Indulge in some much-needed gal-time with our selection of adult all-girls holiday destinations for every type of traveller
Fish-bowl cocktails, horrific sunburn, and questionable airport selfies are each a prerequisite of the all-girls holiday. If you thought those carefree moments were restricted to your teen years, you’re almost right. Holidays now take the form of couples’ retreats or grown-up excursions. But female bonding doesn’t age, so why lose the excuse to travel? With that in mind, we’ve rounded up a few of the best destinations for an adult all-girls holiday. Just lose the matching T-shirts.
The Best Places to Go for an Adult All-Girls Holiday
The Glamorous One: Mykonos, Greece
Mykonos provides the glitz and glamour for Greece with its St-Tropez-meets-Ibiza style. It offers an enticing paradise of beaches, boating, dining, drinking, shopping, and sightseeing. Underneath the glitz and the glitter. though it is an island full of history, culture, and the gorgeous white villages that the Greek islands are famous for. This is the perfect place to indulge with girlfriends, revel in the gloss and glamour, and still tick off the cultural experiences too.
The Cultural One: Florence, Italy
For a girls’ holiday with a spot of culture, a city break in Italy works wonders. Florence is a focal point for museums, art galleries, and magnificent duomos. There are also plenty of cafes and trattorias to unwind in after a long day of sightseeing. The ideal spot to treat yourself to a glass of rosé and some delicious food as you watch the world go by. Pisa, only an hour and a half away from Florence by train, is more touristy. It draws hundreds of visitors for its Leaning Tower, but there are plenty of hidden gems to be found by exploring the rest of the town.
The Shopping Spree: Copenhagen, Denmark
Known for its permi-state of contentment and laid-back-cool, Copenhagen really does have the X factor. With a backdrop of cobbled, bike-friendly streets and rainbow-hued townhouses, craft studios, and cafes, shopping in this city is a wondrous affair. As a capital intrinsically linked to design, Copenhagen has a thriving shopping scene.
The area in and around Kongens Nytorv buzzes with cutting-edge fashion brands and interior design shops. You’ll find Bang and Olufsen’s flagship store here. Bredgade is a grand street running past the royal palace of Amalienborg and contains the city’s finest antique art and furniture dealers. Pick up classics from Arne Jacobsen, Finn Juhl, and many others here. Jægersborggade is one of Copenhagen’s coolest streets, sitting at the edge of Assisten’s Churchyard where Hans Christian Andersen is buried. Here you’ll be spoilt for choice with cafés, second-hand and other curiosity shops.
The Party Island: Hvar, Croatia
Hvar Town is Croatia’s most fashionable resort and has attracted the likes of Prince Harry, Keira Knightley, and Daniel Craig to its glittering shores. It’s a magnet for yachting types and boasts a wealth of pricey but rustic-chic seafood restaurants. Ka’Lavanda is Croatia’s best cocktail hangout. Stretched out along an ancient stairway, it epitomises the al fresco European drinking culture. Head over with the girls for post-dinner drinks before heading to Carpe Diem. This place isn’t just a bar, it has its own party island. At 1 am the Carpe Diem boat ferries party people from bar to island where fire, palms, swimming pools and DJs await.
The Historic One: Fes, Morocco
Contrary to popular belief, the oldest university in the world isn’t Oxford or the Sorbonne. It’s the University of Al-Karaouine, and you’ll find it in Fes el Bali. Step into this walled city – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and back to medieval times. Visit the ancient maze-like quarters of the Medina to Fes el-Bali and the four imposing Gates of Fes. They’re famous for their distinctive Moroccan tile work. You can walk, or, if you’re brave, take a taxi—the daredevil drivers will have you hanging on for dear life.
The Relaxing One: Ubud, Bali
Ubud is the cultural hub of Bali and a magnet for healing treatments and local art and music. Hire a bike and take a leisurely ride out into the lush countryside and surrounding paddy fields. Then head back to relieve any aching muscles with a Balinese massage. In the evening, check out a traditional dance show at the atmospheric Ubud Palace.
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