19 Best Places to Travel With Friends

Going on vacation with friends is one of the best types of getaways. Whether it’s to mark an occasion, such as a friend’s birthday, or simply a regular trip with your closest circle, taking an exciting trip with your friends creates lifelong memories.

You’ll share adventures, bond over new experiences, absorb culture together, sample local food and cocktails, and no doubt share many laughs.

From chic city destinations such as Barcelona and Lisbon, where you can mix culture with cuisine and shopping to the sun-drenched islands of Mykonos, Bali and Barbados, for a more relaxing vacation, here are some of the best places to travel with friends.

Mykonos, Greece

Add the vibrant Greek island of Mykonos to the top of your list as one of the best places to go on vacation with friends. Mykonos might be known for its lively nightlife, but it also offers oases of calm on its alluring beaches.

Wander the tangle of narrow streets in Mykonos Town to admire the garlands of bougainvillea draped against whitewashed buildings that Greece is known for. Browse the many boutiques to pick up a one-of-a-kind new outfit, accessories, and local arts and crafts.

Bask on a sun lounger, swim in the azure sea, and try the watersports on Kalafatis or Elia Beach. These well-equipped shores are some of the best beaches in Mykonos, found on the island’s south coast, within easy reach of Mykonos Town.

Mykonos also has a sophisticated dining scene, with international big-hitters Ling Ling by the Hakkasan group and Matsuhisa Nobu setting up on the island.

For a taste of authentic Cyclades cuisine, one of the best things to do in Mykonos is to dine at one of Little Venice’s prettiest waterfront restaurants, right on the waterfront. Share a gourmet mezze spread followed by ultra-fresh squid, octopus, mussels, and lobster, while you enjoy the calming sound of gentle waves lapping right outside.

If you’re thirsty for culture, enjoy a scenic 40-minute boat trip to the remote island of Delos, next to Mykonos. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Delos is the birthplace of Apollo in Greek mythology, and a sacred place.

The entire rocky island is an archaeological site with evidence of human occupation that dates back to the 3rd millennium B.C. Excavations have been taking place on Delos since 1872 and are still underway today.

When planning your trip to Greece, consider signing your group up for a guided tour of the archaeological site. Wander the ancient streets, enjoying the silence; the only sounds on Delos are the whisper of the sea breeze and the hum of insects among the wildflowers.

Read: Best Summer Destinations in Europe

Bali, Indonesia

Go barefoot on the Indonesian island of Bali, one of the best places to travel with friends, for a blissful blend of tropical beaches, rich culture, and a hip, boho vibe.

Head to Kuta Beach near Denpasar, the capital of Bali, for a relaxing day dipping in and out of the silky water. One of the best beaches in Bali, Kuta offers a vast strip of white sand bordered by palm trees and beach bars.

Relax while enjoying a beachside massage from your sun lounger, whizz around on water toys, and sip colorful cocktails.

Amid the lush rainforests and terraced rice paddies of Bali’s southern uplands, Ubud is a must-visit for temples, museums, and shopping for traditional crafts.

Prepare for a sensory overload as you trawl Ubud’s art and street markets for locally-made items. On Jl. Raya and Jl. Karna, which meet at a junction in the center of Ubud, you’ll find gorgeous wood carvings, silver-hammered trinket boxes, colorful paintings, rattan boxes, and handwoven baskets, among a kaleidoscope of jewelry, scarves, and textiles.

Look out for the independent pottery and ceramic studios dotted around Ubud, including Serayu Pottery and Gaya Ceramic Arts Center, selling beautifully-made pieces.

Take a seat under an umbrella to cool off with a fresh mango juice and Balinese food once you’ve purchased a selection of souvenirs.

Across from Ubud Market, visit Ubud Palace and its temple, Puri Saren Agung. Here, you can explore the complex of mainly 20th-century-built pavilions and palaces. After, walk the short distance to Saraswati Temple, an ornate Hindu temple accessed via a pretty lotus pond.

One of the most awe-inspiring sights in Bali to visit with friends is Uluwatu Temple on the island’s southwest tip. Uluwatu Temple is a Balinese Hindu sea temple that clings to the top of a 230-foot cliff.

