Summary
Legend has it that the Charles Bridge has stood for so long because egg yolks were mixed in with the mortar. However, looking at the bridge on any day of the year, regardless of rain, sleet, or snow, one could argue the bridge is held together with tourists bear-hugging each other from one end to the other.
Prague Tourist Traps to Avoid
Of the over 6 million visitors to Prague last year, it would be a slight exaggeration to claim that all of them crossed the Charles Bridge. It is constantly crowded. As ten people walk off, ten more walk in. Consequently, this makes the bridge one of the worst tourist traps in Prague.
The Charles Bridge
As you stroll along the bridge, your gaze bounces from the statues lining the balustrade to the castle perched on the hill and the river below, which journeys to the North Sea. It’s an idyllic moment that transports you back to a time of kings and valiant knights on horseback. However, this picturesque experience is often marred by hawkers lining the bridge, selling caricature paintings or the more intrusive music box man belting out polka music.
What type of tourist travels all the way to Prague to cross the 700-year-old bridge to buy a polka music CD? I don’t know. Certainly not me and hopefully not you.
Do Not Touch the Statue of St. John
Make sure you buy nothing and continue down the bridge. When you get there, avoid the temptation of touching The Statue of St. John. People touch it for good fortune, but it’s just a myth. All you will get is the common cold from one of the hundreds who touched it before you. Instead, look at it and take a picture of it. However, unless you are wearing gloves, don’t touch it.
Don’t Over-Pay for Beer in Prague
At the end of the bridge, you’ll most likely decide it is the perfect time to relax and try the world-famous Czech beer. Although it’s not entirely true, locals passionately believe that good beer was invented in and only exists within the borders of the Czech Republic.
For Czechs, beer is not merely a beverage consumed for alcohol; it is a mandatory complement to traditionally hearty Czech meals. Grandmothers enjoy a beer with their lunch, while men opt for beer with their goulash and dumplings breakfast. Beer is a staple, which is why it is significantly cheaper compared to everywhere else in the E.U.; the government risks its reign by increasing the beer tax.
Avoid this place for Beer
When you follow the stairs leading off the side of the bridge, you walk down and turn around. There, as if ready-made just for you, is a small stand tucked under the stone archway. The sign says “Authentic Czech beer.” However, the man behind the counter pulls out a shiny green and gold can. He cracks it open, and the sale is done. You just bought a can of beer for more than twice the amount locals pay. You fell into a tourist trap.
Why it’s so easy to fall into Prague tourist traps
Prague is not the only city with tourist traps. However, it has perfected the art of trapping tourists. There are two main reasons for this. The first is that tourists often limit their visit to a few key sites: The Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, Old Town Square.
Consequently, first-time visitors with only a few days feel a pressing need to see these landmarks; they are mandatory sites, much like the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Tourists bounce between these sites with no time left to explore the rest of Prague.
The fortunate store and restaurant owners established near these sites and along the connecting streets experience a constant stream of tourists overpaying for food and drink. This reliable tourist traffic, therefore, enables them to increase prices.
The second reason Prague is ideal for tourist traps is the language.
Approximately 10 million people in the world speak Czech, and most reside in the Czech Republic. As a tourist, the odds are you do not speak the notoriously difficult language.
Those attempting to pick up even a few phrases quickly understand why it is referred to as the Rolls-Royce of languages. Not only are there phonic sounds that exist nowhere else, but even the word for beer changes depending on how many beers are involved (1 pivo, 2 piva, 5 piv).
Efforts to learn even the basics can quickly lead to bewilderment and frustration. Most give up after mastering hello (dobry den) and thank you (dik). Unable to communicate, tourists often fear venturing too far from the safety of the few English-speaking areas in Prague. This keeps them confined to the tourist traps.
How to Avoid Prague Tourist Traps
Fortunately, tourist traps in Prague are located in a very small area. Consequently, it is often just a matter of walking 10 minutes in any random direction, and you will find yourself in local territory. Pull out your wallet; you are free from traps in the real Prague.
A Prague where you will not encounter a man selling polka music—where the price for a mug of beer is less than that of a bottle of water.
