Party culture in Prague and problems in the metropolis | Daniel Kotula
Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. No doubt about it. But as we know, nothing is perfect. And so, in this part of the Žít Prahu series, we will focus on the biggest shame of the hundred-year-old metropolis. Which considerable “dent” on the beauty of the capital are we referring to?
Prague’s reputation as an ideal place for cheap and wild entertainment. After all, millions of tourists come to Prague every year to get drunk because of it. And this does not only mean the city’s tarnished reputation as a tourist metropolis, but also a spoiled feeling of living for the residents of Prague.
What do Praguers mind about “party tourism”, apart from groups of drunk and noisy tourists?
- Cannabis shop. You can find at least 6 of them in 100 meters around the Charles Bridge alone, and on the Royal Road they are literally on every corner. The reason for their existence is clear. And tourists driving to admire the sights are not…
- Airbnb for convenience stores. According to the latest IPR study, there are 7,000 Airbnb apartments in Prague with a capacity of 18,000 beds. Noisy convenience stores are very common in them. The same applies to the subsequent night-time drinking trips through the city. A nightmare for neighbors in a nutshell.
- Services for tourism only. Overpriced minimarkets on every corner, from the main center Praguers are dizzy, beer bikes and boats or businesses of dubious reputation aimed at “alcohol tourists”. None of these services bring anything to the people of Prague, they only work for foreign customers. How did it actually happen that Prague is at the top of all party charts in Europe, but even in the world, together with Bangkok and Las Vegas?
Sure, the beer here is extremely cheap, but that’s not exactly what it’s all about. For the first time, our metropolis was presented as the Mecca of nightlife in Business Today magazine in 2011. At that time, the article called for the production of the largest dance club in central Karlovy Lázně.
Soon after, the Pub Craw website appeared “the best night experience in Europe” ending with a VIP visit to the already mentioned club. After all, this company is also behind beer bikes and boats… And this is just one example of how Prague has built a reputation as a cheap party destination. There are certainly many more reasons.
What is your opinion on party tourism in Prague? Do you think there is a way to make people come back to Prague mainly for its sights and beauty? What do you think needs to be changed?
Write to us in the comments.