Attempts by several popular European cities to crack down on boisterous UK stag and hen parties appear to have spectacularly failed. Despite high-profile campaigns and new regulations, destinations like Amsterdam, Prague, and Albufeira are seeing a surge in bookings from British revellers.
The Crackdown That Didn't Stick
In recent years, authorities in key tourist hubs have grown weary of the disruption sometimes caused by large groups of tourists, particularly those celebrating pre-wedding parties. Amsterdam launched a direct campaign in 2023 aimed at discouraging young British men from visiting for trips focused on sex, drugs, and alcohol, bluntly telling them to 'stay away'.
Similarly, Prague attempted to ban organised evening pub crawls to curb rowdy behaviour. Meanwhile, the Portuguese resort of Albufeira introduced a strict new code of conduct to clamp down on drunken and anti-social conduct. The goal was clear: to deter a certain type of tourist.
Defiant Revellers Drive a Booking Boom
Contrary to official hopes, these measures have not scared off the stag and hen party market. According to Matt Mavir, Managing Director of the specialist organiser Last Night of Freedom, the crackdowns have been ineffective. "Rules, fines and huge publicity campaigns – authorities in each of these cities have thrown everything at trying to discourage revellers," he told the Express, "but it hasn't done a fantastic job."
The data supports his claim. Last Night of Freedom reports increased bookings for all three cities for 2025. On their popularity rankings, Prague has climbed from fifth to third place, becoming a best-seller. Amsterdam has risen from ninth to seventh, and Albufeira made an impressive debut on the list directly in sixth position.
Europe's Best Value Stag Do Destinations for 2026
The resilience of these destinations comes as new research highlights where Brits can get the most for their money. A study by group party specialist Funktion Events, analysing data from Numbeo, Livingcost, and TripAdvisor, has revealed the top budget-friendly European cities for stag and hen celebrations in 2026.
The ranking was based on the combined cost of a pint of beer and an inexpensive restaurant meal, alongside the density of nightlife venues like pubs and clubs.
Prague takes the crown as the number one value destination, with pints averaging just £2.17 and a meal costing around £8.12. The top five is as follows:
- Prague (Beer: £2.17, Meal: £8.12)
- Budapest (Beer: £2.30, Meal: £8.97, 241 nightlife venues)
- Tenerife
- Sofia, Bulgaria
- Seville, Spain
It seems that for many British groups planning a final fling before marriage, the promise of affordable fun continues to outweigh the threat of fines or official disapproval, ensuring these European hotspots remain firmly on the stag-do map.
