WWII & Operation Anthropoid Crypt Guided Tour Prague

The Old Town and traces of the occupation

The walk begins in the Old Town, where marks of the war still remain in the walls and squares. Germany occupied the Czech lands in March 1939, and your guide explains how the city lived under the Protectorate, from curfews and shortages to the arrests of resistance members. The tour follows the war from the occupation to the liberation of Prague in May 1945.

It is one of the best things to do in Prague for people who want history beyond the medieval city. The guide tells the stories of ordinary citizens as well as the well-known figures, so the day feels personal rather than a list of dates.

The medieval cellars of U Kunštátů palace

Beneath the Old Town lie the Romanesque cellars of the U Kunštátů palace, a twelfth-century structure that became a makeshift shelter in wartime. Walking through the vaulted rooms you see how the underground was used for protection long after it was built, and you can imagine the sounds of air raids above.

A private collection of WWII artefacts and memorabilia is displayed here, including items that give a rare glimpse of daily life and military equipment of the period. Expect low ceilings and uneven floors, and wear comfortable shoes.

Operation Anthropoid and the Cyril and Methodius crypt

The most powerful stop is the crypt beneath the Cathedral of Saints Cyril and Methodius, where the Czechoslovak paratroopers of Operation Anthropoid made their last stand in June 1942. They had carried out the attack on SS Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich, one of the most feared figures of the Nazi regime, who died of his wounds. The bullet marks on the walls and the small museum in the crypt tell the story.

A Prague Operation Anthropoid tour is emotional, and the guide handles the subject with care. You learn what happened before and after the attack, including the harsh reprisals against Czech civilians, and why the site is now a memorial to courage and sacrifice.

Planning your WWII tour in Prague

The tour runs about 2.5 hours and is offered at set times in the morning and early afternoon, which you can see in the booking panel. A public transport ticket is included for the journey between the Old Town and the cathedral, so you need not buy one.

The tour takes place in all weather and is accessible with a stroller, but not for wheelchair users because of steps in the cellars and crypt. Keep in mind that the subject is serious, and consider whether it suits younger children before you book.