The temple dates from the 11th century and today is occupied by a gaggle of opportunistic monkeys which have learned to steal from visitors, so hold onto your sunglasses.

Lisbon, Portugal

Beautiful Lisbon—the capital of Portugal and one of the oldest cities in Europe—has long been one of the best places to go on vacation with friends. It’s hard not to fall hard for this hilly city, with its perfect blend of culture, art, history, and gastronomy.

There’s only one way to start your day in Lisbon, with a coffee and a pastel de nata—Portugal’s signature custard tart deserving of its own UNESCO-protected status.

Most visitors to Lisbon head straight to Pastéis de Belém, where the locals go for their daily fix. For an alternative option, try Rua do Loreto’s Manteigaria on the southern boundary of the bohemian Bairro Alto neighborhood of Lisbon.

Bairro Alto is Lisbon’s artsy quarter, with a wonderful collection of restaurants, Fado houses, galleries, and boutiques for you and your friends to discover.

Wander around, taking in the colorful balconied houses and vibrant street art that Portugal is famous for, before riding Lisbon’s iconic yellow and white Bica Funicular through the cobbled streets.

You can tick off many of Lisbon’s best attractions in one breezy cycle ride. Hire bikes and glide beneath the striking 25 April Bridge to end up at the Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower, one of the most beautiful places in Portugal.

This route covers a couple of miles and some of Lisbon’s best museums, including the Popular Art Museum, the National Coach Museum, and the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga.

Read: How to Spend 3 Days in Lisbon

Costa Rica

Costa Rica—neatly sandwiched between Panama and Nicaragua, with the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east—offers an abundance of arresting sights.

This Central America hotspot ranks among the best places to travel with friends for its heavenly mix of tropical beaches, tangled rainforests, adventure sports, and wildlife.

Spot multi-colored macaws, slow-moving sloths, and howler monkeys on a hike with your buddies in the dense Carara National Park. Located near the Pacific Coast, Carara is one of 28 designated national parks in Costa Rica and an idyllic destination for an exhilarating jungle adventure.

Experience more of Costa Rica’s nature and follow the Laguna Meandrica Trail, which is just over one mile long and offers the chance to spot crocodiles in the Tárcoles River.

Monteverde Cloud Forest, in the northwest province of Sierra de Tilarán near Puntarenas, permanently draped in a dewy mist, is another hit for its array of dazzling flora and fauna.

Cross high-altitude hanging bridges and zipline through the park’s tangle of emerald trees as you look for birdlife, including quetzals, bright green and yellow chlorophonias, and hummingbirds.

If you and your travel companions are equally happy lazing on a beach, the photogenic Punta Uva, where the jungle meets the white sand, is just the spot. It’s known as one of the best beaches in Central America.

Located on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, Punta Uva offers deliciously warm water with a range of watersports on offer. A coral reef can also be reached from the shoreline, making it perfect for snorkeling.

Read: Ultimate Costa Rican Food Guide

Reykjavik, Iceland

There are many reasons to love Iceland. One of them is that it’s one of the best places to go on vacation with friends. The shared experiences Iceland offers—from exploring glaciers and trekking across volcanic landscapes to spotting whales and puffins in the wild—are magical.

Gather your group for a trip to what is arguably Iceland’s most popular landmark, the opaque Blue Lagoon. Carved into a lava field near Grindavík, southwest Iceland, the milky-blue geothermal spa is surrounded by dramatic black rocks.

The water is heated to a sumptuous 100-degrees Fahrenheit, with the rising steam creating an altogether otherworldly ambiance that makes it one of the most beautiful places in Iceland.

Slip into the relaxing waters of this Icelandic hot spring and lather silica mud onto your skin to enhance the experience. An added bonus: There’s a swim-up bar in the pool, so you can enjoy the surreal experience of drinking a cocktail in a geothermally heated pool with silica mud all over your face, should you wish.

In Reykjavik, get your steps in on a walking tour of the city to witness jazzy street art. You could also climb to the top of the city’s striking Hallgrímskirkja church, browse the chic vintage and independent stores of Laugavegur, and wander along the waterfront to Harpa, the city’s mirrored Harpa concert hall.

