The Ultimate Guide to Private Tours in Prague: What to Expect & How to Choose

Planning a trip to Prague? A private tour is a great way to explore the city’s rich history, iconic landmarks, and hidden gems at your own pace, without crowds or strict schedules. This guide will help you understand what to expect, the costs, the top attractions, and how to choose the right tour so you can make the most of your visit.

Orienting in Prague
When you contact a guide or choose one of the preplanned itineraries, you will first have to determine which areas you’d like to see, so let’s make sure you don’t get lost in the names. After all, Old Town and Lesser Town do sound quite similar.
Fortunately, apart from the occasional labyrinth of medieval streets, Prague is fairly easy to navigate. The gist is this: the city is divided by the Vltava River into two main sides. On the left side, you'll find major cultural highlights like Prague Castle and Lesser Town, while the right side features the Old Town, Jewish Quarter, and New Town (including Vyšehrad). These two sides are connected by several beautiful bridges, with Charles Bridge being the oldest and most iconic.
Find out which side of the river you’ll be staying on. Both sides have unique charm, but if you're still unsure where to base your temporary residence, we recommend checking out this article. If you decide to ditch the city center, you can also look at our list of places you can stay.

2. Types of Prague Private Tours

Tours of the Main Highlights – Prague Castle and the Old Town:
This tour is popular among many travelers as it covers the two historic areas on both sides of the river. We call it the See It All Prague tour for a reason—you’ll visit iconic landmarks such as the Astronomical Clock, Charles Bridge, St. Vitus Cathedral, Old-New Synagogue, and many more. Keep in mind that this tour lasts around 5–6 hours and is done entirely on foot, except for a short tram ride from Charles Bridge to Prague Castle.
Old Town and the Jewish Quarter:
Our tour of these areas is called First-Timers Prague and lasts approximately 3 hours. As the name suggests, it covers essential sights such as Charles Bridge, the Astronomical Clock, and Old Town Square. Most tours combining the Old Town and Jewish Quarter focus on exteriors only, so you won’t be entering churches or synagogues during the experience.
Prague Castle Tours:
It’s important to note that Prague Castle has both free-access areas, open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and paid zones that include interior attractions, open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in winter and until 5 p.m. in summer. When booking a private tour, decide whether you want to purchase a ticket that grants entry to St. Vitus Cathedral, St. George’s Basilica, Golden Lane, and the Old Royal Palace, or if you’re content with exploring the historical courtyards and gardens (open in summer only) without going inside. We offer both versions: the Complete Prague Castle private tour and the Prague Castle and Castle District tour, which does not include the interiors.
Jewish Quarter Museums: If you want a private tour of the Jewish Quarter’s synagogues and historic cemetery, you’ll need to contact the Jewish Museum directly, as only their licensed guides are permitted to conduct such tours. You’ll also need to purchase a ticket to the Jewish museums. Keep in mind that all synagogues and the cemetery are closed every Saturday and on religious holidays!
Thematic walks: Themed private tours are also popular in Prague, such as WWII and Communism tours that cover sites connected to these historical eras, or evening tours like the Mysteries and Legends walk.

Check out our list of private tours!

One important thing to keep in mind is that you can’t see the entire city center in just one day. To make your exploration enjoyable, we recommend spreading your sightseeing over several days.

3. How much is a private tour in Prague?

The exact price of a private tour in Prague depends on the tour operator, duration, and level of customization. On average, prices start at around €100 for a 3-hour private tour for a small group. For example, our 3-hour "First-Timers Prague Tour" is priced at €130 for up to 6 people.

If you're looking for a fully customized experience—including special interests like architecture, photography, or family-friendly pacing—prices can go up to €200 or more. Custom itineraries require additional planning and preparation from the guide, which is reflected in the cost.

When booking through TripAdvisor, GetYourGuide, or Airbnb, keep in mind that these platforms take a 20%–35% commission, so the price of a private tour will most likely be higher compared to booking directly on the company’s official website.

Some tours may include entrance fees, transportation, or hotel pickup, while others may charge those separately. It’s always a good idea to confirm what’s included before booking.

Join us for a private tour with Real Prague Guides!

4. What is the best time to start a private tour in Prague?

One thing to remember about Prague—it can get really busy on weekends and holidays. If your goal is to avoid the crowds, either start your tour earlier in the morning (around 9 a.m.) or consider traveling in the off-season. Guides do their best, but they aren’t magicians—they can’t make other tourists disappear.

5. How long should the tour be?

In our opinion, the optimal time for a private tour is 3 hours. Anything longer than that leads to guests getting tired and losing focus. If you are opting for a 4-6 hour-long tour, a lunch break will be necessary.

Also, if you have trouble walking or simply need more breaks, let your guide know so they can plan the route accordingly and include more opportunities to rest.

Here is the list of our Private Tour rates!

7. How far in advance should you book a private tour in Prague?

If you are traveling during the high season (April–October, December), we recommend booking as far in advance as possible. Our private tours typically sell out 1–3 months ahead of time, and other travel companies likely experience the same.

In the low season (January–March, November), when demand is lower, you can book comfortably 2–3 weeks in advance.

Booking on the day of your visit—or even a week before—is almost impossible in Prague!

8. Visiting with a large group

For large groups (over 30 people), we recommend booking several guides or arranging headsets, as it can be challenging for everyone to hear the guide on a busy street.

If the tour agency cannot provide headsets, you will need to split your group among several guides, which may increase the overall cost.

9. Things to watch out for when booking private tours in Prague

Make sure there are no hidden costs in your private tour. A straightforward business will always let you know what is not covered by their price, but it's still a good idea to double-check.
Make sure that the guide informs you about entrance fees to the sites you want to visit ahead of time.
If the tour price seems unusually low, confirm that you are indeed booking a private tour and not purchasing tickets for a group tour. Some websites sell attraction tickets with complimentary guide explanations, which usually last only 15–20 minutes and do not provide the full private tour experience.

10. Things to remember during a private tour in Prague

Check the validity of your transport ticket if you’ll be using public transport during the tour, or ask your guide for help. Sometimes tickets can be overstamped or expire earlier than expected. In case of an inspection, you could be fined up to 1,500 CZK per person—which is never a pleasant experience.
Considering Prague’s city center is mostly pedestrian, you’ll be walking for the entire duration of your private tour, so make sure to pack some comfortable shoes!
Communicate with your guide. Don’t be afraid to let your guide know if you’d like to take a break or spend more time somewhere. They’ll be happy to adjust the route when possible or include an extra stop.

Author: Valeriia Zahradnikova and Vaclav Zahradnik, Prague guides certified by Prague City Tourism agency. Valeriia and Vaclav have worked in tourism for over 7 years and have guided thousands of Prague visitors.