Living Prague

My general advice for people who want one of the "look around" city Prague tours is to do one of the Architectural tours as basically you will be walking around the most interesting parts of Prague and you'll get more knowledge than the regular city tour but, I do recommend a bus tour if you don't fancy the architectural stuff. Buses vary a great deal so, if you go into the organised Prague tours booths to book a bus tour it's worth finding out what type of bus you will get i.e. the "plastic side windows" buses are great in Summer and Autumn when rolled up but are not so great in winter or in the rain. If you are just turning up without booking then it's best to go to the road outside the "Municipal House" at Republic Square as the main tour operators have booths and pick-up points here.


Personal Guides

A Personal Prague Guide. Informative and entertaining walks with your Personal Prague Guide at www.prague-guide.info. Tailor made Prague tours and tours of the Czech Republic and Eastern Europe. Quality service, flexible intinerary, friendly care and reasonable prices (recommended by Travels with Friends and Rick Steves). Regularly gets good reviews on the message boards. One-woman company that has grown but, still keeps a personal touch.
Alternative private tours. Art of Your Travel is an up-and-coming Prague tours organiser specalising in original Prague tours such as the GHOST TOUR WITH WHITE WITCH and the TRABANT CAR tour. They offer Prague tours especially tailored to your needs. They offer additional services such as transfers and accommodation. They can arrange Stag weekends not only in Prague, but also in Krakow and Bratislava. "Our work is your holiday"!


Prague Tours companies and their offers

I have to point out that the standard of Prague tours guide services varies wildly depending on the season and the guides themselves. I say this because during the Summer, there is an increase in part-time work for students. Emphasis is on the language rather than the content of the tour. Companies list their Prague tour guides as "Professional" i.e. this should be the only job they do but, don't ask for qualifications and references. There are 3 organised tour operators (by bus) that I have recommended since I started the webpage and they are;

• Martin Tour. www.martintour.cz
• Premiant. www.premiant.cz (10% online reservation discount)
• City Tours. www.citytours.cz

These are the major organised Prague tours carriers here in Prague offering basically the same Prague bus tours but with slight changes here and there which I point out if applicable. I don't publish prices as they often change and I can't keep it up to date. Note that the castle season runs from April to October. In the winter months, some castles will open for large groups or only at the weekends.

For Jewish organised Prague tours i.e Jewish Cemetery, Synagogue etc, I recommend Wittmann Tours (www.wittmann-tours.com) as this company is known locally for it's informative Jewish tours. It does small groups and single hire. For people interested in exploring more of the Jewish culture in Prague then go to the Chabad Prague (www.chabadprague.cz) website which has at least one link to a Hebrew speaking Prague tours guide.

City tours. These Prague tours can be broken down into three groups, Bus only, Bus and walk or walk. From the "75 mins on a bus tour" to a 4 hour "bus and foot" tour. Personally I would go for one of the "super tours" offered in the walking Prague tours section but, if pushed for a bus tour option, I would go for the Martin Tours "Grand City Tour" for 3.5hrs including 70 mins in the castle complex. Where you see words like "Grand" city tour, it means you are spending more time at the castle.

Prague by night. Biggest waste of money in my own opinion. Three or four hour organised Prague tours often combined with a dinner boat trip going down river to Vysehrad which is not the most well-lit area. 25 minutes is in the locks going up and down the levels (this is where the meal is usually served so there's no great view anyway). Then a bus ride around the narrow streets so you again don't see anything much. Put the money towards a meal at a nice rooftop restaurant if you really want to see Prague by night.

Jewish Quarter. I've already listed my suggested company for Jewish organised Prague tours. All other companies tend to start in the Old Town Square where you see the gothic "Stone House" and then you have a little walk around Parizska to the Old/New Synagogue and culminates in the Old Jewish Cemetery.

Prague River cruise. Based on three Prague tours, lunch trip, evening trip with dinner, evening trip without dinner. Prices obviously differ per trip but, basically you will be on a 400 metre lap (the distance from the Hotel Intercontinental to the Charles Bridge or down the canal to Vysehrad as described earlier. Don't expect any long trip down the river unless you are aiming for Slapy or a trip to Troja Zoo which takes you away from the centre.

Glass Factory. Unless it specifies the Moser factory organised tour in Karlovy Vary then you'll be going to Beroun or Podebrady. Interesting if you like the whole process but often more than half the tour is time allowed in the shop. If you want the whole Karlovy Vary Spa, thermal pool, Moser glass, Becherovka trip then look at Premiant tour 13. It will be a heavy day.

