Brits abroad are notorious throughout Europe for their loutish behaviour. Some might say it’s an unfair image, but you only have to spend a weekend in Prague to see that maybe there might be, somewhat, some truth behind this stereotype. Let’s get real, no one’s banning night-time pub crawls because of the Spanish or French, are they?
A popular destination for British stag dos and hen parties, the Czechia capital has called an end to organised night-time pub crawls from travel agencies – which means it will no longer be possible to have guided tours from 10pm and 6am in Prague. City councillors hope to attract a “more cultured, wealthier tourist.”
It’s not the only tourist deterrent recently brought in either. The Czech government has also recently proposed new regulations on Airbnb-type rentals that will limit short-term accommodation in popular cities like Prague – but likely won’t come into effect until July 2025. On top, a ban on cars entering the Old Town at night was approved in July to reduce noise levels.
What makes Prague an attractive city break for Brits?
Once a hidden gem of Europe, Prague’s popularity among stag dos and hen parties has skyrocketed in recent years. Cheap beer and a thriving nightlife are likely the main thrust behind this surge – a pint will cost you at most 70 koruna, which is about £2! Plus, the city’s diverse architecture, from Gothic to Renaissance to Art Noveau, makes for some incredible photo opportunities.
What other European cities are cracking down on tourists?
Britain’s other favourite stag do destination has also tried deterring a certain type of tourist with restrictions on pub crawls and fines for public drunkenness. Last year, Amsterdam launched targeted “stay away” ads at British men Googling terms like “stag party Amsterdam”, “cheap hotel Amsterdam” and “pub crawl Amsterdam”. It also banned beer bikes in 2017 and new hotels earlier this year.
Elsewhere, Venice introduced a tourist tax in April; Magaluf has banned drinking in the street and buying alcohol from grocery stores after 9.30pm; Barcelona has vowed to get rid of all AirBnB-type apartments by 2029; and there are incoming caps on cruise ships to popular Greek islands like Santorini and Mykonos. Something tells us none of this will stop the Brits, however, we are inevitable.