Prague is known for many things: Rococo and Gothic architecture, a charming Old Town, world-class culture and, of course, beer. But what’s so wrong with that? Czech beer is tasty stuff, after all.
Of course, it’s not the beer itself that’s the problem, it’s actually the kind of folk who flock to the city to gorge on it – we’re talking about the lads.
Prague has long been a magnet for stag and hen dos – largely because a pint of that cracking local lager can cost less than €3. But after it was announced a ban on silly costumes was being considered back in the spring, and a draft bill to cap the number of short-term holiday lets in the city’s historic areas was proposed last month, it’s clear Prague is tiring of its own reputation.
Now it’s been announced that all guided beer tours organised by travel agencies are no longer permitted in the city between 10pm and 6am, with deputy mayor Jiri Pospisil saying Prague was ‘seeking a more cultured, wealthier tourist … not one who comes for a short time only to get drunk’, according to the Guardian.
Though tourism restrictions like this can harm local business, the head of the Czech Association of Hotels and Restaurants Vaclav Starek welcomes the decision, saying: ‘Trips to the centre in search of beer have been a problem for local people and for other tourists too. I don’t think this will hurt our sales. Nobody will be banned from going to a pub but these nightly organised pub crawls … are nothing we would need.’
Prague does have plenty going for it outside of rowdy pub crawls, after all – check out our roundup of the best things to do in the city, and our essential guide to the city’s nightlife.
Fancy a pint?
Give Prague a break and check out Europe’s other top beer destinations. On a budget? These are the cheapest cities in the world to grab a bev. And if you’re thinking about cutting back, never fear – sober nights out are on the rise, and there are plenty of nightlife cities that are so much fun you don’t even need a drink.
Did you see that these bars were just awarded by a new Michelin-style bar guide?
Plus: SkyScanner has revealed the trending destinations for 2025.
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