Benidorm, Barcelona, Ibiza and Marbella among top 2019 hen and stag destinations

BENIDORM has reportedly hit number one for stag party destinations in Europe for 2019, according to at least two sources, pinching Prague's crown - although the exact order of cities recommended for men's pre-wedding parties varies according to who is rating them.

UK-based tour operator The Stag Company says Benidorm (pictured) is top, with Prague second, a listing shared by the British stag party website 'Last Night of Freedom', which had Benidorm at number nine in 2018.

Other sites put Krakow in Poland, Riga in Latvia, Budapest in Hungary, and Bratislava in Slovakia near the top, and include Berlin and Amsterdam, with scoring related to price and entertainment opportunities.

Most lists feature Barcelona in the top 10, although behind the more northerly destinations, which include the UK cities of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Liverpool, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London, and Brighton.

For hen weekends, traveller site Trivago puts Brighton, UK at the top and Marbella (Málaga province) second, calling it 'the classiest resort [town] on the Costa del Sol', 'glamorous', and 'synonymous with daytime pool parties, beachside restaurants and great hotels', and recommending 'joining the rich and famous on the water' for a boat ride or sailing lessons.

Ibiza is third on Trivago's list, describing the island as the ideal place to 'siesta by the pool during the day' before 'hitting up...the clubs by night', although also mentioning its suitability as a 'serene sun-kissed retreat' where groups of friends can 'wander the charming streets of Ibiza's old town' and tasting 'some traditional tapas dishes during the warm evenings'.

The Stag Company describes Benidorm as having a 'vibrant nightlife and warm weather' and 'as lively by day as it is by night', and describes easily-available 'classic stag-do activities' in the Costa Blanca holiday capital including go-karting with barbecue and beer, 'bubble football' and paintballing.

For Spaniards, the island of Ibiza and the cities of Barcelona and Granada have become increasingly popular for hen and stag weekends.

None of these needs any introduction, and all three have plenty of activities for the daytime - not least the Alhambra Palace and the famous souks in Granada, the Sagrada Família cathedral, Montjuïc mountain, the Ramblas and the Parc Güell in Barcelona - as well as excellent restaurants and bars for the evening and a lively, festive atmosphere after dark.