Pub Prague tours. This is not a brewery tour. The beauty of the pub Prague tours is the make-up of the group as opposed to the bars. Good groups equals good pub tours. Prague tours are between 600kc-700kc (3 or 4 hours) and generally include a gulash meal or something like it but, if you walked into the bars on your own the beer would cost you max 150kc. This and the "ghost tour" formats are good for first night organised Prague tours when you are still finding your way and are interested in meeting others.

Karlovy Vary. The most famous of the "Spa Towns" also known as Karlsbad, it has been around since the 14th century for people to try one or more of the 12 hot springs available. I recommend the Martin Tour because it gives you an extra hour (10 hours) and includes the Moser glass factory tour as well as the chance to swim in the pool at the Thermal Hotel. Lunch optional. You'll enjoy the walk through the Kolonades and try the springs (some of them are VERY hot).

Cesky Krumlov. UNESCO listed town founded in the 13th century. Seat of the Schwarzenberg and Rosenberg families, the castle is the second largest in the country after Prague. Most tours will take 10/11 hours and concentrate on the castle and gardens i.e. the theatre. Premiant's organised tour is more expensive but, includes lunch. If you have looked about public transport options for CK, unless you are on a tight budget, the organised tour is better. Even if you only use the coach to get there and back and do your own thing while your there, you'll save a lot of time and hassle with the bus.

Plzen Brewery (www.prazdroj.cz). The home of Pilsner as the world knows it. The brewery has existed since 1295 and has brewed the most popular beer in the world since 1842. City Tours does the better Plzen Brewery tour (Monday to Friday) with a 7 hour excursion to Plzen. Be careful doing this as a solo private trip as often the Plzen brewery only admits scheduled groups. If you are looking for a Prague brewery tour, try the Novomestsky mini-Tour (www.npivovar.cz) here in Prague in the street called Vodickova. Before 6pm the tour is in Czech and after 6pm the tour is in English and currently costs 60kc per person (minimum two people). Another option is the Pivovarsky Dum (Beer House) details at www.gastroinfo.cz/pivodum.

Telc. A UNESCO heritage town. Premiant offers an organised tour to this town (April to October) and the nearby town of Slavonice. Although not popular yet, look out for any trips to the town of Policka as this is what Telc would have looked like 20 years ago i.e. without the coffee shops. If you go there by car, park in the car park next to the petrol station "P-Centrum" then walk up the road and opposite the Hotel Anton is a gate to the park. Very pleasant to walk through the park and emerge onto the square rather than just park right on the square. The Telc Tourist Office is under the arches on the right. Go right to the end of the square, down the small road, cross the small bridge and bear right (this takes you around the small pond and back across the wood bridge from the town of Belp).

Karlstejn Castle tour. Closed on Monday but open 9am-5pm on other days. Undoubtedly the most picturesque of the castles around Prague. This 16th Century Gothic example, only 16 miles south-west of Prague, housed the Bohemian Crown Jewels until 1420. It is VERY popular with tourists and Prague tours are run in a variety of different languages. Most Prague tours companies do this as a half-day four hour tour as travel from the centre to the castle takes about 30 minutes. There is a good option for travelling to Karlstejn by train if you want to do the castle tour on your own.

Konopiste Castle Tour. (closed on Monday), open 9am-5pm on other days. This Baroque castle (30 miles south-east of Prague) had neo-gothic embellishments added late in the last century, which give it an odd appearance in some aspects (some say it has the appearance of a French chateau). Internal Castle organised tours of various parts of the castle are available at different prices and languages. In 1887 the castle became the property of Arch Duke Ferdinand (whose later assassination caused the start of the first world war). One of the major attractions is the 225 hectare estate which is covered by woodland and landscaped gardens. Still has bears in the moat.

NOTE: Martin Tour offers a combined Konopiste Castle tour and Benesov Brewery tour (5 hours). Premiant offers a combined Konopiste and Karlstejn option (8 hours, lunch included).Martin Tours Karlstejn-only tour is more expensive than Premiant but, includes lunch.

Kutna Hora (Sedlec). (avoid Mondays) The Bohemian economic capital 60km east of Prague (the Mint was located here, thanks to the silver deposits) is a nice choice for a half or whole day tour. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1992, many people will be coming on this tour to visit the St Barbara Cathedral or Sedlec. A suburb of Kutna Hora, Sedlec is the location of the "Bone Church". Technically known as an ossuary (a receptacle for the bones of the dead), the All Saints chapel was used to store the bones of plague victims and others from the 14th Century onwards. It was bought by the Schwarzenberg family who employed a woodcarver called Frantisek Rint to perform some of the renovations. It was he who then turned the cellar of the chapel into what can be seen today. There is an entry charge and an extra charge if you want to take pictures. Organised tours are generally for 5 hours and Premiant guarantee entry to the St Barbara Cathedral, Royal Mint and Ossuary. If you drive on your own you can park right outside on a meter. Take a few coins.

