There is nothing else that screams ‘therapy’ like a girl trip. Sure, coffee dates and girl-dinner nights are cool, but when you finally turn that ‘out of office’ in, pack your Dysons and skincare in cute luggage, and leave for another country with your besties, that is what can cure just about ANYTHING!
Trust me, I have done that before and never regretted any second of it.
And since girls love everything aesthetic, some of the best girls’ holiday destinations I always recommend are located in Europe.
Cobbled streets, lazy afternoons in brasseries, dreamlike, nostalgic natural landscapes, and reel-worthy moments, sometimes in the Roman mist-shrouded lands, and sometimes in the deep blue waters of Greece, are necessary backdrops to spill the tea, shed the drama, and let go of any worries of your life.
Trust me, a holiday like this is both comfortable and convenient. There are no expectations, lots of emotional support from your female friends, and an opportunity to look at the world from a new perspective.
So, whether you are reunited college besties, busy moms who need a break, or a single crew out on a bachelorette trip, these are the best girl weekend getaways in Europe to reclaim a little joy, a lot of self-love and to make endless memories for the life to come.
The Safest And Most Recommended Girl Holiday Destinations In Europe
1. Amsterdam, Netherlands
I always say that Amsterdam is one of the best girls’ holiday destinations in Europe because it is like a beautiful, chaotic dream. When I visited it with my girls, we didn’t stick to a strict itinerary – instead, we decided to let the hidden gems in the city lead the way.
We wandered through the city filled with stunning Dutch buildings that had us snapping photos non-stop. Of course, stumbling through the old city (Old Man’s House Gate) was a must. With the stunning architecture around us and delicious food in hand, it felt like we would fall into a food coma every passing second. And honestly, that’s exactly what you want for a girls’ getaway.
The trendy places for girls to visit in Amsterdam include the Van Gogh Museum or Amsterdam Centraal, but sometimes, getting a little lost and soaking in the hidden side makes the best memories.
2. Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona is one of my favorite European trips for sisterly bonding. My bestie Isabella and I are big fans of art, so we kicked off one of our girl weekend getaways with a visit to the Sagrada Familia.
Let’s just say the breathtaking site of the unfinished church did not disappoint! We then went on exploring the Roman history of Barcelona afternoon, losing ourselves in the Gothic Quarter’s winding streets and treating ourselves to a luxurious spa day at AIRE Ancient Baths.
Barcelona is indeed the best spa vacation destination in Europe for a girls’ trip. By the time we emerged, we were ready for a little shopping. But know what we opted for? The record stores! Stocked up on some of our favorite vinyl before we left the city.
3. Berlin, Germany
Berlin was quite overwhelming when I was exploring Europe during my girls’ trip. There is so much to do and see, but we stuck to the major attractions when we were there for a weekend getaway in Europe, such as The Brandenburger Gate, the Neues Museum, the Holocaust Memorial, The Berlin Botanical Garden, and Botanical Museum, etc.
One afternoon, we joined a bunch of others to visit the most thrilling vintage Sunday flea market at Mauerpark and even created our own masterpieces on the Karaoke! The energy of Berlin just has a vibe of its own. It has a way of pushing you out of your comfort zone, as is evident from one of the most famous techno nightclubs, Berghain, which is situated in a former power plant and sees hour-long queues outside it every day.
However, Berlin still remains an ideal European city for a girls’ only holiday.
4. Biarritz, France
I was on the best girl weekend getaway of my life in Biarritz in 2021. We stayed in a nice hotel, we partied and traversed everything from the mountains to the sea, but to this date, it is one of the most affordable girls’ trip destinations in Europe, in my opinion.
We started our itinerary with the Lac Mouriscot, and even though none of us were pros at cycling, we gave it a go anyway, tumbling off the wide pathways in the woods and laughing at each other.
In the evenings, we explored Biarritz’s famous nightlife. Le Bar Jean and some other tapas bars stay open even after midnight, and there’s something about sitting without any worries with your best friends, with a Basque cider in hand, that just makes every little moment feel magical.
5. Brussels, Belgium
One of our girls’ holiday destinations in Europe was Brussels, where we landed without too many plans. However, it was the best decision ever! If there is one thing you have to check out in this city, it is the Grand Place. It has a gorgeous cobblestoned square, with buildings surrounding it and other landmarks that still stand brave and tall after so many mishaps in the past.
After that, we spent an entire afternoon on a beer-tasting tour – because, yes, we deserved it. Afterward, we wandered through Wolf, which looked like something out of a dream for foodies. We laughed, ate so many tacos and sushi that we lost count, and even challenged each other to try the spiciest Ramen.
Brussels is unexpectedly one of the most romantic European cities for a girls-only holiday destination – charming and perfect for any girls’ retreat.
6. Budapest, Hungary
Budapest swept us off our feet as one of the best girl holiday destinations in Europe, and quite affordable as compared to others. It has some of the most scenic European destinations, such as the House of Music, Buda Castle, Matthias Church, and Margaret Island, that the girls loved!
I highly recommend staying at the Aria Hotel. It has a rooftop pool, High Note Skybar, overlooking the dome of St Stephen’s Basilica, and every night felt like an Insta-worthy moment thanks to the music and stylish decor.
Budapest is also one of the best girls’ weekend getaways in Europe if you and your besties are into the haunting facts of the past. For example, during the day, we explored the city’s medieval ruins and the Shoes on the Danube Bank, which is an absolute must-see. We even stumbled upon St Stephen’s Basilica, the most famous of them all, with its 96-meter-high dome and the lift that takes you to the cupola!
