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Offered languages
- English
- English
The 1900s in Prague were defined by extraordinary upheaval: Nazi occupation, Soviet tanks, and a peaceful revolution that brought it all to an end. On this self-guided audio tour, you’ll find out how totalitarianism, resistance, and an unlikely transformation shaped one of Europe’s most architecturally rich capitals. The tour begins at Republic Square, where the Art Nouveau Municipal House marks the spot where Czechoslovakia declared independence in 1918. You’ll walk through Celetná Street into the Old Town Square, passing buildings that survived war and communist neglect. You’ll find out how the city’s famous café culture was deliberately suppressed. I’ll tell you the story of František Stadler, whose fashion store was one of many private enterprises that was confiscated – first after the Nazi takeover, and later by the communist government. The tour ends at the statue of Saint Wenceslas, where playwright-turned-president Václav Havel addressed 200,000 people in the square.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
This tour starts at Republic Square. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.
Tour ends at Saint Wenceslas and National Museum.
Itinerary
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Municipal house (Pass by)
Stand before one of Prague's most celebrated Art Nouveau buildings, its mosaic-covered facade and grand dome announcing the ambitions of a city on the verge of independence. Step closer to explore the ornate details that made this the chosen stage for Czechoslovakia's declaration of independence in 1918.
Admission ticket free -
House of the Black Madonna (Pass by)
Marvel at this striking Cubist building rising unexpectedly from the medieval streetscape of Celetná Street, its angular geometry a bold statement from a city that embraced modernism even as it fought to preserve its past. Pause here to consider the conservation battle that was lost — and what Prague's streets might have looked like if it had been won.
Admission ticket free -
Old Town Square (Pass by)
Walk into one of Europe's most storied public spaces, ringed by Gothic churches, Baroque palaces, and the famous Astronomical Clock that has marked the hours since 1410. Look beyond the beauty to find the layers beneath — this square has witnessed executions, Nazi rallies, and the euphoria of liberation.
Admission ticket free -
Café Louvre (Pass by)
Pass the elegant facade of one of Prague's oldest surviving coffeehouses, a place where Einstein, Kafka, and the city's intellectual circle once gathered to argue and create. Learn how the communist regime deliberately shuttered spaces like this, cutting off a centuries-old tradition of free thought and civic conversation.
Admission ticket free -
Velvet Revolution Memorial (Pass by)
Stop at the quiet but powerful memorial on Národní Street, where a cluster of bronze hands reaching upward marks the spot where a student march in November 1989 met police batons — and changed the course of history. Run your fingers across the relief and consider how quickly a single night of protest became a revolution.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Watch as forty-two polished stainless steel layers shift and spin to form — and dissolve — the face of Prague's most famous literary son. Černý's monumental kinetic sculpture captures something essential about Kafka himself: an identity constantly in motion, never quite resolving into something fixed.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Stroll through the grand arcaded interior of this early 20th-century entertainment complex, built by entrepreneur Václav Havel Sr. — grandfather of the playwright who would one day become president. Notice Černý's absurdist sculpture of a horse hanging upside down from the ceiling, a sardonic nod to the equestrian statue of Saint Wenceslas visible just up the square.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Admire the clean lines of this Socialist Realist building on Wenceslas Square, completed in 1958 as a showcase of communist prestige — and concealing a remarkable secret beneath it. Descend, if you choose, into the Cold War nuclear bunker built to shelter Party officials, now open as a museum and one of Prague's most unexpected attractions.
Admission ticket free -
Vaclavske NamEsti (Pass by)
Arrive at the broad, sloping boulevard that has served as Prague's stage for its most defining moments — Nazi occupation, Soviet invasion, and the Velvet Revolution. Look up toward the National Museum and the statue of Saint Wenceslas, where Václav Havel addressed 200,000 people as a dictatorship ended and a new chapter began.
Admission ticket free -
National Museum (Pass by)
Approach the neoclassical grandeur of this 19th-century landmark anchoring the top of Wenceslas Square, its facade still bearing faint scars from Soviet tank fire in 1968. Seek out the small cross near its base marking the spot where student Jan Palach set himself alight in January 1969 — a solitary, shattering act of protest against occupation that Prague has never forgotten.
Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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