Dublin and Belfast have been named among the 20 best cities in Ireland and the UK for Stag and Hen do's, or, as Americans would say, bachelor and bachelorette parties.

Dublin came in seventh position on the list, while Belfast was in fifteenth place in the new study from Traditional Punting Company.

Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland, is a hugely popular tourist attraction for people around the world. Although the city is expensive, it was recommended for its nightlife and "one-of-a-kind atmosphere, culture, and beauty."

Recommended activities in Dublin include a visit to iconic Irish pub Temple Bar, tasting the traditional Irish dish 'coddle,' learning to dance an Irish jig, and visiting the Guinness Storehouse.

Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, is also known for its pubs and nightlife. The city offers a wide range of different landmarks and sights to see and plenty of activities, including botanic gardens, Belfast Castle and stunning landscapes nearby.

Recommended activities in Belfast include a visit Titanic Belfast to see where the famous ship was made, taking foraging, baking or cooking classes at Bakehouse, pedaling around the city whilst enjoying a few drinks on the 'Wee Toast Tour,'  or going off-road driving in the countryside.

Traditional Punting Company gathered search data on the best Stag and Hen cities within the UK and Ireland to determine which is the most popular.

They also shared key statistics that Hen and Stags are likely to consider ahead of deciding a location, such as crime rate, number of bars, clubs, and attractions, the average price of a budget hotel room, and the cost for a pint of beer in the local pub. 

“Choosing the best location for both Stag and Hen do’s can be a difficult task - it’s important to find something that suits everybody's budget and that has enough activities to keep everybody entertained, despite varying interests," said Joe Merwiak, Director of Traditional Punting Company.

Liverpool was named the most popular Stag and Hen city, knocking London off the top spot. Research showed that Bath, Cambridge, and Birmingham were more popular amongst Hens, while more Stags seemed to prefer Leeds, Nottingham and Oxford.

Traditional Punting Company also spoke to experts at Fizzbox and The Stag Company to gain some further information on some of these locations as Stag and Hen options, as well as activity ideas. 

Here are the top 20 cities for Stag and Hen parties:

  1. Liverpool
  2. London
  3. Manchester
  4. Brighton
  5. Dublin
  6. Newcastle
  7. Edinburgh
  8. Bristol
  9. York
  10. Cardiff
  11. Bath
  12. Nottingham
  13. Leeds
  14. Glasgow
  15. Belfast
  16. Cambridge
  17. Chester
  18. Oxford
  19. Sheffield
  20. Birmingham

You can view the full list of the most popular Stag and Hen cities here.