A Tale of Two Suitcases
During my day out over the Prague Castle, it rained a lot, which I didn't mind at all. I think it cut down the tourist population a bit. I will describe a specific experience on my way down from Prague Castle along Zámecké schody, which is a path of stairs and cobblestone......really beautiful! The tale start at the top with this view and I will follow these two unfortunate ladies down the stairs! I don't know what the story was, early check-out? Late Flight? Last chance to see the Prague Castle? Here we go!
There is a specific sound you only hear in Europe’s historic centers. It’s not the church bells or the hum of a distant Vespa. It’s the clack-clack-clack-screech of plastic wheels being dragged across centuries-old stone.
While walking down the Zámecké schody—the majestic "Castle Stairs" that lead from the Prague Castle down into Malá Strana—I witnessed a scene that was equal parts cinematic and tragic. The view is spectacular from the top, the classic red roof, rain, spring cherry blossoms, its perfect! But then there was these two ladies...
The Final Boss of Prague
The Zámecké schody is one of the most beautiful backroads in the city, offering sweeping views of red-tiled roofs. But it is also a gauntlet of over 200 stone steps. On this particular morning, it wasn't just steep; it was pouring rain.
I watched two young travelers attempting to navigate the descent. They weren't carrying their bags; they were engaged in a high-stakes wrestling match with them. Every few steps, a suitcase would catch on a slick edge, threaten to pull its owner down with it, or emit a groan of protest that suggested a wheel was about to meet its maker.
Why the "Roller" Fails the European Test
Watching them struggle in the rain highlighted exactly why the traditional suitcase often meets its demise in the Old World:
The Grip of the Void: Wet cobblestones and granite stairs have zero traction for small wheels. What works on a polished airport floor becomes a dangerous slide on a Prague hillside.
The Spiral Staircase Surprise: If you aren't fighting the outdoor stairs, you’re likely fighting the indoor ones. Many of these beautiful historic buildings haven't seen an elevator since they were built in the 1700s.
The Logistics of "Lugging": Once you're soaked through and your arm is vibrating from the "cobblestone tax," the romance of the city starts to fade.
The Backpack Manifesto
As I watched them disappear into the mist of the Malá Strana, still wrestling with their luggage, I was reminded of the golden rule for traveling these regions: If you can't carry it comfortably on your back, it’s going to be your enemy.
Europe wasn't built for wheels; it was built for feet. Trading the roller bag for a solid travel pack isn't just about saving your wheels—it’s about saving your sanity (and your back).
This is nothing specific about Prague, I have learned my lesson 20 years back during my first trip through Greek Islands. I have always travelled with a backpack since in Europe, even on longer trips. When our kids were born we carried them in bigger backpacks (I am glad that is over! Phew!). Now that they are teenagers, we all carry just backpacks.
Here are my ladies through Venice airport on a weeklong trip last year.
Many charming boutique hotels or historic rentals in cities like Lisbon or Edinburgh are in buildings that pre-date elevators. Lugging a 40lb suitcase up three flights of a narrow, 100-year-old wooden spiral staircase is a workout nobody wants on vacation. In older quarters, sidewalks can be barely wide enough for one person. A wide suitcase forces you into the street or makes it impossible for others to pass. Hopping on and off regional trains or crowded metros is significantly easier when your luggage is strapped to your back. It keeps your hands free for tickets, maps, or steadying yourself during a sudden stop.
Here they are at Brussels Central Station earlier this year. Again it was a week long trip, and everything fits in the backpack. If you can that the rule, your world spins around that rule and kids understand the joy of travelling light and how convenient that is in Europe. Then you like it so much that you want to do it everywhere!
