice will operate four times a week, on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, while Bergen will be included in the schedule two days a week, on Monday and Friday. The company had previously indicated that Lisbon would also be a new Prague destination from October 23, with three flights per week.

These three routes together clearly show how the Central European winter travel market is changing. Airlines are increasingly less reliant on classic summer beach flights and are more frequently trying to make cities, cultural destinations or nature-oriented regions accessible in winter, which were previously rather seasonal or connecting options. From the perspective of Hungarian travelers, this is significant because, alongside the direct Budapest offer, several realistic alternative airports are competing for their attention.

What is changing in the Smartwings Prague schedule?

The essence of the latest announcements is that Prague will receive new direct connections planned for the entire winter season starting from autumn 2026. The Venice flight starts on October 22, with four frequencies per week. This rhythm is particularly favorable for city visits: the Thursday-Sunday or Friday-Monday combination fits well for a long weekend, while Monday flights may offer more flexible return travel for those who do not plan for just two nights.

The Bergen flight launches on October 26, twice a week. Bergen is Norway's second largest city, but its tourist significance goes beyond urban programs: it is one of the most important gateways to the western fjord region. Therefore, the direct Prague connection is not just a new northern city break, but a potential entry point for Norwegian nature trails, winter landscapes, boat trips and longer Scandinavian circuits.

In the case of Lisbon, Smartwings detailed in mid-June that it plans three direct flights per week between Prague and the Portuguese capital from October 23. The schedule counts on Monday, Wednesday and Friday operations, which is also useful for winter breaks, long weekends and travel alongside flexible work. Additionally, the airline is increasing the weekly number of flights to Porto, Bilbao and Toulouse, and is making Nice accessible year-round instead of the previous summer season.

Why is this interesting for Hungarian travelers?

At first glance, a Prague schedule expansion may seem like distant news to a Hungarian reader. In practice, however, many Hungarian travelers already compare several airports before a trip. Beside Budapest, Vienna and Bratislava have long been part of this thinking, and Prague can become a competitive option if the price, schedule, destination or the overall logistics of the trip justify the longer land access.

Prague is particularly interesting for those who would start from Western Hungary, Northern Hungary, or combine it with a multi-day Czech city visit. If someone is already traveling to Prague, Smartwings' new winter flights can be a practical continuation: after sightseeing, Venice, Lisbon or Bergen can follow, without a separate transfer. However, with such connected trips, it is always important to treat land and air segments separately, because if the passenger buys separate tickets, the connection risk resulting from delays generally remains with them.

For the Hungarian market, it is also an important message that the winter travel offer no longer consists only of skiing, Christmas markets and Mediterranean escapes. Venice often provides a more manageable experience outside the overcrowded summer period, although current entry and visiting rules should still be checked. Lisbon offers a milder climate, urban programs and Atlantic coast trips in winter. Bergen, on the other hand, can specifically appeal to those who want more from a nature-oriented northern trip rather than a classic sunny winter.

Venice: more choices, but still requires planning

Venice is already relatively easy to reach for Hungarian travelers today, whether via a direct Budapest route, or starting from Vienna or Bratislava. The Prague Smartwings flight therefore does not necessarily replace existing options, but rather provides another point of comparison. Those looking at Budapest-Venice flights should consider the total travel time, baggage costs, airport access and arrival time, not just the base fare.

The Venice Marco Polo Airport is an important gateway to the lagoon city even in winter, but due to the characteristics of local transport, the airport transfer is not as simple as in many inland cities. Getting to the city can be by water, bus connection or taxi, and the exact location of the accommodation matters a lot. Those arriving on a late evening flight are particularly recommended to check in advance how they will get to their accommodation and how much leeway the schedule allows.

The four weekly flights from Prague can be useful because they do not only think of a Friday departure. Sunday and Monday operations can provide flexibility for those who want to avoid the weekend peak, or would combine the Venice visit with other cities in Northern Italy. At the same time, due to the city's tourism rules and visitor pressure around popular periods, advance planning remains the safest strategy for Venice.

