Homeless Tours of Prague

Golden spires, cobbled streets, baroque cherubs, and of course the Castle. Prague is undeniably pretty – and the best way to explore is on foot. But tag along with a typical walking tour and all you’ll do is tick off the main sites.
However, there is an alternative way to see the so-called Golden City – through the eyes of those forced to survive on its streets. Thanks to Pragulic, the award-winning brainchild of three postgraduate students at Charles University, there are now walking tours led by the homeless offering a unique opportunity to explore Prague’s grittier side.

Pragulic’s slogan is Nebojte se poznávat Prahu jinak – don’t be afraid to get to know Prague differently. Jan takes us to the social centre Naděje (rather aptly the word for ‘hope’) where he once came to get soup and clean clothes. Hidden under a flyover, it’s a spot that’s easy to overlook – unless you’re location scouting for a gritty docudrama. It’s at this point in the tour that Jan shares some practical advice for those unsure how to help those
they see sleeping rough.

Later in the tour, we walk across Čechův most, a bridge I travel over on the way to work almost every day. I never fail to look out of the window and take in the view across the river. However, I’ve never noticed the boat Hermes at the foot of the steps leading up to Letná which serves as a hostel for the homeless. Although the doors don’t open until 18:30, the queue for one of the 250 beds begins hours earlier. Those who don’t manage to secure a bed or who can’t find the 20 CZK fee sleep under the bridge.

I asked Tereza Jurečková, one of the co-organisers, what she thought expats could gain from attending the tour.
“Foreigners in Prague often stay separated from local life. They live in Vinohrady and meet other expats, but I believe that lot of them would like to explore local life as well,” Tereza observes. “Now they have a chance to discover the city with a real expert. They will not only see interesting and unknown places but they will better understand the local culture and way of life.