Think you know Prague? These English-friendly tours reveal its hidden scientific past

You know where to find the best view of Prague Castle. You've walked across Charles Bridge more times than you can count, and you can probably navigate Old Town without looking at Google Maps.

But how well do you actually know Prague?

Few realize that the same neighborhoods they pass through every day were once at the center of some of Europe’s biggest scientific discoveries, home to astronomers, mathematicians, alchemists, and thinkers whose influence reached far beyond Czech borders.

Planetum’s new English-language walking tours uncover tantalizing stories hidden in plain sight, giving a fresh perspective on familiar places. Rather than offering another sightseeing experience, these two-hour guided walks are ideal if you're looking for an activity with visiting relatives, planning a company outing, organizing a school group, or simply want an excuse to rediscover the city yourself.

The Castle District is one of Prague’s biggest attractions, but there’s far more to it than palaces, cathedrals, and Golden Lane.

Some 500 years ago these same cobbled streets were bustling with a different sort of crowd. Astronomers tracked the skies, alchemists chased impossible medical ambitions, and scholars gathered at the court of Rudolf II to debate ideas that would shape Europe’s understanding of the universe during the late Renaissance.

The Astronomie za Rudolfa II walk weaves together these stories of scientific breakthroughs, strange experiments, court intrigue, and larger-than-life personalities. Starting near the Pohořelec statue of Johannes Kepler and Tycho Brahe, the route leads through places tied to Prague’s age of astronomy, from Nový Svět, where Brahe lived, to Prague Castle and the Royal Garden.

Along the way, the guide explains what a space shuttle has in common with St. Vitus Cathedral, why Queen Anne’s Summer Palace matters to Prague’s astronomical past, and where a new way of understanding the world began to take shape. Led by an expert Planetum guide, it’s the kind of experience that changes how you look at places you’d normally pass without giving them a second thought.

The route includes Pohořelec, Strahov Monastery, Nový Svět, Hradčanské náměstí, Prague Castle, and the Royal Garden. Even if you've explored these spots dozens of times, it's likely you’ll leave seeing them differently.

It’s easy to think you've seen everything Old Town has to offer. But beyond the busy squares, souvenir shops, and familiar landmarks lies a story that stretches back more than 700 years.

The Sedm století astronomie walk follows the people who transformed Prague into a center of astronomical discovery, connecting the city’s landmarks with groundbreaking ideas and the famous people behind them. Along the way, the tour looks at the astronomical symbolism behind Charles Bridge, the Prague places linked to Johannes Kepler’s laws of planetary motion, and even the house where Albert Einstein’s violin playing could once be heard.

You don't need to know the difference between a planet and a constellation to enjoy it. The focus is on great storytelling, making it just as rewarding for curious history lovers as it is for science enthusiasts.

The tour winds past Charles Bridge, the Klementinum, Old Town Square, Kepler’s Passage, Melantrichova Street, Karolinum, Fruit Market, and Bolzano Passage. 

Both tours are led by expert guides from Planetum, last around two hours, and are available in English for groups of up to 20 participants. Pricing starts at CZK 3,300 per group, with a rate of CZK 330 per person for groups larger than 10 participants.

Groups can also add coffee and cake at Planetum's Astrobistro for an additional CZK 90 per person, making it easy to turn the walk into a longer social outing. For those interested in extending the experience even further, it may also be possible to combine the tour with a discounted visit to one of Planetum's observatories.