Prague is urging residents to go out and return to normal

A new website lists the restaurants, services, and cultural events in the Czech capital

Since the outbreak of COVID, cities have changed tremendously. During lockdowns, businesses remained closed and residents stayed home. In other words, the streets suddenly became quiet and empty. With the introduction of vaccines, many thought that life would soon return to normal.

However, despite the alleviation of restrictions and the successful vaccine rollout, things are far from what they used to be. Businesses are still struggling as they try to recover from the devastating impact of the pandemic. Customers, on the other hand, are still reluctant to go outside, shop in stores, and dine outdoors. As such, the streets of cities still remain quiet.

Urging people to go out

On 7 October, the City of Prague announced that it has collaborated with the metropolitan Hitradio City to launch a new project: My City – Discover Prague. According to Mayor Zdeněk Hřib, the aim of this new initiative is “to stir up the city” after the events of the past year and a half.

To do so, the project’s organisers have launched a new website (mojemesto.cz), listing countless venues, sights, activities, and services. On mojemesto.cz, Prague’s residents can now find inspiration when wondering how to spend their free time. The website allows them to find information about restaurants, cafes, galleries, theatres, and lesser-known places in the capital.

In addition to this, one can also find invitations to various cultural and social events. Councillor Hana Třeštíková commented on the new website, sharing that it has been designed to facilitate the process of going out:

“Thanks to this [the website], we can easily plan a busy weekend or just go to the theatre after work and choose a restaurant with the best rating near it.”

Helping entrepreneurs

My City – Discover Prague ultimately seeks to support entrepreneurs by helping them attract customers for free. President of the Czech Association of Hotels and Restaurants Václav Stárek highlighted the importance of supporting businesses at this time, sharing the findings of recent studies:

“According to surveys, almost a quarter of customers exchanged visits to restaurants and similar social events for meetings at home. It’s a pity, because the atmosphere of an evening city, restaurant or concert cannot be replaced in any virtual way and is an inseparable part of the experience.”

The City of Prague thus hopes that the new project will motivate people to step outside, experience new things, and return to normal.