Private vs Group Tours in Prague -- Which Is Right for You?

Private tours cost more upfront but give you a flexible schedule, a guide who adapts to your interests, and no strangers in your group. Group tours are cheaper per person and good for a social experience. For families, seniors, or anyone who values their time -- private wins.

Both formats have a place. The right choice depends on your budget, group size, travel style, and what you want from the experience. This comparison covers everything you need to decide.

At a Glance: Private vs Group vs Free Walking Tour

Factor | Private Tour | Paid Group Tour | Free Walking Tour

Price (couple) | EUR 50-100 pp | EUR 15-30 pp | EUR 10-15 pp (tips)

Price (family of 4) | EUR 25-50 pp | EUR 15-30 pp | EUR 10-15 pp (tips)

Group size | 1-8 (your group only) | 10-25 mixed | 20-40 mixed

Schedule | You choose the time | Fixed departures | Fixed departures

Route | Customised to you | Fixed itinerary | Fixed itinerary

Pace | Yours | Fastest walker sets pace | Guide sets pace

Guide quality | Licensed, experienced | Professional, variable | Variable, tips-based

Depth of content | Adapted to your level | One-size-fits-all | Surface-level

Questions | Ask anything, anytime | Limited opportunity | Difficult in large group

Cancellation | Flexible, direct with operator | Platform policy | No booking needed

The table tells a clear story, but the numbers only capture part of it. The real differences show up during the tour itself.

Pace and Flexibility

Private tours move at your pace. If you want to spend ten minutes photographing a courtyard, the guide waits. If it starts raining, the guide reroutes to covered streets and indoor sites. If your children need a snack break, you take one. The tour adapts to you in real time.

On our tours, we adjust the route constantly based on what we see. If a usually-crowded courtyard is empty, we stop there. If a cafe we love has an open terrace, we suggest a coffee break. If one of our guests is visibly tired, we shift to a less hilly route. This kind of responsiveness is only possible when the guide works for your group alone.

Group tours follow a fixed route on a fixed schedule. The guide has 15-25 people to manage and cannot accommodate individual requests. If you fall behind taking a photo, the group moves on. If you want to skip a stop and spend more time elsewhere, that is not an option. The pace is set by logistics, not by your interests.

Free walking tours face the same constraints but amplified by larger group sizes. With 30-40 people crossing streets, navigating crowds, and clustering around narrow viewpoints, the pace is slow where you want it fast and fast where you want it slow.

Insider detail: Prague's streets are narrow in the historic centre, and the most interesting details are often in courtyards, passageways, and upper floors that you can only appreciate when you stop and look up. Group tours pass through these spaces quickly because stopping 20 people in a narrow alley blocks other pedestrians. Private tours can linger.