Communism and WWII history tour
Three hours through twentieth-century Prague: occupation and resistance, the Prague Spring, the Velvet Revolution and everyday life under communism.
- Duration
- 3 h
- Format
- Walking
- Group
- Private, only your party
- Start
- Wenceslas Square or your hotel
- Walking
- Moderate
- Guide languages
- English, Spanish, Turkish
Tour code: PP-T10
Highlights
- Wenceslas Square, where 1968 and 1989 were decided
- The memorial to Jan Palach and Jan Zajíc
- The crypt of the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius and Operation Anthropoid
- The 17 November 1989 memorial on Národní třída
- The Memorial to the Victims of Communism below Petřín hill
Route and timing
0:00
Wenceslas Square
From the proclamation of Czechoslovakia to the demonstrations of 1968 and 1989.
0:45Ticket needed
Operation Anthropoid
The church crypt where the paratroopers who attacked Reinhard Heydrich made their last stand in 1942.
1:30
Národní třída
The memorial to the student march of 17 November 1989 that started the Velvet Revolution.
2:15
Memorial to the Victims of Communism
Olbram Zoubek's figures on the steps below Petřín, and what the regime meant for ordinary families.
See the stops in order on Google Maps. The final route follows your pace and your wishes.
About this tour
Most visitors come to Prague for its Gothic and baroque beauty, but the twentieth century left marks everywhere in the city: on its squares, its churches and its family stories. This tour follows them in a single walk.
Occupation and resistance
In 1939 Nazi Germany occupied Bohemia and Moravia. In 1942 Czechoslovak paratroopers trained in Britain attacked Reinhard Heydrich in Prague, one of the most daring resistance operations of the war. The crypt where they were cornered is now a national memorial, and it is one of the stops on this tour.
From 1948 to 1989
The Communist Party took power in February 1948. Twenty years later the Prague Spring was ended by the Warsaw Pact invasion of August 1968, and in January 1969 the student Jan Palach set himself on fire on Wenceslas Square in protest. The regime lasted until November 1989, when a student march on Národní třída started the Velvet Revolution.
Why walk it with a guide
The places look ordinary at first sight. A licensed guide shows you where to look, connects the events and answers the questions that come up, including the personal ones: what daily life was like, and how Czech families remember it today.
Is this tour right for you?
Walking: Moderate
Some hills, steps and cobblestones, at an easy pace with breaks.
- About 3.5 km on foot
- Some steps
- Partly suitable for wheelchair users: tell us your needs and we check each place.
- Possible with a light stroller, although a baby carrier is easier.
- A private car can take the uphill or longer parts.
Prefer less walking? Accessible Prague
Important to know
- Best time
- During the day
- Season
- All year
- Churches and synagogues ask for covered shoulders and knees.
- Cobblestones and slopes: wear comfortable shoes with a good grip.
Busy dates (May to September, Christmas and New Year) book up early, so write as soon as you know your dates.
What can be added
Tick what you would like in the form below. We check availability and list each item separately in your quote.
- Entry tickets booked in advance
- Private car between the stops
- Lunch reservation
Meeting and drop-off
- Your guide or driver meets you in your hotel lobby or at the meeting point, with a sign showing your name.
- It ends where it suits you in the centre, or a car takes you back to your hotel.
- Your confirmation includes the names of your guide and driver and a contact number for the day.
Your guide and driver
A licensed guide with the Czech National Guide Card leads your tour. The guides we work with speak English, Spanish and Turkish, and other languages depending on availability.
Guides, drivers and venues are specialist partners we have worked with for years. You receive their details 24 hours in advance.
Practical information for your tripCombine it with
Frequently asked questions
Is the tour suitable for teenagers?
Yes. School groups are among our most frequent guests for this topic, and the guide adapts the content to the age and the curriculum.
Can we visit a Cold War bunker or a museum?
Yes. Tell us your interests and we add a museum or another site to the route and buy the tickets in advance.
Can the tour be done in another language?
We work with licensed guides in several languages. Tell us your preference when you ask for the quote.
- Licensed guides only
- Experienced local teams
- Licensed transport partners
- One written, itemised quote
- Reply the same business day
Ask about this tour
Send your preferred date and group size. We confirm availability and send a written quote.
What happens next
- 1
Tell us
Fill in the short form or write an email: dates, group, interests and anything we should know.
- 2
Get your plan
We reply the same business day with a proposed programme and a written, itemised quote.
- 3
Enjoy Prague
Confirm by email and we take care of every booking. You get your driver and guide details 24 hours before.
We reply by email the same business day (Monday to Saturday, 9:00 to 18:00 Prague time).
Asking costs nothing and commits you to nothing. The cancellation terms of each service are written in your quote. Cancellation policy