Operation Anthropoid, New Town

Overview

This walk starts away from the tourist core, at Náměstí Míru in Vinohrady, in front of the Church of St Ludmila. From there it works its way toward Wenceslas Square, past the National Museum and works by the Czech artist David Cerny, before finishing on the topic the walk is named for: Operation Anthropoid, the attack on SS commander Reinhard Heydrich that the operator calls the most important event in the Czech lands during the Second World War. The route ends near the Dancing House, by the Vltava river quay known as Naplavka.

The operator makes an argument in its own description: visitors tend to assume all of Prague's history sits in the Old Town, but the New Town is only about a hundred years younger and, in the operator's view, has just as much to show. So this is not a castle-and-bridge walk.

The walk runs in English and is listed on freetour.com, where booking is free and guests pay the guide what they think the walk was worth at the end. It is a walk through Vinohrady and the New Town ending at Naplavka rather than back at the start, and the freetour.com page states it suits families with children and people with reduced mobility.

Itinerary

1. Meet at Náměstí MíruThe walk meets at Náměstí Míru in Vinohrady, by the Church of St Ludmila, which the operator describes as the most important church in Prague after St Vitus Cathedral.
2. Walk to Wenceslas SquareThe route continues toward Wenceslas Square, where the operator covers the background and history of Saint Wenceslas.
3. National MuseumOn Wenceslas Square the walk goes to admire the National Museum as part of the square's story.
4. David Cerny artworksAlong the way the group passes works by David Cerny, the artist the operator calls the most famous and infamous in the Czech Republic.
5. Operation AnthropoidThe walk closes with the story of Operation Anthropoid, the attack on Reinhard Heydrich. The freetour.com page's highlights list includes the National Memorial to the Heroes of the Heydrich Terror and entrance to the Heroes of the Operation Anthropoid museum.
6. Finish at the Dancing HouseThe walk ends near the Dancing House on the Vltava riverfront at Naplavka, where the operator notes there are terraces on the quay for anyone wanting to rest afterwards.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points help you get ready for this walk before you reserve a spot.

• Wear walking shoes. This is a two and a half hour walk that moves from Vinohrady down through the New Town to the river. Comfortable shoes matter more than anything else you could bring.
• Dress for the weather. The walk runs outdoors between stops, with no indoor segment described in the operator's route. Check the forecast before setting out, since the whole route is on foot.
• Pace and fitness. The route covers several districts on foot over two and a half hours. The freetour.com page states the walk is suitable for people with reduced mobility, so the pace is not described as demanding, but it is still a long stretch on your feet.
• Bring the family. The page states the walk is suitable for families with children and is pet-friendly, so neither kids nor dogs are a problem to bring along.
• Photos at the stops. The route takes in stops such as the National Museum, David Cerny's works and the Dancing House, so there are natural points to stop and take pictures.
• Plan the finish. The walk ends at Naplavka by the Vltava, not back at Náměstí Míru where it starts. Factor that into any plans for afterwards, since the operator points to the quay's terraces as a place to recover.

Common issues. The freetour.com page lists no minimum attendees as a condition, which means the walk's running is not tied to a headcount printed in advance. There is no pickup: the walk meets at Náměstí Míru and finishes at the Dancing House, so the start and end points are different and travellers should plan for that.

Common Questions Before You Book