Prague: Literary & History walking tour with local guide

Summary

Follow Prague’s writers & rebels from New Town to Old Town

You’ll walk Prague’s literary streets with a local guide who brings Kafka, Kundera, and resistance heroes to life. Expect stories in hidden corners, a pause inside the Heydrich crypt, river views most tourists miss, plus plenty of small details you’ll remember long after the tour ends.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed on Charles Square wasn’t the buildings — it was the way people moved around the park, like they’d been doing it forever. Our guide, Petr, waved us over with a folded map and this half-smile that said he’d seen every kind of tourist. He started right in, telling us about how this place used to be a noisy market where you could buy anything from bread to scandalous books (he winked at that). The air smelled faintly of linden trees and something sweet from a bakery nearby — I kept getting distracted by it while Petr talked about Kundera and how Prague always seems to hide its best stories in plain sight.

We wandered through streets that felt both familiar and strange, passing little plaques for writers I’d never heard of. At one point, Petr stopped us outside a window and asked if we knew what “defenestration” meant. Someone guessed wrong; he laughed and explained how Prague has this weird history of tossing people out windows — not exactly what you expect on a literary tour, but somehow it fit. The city’s got layers like that. We took a break at the Church of Sts. Cyril and Methodius. The crypt was cool and quiet, almost heavy with all that history — I caught myself holding my breath reading the names of the resistance fighters.

I didn’t expect to end up on a river island, but there we were, looking back at Prague’s skyline while Petr pointed out rooftops where Kafka might’ve walked or dreamed up his stories. There was this moment when the light hit the water just right and everything went quiet except for some distant tram bell — I still think about that view sometimes. The last stretch into Old Town was all cobbles underfoot and snippets of overheard Czech from people passing by. By then my feet hurt but my head was full of odd facts (and maybe too much pastry). So yeah, if you’re into books or just want to see Prague through someone else’s eyes for an afternoon, this day trip is worth it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Prague Literary & Historical Tour

• Start at Charles Square
• Break at Church of Sts. Cyril and Methodius crypt
• Visit river island viewpoint
• Explore Old Town cobbled streets

Top questions

Where does the Prague literary & history walking tour start?

The tour begins on Charles Square (Karlovo Namesti) in New Town.

Does this tour include visiting the Heydrich assassins’ crypt?

Yes, there is a 15-minute break at the Church of Sts. Cyril and Methodius to visit the crypt.

Is this walking tour suitable for all fitness levels?

The tour is recommended for people in good health but is suitable for all physical fitness levels.

Are maps provided during the literary walking tour?

Yes, maps are provided during the tour.

Does the tour end near Old Town Square?

The route finishes among Old Town’s winding cobbled streets, not far from Old Town Square.

Are service animals allowed on this Prague walking tour?

Yes, service animals are allowed on this tour.

Is public transportation available near the meeting point?

Yes, public transportation options are available nearby Charles Square.

What’s included

Your day includes a printed map handed out by your local guide at Charles Square. Along the way you’ll get stories about famous writers and resistance fighters, entry into the crypt at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church for a reflective pause, plus time spent exploring both river viewpoints and Old Town’s winding streets before finishing near Old Town Square.