Barbados

On the edge of the Caribbean, Barbados’ eastern seaboard is known for its wild Atlantic-pounded coastline. The island’s west coast is often referred to as the Platinum Coast for its calmer, clear water, pale gold beaches, and luxury condos and hotels.

You and your friends could experience both sides of this beautiful island, even during a short stay. Barbados’s hinterland is not to be overlooked, either, with nature walks in tropical forests, historic plantation estates, and even a vintage-style steam railway.

One of the many great things about Barbados is that you don’t need to leave its capital, Bridgetown, as there’s plenty to see here.

If you’re in town on a Wednesday, Saturday, or Sunday, start your day with an iced coffee or freshly-squeezed juice at Bridgetown’s Hastings Farmers Market.

The market is held year-round between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the ArtSplash Centre Cafe, selling organic island-grown produce, a tasty selection of Trinidadian and Bajan dishes, and arts and crafts such as hand-carved sculptures and leather shoes.

After you’ve sifted through the goods at the market, head to Bridgetown Garrison, one of the Caribbean’s 23 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Bridgetown Garrison was the largest in the British colonies, featuring the St. Ann’s Fort, built in 1705, soldiers’ barracks, a parade ground, and a commissariat.

Explore this historic area of Bridgetown—with its mix of colonial-era buildings—on a walking tour. The Barbados Museum and Historical Society, housed in what was the Garrison’s British Military prison, traces the island’s history through exhibitions and artifacts.

You could also tour George Washington House, a 1700s plantation home with a mustard-yellow facade once visited by George Washington. This brings you nicely to sunny Carlisle Bay—one of the best beaches in Barbados—where you could enjoy the powdery white sand and the warm turquoise sea.

If your group fancies exploring the green interior that Barbados is known for, head to Highland in St. Thomas. Overlooking a lush valley of tropical vegetation, Highland offers some of the best views of Barbados.

Harrison’s Cave, in the center of Barbados, is a must-visit to gaze at flowing streams, deep, teal-hued pools, and shards of stalactites and stalagmites.

Another reason Barbados is one of the best places to travel with friends is its rum. Follow a tour of Mount Gay’s 300-year-old Bridgetown distillery by sipping on a delicious Caribbean rum punch with your travel buddies.

Read: 50th Birthday Trip Ideas

Barcelona, Spain

Spain’s second city is one of the best places to travel with friends for myriad reasons, though tucking into a table full of tasty tapas arguably tops the list.

Dining is very much a social and sharing affair in Spain, and Barcelona is known for having some of the country’s best tapas bars and acclaimed restaurants—all best experienced with a close-knit group.

Dive into a selection of small plates and local specialties—such as patatas bravas, which are fried potatoes with a piquant red spice, chipirones, or baby squid, and croquetas—and you’ll enjoy a more assorted feast than traveling as a couple would allow.

Then there are all the fun, group-friendly activities. Amble up the famous Las Ramblas to craft an excellent picnic in the animated La Boqueria Market. Devour your finds after splashing around on the urban beach of Barceloneta. And retreat to a shaded terrace for a shared jug of sangria to escape the afternoon sun.

One of the best things to do in Barcelona is to tour some of Gaudï’s flamboyant architectural masterpieces. Casa Batlló, with its whimsical facade of ceramics and curves, has an excellent immersive tour that’s entertaining to experience together.

However, having extra sets of eyes will be most useful when visiting the spotlight-stealing Sagrada Familia. With its world-famous, nearly complete six towers, this sprawling, soaring, and visionary basilica is a kaleidoscope of color.

Port Douglas, Australia

Coming face-to-face with a natural landmark as phenomenal as the world’s largest coral reef or the oldest tropical rainforest are moments worth sharing, making Port Douglas one of the best places to visit with friends.

Booking your group on a first-time scuba diving experience is something they’ll never forget, especially when it comes to witnessing the Great Barrier Reef. And with boat transfers to the reef taking under 90 minutes from Port Douglas, you’ll all soon be descending into the warm waters to marvel at corals and shoals of colorful fish together.

Any nervous scuba companions can choose to snorkel or take a submarine-style boat instead, making it an excellent all-pleasing group activity.