Jewish Tour Terezin. Originally built as a fortress against the northern Prussians, the German Gestapo turned it into a transit camp in 1940. A true Ghetto in many senses, you will not find the long huts and barbed wire so common in other "camps". All major Prague tour operators offer 5 hour trips for just over 1000kc. For this I recommend the Jewish tours specialist company Wittmann Tours (www.wittmann-tours.com).


Organised Walking Tour companies and their offers for Prague tours

Don't forget to take your FREE walking tour from Living Prague.

There are a couple of companies offering organised walking Prague tours and I know the offer of Prague Walks (www.praguewalks.com) and Walks.cz (www.walks.cz) the best. It's a case of take your pick between the two as they both offer similar walking Prague tours like the Jewish Quarter, Kafka, Prague Castle/Cathedral, Architecture, Pub tour etc. Both companies now offer a six hour super tour or Grand Walk de Lux encompassing walks through the major tourist centres, a short boat trip and a tram ride up the hill to the rear of the castle. The super tours are about 1000kc but, you also get complimentary tickets to the evening "Legends of Prague" or "Ghost Trail" depending on the company (I've done the ghost trail single tour and it's good fun). Walks.cz offers a 4 for 3 deal on Prague tours and there is a printable 10% coupon. Most regular Prague tours are around 90 mins to 2 hours and cost 300kc. Two other companies are Prague Walking Tours (www.praguewalkingtours.cz) (bit expensive) and Praguer (www.praguer.com/citywalks).

Czech Walking (www.czechwalking.com) has Prague tours combined with Cultural tours both inside and outside of Prague. Features trips out of CZ as well.

Pub Prague Tours. As written previously, the Pub Prague tours in Prague really depend on the group. I recommend the organised walking tour offered by www.walks.cz. It's by request i.e. they have to have 4 or more people to run the tour, it lasts three hours and costs @350kc. Considering the average Czech beer costs less than 30kc (even in central Prague) it will be difficult to drink your moneys worth but, this will give you the chance to drink in places that you would not ordinarily have visited. Take my advice, drink only light beer or dark beer, don't mix.


Organised Bike Prague Tours (Normally April to November but some all-year)

There are a couple of tour operators offering different choices of bike Prague tours. Praha Bike (www.prahabike.cz) offer mainly guided bike tours around Prague (2.5 hours for 15 Euros) but, also short bike tours outside of Prague for about 100-150 Euros. They also offer solo bike-hire Prague tours (without guide) the whole year round. They also have a 7-seat bike which is quite fun.

Bicycle Tours (www.bicycle-tours.cz) is aimed more at people wanting bike tours to be the focus of the holiday and not just an option. Tours are at least 6 nights long with options for travelling into surrounding contries. Costs are equivalent to a regular three star hotel in Prague i.e. 600-700 Euros for a week. If you are on your own then you pay the supplement for a double room. Two people sharing means no supplement cost. Bike hire is extra above the published price.

Top Bicycle (www.topbicycle.com) is also aimed at the bicycle holiday tour. It's the online version of the "Greenways Travel Club" in existence since 1996. Guided and self-guided bike tours in the Czech Republic.

Finally, although not organised Prague tours, a great site has started at www.laduv-kraj.cz. It lists details of route numbers 20 to 30 which are in South-East Prague. As well as a good map it also lists route details like total length, length between villages, altitude and accommodation/attractions along the way. Multi-language site.


Prague tours in Classic cars and carriages

Around the Old Town Square (normally in Male Namesti) you'll find a couple of open-air classic cars (for 7 or 8 people) or maybe an old sports car (for 3 or 4 people). Prices in 2008 were 250kc per person for one of their 30 minute Prague tours around the centre of town. In Malostranske Namesti you'll find the same thing but it's a 40 minute tour. There's another old car sometimes seen in the same places which will hire the whole car for an hour for @1000kc. On the Old Town Square you'll find the horse drawn carriage tours. Prices are @800kc for Prague tours using the whole carriage for a 20 minute ride.


Assorted Links

As well as the links above you'll also find some interesting places below:

Czech Heritage (National Monuments including Prague).
Domavcr - (Not for Tourists)
Number 91 "Tourist" Tram
Macabre Prague

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