Bergen: a new northern gateway to the fjords

Bergen is a particularly interesting development because the western coast of Norway is often only reachable for Hungarian travelers via a transfer in Oslo or other Scandinavian hubs. The Bergen Airport direct Prague connection can therefore be attractive to those planning a Norwegian fjord tour, winter nature hiking or a Scandinavian city visit, and who are willing to incorporate Prague as a regional starting point into their trip.

The two weekly flights, however, require more conscious planning than a daily connection. If someone were to travel further from Bergen by ship, train or domestic flight, it is worth counting on at least one buffer night, especially given winter weather risks. Fjord region programs can be weather-dependent, the length of daylight in winter is more limited, and accommodation prices can vary greatly by the day of the week.

From a Hungarian perspective, the greatest value of the Bergen flight is not necessarily that it will be the cheapest route for everyone, but that it broadens the choice. A well-timed Prague departure can compete with a Vienna, Copenhagen or Oslo transfer solution, especially if baggage, travel days and the final program fit better.

Lisbon and the strengthening of the winter city break market

Lisbon is a strong city visitor destination even in the winter months, because the weather is often milder than in Central Europe, while the city offers cultural, gastronomic and seaside excursion opportunities. Smartwings' three weekly Prague flights indicate that the airline is not only thinking of summer Portugal, but sees overall seasonal urban demand.

Hungarian travelers should also compare several starting points here. Between Budapest, Vienna and Prague, the decision is not determined exclusively by the ticket price. The price of carry-on and checked baggage, the cost of getting to the airport, the time of departure, as well as how the return trip fits into workdays or school breaks, matter. The Budapest-Prague route can be an interesting supplement if the traveler incorporates the Czech capital into the trip, or finds a favorable Prague departure.

What should those starting from Prague pay attention to?

Using an alternative airport works well if the traveler looks not only at the flight ticket, but at the entire route. The Prague Airport has good international connections, but from a Hungarian perspective, land access adds time and cost to the trip. If someone starts by car, they must account for fuel, parking, highway tolls and winter road conditions. For train or bus solutions, appropriate leeway is important due to the schedule and potential delays.

• Do not just compare the base fare, but also baggage, seats, payment fees and airport access.
• For separate ticket travel, leave more time between the Prague arrival and the onward flight.
• For winter departures, account for weather reserves, especially for Bergen and Norwegian onward programs.
• For Venice, check local entry, transport and transfer rules in advance.
• For Lisbon, check if the return trip fits with the vacation and the journey home.

What does the expansion say about regional air transport?

The Smartwings move is part of a broader trend: Central European airports are competing more strongly for leisure passengers, and they try to offer destinations in the winter schedule that were previously less emphasized. From this perspective, Prague is not just a Czech starting point, but a regional choice. If an airline offers frequent and well-timed flights, then passengers from surrounding countries can also appear in the target audience.

From a Hungarian perspective, this does not mean that Prague is automatically a better choice than Budapest or Vienna. Rather, it means that competition is increasing for winter travel, and the conscious traveler can compare more routes. The best decision always depends on the specific date, the number of travelers, baggage requirements, the final program and the total cost.

Summary

The new Smartwings Prague winter flights to Venice, Bergen and Lisbon do not represent a revolutionary change, but a visible regional offer expansion. The most important lesson for Hungarian travelers is that when planning winter city breaks, northern nature-oriented trips and South European city visits, it is worth comparing several airports and several route logics.

In the case of Venice, the Prague flight provides another option for an already popular Italian destination. Bergen can open a more convenient gateway to the fjords for those who accept the Prague departure. Lisbon reinforces that the market for winter city visits continues to liven up. However, for a good decision, the same is still required: precise schedule check, total cost calculation and sufficient buffer time at the sensitive points of the trip.