Back on dry land, Port Douglas’ laid-back, tropical atmosphere is the perfect place to share a chilled bottle of Australian wine—nearby Shannonvale produces some fascinating tropical fruit wines—in the sun. Pick up a giant seafood platter of shrimp, oysters, and Moreton Bay Bugs from PORT Seafood and settle in for a seaview picnic for the ultimate sharing feast.

More interested in learning about Indigenous and Aboriginal history and culture? Book a Dreamtime Walk at Mossman Gorge, on the fringes of the vast Daintree Rainforest, with an Indigenous guide.

During the visit, you’ll learn more about the Kuku Yalanji people and their land, experience a smoking ceremony to cleanse bad spirits, and have plenty of time to ask questions.

Read: Best Things to Do in Port Douglas

Aruba

While much of the Caribbean is famed for its romantic boltholes and couple-minded cabanas, Aruba’s “One Happy Island” motto ensures it has plenty to offer a group of friends, whether you’re celebrating the bride-to-be or catching up for a reunion.

Of course, many of the best places to travel with friends in Aruba are the gorgeous beaches. If you’re all into water sports, Palm Beach, with its abundant kayak and SUP rentals, is the place to be.

Or perhaps you’d prefer to snorkel in Aruba together to maximize your chances of spotting sea turtles at Boca Catalina? You could even plan a group scuba dive exploration to see the submerged SS Antilla, one of the largest shipwrecks in the Caribbean.

The best things to do in Aruba with friends aren’t confined to the shimmering shoreline, though. Inland, the arid, cacti-defined landscape of the Arikok National Park covers around 20 percent of the island. The park is best explored by 4WD.

Bouncing across the rugged landscape to visit caves adorned with ancient Caquetío rock art, reaching footprint-free bays, and taking a dip in the wave-splashed Natural Pool are memories you’ll all treasure for a lifetime.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Amsterdam is one of Europe’s top places to travel with friends eager to soak up a city as well as seeing the sights.

With excellent bars and quaint cafés on every corner, idyllic canals providing perfect group photo backdrops, and plenty of art museums, there’s enough to entertain even the most diverse group of friends.

There’s no better way to explore the city that loves to cycle together than on two wheels. Explore the boutiques and bars of trendy Jordaan and the pretty courtyards of Begijnhof‌. Or visit  Buiksloterham, Amsterdam’s former industrial north turned creative quarter, on two wheels.

Alternatively, book a canal cruise and enjoy a typical Dutch lunch onboard as you sail past some of Europe’s prettiest architecture and learn more about the UNESCO-listed Amsterdam Canal Ring.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

In Rio de Janeiro, everything is always better in a group. Brazil’s second city knows how to live large, celebrate life, and always seems to have an excuse to get everyone together. Where else do you get over a million people per day coming together to dance every carnival season?

From playing volleyball on Copacabana beach to splashing around on animated Ipanema, these world-famous swathes of sand are practically crafted for sharing with your friendship circle.

High above it all, the towering Christ the Redeemer statue is one of Brazil’s most famous landmarks, and if you’re all feeling active, you could tackle the trail up the Corcovado Mountain for a closer look.

For a less intensive but equally lofty vista, visit Sugarloaf Mountain, reachable by cable car. High above the city, the sprawling, sparkling ocean and almost endless mountain panoramas provide some of the best group photo backdrops you’ll ever witness.

Dining is also a social affair in Brazil, and there’s no better meal to share with your nearest and dearest than feijoada, a black bean and meat stew served with multiple side dishes. Follow it with an afternoon caipirinha, Brazil’s signature cocktail of cachaća, a sugarcane spirit, sugar, and lime, and raise a glass to Rio’s intoxicating energy.

Tokyo, Japan

For an electrifying, quirky, yet somehow calm and cultured city, look no further than Tokyo, a destination that will suit any friendship group.

Japan’s monumental capital and the world’s most populated metropolis might initially appear overwhelming. Yet, with a few extra eyes on the map, you’ll soon be navigating the squeaky-clean metro lines and dynamic districts like a local. But where to start?

How about with one of Tokyo’s eccentric and unforgettable group experiences? Drive a Mario Kart through downtown dressed as your favorite character, dine in a restaurant where your sushi server is a robot, or have a sing-off in fancy dress at a private karaoke room.

