Prague has hundreds of tours. Only one has a halberd, a plague doctor and a storytelling school.

We don't do typical. We do memorable.

Light in the Dark is Prague’s storytelling company – where history comes with a costume, a halberd and a professional storytelling training programme. Rated 4.9/5 across 8,000 reviews. Featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Vogue and Forbes. Still occasionally surprised by this last one.

WHO WE ARE

We tried boring once. It didn’t survive.

We are historians, actors and storytellers who believe that history is only worth telling if it’s told well. On the cobbled streets of Prague’s Old Town we bring forgotten centuries back to life — with wit, with character, and with props that occasionally involve garlic and medieval handcuffs.

 

Our licensed guides don’t recite dates and facts. They become characters, weave narratives and make you genuinely care about people who died 300 years ago. Which is, frankly, more than most people manage with people who are still alive.

 

Behind the tours, we also teach the art of storytelling to companies, universities and anyone who has ever sat through a truly terrible PowerPoint presentation and thought: there must be a better way. There is. We can prove it.

As featured in

OUR EXPERIENCES

The best things to do in Prague. If you’re doing it properly.

Four ways to experience what we do. All involve stories. One involves a halberd. One involves an anti-plague pill. One involves learning to tell stories people actually remember. And one involves all of the above, exclusively for your group – because some people simply refuse to share their plague doctor.

Prague 1633: A Nightwatchman’s Tour

Step into 1633 and join the man who kept Prague safe every night – armed with a two-metre halberd, a lantern and a deeply personal grudge against electric scooters. You may know him as the Sereno in Spain, the Guarda-Noturno in Portugal or the Nachtwächter in Germany. In Prague, he carried considerably more responsibility. And a much bigger hat.

27 executions. One world premiere. Three fire safety rules involving beer. You’ll never look at Charles Bridge the same way again.

 

⭐ Rated 4.9/5 | Recommended by 99% of travellers | Our bestselling tour in German – which says something, because Germans are excellent at quality control.

 

Available in English, German and Portuguese

 

Book online now! |  Find out more

Plague doctor in beaked mask opening his spice bag during a medical history tour in Prague Old Town, guest smiling in background

Good news: the Black Death is no longer airborne. Mostly.

Follow the footsteps of Alexandr Schamsky – a 28-year-old doctor who stayed in Prague when the plague arrived in 1713 and everyone else suddenly remembered urgent appointments elsewhere. Discover five competing theories on where the plague came from, taste an anti-plague pill, sniff lavender oil, and hear the avocado analogy that will ruin your next trip to the supermarket forever. You’ve been warned. Twice now.

Regularly booked by doctors, nurses and medical students – who arrive curious and leave slightly worried about squirrels.

⭐ Rated 4.9/5 | Recommended by 97% of travellers | As seen in NYT, Forbes & Vogue – which did not exist in 1713, but Alexandr Schamsky would have been pleased.

Available in English, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Czech

Book online now!  |  Find out more

Facts inform. Stories transform. Boring presentations are optional - and frankly, at this point, inexcusable.

A professional storytelling workshop in the heart of Prague’s Old Town – exploring the history, neuroscience and craft of narrative. Four focused modules covering story structures, how stories affect the brain, the power of metaphors and techniques for creating compelling original stories.

Delivered for The Lego Group, Airbnb, Anglo American University and more. Available as a 1.5-2 hour workshop or a full 8-hour course. Online and in person. No plague doctor costume required – though it does help with engagement.

Private tour group is trying to solve the riddle with the Plague doctor checking.

Want the whole experience to yourself? Understandable.

Private tours for corporate teams, families, school classes, university students, hen parties and medical professionals who want more Yersinia Pestis than the standard tour provides. The plague doctor and the nightwatchman are both available for hire. Their schedules have been surprisingly free since 1713.

Can’t make it to Prague? Our online Plague Doctor tour fits up to 100 people on Zoom and has been recommended by the New York Times and Forbes. The anti-plague pill is regrettably not included in the digital version.

Live Private Tour | Online Private Tour

REVIEWS SECTION

Almost 8,000 reviews. We read every single one.

