15 Group-Friendly Destinations Perfect for a Friendcation

Every year, my LA friend group and I take advantage of the long MLK weekend and head somewhere new. It started as a way for us to escape to somewhere warm in the winter, but now it’s also a chance to regroup and spend quality time together.

These days we’re older, living farther apart, and some of us even have children / families now. Since there’s no guarantee we’ll see each other at any other point in the year, our friendcations are some of the most treasured times of the year!

This tradition has taken us to foodie-friendly cities, nightlife hubs, and places where you can actually slow down without getting bored one bit.

A lot of the spots on this list are ones we’ve tried ourselves, and plenty of them have friendly winters, which makes sightseeing and walking around outside totally doable.

Even if you’re not planning to travel early in the year, this is the perfect time to start mapping out your group trips for the warmer months.

These destinations all hit a good balance: great food scenes, enough cultural and historical sights to keep the planners happy, and nightlife options for the party-loving friends.

If your group doesn’t always agree on what makes a “perfect trip,” these group-friendly cities make it easy for everyone to split off, explore, and meet back up over a good meal or drink.

Jump ahead to these sections:

• USA Destinations
• International Destinations

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FRIENDCATION DESTINATIONS: IN THE USA

1. New Orleans, Louisiana

NOLA is one of those rare cities where every friend finds their lane. There’s so much to enjoy: live music, soulful comfort food, quirky voodoo and ghost tours, swamp adventures, exquisite French architecture, or simply wandering around midday with a drink in hand.

This is a great city for groups because everything is packed into walkable neighborhoods, and nobody ever has trouble finding their next snack. Expect your friends to leave New Orleans already talking about their next trip back.

If you’re planning a long weekend stay, use my guide to 3 days in New Orleans to map out where to eat, shop, and explore without wasting time in the wrong parts of the French Quarter.

2. Portland, Oregon

First off, let me start by saying I’ve taken more friend trips to Portland than I can count. The flight from the Bay Area is only about an hour and change, so it’s the easiest and most obvious choice for a quick, fun weekend getaway.

Portland is perfect for crews who like hopping around between breweries, indie shops, and some of the coolest neighborhoods you’ll find in a mid-sized city without needing a rigid plan.

The food-cart scene keeps everyone happy, especially if your group can never agree on one restaurant. The pizza and bakery scene? The #1 reason why I keep coming back to this city!

If you want something a little more adventurous, you can even squeeze in a road trip to Bend for alpine lakes, hikes, waterfalls, and craft beer right at the source.

3. Sedona, Arizona

Sedona works best for groups who want to prioritize a little R&R without sacrificing outdoor fun.

You’ll get dramatic red-rock views from the minute you arrive, and the trail system makes it easy to plan mellow morning walks or more challenging sunset hikes, depending on the day.

Spas, wineries, whimsical/artsy areas like Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, and laid-back restaurants round out the trip, so your group isn’t stuck doing just one kind of activity.

👉 BUCKET LIST ACTIVITY: For the more adventurous ones in your friend group, the Devil’s Bridge hike is a must-do while you’re in town!

4. Chicago, Illinois

Chicago is a strong pick if your group needs a little bit of everything: architecture, comedy shows, lakefront views, and all the carbs you can handle!

Home of deep-dish pizza, Italian beef sandwiches, Chicago dogs, and a whole lineup of comfort food that hits harder in cold weather, Chicago is a food city through and through.

During the day, you can hit the classics like The Bean, stroll Navy Pier, or join a food tour to sample the city’s staples without having to plan out every bite yourself.

Once the sun sets, check out my list of things to do at night, especially if you want rooftop drinks or a crowd-pleasing group activity.

👉 Pro Tip: If you’re visiting on a budget, you can save a ton of money with one of Chicago’s two attraction passes, which give you access to major attractions without paying the full admission price for each one!

5. San Diego, California

San Diego may be famous for its world-renowned zoo, but if you look past that, you’ll find that there are endless things to do all year round, whether that’s beach time, taco crawls, or wandering breweries.

Diverse and cutesy neighborhoods like North Park and Little Italy give your group plenty of places to eat and shop without needing to trek all over the city.

If your friends want something relaxing with just enough structure, San Diego is ideal.

6. Santa Fe, New Mexico

If your group is done with the typical big cities and wants something artsier, Santa Fe is an easy choice.

It’s one of the best food cities in the Southwest, especially if you like green chile on just about anything. Days can be spent exploring galleries on Canyon Road or checking out mindbendingly immersive spots like Meow Wolf, and nights are laid-back with wine bars, breweries, and live music.

If your group is looking for a cultural city with a slower pace without sacrificing quality time with each other, Santa Fe is a fun option.

7. Miami, Florida

Miami brings the heat on food, nightlife, and beach time, all in one place. You can spend the day eating your way through Wynwood or Little Havana, then head right into a night out that can be as classy or rager-y as your group wants.

Beaches, rooftop bars, and a year-round warm-weather vibe make it an easy destination for mixed interests.

And if you have Disney fans in the group, they can tack on a couple of days in Orlando pretty effortlessly!

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FRIENDCATION DESTINATIONS: AROUND THE WORLD

8. Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon is one of the easiest international friendcation spots on this list. The city is a blend of amazing food, culture, nightlife, and coastal views, all of which play well together.

Lisbon is an easy city to settle into, even for first-time visitors to Europe. Your group can spend the days riding trams, snacking on pasteis de nata, or hopping from one neighborhood to another before ending each night with a hearty Portuguese dinner.

