Taking part in a pub crawl means experiencing a city’s culture, enjoying social time and having a great night out. Backpacking through Europe, enjoying a city weekend or finding your country’s treasures, an organized pub crawl is sure to show you the region’s best nightlife. It explains the top-rated bars to visit and offers important advice for enjoying your evening safely and fun.

What Exactly Is a Pub Crawl?

A pub crawl involves moving from pub to pub, usually on foot, during one evening. Millions of travelers, students and locals visit city centers each year. People like the variety: getting to experience different moods, drinks, music and types of crowds all in one night.

Places to Have the Best Pub Crawl

1. Dublin, Ireland

There are more pubs in Dublin than anywhere else. There are more than 750 of them in the city and every one has its special characteristics. Start your walking tour in Temple Bar, where the evenings are full of lively partyvibes. The Temple Bar Pub is worth visiting, then check out The Palace Bar and see the oldest pub in Dublin, The Brazen Head. You can’t miss a visit here for its music, kind locals and glasses of Guinness.

2. Czech Republic >\

The city is known for both its old architecture and lively beer scene. First head for Old Town, as drinking in those bars is easy since they are all nearby. U Sudu is a multi-level bar and Hemingway Bar makes classy cocktails. If you like beer and are on a budget, Czech beer fits the bill perfectly since it’s known worldwide and extremely affordable.

3. London, England

You can discover a different pub atmosphere in every part of London. Camden has a punk atmosphere and funny venues, while in Shoreditch, alternative crowds will feel more at home. First see The World’s End, continue to BrewDog and end the evening with live music at Jazz Café. Since most pubs in London close at midnight, start your night early or look for places that are open longer.

4. Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok pub crawls offer a mix of fun at rooftop bars, strange speakeasies and crazy backpacker parties. Many tourists use Khao San Road as their first point in Bangkok. You’ll find a lot of action at the bars in Soi Cowboy and on Sukhumvit. Enjoy local Thai beers such as Chang or Singha and let the city’s excitement fill you.

5. The United States of America—New Orleans

Since it’s legal to drink outside in the French Quarter, you are allowed to carry your drinks from one spot to the next. For experiencing the state at its finest, people crawl on Bourbon Street. Try a Hurricane cocktail at Pat O’Brien’s or visit Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar—it’s one of the oldest bars you’ll find. You will most often find jazz and cocktails as the main features of any pub crawl here.

6. Melbourne, Australia

Some of Melbourne’s top bars are found in its secret laneways. Start your trip in the Central Business District (CBD) at Section 8 or Eau De Vie which offer everything from walls displaying graffiti to old-style cocktail joints. People know the city for its craft beer and innovative cocktails.

Useful Advice for a Fun Pub Crawl

1. Plan Ahead

Pick a place where you don’t have to walk far to find a bar. Do some research to find out when the museum is open and what you need to pay for admission. For those looking for a safe experience, many cities arrange organized pub crawls where you pay for drinks and get show-around tours.

2. Remember to hydrate yourself and choose healthy food.

Pace yourself. Switch between drinks and water and remember to eat a few bites during your crawl. Enjoy tours that let you eat or plan to eat something in between tours.

3. Carry Cash

Sometimes, you’ll find that some bars don’t accept cards and only handle cash payments. Having a little currency of the country you are in helps to avoid stress.

4. Wear something that’s comfortable and matches the occasion.

Not all venues have the same dress requirements. Casual wear will do in most Western cities, but at trendy places or clubs, it’s better to be smart-casual. It’s important to wear comfortable shoes, since you’ll spend a lot of time on them.

5. Stay Safe

Make sure you guard your drink, your valuable possessions and never accept drinks from someone unknown to you. Travel together whenever you can and remember how to get back to your accommodation. These kinds of apps are the best for guiding you when driving or walking.

6. Obey the rules and ways of life in the places you visit.

Some places treat being drunk in public as an offense and others monitor when and where alcohol may be purchased. Be aware of the laws and respect the ways of the culture. The way things are done in Berlin will rarely work in Dubai.

7. Be Aware of Your Boundaries

Enjoy the atmosphere and having fun, but don’t go too far with alcohol. Check how alcohol affects you and monitor your feelings during the evening. If it is difficult for you to keep going, it’s absolutely ok to pass on a drink or leave the party early.

If you’d like, take part in a themed or well-organized pub crawl.

For instance, Key West has pirate crawls, Minneapolis has zombie pub crawls and in Southeast Asia you can join backpacker crawls. Normaly, organized events involve games, discounts on beverages and tour guides native to the area. Taking one of these is a great chance to make friends and get some hidden insights into the place.

Conclusion

A pub crawl is not only about drinking; it also lets you discover a city’s atmosphere, people and local spots for fun. Every time you attend a crawl in New Orleans, a Dublin pub or on a Bangkok rooftop, each experience is one of a kind. If you are ready, enjoy the experience and remember that you are responsible, your pub crawl will make traveling great.

If you’re ever in a new place, grab your walking shoes, meet up with some friends or get to know someone new and visit a different pub in the evening.