Prague: Medieval Underground & Dungeon Ghost Tour

The Executioner, the Golem, and What Lies Beneath Prague's Streets

You walk Prague's haunted Old Town and Jewish Ghetto by lantern light with a costumed guide, hearing documented histories of executions, the Inquisition, and the Golem legend. You descend into 13th-century medieval underground tunnels, meet a plague doctor, and enter a candlelit dungeon with actual torture and execution instruments on display. All entry fees are included, and the tour lasts roughly two hours with a small group.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Prague Old Town Square5m
2. Paris Street3m

Prague ghost stories and medieval sites

• Start at Prague Underground and Ghost tours office
• Hear about Astronomical clock creator's fate
• Learn about priest's fate and Oldtown executions
• Meet executioner Jan Mydlář and hear Friday 13th story
• Discover legends of gothic church and dead astronomer
• Walk dark lanes of Oldtown and Jewish Ghetto by lantern light
• Hear story of the Golem monster
• Learn about murder of St. Wenceslas
• Explore Prague's medieval underground history
• Hear tales of headless bride and angry merchant
• See gothic church and abandoned cemetery
• Visit medieval underground and meet plague doctor
• See secret alchemy laboratory and hear Golem story
• Enter Dungeon and learn about medieval torture methods

The experience

Our guide was running five minutes late, which meant we stood outside the ticket office in the cold watching other groups shuffle past, and honestly that's when it hit me. We were about to spend two hours underground in a medieval dungeon. Not the kind of thing you want to rush into. When she arrived in full period costume, lantern in hand, she didn't apologize. She just said the delay meant fewer crowds ahead, and we'd have the narrow streets mostly to ourselves. That turned out to matter.

The tour starts at Prague Old Town Square, where the guide walks you through the actual history before you go anywhere dark. She pointed out where the 1621 executions happened (the ones that made Friday the 13th unlucky across Europe, apparently), and told us about the Astronomical Clock's creator and his fate during the Inquisition. These aren't ghost stories dressed up. They're documented events that happened in the streets you're standing in. Then you move into the Old Town's narrow lanes and the former Jewish Ghetto, walking by lantern light past gothic churches and an abandoned cemetery tucked into alleys. The Golem legend comes up here. The creature made from clay and brought to life, hidden in a secret alchemy laboratory. It's the kind of story that sounds like folklore until you're standing in the actual alley where it supposedly happened.

The medieval underground is where the tour shifts. You descend into tunnels from the 13th and 14th centuries and meet a costumed plague doctor who explains what life looked like down there: the epidemics that killed thousands, the devastating floods that reshaped Prague's entire layout, how people actually lived and died in these spaces. It's not just atmosphere. The guide gives you real historical context about why Prague has underground at all. Then comes the Dungeon, lit by candlelight, where you see actual medieval torture and execution instruments on display. The executioner Jan Mydlář is the focus here: his methods, his life, the gruesome details of how public executions worked in 1621. It's uncomfortable in the way it's meant to be.

The whole thing runs about two hours, and the guide stays in character throughout but never lets the costume get in the way of the actual history. Groups stay small, which is why that five-minute delay mattered. You're not shuffling through in a crowd of thirty. Comfortable shoes are essential. There are stairs, uneven stone floors, and tight passages. You can book online up to 30 minutes before departure, and photos are allowed, though video needs special permission. Not suitable if you have claustrophobia or serious heart issues, and children under six aren't allowed: the content and the physical space both rule that out.

What’s included

Your tour includes a live costumed guide who leads you through Prague's Old Town and former Jewish Ghetto by lantern light, entry to the 13th and 14th-century medieval underground tunnels, access to the candlelit dungeon with medieval torture and execution instruments on display, and all attraction fees. The guide stays in character throughout but provides documented historical context about the 1621 executions, the Inquisition, the Golem legend, the plague doctor, and the floods that reshaped Prague's layout.

Options for this experience

2 options

German-language guided option10 departure times: the first at 13:55, the last at 21:10

English-language guided option13 departure times: the first at 13:50, the last at 21:20

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day23 departure times: the first at 13:50, the last at 21:20

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Under 6: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.Operator's directions: “STARTING POINT INFO: Please arrive 5-10 min before the start (but not earlier) to Check-In at the Starting Point-Ticket Office, which is located INSIDE the Passage at the Address Male Namesti Square Nr.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditions

Operated by Prague Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want Prague's dark history told by someone who knows the stories and the spaces: the costumed guide and small-group format mean you're not herded through with fifty other people, and the medieval underground and dungeon are included rather than charged separately.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

In German, with 10 departure times. In English, with 13 departure times.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (6 to 11 years). Under 6: they can't be included in the booking.

How long is the Prague ghost and dungeon tour?

Approximately two hours, though timing can vary by 10–15 minutes depending on group size.

What's included in the ticket price?

Live costumed guide, entry to the medieval underground, access to the dungeon with torture instruments on display, and all attraction fees.

Can I book the tour online?

Yes, online tickets can be purchased up to 30 minutes before the tour starts.

What should I wear?

Comfortable walking shoes are essential. The tour involves stairs, uneven medieval stone, and tight underground passages.

Can I take photos or video?

Photos are allowed. Video recording requires special permission from the guide.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

No. The tour involves stairs, narrow passages, and uneven terrain unsuitable for wheelchairs or strollers.

Who was Jan Mydlář?

The executioner of the infamous 1621 Old Town executions. The dungeon section focuses on his methods and the history of medieval execution in Prague.

What is the Golem legend about?

A creature made from clay and brought to life, said to be hidden in a secret alchemy laboratory in the Old Town. The guide covers the legend while walking through the Jewish Ghetto.

Is this tour recommended for people with claustrophobia?

No. The medieval underground and dungeon involve confined spaces and tight passages that would be uncomfortable or unsafe for anyone with claustrophobia.