Prague submerged by overtourism: on the Charles Bridge and in the squares you can’t even move

Praguethe capital of the Czech Republic, is one of the most fascinating tourist destinations in Europe, famous for its history, unique architecture and romantic atmosphere. However, during the high season, the city faces its less glamorous side mass tourism.

A clear example of this turnout is the Charles Bridgeone of the best-known symbols of the city, which, especially during the summer months and the Christmas holidays, becomes a real “traffic jam” of tourists as evidenced by various videos posted on social media. With its Gothic architecture and the Baroque statues that adorn it, it is undoubtedly one of Prague’s main tourist attractions.

However, its popularity turns it into a place where walking and enjoying the view of the Vltava River becomes a challenge. Tourists, intent on taking photographs or simply admiring the surrounding beauty, end up creating long queues of people in which it’s even hard to movemaking the experience difficult for those seeking to stroll in peace.

Prague has become the seventh most visited city in Europe

The numbers speak for themselves: in 2024, according to Euromonitor data, Prague welcomed them well 6.8 million of touristsbecoming the seventh most visited city in Europe. This constant flow of visitors is evident not only at Charles Bridge, but also in other areas of the city, such as the Old Town Square, with its famous astronomical clock, or the narrow streets of the Jewish Quarter, which evoke the memory of historical figures such as Franz Kafka and the legendary Golem.

Prague is a city that mixes the past with the present: its medieval and baroque architecture blends perfectly with the more modern elementscreating a cosmopolitan atmosphere that fascinates tourists from all over the world. But its growing popularity also brings with it challenges which, as in other places, end up risking destroying the beauty of these places which become almost impassable during holidays.

Added to this are the possible damage to the artistic and cultural heritage due to the continuous trampling and wear caused by visitors who can compromise the integrity of historic sites. Not to mention the fact that residents, due to overcrowding, they may feel “expropriated” of their cities. Problems that are increasingly frequent and which must be urgently addressed to leave these incredible cities intact in their timeless charm.