If you have a group of game-loving friends, set your sights on the Akihabara neighborhood of Tokyo. Famed for its love of anime, gadget stores, and gaming arcades, there’s an endless supply of stimulating entertainment.

Prefer to shop? Head to Shibuya, home of the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing and packed with retail therapy options. And if the neon lights and nonstop activities get a little much, Tokyo also teems with moments of quiet reflection.

Rent a boat from Chidorigafuchi Pier and take turns paddling while admiring the Imperial Palace’s outer gardens from the calm waterways. Or slip away to Sensō-ji, a vast Buddhist temple first constructed in the 7th century.

Read: Three Days in Tokyo

Fiji

From secluded island adventures to entertaining mud spas at the Sabeto Hot Springs, Fiji’s best experiences and infectious laughter are amplified when experienced as a group.

Best known for its bounty of sensational beaches, this South Pacific island has no shortage of romantic sea view bars and paradisiacal beaches fronted by cabanas. Yet there are plenty of ways to relish the coastline as a group, too.

Whether you’d prefer a party atmosphere onboard a catamaran or your group is keener on slipping away to private Savala Island, a slither of soft white sands with kayaks and water sports aplenty, Fiji is as much an ocean playground as a romantic retreat.

Fiji also offers plenty of cultural activities that will leave your group with lifelong memories, such as witnessing a fire-walking performance or learning to weave traditional baskets with the locals.

Better still, plan a visit to the teeny Rewa village and partake in a kava ceremony. This Fijian ritual is always undertaken at important group gatherings.

As guests, you’ll be able to take a seat at the circle and witness the kava—a bitter, peppery, sedative drink produced from plant roots—being prepared in the communal tanoa, or bowl, before being offered a taste in a cup made from coconut shell.

Stockholm, Sweden

Copenhagen is chic, Oslo is cultured, and Helsinki is chill. But if there’s one Nordic capital that is the perfect place to visit with friends, it’s Stockholm.

Taking itself less seriously than some of its equally stylish neighbors, Sweden’s capital is a great place to laugh and make memories. Even the city’s cultural spaces, such as the ABBA Museum—where you can dress up, become the dancing queens, and do karaoke together—are practically designed with groups of friends in mind.

If you’d prefer a little more history, plan a visit to the expansive Royal Palace or the Vasa Museum, one of the best museums in Stockholm. The latter houses a gigantic 17th-century warship that spent over 300 years resting at the bottom of the harbor.

Equally as focused on getting everyone together is the Swedish tradition of fika. Much more than just enjoying a coffee and kanelbulle (cinnamon bun), doing fika properly involves pausing and enjoying conversation with companions. And where better to do so than in one of the quaint coffee shops in Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s medieval old town.

Add in donning some thermal garments and all raising an ice-sculpted glass in the ICE bar, or renting kayaks to appreciate the city’s canals from another perspective, and you couldn’t ask for a more friend-suited Scandinavian city break.

Dominica

Thoughts of the Caribbean often conjure up romantic resorts and ocean-facing tables for two. But in Dominica, the Caribbean’s so-called “Nature Island,” it’s a totally different panorama.

Jungle-shrouded trails lead to boiling sulfur lakes. Volcanic black sand beaches are lapped by snorkel-friendly waters. And dramatic waterfalls, such as Middleham and the twin cascades of Trafalgar Falls, plunge into refreshing pools. This is as adventure-crew-friendly as the Caribbean comes.

One of the best places to travel with friends in Dominica is the Indian River. This cinematic stretch of forest-flanked waterway and wetlands is plied by small wooden boats, ideal for groups who wish to visit the bush bars upstream.

Step off onto one of the rickety platforms and enter one of the laid-back bars to find a comprehensive selection of local fruit-infused rums.

Or perhaps you’d prefer to understand more about Dominica’s culture and first inhabitants?  Then one of the best things to do in Dominica is to book a visit to the Kalinago Territory, where many of the island’s first people live. Here, you’ll learn about the Kalinago’s historical and modern cultural practices, canoe building, pottery techniques, and endangered language.

Naples, Italy

While Venice feels as if it could have been crafted for couples and Florence calls for quiet art appreciation, one of Italy’s best places to travel with friends is personality-packed Naples, long considered the liveliest city in Southern Italy.