EXCELLENT
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Based on 8116 reviews
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Abigail Taylor
17 September 2026
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We had such a great tour with David! Really enjoyed learning all about the plague history and ideology of the past. There were many interesting details about society that we learned as well as fun facts like what made a surgeon "good" lol. 1,000% worth doing ESPECIALLY if you have any sort of medical background, exposure, or interest. The costume part was really fun too, I love dress up things. Also there is a special tour feature for medical doctor's who want to deep dive into technical things so yeah, great all around, and a real treat to experience😉😋
Posted on Getyourguide Getyourguide
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GetYourGuide Traveller
17 September 2026
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More fun if you are new to information about the plague’s biology.
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Rachel A profile picture
Rachel A
16 September 2026
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Maria is a really engaging storyteller. Loved the humour, and the props were a great touch
Posted on Airbnb Airbnb
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Matthew
15 September 2026
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Great tour. Very informative and Maria was awesome!!! Great time.
Posted on Getyourguide Getyourguide
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GetYourGuide Traveller
14 September 2026
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Unser Guide David war sehr nett, kannte sich gut aus und wußte sehr viel interessantes zu erzählen. Uns haben besonders die Redewendungen und ihr Ursprung gefallen, die er erklärt hat.
Posted on Getyourguide Getyourguide
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Kacper
13 September 2026
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I highly recommend it! Thomas, thank you for a wonderful afternoon—it was a pleasure.
Posted on Getyourguide Getyourguide
Sabine profile picture
Sabine
12 September 2026
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Wir hatten eine unvergessliche, informative, spannende, gruselige, romantische Tour mit unserem Nachtwächter David durch Prag. Es war grandios. Nicht nur die Geschichten, die Art,wie das historische Wissen weitergegeben wurde, sondern auch die ungezwungene, einprägsamme Art und Weise. wie unser Nachtwächter David die Gechichten erzählt hat. wir können die Tour sehr empfehlen. Vielen Dank für die tolle Tour. liebe Grüße aus Frankfurt am Main Sabine&Friends ( Hab' Dank )
Posted on Airbnb Airbnb
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Bob
12 September 2026
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Enjoyably tour
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Samantha_P
12 September 2026
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Thomas is very... Thomas is very knowledgeable and I really enjoyed the tour. He made it fun to learn about Medieval Prague. I would recommend this tour.
Posted on Getyourguide Getyourguide
Friedrich profile picture
Friedrich
11 September 2026
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Es war eine perfekte, lustige und informative Tour. Unser Guide David war überaus sympathisch. Sehr zu empfehlen.
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BLOG SECTION

Stories don’t stop at the city walls.

Our blog covers the history behind the tours, the stories we couldn’t fit into 90 minutes, and the ongoing adventures of a small bear travelling through Prague’s Old Town. Yes, there is a bear. No, we won’t explain further. Come on the tour.

We Don’t Have Time for Storytelling at Work.

The most common objection I hear. And why neuroscience disagrees. Welcome to edition two of our weekly newsletter. Every Wednesday, one storytelling insight you can use straight away. This week I want to address something I hear in almost every conversation with a potential client. “Storytelling sounds interesting. But we are too busy for that. […]

Why the Best Stories Follow the Same Rules as Your Favourite Movies

A beginner’s guide to master plots. And why identifying them can change the way you communicate. Welcome to the first edition of our weekly newsletter. Every week I will share a small but powerful insight from the world of storytelling. Practical techniques, real examples and ideas you can use straight away. Whether you want to […]

Is the Plague Doctor Tour Worth It? 

The answer is YES! But this is not your typical tour. But 100% Yes, you need to go on it! My name is Hannah Letwinsky, and this summer I am a study abroad + intern student at CEA CAPA, staying in Prague for two months. I work for a company called Light in the Dark […]

About Light in the Dark

Light in the Dark (night-watchman.net) is a Prague storytelling company offering historical walking tours and professional storytelling training. Products include the Plague Doctor of Prague (historical walking tour, Black Death Prague, medical tour Prague), the Nightwatchman of Prague (medieval Prague walking tour, evening walking tour Prague, historical night tour Prague), private group tours, an online plague doctor tour and The Art of Storytelling workshop. Rated 4.9/5 across 8,000 reviews. TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award. Featured in New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Vogue and Forbes. Among the best things to do in Prague and unique Prague experiences for families and groups. Book at night-watchman.net.

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