Filip Marek

In 2022, I visited my brother in Prague and fell in love with the city. The architecture and history drew me in, but so did the relaxed, open-minded atmosphere—and the pleasure of finding great food at sensible prices. Coming from a small mountain town in Slovakia, I found a place where I wanted to build a life.

My background is in finance. Before guiding, I worked as a financial advisor for five years, and I still look after long-standing clients today. Building relationships has always been part of my work.

Seeing how taken I was with Prague, my brother suggested a guiding opportunity at Sidetrip, where he works as a manager. I moved here in 2023 and soon fell in love with the work too: welcoming people, sharing our history and culture, and learning about their lives along the way.

After three years at Sidetrip, I had the experience and confidence to start CultivaTours. I wanted to create thoughtful day trips with small groups, personal care and room to be flexible, while building a business that also left space for family life.

The best days are when a group just clicks. People from different corners of the world start sharing stories, and the conversation carries on all day. I’ve learned so much simply by listening. That exchange is a big part of why I love this work.