At night, head to Pink Street for bars that stay busy well past midnight, then grab a cheap Bolt ride back to your hotel without stressing about overspending on transportation.

A quick trip out to Sintra for the ketchup-and-mustard castle (yes, it looks exactly like it sounds) is perfect if your crew wants something whimsical.

9. Budapest, Hungary

Budapest works for groups who want history by day and good energy by night.

You get a mix of hearty Hungarian food, a pleasant café lifestyle, and beautiful architecture from the heyday of the Habsburg monarchy—most of it built during the massive late-19th and early-20th-century boom that shaped the city.

Spend your days exploring both sides of the Danube, whether that’s a river cruise, a stroll along the waterfront, or hopping between historical landmarks.

The city’s famous ruin bars are built into old buildings and courtyards, so you can hop between them without dealing with the usual club scene. The thermal baths are also ideal for lazy group mornings (especially after a late night out).

Budapest has it all. It’s walkable, scenic, and surprisingly affordable, which makes it easy to say yes to.

10. Mexico City, Mexico

Mexico City is unbeatable for groups who travel for food first.

This is a city where you can bounce between taco stands, Michelin-recognized spots that won’t drain your wallet, and trendy restaurants putting their own spin on Mexican classics.

Even after 4 days of hardcore exploring the city, you’ll still feel like you’ve only scratched the surface.

If you’ve already done the major museums, switch gears and explore cool things to do other than museums and historical landmarks—you’ll have no trouble busying yourself with mercados, street eats, coffee shops, and modern neighborhoods like Roma Norte.

It’s a city where you can easily split up and regroup without anyone missing out. Come hungry and curious, because there’s a lot of fun to be had in CDMX!

11. Seoul, South Korea

Seoul is a friendcation playground: food, cafés, nightlife, shopping, and neighborhoods that stay lively into the early morning. What more could you ask for of a city?

We finally experienced it for ourselves in 2025, and it’s easy to see why the city’s been voted as a top favorite travel destination among Millennials and Gen Z’ers for years.

Start with a food tour in Seoul’s oldest traditional market to help everyone get their bearings (and try dishes you wouldn’t know to order on your own).

Follow it up with an afternoon hopping between cafés (ordering an iced americano like the locals do is a must), exploring palaces in hanbok outfits, going crazy on the latest K-beauty skincare products, or diving into the world of Korean salt bread.

At night, you can go mellow with karaoke or lean into the full Itaewon nightlife experience, one of the rare areas where the scene is actually foreigner-friendly.

12. Montreal, Canada

Skip the long international flight to Europe—Montreal can replace your group’s “trip to Europe” without needing to leave North America!

The city’s French roots are still everywhere: the language, architecture, and café culture make it feel like a European city, but it’s compact, walkable, and easy to navigate.

Food lovers can hit French bakeries, bagel shops, and trendy restaurants in Plateau or Mile End. History and culture buffs can explore Old Montreal’s cobblestone streets, the Notre-Dame Basilica, or the city’s many museums.

For coffee shop aficionados, cozy spots dot the entire city, perfect for lingering morning chats or late-afternoon people-watching. And when the sun goes down, the nightlife comes alive with casual bars, live music, and lively clubs.

13. Playa del Carmen, Mexico

If you want that beach-town energy without the overpacked crowds of Cancun, Cabo, or Tulum, Playa Del Carmen is a great alternative.

You still get access to clear azure waters and beach clubs that the Caribbean is famed for, but you’ll also be treated to a real local atmosphere here too—especially once you wander off Quinta Avenida.

Expect taco trucks parked next to mezcal bars, late-night dancing at open-air clubs set in the jungle, and plenty of casual seafood joints where the ceviche tastes like it was fished out of the sea an hour ago.

For groups looking to keep the planning stress-free, going the all-inclusive hotel route makes a trip here surprisingly effortless. You can all eat, drink, and lounge without having to map out every meal or activity!

14. Prague, Czech Republic

Prague feels like stepping into a storybook, but not in a gimicky kind of way. The city’s loaded with classic Euro vibes: cobblestone streets, ornate spires, and bridges that date back centuries.

The city’s architecture is a mix of Gothic cathedrals, Baroque palaces, and colorful Art Nouveau buildings, giving a real sense of the region’s rich history without feeling like a snoozy museum.

You can spend your mornings wandering medieval streets, visiting Old Town Square, or taking in the views from Prague Castle, then regroup over hearty Czech food or pastries in one of the city’s cozy cafés.

The food scene is bigger than people expect, with modern Czech restaurants, international options, and plenty of spots perfect for lingering with friends. A huge plus? Food and beer = cheap as heck!

When the sun sets, the nightlife comes alive. You can hang out in laid-back pubs serving world-class beer or go big at DJ-led clubs where you can dance until dawn.

15. Taipei, Taiwan

Taipei is perfect for groups chasing big flavors, lively streets, and a little bit of downtime, too.

As the birthplace of boba, you can sip authentic boba milk tea at its source while exploring night markets full of everything from pepper buns to hand-pulled noodles. Eating out is ridiculously affordable, so your group can try a variety of local Taiwanese staples without stressing the budget.

The city’s cafés culture is also surprisingly trendy, with third-wave coffee shops offering creative drinks and cozy spots to regroup between adventures.

When you’re not eating (which, honestly, should be most of your time), take a day trip to nearby Beitou for hot springs or Jiufen for a mountain town stroll with tea houses and old streets to explore.

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