Prague Private Tour and Museum of Communism with transfer
Description
Enjoy this private custom tour of Prague, which includes the visit to the Museum of Communism. The rest of the tour is fully customizable, we usually follow the footsteps of the demonstrations of the Velvet Revolution and spots related to the Prague Spring of 1968, and other spots related to the Communist era, such as the spot on the hill where the giant statue of Stalin used to oversee Prague from. However, it is also possible to visit the monuments of the historic center of Prague.
Tour Options
Itinerary
This is where the peaceful student demonstrations of the Velvet Revolution started in 1989.
The square has witnessed many key events in recent Czech history. During the Prague Spring in 1968, the clashes with the Soviet armored units took place here, you can see the bullet holes in the walls of the National Museum preserved until this day. In November 1989 a protest rally in the square against police brutality led to the Velvet Revolution and the overthrow of Communism. Originally a horse market, today it is lined with hotels, restaurants, clubs, and shops. A big equestrian statue of St. Wenceslas that looks the length of the square from in front of the National Museum was erected in 1912. We will also pass by the Jalta hotel where STB, the secret police was eavesdropping on the foreign diplomats and businessmen who were often accommodated in there.
The National Museum was a silent witness of the clashes with the Soviet occupation army which took place at the Wenceslas Square during the Prague Spring in August 1968. You can still see the bullet holes in its walls - they were preserved as a memento during the recent renovation.
The worst beating by the police force during the Velvet Revolution in 1989 took place here. The police blocked the side streets and formed a narrow cordon. Whoever wanted to escape, had to pass through and received a heavy beating on the way.
The museum provides a suggestive view of the following aspects of life in Communist-era Czechoslovakia: daily life, politics, history, sports, economics, education, art (specifically Socialist Realism), propaganda in the media, the People’s Militias, the army, the police (including the secret police, the StB), censorship, and courts and other institutes of repression, including show trials and political labor camps during the Stalinist era. It focuses in particular on the totalitarian regime that ruled the country from the February putsch in 1948 until the Velvet Revolution in 1989.
Enjoy a great panoramic view of Prague from the spot where a giant statue of Josip Stalin was overseeing its Czechoslovak underlings. Shortly after its installment, Nikita Chruscev revealed Stalin's atrocities in his famous speech, and Stalin's monument was removed. Only the monument's base survived to the present day, a big metronome was installed on it instead of the statue and the location became a popular viewpoint for young people dating or showing their skateboarding skills.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Your private guide will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel or a place of your choice in Prague. The tour ends at your hotel or a place of your choice in the city center.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- A moderate amount of walking is involved; comfortable walking shoes are recommended
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Author of the cover photo: Miroslav Vopata, taken by his grand father, uploader Krokodyl – my own scan, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2148246
Reviews(6)
Excellent tour, Iva lived in Czech during the Communism period and shared not only historical details but also her personal experiences. Piotr was an unbelievable driver, always eager to help. Very informative and pleasant tour
Convenience, knowledgeable guide, fantastic driver, we loved every moment. Guide and Driver were flexible and satisfied our curiosity and interest for Prague.
The opportunity to hear the history of CZ from a local educator who has lived through the past 60 years of the country’s political changes was most interesting and instructive. Thank you, Hanna!
Having a private tour was a bit of a splurge for us. We don't normally get to have this type of experience, but my daughter was very interested in the Museum of Communism and seeing some of the WW2 sites. I was so happy we did this. We had an amazing driver and guide. They were both very knowledgeable and pointed out a lot of additional things as we drove around the city, even some landmarks that had been used in famous movies. We learned so much more having our own tour guide in the museum. She was able to draw from personal experiences, which made so much of the information come alive. They took us to the memorial where the assassination of Heydrich took place. This is in a location that would have been tough to get to on our own. We also went to the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius and saw inside the crypt. We had some extra time so we made a quick stop to see the dancing buildings and the television tower, from the outside, plus another church. Having such knowledgeable guide and driver made the experience worth it. It was also nice to have a very clean, cool, and nice vehicle to travel in. Rather than being taken back to our hotel, they even dropped us off near the square so we could get lunch. It is worth the extra expense to have that kind of control over where you go.
Dear Caryn_l, Thank you so much for such a nice and descriptive review. This will also help our future customers to get a glimpse of what to expect and what the benefits of having a private tour are. I will forward your kind words to Hana and Petr as well. Thank you! Vit
Pavel was incredible Real stories about his family who lived under the communists from 1948 to 1990 Highly recommend !
Dear sgarvin, Thank you very much for your review! We like assigning Pavel for this tour for the exact reason you mention, he can share his personal experience and he is a great storyteller. We will pass him your kind words!
