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October 17, 2024
The Vltava River in Prague, Czech Republic – Photo Credit: daliu/Adobe
It’s last call for late-night pub crawls in Prague.
Known worldwide for its romantic architecture, skyline full of spires and one of the best beer cultures in Europe, the Czech capital has announced an end to late-night bar crawls as it looks to attract a more refined visitor.
This week, Prague City Council approved a ban on guided tours of pubs and bars from 10 p.m to 6 a.m., thus joining a growing list of European cities looking to crack down on “party tourism” that includes places like Amsterdam and Seville.
The move comes after residents in Prague One—the historic core of the city home to Charles Bridge, Prague Castle and Old Town Square—lodged complaints about noise disruption caused by raucous pub crawls.
According to CNN, the ban is to start at the beginning of November, while Terezie Radoměřská, the mayor of Prague One district, said that the banning of nighttime pub crawls was “driven by our desire to reduce disruptive behavior, especially in connection with events such as stag and hen parties, which often result in excessive noise and disturbances for both locals and other visitors. These activities do not align with the type of tourism we aim to cultivate.”
In addition, the deputy mayor of Prague, Jiri Pospisil, said that the city is “seeking a more cultured, wealthier tourist … not one who comes for a short time only to get drunk.”
The move will not affect the opening hours of pubs or anyone’s ability to visit multiple pubs in one evening, just guided pub crawls that operate during late-night hours, of which there are several.
Our Take
While Prague’s reputation as a party city may come as a surprise to some North American travelers, the proliferation of low-cost airlines in Europe over the last 25 years and the city’s famous low-cost beer (perennially said to be cheaper than water) have combined to make it a magnet for European bachelor and bachelorette parties.
It is just a small piece of the Prague puzzle though, as this city is one of the most alluring in Europe for all types of travelers. Prague is home to a host of cultural sights spread across a range of neighborhoods, and when it comes time to sample the delicious local food and beer, there are plenty of restaurants and pubs where you can enjoy it without a rowdy crowd in sight.
This article originally appeared in TravelPulse.