Belgrade Stag Do

A Belgrade stag do is for a group with stamina. The Serbian capital has a serious reputation for nightlife, the food is generous and meat-heavy, and the locals start going out at about the time most of us are thinking about a kebab. It sits where the Sava meets the Danube, and in summer a good chunk of the partying happens on the water.

It’s still off the beaten stag track, so you won’t be one of six groups in matching T-shirts on the same street. That makes it a great shout for lads who’ve done the usual spots and fancy somewhere with a bit more character.

The headline act is the splavovi, clubs and bars on barges moored along the river banks. The mainstream strip is on the Sava, while the Danube side leans more towards electronic music. Splav season is roughly summer, from early June to late September, and in winter the big venues move back inland. Book a table a few days ahead for summer weekends, dress smart casual (no sportswear), and turn up before 1am. An all-male group gets an easier time on the door if it’s early, tidy and sober-looking.

For the traditional side, go to Skadarlija, the cobbled bohemian quarter full of kafanas, old taverns serving grilled meat, live folk music and rakija. Rakija is fruit brandy (plum is the classic) and it’s strong, so treat it with respect. Savamala, by the river, has bars that turn into dance floors as the night goes on, and Dorćol is good for a slightly more relaxed drink. Jelen is the local lager, and the one I’d keep the stag on if you want him upright on Sunday.

A guided pub crawl on night one is an easy way to learn the city before you split up.

Start with Kalemegdan, the old fortress and park above the river junction. The views are great, and it’s a decent walk to clear the head. In summer, Ada Ciganlija, a river island with a lake, is where Belgraders go to swim and play sport, and there’s even been bungee jumping off a crane there (check it’s running before you promise it to the stag). The city also has a proper go karting track for settling who’s the best driver once and for all.

River boat tours run in the warmer months, and a private boat party on the Danube or Sava is a fine way to fill an afternoon. Do try the ćevapi, little grilled sausages served with bread and onions. They fix most things.

• When to go. June to September if you want the river clubs. Out of season the nightlife carries on indoors, but the barges are the big draw.
• Getting there. Belgrade’s airport is a short drive from the city. Direct flights from the UK are limited, so check routes from your airport early.
• Getting about. Use the CarGo app or a booked taxi rather than hailing one on the street, especially at night.
• Money. Serbia uses the dinar, not the euro. Carry some cash for tips and late-night food stands.
• Keep an eye on things. Watch your pockets on busy river piers and never leave drinks unattended.
• Entry rules. Serbia isn’t in the EU, so check the latest entry rules for UK passports before you go.

Belgrade packages will appear below as UK stag companies add them. If you want to compare it with another party capital, look at Bucharest or Krakow. Either way, a Belgrade stag weekend needs a quiet Monday booked off work.

Belgrade’s nights split between the old quarters and the river, so I’d choose the base by what the group cares about most. Dorćol is my pick for the beds. It’s known for a more relaxed drink, which makes it a calmer place to come home to after a big one in Skadarlija, the cobbled bohemian quarter full of kafanas.

If the lads care more about being near the dance floors than about sleep, look at Savamala instead. It sits by the river, and its bars turn into dance floors as the night goes on, which suits a group that wants to stay out late.

My practical tip: wherever you stay, sort your rides back with the CarGo app or a booked taxi rather than hailing one on the street at night. It’s worth checking how the group will get from the river clubs to the beds before you pick a place.

Friday Land, get from the airport into the city (it’s a short drive) and change some money, because Serbia uses the dinar and you’ll want cash. Then it’s Skadarlija for the first night. I’d settle into a kafana for grilled meat, live folk music and a round of rakija, and I’d make sure the stag knows plum is the classic and that it’s strong. Switch to Jelen before it gets messy.

Saturday Clear the head with a walk up to Kalemegdan, the old fortress and park above the river junction. In summer, spend the afternoon on Ada Ciganlija, the river island with a lake for swimming and sport, or get a group onto a boat on the Danube or Sava, since river boat tours run in the warmer months. For the night out, head for the splavovi. The Sava barges are the mainstream strip and the Danube side leans electronic. Dress smart casual with no sportswear, get there before 1am, and keep everyone looking tidy and sober for the door. Out of season the big venues move back inland, so Savamala’s riverside bars are a good bet instead.

Sunday Recovery means ćevapi, little grilled sausages with bread and onions, which fix most things. After that I’d have a slow drink in Dorćol and a quiet word with whoever is in charge of the passports. Keep an eye on your drinks all weekend, and never leave them unattended.