As one of Europe’s most beautiful capitals, Prague is one of the most popular tourist destinations every year. While the constant influx of tourists is generally not a bad thing, it does tend to take a toll on the cultural and historical heritage of the city and raises the levels of pollution for those living there. Is Prague your next holiday destination and you can’t wait to see what it has to offer? Then you might want to consider exploring it in a sustainable manner and doing your best to be a responsible tourist.
Do you want to learn how you can do that? Here are some tips that might help.
Getting to Prague
The best way to travel if you want to be sustainable is to use trains. If this is at all a viable option for you, take a train ride because it’s the cleanest option that results in fewer greenhouse emissions. Another good option would be to take a bus, or at least to share a car with others.
Services like YoLft and BlaBlaCar let you share vehicles with people who are taking the same trip as you are, as long as you help pay for the gas. If you find a group of folks who are also going to Prague, this is a pretty good option. Who knows, you might even make a friend or two. If there’s no way to avoid plane travel, go for trusted airlines that are committed to sustainability and that use biofuel for their flights.
Once you get to Prague, the best way to get around is, of course, either by walking or by riding a bike. Bikes can be easily rented from a multitude of places near the airport, but if you prefer to have a faster transportation option on your hands, go for electric cars. Green Motion will let you rent a Tesla, but it’s not very cheap. The most affordable option for you might be public transport — buses, trains, trams, and the metro station are all very inexpensive and they’ll get you wherever you need to go.
Enjoying the Sights
The very city centre is a great place to start because there’s plenty to see and you’re bound to enjoy the liveliness of it. The area is listed as a UNESCO world heritage and you can visit many charming coffee shops and see monuments like the astronomical clock. Besides the centre, there are many bohemian neighbourhoods, green parks, and riverside buildings you can see, but the whole city can feel a little bit like a maze at first.
It’s advisable to find a tour guide, or better yet, a good destination management company that can handle everything from managing your accommodation and event planning, to organising interesting tours. When walking around and learning about the history and culture of the Czech Republic, do your best to be respectful.
Finding the Right Accommodations
Airbnbs, hostels, and couch surfing are generally considered to be more eco-friendly because they save a lot more space and resources than hotels do. However, places such as the Mosaic House Sir Toby’s are great options because they have invested in water and energy conservation technologies, so you can combine comfort with eco-consciousness. Look for places that offer a lot of vegan/vegetarian options on their menu, that let you rent out bikes to get around, and that generally look forward to helping you stay eco-friendly.
Shopping Thoughtfully
If you’re in Prague, there’s very little point to going to big brand stores that you can easily find at home. After all, that’s presumably not why you’re here, and if you want to help the local economy, there’s no need to fill the pockets of rich chain stores. If you wish to act with respect and get an authentic experience out of the whole deal, stick to local stores and craftsmen, especially when buying souvenirs.
Pragtique, for example, is a little store near the main town square that sells beautiful memorabilia of Prague made out of recyclable materials, and places like Designum Gallery will show you artfully-made, gorgeous jewellery that can be the perfect gift to buy for your family back home.
Even shopping for fashion can be more sustainable! Prague is very serious about recycling and upcycling, and Recycle With Love is a shop where you can find garments made out of old materials that absolutely don’t lack in quality or style. There are also several local artisans and designers who will gladly show you their ideas and let you buy something truly unique.
Dining at the Right Places
Similarly to shopping for items, you can also choose more sustainable restaurants for your dining experience. Fortunately, Prague makes sure vegan options are available in almost every restaurant, and there are plenty of places that offer organic produce and locally-sourced meat. You can try all the delicious Czech cuisine in eateries such as Maitrea, Lokál, and Sansho.
As with any travel destination, the most important thing is to be conscious about the impact you leave on the environment and to do your best to be respectful towards the culture and the locals. As long as you do this, your vacation will be immensely enjoyable.