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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
Posted on Google![]()
Faiz Qureshi8 November 2026Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Excellent tour, combining history, fun and a bit of drama. Our guide Thomas had a great sense of humour, answered all our questions and kept us safe in the cold Prague night. :) Highly recommended!Posted on Airbnb![]()
Sirui8 November 2026Verified
Maria was very very nice, super kinda and the tour was very interactive and entertaining!! Would definitely recommend and come back for another tour!!Posted on Google![]()
nathan kett7 November 2026Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Thomas was absolutely fantastic!!! Gave a lot of history in 90 min, went at a great pace for young and older individuals, and has the perfect personality for the job!!!! Lots of laughing and a great way to explore this beautiful city with so much history!!!!+0Posted on Viator![]()
breannaachto6 November 2026Verified
Incredibly insightful tour This was a bucket list experience. Learnng about how the Black Death affected Czech Republic and several important historical figures was fantastic. David was exceptionally knowledgeable and down to earth, happy to answer any questions as well while walking to several key locations. If you are interested in the plague and how it affected Prague this is a must do tour. I want to add I'm a nurse and found David's knowledge and information to be really fascinating, he was able to go into the medical nature of the plague types and management strategies of the time. Medical professionals of any discipline would really enjoy this experience!+4Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Breanna A6 November 2026Verified
Incredibly insightful tour This was a bucket list experience. Learnng about how the Black Death affected Czech Republic and several important historical figures was fantastic. David was exceptionally knowledgeable and down to earth, happy to answer any questions as well while walking to several key locations. If you are interested in the plague and how it affected Prague this is a must do tour. I want to add I'm a nurse and found David's knowledge and information to be really fascinating, he was able to go into the medical nature of the plague types and management strategies of the time. Medical professionals of any discipline would really enjoy this experience!Posted on Viator![]()
Terri_S6 November 2026Verified
Great tour! Really a great tour. Lots of history and a great guide. We highly recommend others who visit Prague to sign up for this tour. Our guide was wonderful.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Breanna A6 November 2026Verified
Incredibly insightful tour This was a bucket list experience. Learnng about how the Black Death affected Czech Republic and several important historical figures was fantastic. David was exceptionally knowledgeable and down to earth, happy to answer any questions as well while walking to several key locations. If you are interested in the plague and how it affected Prague this is a must do tour. I want to add I'm a nurse and found David's knowledge and information to be really fascinating, he was able to go into the medical nature of the plague types and management strategies of the time. Medical professionals of any discipline would really enjoy this experience!Posted on Getyourguide![]()
GetYourGuide Traveller5 November 2026Verified
Es hat super Spaß gemacht. David war ein klasse Nachtwächter. Wir haben so viel über die Stadt gelernt und wissen jetzt wo die Sprichwörter von heute herkommen. Sehr empfehlenswert.Posted on Getyourguide![]()
Helena5 November 2026Verified
A fascinating journey into Prague’s darker past! We absolutely loved this tour! David is a wonderful storyteller who truly brought Prague’s history to life. His engaging narration made us feel as though we had stepped back into the 17th century, discovering a side of the city that goes far beyond the usual tourist stories. Although some of the historical events were quite dark and gruesome, David had a fantastic way of balancing the more disturbing details with just the right amount of humour. He made the stories easier to digest without ever taking away from their historical significance. The tour was exactly as described – fascinating, atmospheric, informative and thoroughly entertaining. We were so impressed by David’s storytelling that we decided to book another tour with the same company, The Plague Doctor of Prague. A truly memorable evening and an experience we would wholeheartedly recommend!Posted on Getyourguide![]()
Helena5 November 2026Verified
Another fantastic tour with an exceptional storyteller! After such a wonderful experience on the Night Watchman tour, we decided to join The Plague Doctor of Prague – and we are so glad we did! Oscar was an excellent guide and a truly captivating storyteller. He brought us back to the time of the plague in Prague, making the history feel incredibly vivid and real. His enthusiasm, knowledge and engaging way of telling stories kept us interested from beginning to end. What we especially appreciated was his wonderful sense of humour. Despite learning about such a difficult and frightening period in history, Oscar managed to keep the atmosphere surprisingly light-hearted, with plenty of moments that made us smile and laugh. It was the perfect combination of fascinating history, storytelling and humour. We thoroughly enjoyed every minute and would highly recommend this tour. Thank you, Oscar, for another unforgettable Prague experience!Verified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more
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.
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.