With cities boasting both history and beauty, Poland is a European country that boasts a rich cultural heritage.
Krakow, in southern Poland, near the border with the Czech Republic, dates back to the seventh century. Known for its medieval, Gothic and Renaissance architecture – with Cloth Hall and St Mary’s Basilica being top tourist attractions – millions of visitors flock to the city each year.
Official figures show that 9.3 million tourists visited Krakow in 2023 – almost 12 times the number of actual people living there – with many coming from the UK.
Unfortunately, though, some Brits are displaying a far from respectable reputation. Krakow has been dubbed a ‘party city’, leading many tourists to make holiday jaunts primarily to tour its numerous pubs and clubs.
Increasingly frequented by hen and stag dos, this has caused local residents to complain – they say they are fed up with the drunk and disorderly behaviour of tourists.
It’s not just being loud and brazen. Tourists are said to fight, vomit and generally make Krakow a living hell for the people who live there.
The situation has gotten so bad that residents have taken legal action against the town hall – accusing the institution of failing to address antisocial behaviour issues.
Ryszard Rydiger, the lawyer behind the initiative, told AFP: ‘The disregard for the law has become a symbol of tourism in Krakow,’ adding that tourists behave like ‘Tarzan in the jungle.’
‘For years, the tourism policy has been ‘come, come, come,’ but it has not been about setting clear boundaries on what can and cannot be done,’ he added.
A particularly problematic area appears to be Szewska Street, where 23-year-old Jan works at a popular nightclub among disorderly partygoers.
He described the street as a vicinity ‘at the heart of darkness’ and said Krakow desperately needed to introduce ‘appropriate legislation so that we keep tourists, but without noise, disorder and rubbish.’
‘Of course we need tourists,’ said Jan. ‘It’s just that there needs to be appropriate legislation so that we have the tourists, but without the noise, mess and crap.’
Elsewhere, one Reddit thread dedicated to the issue cited multiple incidents of stag parties ‘trashing bars, breaking furniture’ and ‘generally being massively disrespectful.’
‘One bar has had to completely renovate their bathroom due to a British stag group who decided to completely trash it and leave,’ wrote @Aragornography.
‘I was in a bar on Saturday with a ‘no fancy dress’ policy, which seems a good start. However, when a stag came in in fancy dress, they ignored the barmen, started screaming and shouting and STILL got served,’ they lamented.
‘I’m Half English Half Polish. I’m never more ashamed to be British than when I go abroad,’ added @trashmemes22.
‘We have been visiting family in Krakow since I was a kid and I was shocked at how many drunken Brits were around when I visited in 2022 compared to even 2016.’
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So, if you were planning on visiting Krakow for a bit of peace and quiet – might be worth thinking again.
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