Communist Prague – The Life Behind the Iron Curtain Tour

This 2.5-hour tour will take you through some of the most significant sites associated with Prague's communist history, remembering the Prague Spring and subsequent Soviet invasion, and the gentle but steady Velvet Revolution.

Your Communist Prague walking tour meets in front of the Cartier store and the Czech tourism office on Old Town Square and usually ends by the National Theater.

Life in communist Prague

Your expert local guide will tell you about life under communism in former Czechoslovakia. While elements of life were oppressive - such as freedom of movement and freedom of speech - it is important to remember that for many, there were plenty of elements that were also good. Visiting sites like the headquarters of the Communist Party (KSČM), the National Theater (with its scandalous progressive artistic direction) and the National Museum with its Soviet battle scars, your guide will give you a balanced, unbiased view of life behind the Iron Curtain.

The Prague Spring and the Velvet Revolution

Using the phrase "socialism with a human face", in January 1968, reformist leader Alexander Dubček tried to implement progressive change within the communist framework. However, by August 1968, the Soviets and other members of the Warsaw Pact invaded Czechoslovakia to put a stop to it. Your local guide will show you sites and tell you stories related to this Prague Spring, as well as taking you to the sites signicant to the remarkable 1989 Velvet Revolution, including Wenceslas Square, where hundreds of thousands of people gathered to bring about a peaceful end to the communist regime.

The Czech's attitude towards this period today

Unsurprisingly, with 44 years of history, divided opinions and old scars don't heal overnight. Your guide will tell you about how Czech people feel about their communist history today, and why even seemingly positive occasions like International Women's Day can open old wounds.