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There is no greater city for a girls getaway than New York City. It truly has something for everyone! Whether you’re looking for a girls weekend to celebrate a birthday or you’re just looking to spend quality time with your girlfriends, NYC has so much to offer a group of girlfriends!
From rooftop bars to underground speakeasy clubs, to world-class restaurants and high-end shopping, to Broadway shows and museums, there are plenty of girly things to do in NYC that make it ideal for a long weekend vacation.
So if you’re planning a NYC girls trip and not sure what to do, here are some top attractions and activities to map out your NYC itinerary!
Girly Things To Do In NYC
1. Take a scenic Circle Line Cruise
If you haven’t been to NYC before, then you should make sure to spend time exploring the city’s top attractions. Take a Circle Line cruise for amazing views of the city skyline. This is my favorite way to introduce yourself to the city.
You sail right by the Statue of Liberty and get to see the skyline from the water, and they drop plenty of funny and interesting tidbits about the city.
And if you’re looking for the same gorgeous New York City views, but absolutely none of the price, hop on the Staten Island Ferry.
It’s free, but you have to make sure to get right off and hop on the ferry coming back to Manhattan, or else you’ll be stranded at the not-very-fun-at-all Staten Island Ferry Terminal for longer than you’d like.
2. Go Museum Hopping
Some of the world’s best museums are located in Manhattan, and I do love a classy museum date with a girlfriend!
Some of the best museums to visit with the girls are The Met, MOMA, and the Guggenheim.
You can spice it up with a hilarious Museum Hack tour, like the Badass B**hes Tour of the Met (Metropolitan Museum of Art).
3. Have a boozy brunch!
The café on the terrace at The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) is a fantastic place for brunch (and Bloody Mary’s).
Alternatively, head to The Met roof garden café and martini bar for a beautiful place to have a fancy cocktails after you’ve gotten your fill of art.
Some other popular brunch spots in NYC are Gage & Tollner, Sidney’s Five (a great place for Drag Brunch!) and This Astoria – which allows you to have unlimited drinks for $25!
Just make sure you make reservations before you go no matter where you choose to eat in NYC!
4. Chase those NYC views
Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge or walk down the High Line for free and iconic views of the NYC skyline.
Head up to Top of the Rock for the most incredible view of the city, I prefer it to the Empire State Building and One World Observatory because a) you can see just how huge and beautiful Central Park is and b) it’s outside, so you don’t have to jostle around tourists to see outside of fingerprint-smudged windows.
It’s also the best place for a group photo with the entire island of Manhattan for a backdrop!
Check out the New York City High Line in this video
5. Go on a Sex and The City Tour
If you’re a fan of Sex and the City or Friends (or any of the other million movies set in NYC), On Location tours are actually really fun and not too corny.
These tours take you around all the filming locations and also share some behind the scenes secrets from their productions.
Fans of Gossip Girl will enjoy a self guided Gossip Girl tour of filming locations!
6. Shop ‘Till You Drop!
When I need something – almost anything – I head to SoHo. There are all of the standard wonderful chain stores: JCrew, Madewell, Anthropologie, Club Monaco.
There’s also a huge Topshop and Bloomingdale’s, and a smattering of smaller boutiques and pop-up shops. And if you need a snack, pop into classy grocery store Dean & Deluca or grab a hot chocolate and baked good at the little Balthazar to-go store.
Also, SoHo is a great place to spot a celebrity in the wild!
For the grand iconic shopping experience, stroll down Fifth Avenue. This is especially true during the Christmas season, but the windows at Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Lord & Taylor are always gorgeous.
The stores themselves are grand and expensive – and can be a little hoity-toity but still so glam to waltz through. And of course, you can’t miss Tiffany & Co.
If you want to find something a little more original, head to Bedford Avenue (and surrounds) in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Catbird and Mociun are funky, locally-owned jewelry shops, and Awoke and 10 Ft Single are great vintage options in the area.
Nearby, Artists & Fleas is an indoor market full of (you guessed it) artisan and vintage goods (there’s also a location in Chelsea Markets if you don’t make it to Brooklyn).
On Saturdays, Smorgasburg, a collection of the best food trucks in the city, sets up on the waterfront; on Sundays, the Brooklyn Flea features furniture, vintage clothing, collectibles, and antiques.
If you feel overwhelmed with organizing your NYC shopping tour on your own, why not jump on an organized shopping tour of New York City with your girlfriends.
7. Primp yourself on your girl’s getaway
One of the greatest things about New York City is there is a nail salon on every block.
There are also a ton of Chinatown massage parlors that are perfect to pop into with a friend for a cheap (but oh so good) foot massage after a long day of walking.
If you want to splash out on a spa day, AIRE Ancient Baths New York is a thermal bath where you can get beauty and massage treatments, relax in a fancy sauna or in thermal pools.
8. Go for a night on the town
What would a girlie trip to NYC be without hitting the bars? When it comes to finding somewhere to eat before a night out, Chelsea Market is your go-to spot to find something for everyone and it’s all really, really delicious.
One of my favorite bars in NYC to enjoy with the girls is The Tippler, a great little bar tucked away beneath the market that’s the perfect place to rest and recharge after walking the High Line.
For amazing views while enjoying a Saturday night on the town, head to 230 Fifth, a NYC rooftop bar in the shadow of the Empire State Building – it’s best on long summer evenings, but it’s also mostly enclosed and heated on winter nights.
For clubs to go dancing in, head to Brooklyn or Ridgewood, where all the best night clubs are!
9. Nurse your hangover with a bagel breakfast
You’re in the Big Apple, you have to eat a bagel! Pop by Black Seed Bagels for some creative hand-rolled, wood-fired options.
Another great place for bagels and delicatesan goods, is Katz. It’s definitely a touristy spot but for good reason. The pastrami sandwich is as good as it gets.
Buvette is a gem in the West Village that is just as good for breakfast (the granola with fresh berries!) as it is for cocktails as it is for dinner. Extra Virgin and Jack’s Wife Freda are other favorites among my friends for brunch and/or dinner.
Relevant reading: Iconic places to eat in New York City.
10. Go for high tea
Located on the seventh floor with sweeping views of Central Park, high tea at Bergdorf Goodman is as much about the ambiance as the food itself.
They have delicious cake, pastries, and little sandwiches, plus a nice selection of teas.
It’s so fancy, but such a fun thing to do for a girls getaway in New York City.
11. Watch a Broadway Show
Of course, this is the home of Broadway and Lincoln Center: you can’t go wrong with a girls night watching show or a night at the ballet.
Use TodayTix to get the best last-minute deals!
Where to Stay in New York City on a Girl’s Getaway
If you have a group rent an apartment as hotel prices in Manhattan are insane and the rooms are TINY, even at some of the best NYC hotels, you will find little space for a group of girls.
Stay in a neighborhood like West Village, Greenwich Village, or Upper East Side NYC, where it will be ritzy but also convenient to get around all the attractions – think Carrie Bradshaw brownstones, and all of the best restaurants on your block.
But you can also head into Brooklyn for a more laid-back vibe that also might be more affordable. Just make sure you are near a subway station and you can’t go wrong.
And if you do decide to stay in a hotel, don’t stay in Midtown, no matter how convenient it seems! Although it’s where many of the typical touristy spots are located – Empire State Building, Times Square, Grand Central Station – it’s mostly skyscrapers and office buildings.
Tours in New York City
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Have you had a girls getaway in New York City? Or are you currently planning a trip to NYC? Share any tips or questions in the comments below!