New research from Superdrug Online Doctor has revealed the European destinations Brits most associate with hook-ups and holiday romances, with party destination Ibiza taking the top spot by a considerable margin.Party holidays were also the type of trip most associated with holiday flings (40%), followed by stag dos (30%), festivals abroad (25%) and hen dos (24%).
The reality behind Europe’s STI landscape
While destinations such as Ibiza and Magaluf may have a reputation for casual encounters, a separate analysis of European STI surveillance data suggests that the countries with the highest STI rates aren’t always the ones Brits perceive as the biggest “hook-up hotspots”, which may lead to complacency while visiting.
Denmark recorded the highest combined rate of chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis across Europe in 2024, followed by Iceland and Norway.
England ranked fourth overall, with a combined rate of 430.5 cases per 100,000 people, placing it ahead of the Netherlands, home to Amsterdam, which ranked 12th overall with 201.74 cases per 100,000 people and ahead of Spain, home to Ibiza, which ranked 13th with 185.7 cases per 100,000 people.
A survey of more than 2,000 sexually active UK adults found that over a third (38%) associate the Spanish island with casual flings, ahead of fellow party hotspot Magaluf (28%). Amsterdam (18%), Ayia Napa (18%) and Benidorm (17%) completed the top five.
Europe’s top hook-up destinations, according to Brits
- Ibiza – 38%
- Magaluf – 28%
- Amsterdam – 18%
- Ayia Napa – 18%
- Benidorm – 17%
Party holidays were also the type of trip most associated with holiday flings (40%), followed by stag dos (30%), festivals abroad (25%) and hen dos (24%).
The reality behind Europe’s STI landscape
While destinations such as Ibiza and Magaluf may have a reputation for casual encounters, a separate analysis of European STI surveillance data suggests that the countries with the highest STI rates aren’t always the ones Brits perceive as the biggest “hook-up hotspots”, which may lead to complacency while visiting.
Denmark recorded the highest combined rate of chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis across Europe in 2024, followed by Iceland and Norway.
England ranked fourth overall, with a combined rate of 430.5 cases per 100,000 people, placing it ahead of the Netherlands, home to Amsterdam, which ranked 12th overall with 201.74 cases per 100,000 people and ahead of Spain, home to Ibiza, which ranked 13th with 185.7 cases per 100,000 people.
Countries with the highest combined STI rates in Europe
When it comes to STIs, behaviour matters more than destination
Previous findings from the research revealed that over half (54%) of sexually active UK adults have had a casual sexual encounter while travelling abroad.
However, 44% of those who have had casual sex overseas admit to doing so without protection, while 32% say they have had sex with someone whose STI status they did not know, leading to 13% of those who have had casual sex abroad coming home with an STI.
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