7. Dublin, Ireland
Dublin was the definition of the best beach destination in Europe for a girls’ trip (the Forty Foot is a must-see). In a nutshell, it was a great “craic”—as the Irish magic made everything in our girls’ trip so much fun.
Our first stop was the Temple Bar district because we wanted to get over the fear of stag dos! And to our surprise, there were so many hidden touristy bars buried in between, such as The Old Storehouse and The Foggy Dew.
We hopped from one attraction to another, each one with its own charm. We even got a chance to spend a lovely day at the Iveagh Gardens, and to balance out all of that serenity and peace, we spent the rest of the days exploring George’s Street Arcade, the Creative Quarter, and Light House Cinema.
But the highlight? A day trip to Dalkey Island! Standing there with the coast stretching ahead, we couldn’t help but feel like this was the most relaxing countryside escape in Europe for girls.
8. Hvar, Croatia
Hvar is a small town, perfect for adventure-filled girls’ trips in Europe. It was last year that my friends and I discovered how quintessentially beautiful this holiday destination in Europe was, and we all were of the opinion that it was the perfect tonic for our busy lives.
And yes, we enjoyed every last bit of the sunshine, hanging around beaches with the locals, sipping on sunset cocktails, and dining in a deserted village (Humac) on patron saints’ day.
I convinced my friends to join me in sailing the Pakleni Islands, and we even befriended five other female strangers who were attending the one-day boat trip (we are still friends with them). It was our ultimate girl weekend getaway in Europe: our days were punctuated by the Lavender Festival, exotic greenery, and an abundance of local food.
9. Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon’s sprawling modern Museum of Art, Architecture, and Technology considers that a breathtaking design aligns with the most beautiful sunset backdrop you have seen in your life. Needless to say, our visit to this girls’ holiday destination in Europe ended up with killer pictures that we shared on social media for a year!
Evenings were spent in exhibitions, markets, shops and cafes – Lisbon has many places perfect for reconnecting with friends. The Oceanarium was also one of the must-see exhibitions, and Gambrinus was the highlight of our trip (though we still regret that we didn’t try the Gambrinus tulipa and prego).
Lisbon also has many cultural activities in Europe for girl friends’ groups, and one of the most beautiful settings, with acres of second-hand, antiques, and vintage clothing and craft stalls, was Feira da Ladra. We even took some souvenirs from the prominent artists of Lisbon.
10. Monaco City, Monaco
Outside of occasional retreats, one of our girls’ getaways to Europe finally made it out of the group chat when we visited Monaco City in 2018. It still baffles me how this small country, with essentially only Monte Carlo taking up center stage, offers more girl holiday destinations, such as Monaco City,
You can either wander around the city and take in the breathtaking architecture of Casino Monte-Carlo, Palais Princier de Monaco, Saint Nicolas Cathedral, or Chemin de Sculpture, or you can just opt to be a full-time foodie and enjoy the cocktail bar at Le Bar Américain or act like a local at the lowkey Tip-Top restaurant.
The beauty of this holiday was that it was one of our most luxurious girls’ trips in Monaco. The accommodation was expensive, indeed, but the Trans Cote D’Azur Cruise sightseeing tour and the Circuit de Monaco were really good for my soul and catching up with my favorite women. I’m already making plans to arrange my next girl trip to Monaco City!
11. Paris, France
A few years ago, one of my friends wanted to have an art-focused girls’ trip in Paris, and since we were already looking up for girls’ holiday destinations, the rest of us joined in! (In reality, we wanted to have our own Emily in Paris moment, but she didn’t have to know that!)
We wanted to stay in a boutique hotel (Hôtel Henriette, Gobelins, Nolinski, Opéra-Louvre, and MOB House, Saint-Ouen were top on our list) and then spent every last bit indulging in art-related activities.
Palais de Tokyo and Musée d’Art Moderne were a breath of fresh air after we made a trip to the Eiffel Tower. And even though we braced ourselves, The Louvre knocked the air out of our lungs! We still talk about how Chloe, one of our friends, couldn’t stop gawking at it.
Then we unwinded at some of the most upbeat parties around town before we explored the heart of all Parisian markets at Marché des Enfants Rouges, where we enjoyed good food standing at a bar!
12. Porto, Portugal
Porto, Portugal, was primarily a work trip for me, which soon turned into one of the best girl trips of my life when my besties joined me later on.
I loved spending time with my girlfriends in this picturesque European town. Due to the nature of my job, I couldn’t explore much of Porto, but then my friends made a quick itinerary around all the greatest landmarks of the city (Clérigos Tower, the beautiful Douro’s Ribeira, Jardim do Passeio das Virtudes and much more).
It was one of our best historical trips for a girls’ weekend in Europe. Afterward, we ate delicious hot dogs (they call them cachorrinhos in Portugal), chose our favorite fragrances at Claus Porto soap shop, and filled our bellies with bolinhos de bacalhau (yet we were still craving more!)
Now that you have come to Europe, you might as well see this too…
20 best Christmas markets in Europe for the festive season
Europe’s Christmas markets await with mulled wine, stalls with twinkling lights, and traditional parades.
23 stunning places to visit in Europe in December
Snow-capped Swiss mountains or sunlight-filled villages? Europe is painted in every WIntry shade in December!
