8 Unexpected Destinations for Your Next Girls’ Getaway
There’s something special about getting away with your girlfriends—especially when no one has to cook, coordinate schedules or answer “what’s for dinner?” for a few days.
And the best girls’ trips don’t make you choose between spa time and sightseeing, shopping and slowing down, great food and a little adventure. You can absolutely have all of it.
Whether you’re celebrating a milestone birthday, planning a long-overdue reunion or finally taking that group chat somewhere, we’ve rounded up eight destinations that offer the right mix of spa + style + shopping, with plenty of memorable experiences in between.
And a few of them may surprise you.
Malta: Mediterranean Style + Slow Island Days
Malta is one of those destinations that still feels a little unexpected—which is part of its appeal.
In Valletta, boutique hotels are tucked inside beautifully restored historic buildings, putting you within easy reach of local jewelry, crafts, restaurants and the city’s incredible architecture. For more of a resort atmosphere, St. Julian’s brings you closer to the waterfront.
Then hop over to Gozo and slow everything down. Think countryside, salt pans, quiet coastline and the kind of unhurried afternoon that every good girls’ trip needs.
Perfect for: Friends who want Europe, sunshine and culture without choosing one of the usual suspects.
Morocco: Hammams + Souks + a Signature Scent
If your group considers shopping an essential part of the itinerary, Marrakech deserves serious consideration.
Spend a morning wandering the souks for leather goods, lanterns, textiles and pieces you’ll actually be excited to bring home. Retreat behind the doors of a riad for a traditional hammam, or do something completely different together—like a private perfume workshop where you create your own signature scent.
When you need a break from Marrakech’s energy, head toward Essaouira for ocean air and a slower pace.
Perfect for: The group that wants color, culture, shopping and plenty to talk about over cocktails afterward.
Turkey: Bazaar to Balloon
Turkey gives you two completely different girls’ trips in one.
Start in Istanbul with an Ottoman hammam ritual, rooftop views over the Bosphorus and plenty of time for the Grand Bazaar and Spice Market.
Then change the mood completely in Cappadocia. Stay in a cave hotel, wake before sunrise for a hot-air balloon experience and slow down with time in the region’s thermal pools.
It’s a combination that delivers plenty of wow moments without making every day feel the same.
Perfect for: Friends who want a trip that feels like a true adventure—with a healthy dose of pampering.
Portugal: Wine + Design + Barefoot Days
Portugal is already one of our favorites for groups because it can be stylish and sophisticated without feeling overly formal.
Lisbon brings boutique hotels, rooftop spas, wonderful restaurants and plenty of independent shops and ateliers to browse. Take a day trip to Sintra for palaces and misty forests, or extend the trip to Comporta, where rice fields, pine forests and quiet beaches create a completely different pace.
Add good Portuguese wine and long dinners with your favorite people, and you can probably see where we’re going with this.
Perfect for: Friends who want great food, wine, shopping and downtime—with enough sightseeing to feel like they’ve really been somewhere.
Slovenia: The One Your Friends Probably Haven’t Suggested
Slovenia may not be the first place that comes up in the group chat. That’s exactly why we like it.
Ljubljana offers a compact, easy-to-explore city filled with design-forward hotels, cafés, spas and shopping for local crystal, glassware and Slovenian designs.
And when you’re ready for nature, the Julian Alps are waiting just outside the city.
You get city + spa + mountains without building an itinerary that requires constantly packing and unpacking.
Perfect for: Well-traveled friends who want to discover somewhere different.
India: Wellness That Goes Much Deeper Than a Spa Day
For a group looking for a wellness trip with real cultural depth, India offers something entirely different.
Spend time in Rishikesh, long associated with yoga and spiritual practice, with the Ganges and Himalayan foothills creating an extraordinary backdrop. Pair it with Jaipur for shopping and the colors, textiles and craftsmanship of Rajasthan.
Then consider finishing in Kerala, where Ayurvedic retreats can build wellness experiences around individual needs.
This isn’t simply a “fly and flop” girls’ getaway. It’s a trip for friends who want to come home feeling like they experienced something meaningful together.
Perfect for: A milestone trip centered around wellness, culture and connection.
Egypt: Ancient Wonders + Bazaar Finds
Would Egypt be the first place you’d think of for a girls’ getaway? Maybe not. But hear us out.
In Cairo, wander through Khan el-Khalili bazaar, surrounded by centuries of history, architecture and design. Build in a spa afternoon at a Nile-side hotel, then trade the city’s energy for a peaceful felucca sail at sunset.
And, of course, you’re doing all of this within reach of some of the world’s most extraordinary ancient sites.
Perfect for: Adventurous friends who want their girls’ trip to come with a serious bucket-list moment.
Argentina: Wine Country + Big-City Style
This one practically plans itself.
Start in Buenos Aires, where Palermo brings boutiques, restaurants and plenty of places to linger over dinner and drinks.
Then head to Mendoza for the ultimate change of pace: vineyard lunches, wine tastings, spa treatments and evenings around the fire with a glass of Malbec.
Have more time? Continue toward Patagonia for wide-open landscapes and a spectacular final chapter to the trip.
Perfect for: The wine-loving group that wants equal parts city, indulgence and escape.
So…Where Are We Going?
Here’s the thing about planning a great girls’ trip: there isn’t one destination that’s right for every group.
Maybe your friends want massages and Michelin-worthy dinners. Maybe they want to shop until someone has to buy another suitcase. Maybe they’re ready to wake up before sunrise for a hot-air balloon—or maybe everyone would be perfectly happy with wine country, a spa appointment and nowhere they have to be.
The best trip is the one designed around your group, your personalities and the way you actually want to spend your time together.
And if getting everyone in the group chat to agree on where to go already sounds exhausting? That part you can leave to us.
Ready to take the girls’ trip out of the group chat?
Tell us who’s going, what you’re celebrating and what your group loves. We’ll take it from there.