Your group will fall in love with the characterful narrow streets and animated markets, perfect for tasting southern Italian flavors.

And where better to share a pizza with friends than the birthplace of arguably Italy’s most beloved export? Any of Naples’ restaurants worth their salt will serve you a life-changing Margherita.

Still, you might prefer to book a food tour to sample all the city’s delights or head straight to acclaimed Pizzeria Sorbillo or the city’s oldest, Antica Pizzeria Port’Alba.

Beyond the city, there’s something to please everyone. The archaeological complex of Pompeii is practically on Naples’ doorstep. With its ancient streets, houses, and mosaics frozen in time due to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius two thousand years ago, it’s a history lesson best shared.

Equally as magical is Naples’ coastline. The city is only a short drive from the fetching Amalfi Coast, where you can flit between pebbly beaches and mountain-climbing villages. Then slow down in the narrow lanes of Sorrento’s historic center and sip limoncello in a citrus grove.

Read: Best Things to Do in Naples

Hanoi, Vietnam

Hanoi, Vietnam’s non-stop, scooter-packed, and history-laden capital city, promises a plethora of sights, scents, and sounds for your friends to experience.

From sampling Vietnamese dishes, such as bánh mì baguettes packed with fragrant flavors or steamed rice rolls in one of the many street food markets, to hopping between religious sights and temples, such as the 11th-century One Pillar Pagoda, Hanoi has plenty to entertain.

Yet the best thing to do in Hanoi with friends is actually found around 100 miles west of the city: kayaking or sailing aboard a traditional wooden junk boat in Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994.

The chance to witness this vast and scenic cluster of over 1,000 islands and limestone islets from the emerald waters is incredible. As you sail into tucked-away caves or contemplate life in the floating Cua Van Fishing Village, the contrasts of bustling Hanoi will soon fade away.

Kotor, Montenegro

Montenegro’s Adriatic coast is studded with dreamy towns set against even dreamier backdrops. But the Bay of Kotor is convincingly the country’s crown jewel, making it one of the Mediterranean’s best places to visit with friends.

Rent a few two-seater kayaks and paddle around the calm cyan waters, admiring the towering karst mountains and fortress from afar, and you’ll soon see why this lesser-visited corner of Europe earned UNESCO World Heritage Status.

Alternatively, take a brief boat ride bound for Madonna dello Scalpello, one of the best places to visit in Montenegro, a Baroque church seemingly floating on an islet in the bay.

Have your group pack their hiking boots for an equally impressive elevated panorama. Two popular trails begin near Old Town, and the “Ladder of Kotor,” a steep, strenuous, four-mile-up track, is best tackled with companions. Once you reach the ruins of the medieval Kotor Fortress viewpoint, you’ll be rewarded with fjord-like panoramas lifted straight from a fairytale.

Inside the Venetian-built walls of the fetching Old Town, stone-paved streets weave between historical buildings and al fresco cafes. If you’d like to add a few more feline friends to your group, Kotor is renowned for its countless and well-cared-for community street cats that ostensibly own the town.

Read: Best Things to Do in Kotor

Wellington, New Zealand

New Zealand, with its superlative scenery and unadulterated nature, is one of the most impressive places to travel with friends. Yet away from the hushed hiking trails, the country’s compact capital city, Wellington, promises the best urban group getaway.

Wedged in a horseshoe-shaped harbor and hemmed by mountains, the city is easily explored on foot, with plenty of trendy cafés and craft beer bars along Cuba Street to please all palates.

For movie buffs, one of the best things to do in Wellington is to visit the Wētā Cave workshop, renowned for producing stages and special effects for movies. Get your group’s imagination running wild as you take photos with silver screen props and backdrops, and learn the behind-the-scenes tricks used in Hollywood blockbusters.

And if the nature that New Zealand is known for is calling, there are trails and natural wonders to suit the most varied of friendship groups.

Whether you’re looking for an easy amble through the city’s Botanic Gardens, reachable by riding a vintage red funicular, or a crowd-pleasing hike to the summit of Mount Victoria, with stupendous city scenes, Wellington has it all right on its doorstep.

From city escapes to relaxing beach breaks, discover some of the best places to travel with friends on a cruise vacation with Celebrity. Browse itineraries here and start planning your group adventure.