At night, the centre of Krakow, Poland’s former royal capital, turns into a hub of endless hen parties, endless bar crawls and wild parties organised by alcoholic tourists.
In this pearl of Gothic and Renaissance architecture, locals complain about a constant influx of drunken tourists who “shout”, “vomit”, “fight” and ignore nighttime noise laws.
Fed up with the noise, Krakow residents have taken legal action against the city hall, claiming it does not know how to solve problems related to noise and excessive drinking.
“Failure to comply with the law has become a symbol of tourism in Krakow,” Richard Ridiger, a lawyer who led the effort with the support of dozens of residents, told AFP.
“(Normal) life has been very disrupted.”
Tourists from all corners of the world act like “Tarzan in the jungle, unmolested,” he says.
Krakow, with a population of about 800,000, was meant to welcome 9.4 million tourists in 2023, according to official figures. But the city has been facing an unmanageable tourist problem for years. “I can’t walk safely in the evening or at night,” explains Weronika, a 25-year-old doctor. “My (normal) life has been very disrupted.”
However, Krakow has taken some steps to address the issue. problem. A year ago the city became the first in Poland to ban alcohol sales between midnight and 5.30am, a decision supported by more than half of residents. Police say that in the first six months of implementing the measures, police interventions were cut in half and the number of intoxicated people ending up in sober living centres also fell.
Three years ago, Krakow started calling for “city helpers” volunteers to provide information to tourists at night and to call the police if necessary.
Tourist awareness campaign
The city has already launched a number of advertising campaigns aimed at encouraging visitors to abide by the rules and reduce disorder.
“Of course we need tourists,” says Jean, “but we need the right laws to keep them there while eliminating the noise, disorder and dirt.”
What began as a public safety operation in 2021 later morphed into a campaign targeting British tourists known for their highly alcoholic trips to Krakow.
While the first posters posted around the city politely urged locals and tourists to respect each other and “keep your belongings safe”, the latest campaign is more direct. “This is the city of the Polish kings. It deserves respect,” the poster read.
Ridiger said these actions were “a step in the right direction” but were “very early days” in terms of solving the problem. “For years, tourism policy has been ‘come, come, come,’ but there were no clear boundaries set on what is and isn’t allowed,” he stresses.
Precedents in Amsterdam and Mallorca
This phenomenon is not isolated. In Amsterdam, the municipality is working to: Discourage party touristsThrough the online videos, the city hopes to invite tourists to consider the city in a “new light”, focusing on its cultural richness rather than the entertainment district, bars and coffee shops that are hugely popular during funerals.
The puzzle is the same in Mallorca, Who banned the sale of alcohol a few weeks ago In some areas of Mallorca and Ibiza, it will be available in stores from 9.30pm to 8am.
Same cause, same result… In 2023, police intervened 6,800 times in Krakow city center, more than 20 interventions per day, many of which were for drunk driving and destruction of public property, said city guard spokesman Marek Aniol.