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Best Valentine’s Day holidays for friends
Get the group together for the ultimate getaway.
Ah, Valentine’s Day. It’s a bit like Marmite – you either love or hate it. Whichever side you’re on, not every country celebrates couples in February – Finland celebrates Valentine’s Day in a very different way. Known as Ystavanpaiva – AKA Friend’s Day – people buy gifts and cards for their mates to show how much they appreciate them. So, in the spirit of Friend’s Day, we’ve rounded up the best city trips and beach breaks to visit with your BFF.
Have a read of our top picks, then check out our best deals.
Have a read of our top picks, then check out our best deals.
City stays
Instagram-worthy landmarks, top-notch restaurants and happy hour galore – city breaks have everything you need for a great holiday with your besties. Packing all that and much more is Vienna – Austria’s bustling capital. Café culture is big here, so why not spend the afternoon sipping coffee, catching up and tasting the city’s signature chocolate cake, sachertorte? If you fancy a change of pace, The Neubau district brings the energy, thanks to its independent shops, street food and lively atmosphere. It’s right next to the Museum Quarter, too, which houses big names like the Leopold Museum (home to loads of modern art) and one of the oldest theatres in the world, Theater in der Josefstadt.
Check out our holidays to Vienna.
Probably Portugal’s worst-kept secret, Sintra – an hour’s train ride from Lisbon – tops our list for a stellar city break with your BFF. With a skyline of colourful castles, plenty of local places to eat and temps that rarely drop below double digits, this place has it all. Up for seeing the sights? Pull on your hiking boots and spend a day exploring the Serra Sintra Hills. The pine-fringed Santa Maria trail takes you past some of the city’s biggest sights, like the orange-and-yellow Pena Palace and the centuries-old Moorish Castle. If you prefer to kick back and relax, Sintra boasts some of the best beaches in Portugal, from secluded spots to sandy stretches, ideal for windsurfing and kayaking.
Check out our holidays to Portugal.
Check out our holidays to Vienna.
Probably Portugal’s worst-kept secret, Sintra – an hour’s train ride from Lisbon – tops our list for a stellar city break with your BFF. With a skyline of colourful castles, plenty of local places to eat and temps that rarely drop below double digits, this place has it all. Up for seeing the sights? Pull on your hiking boots and spend a day exploring the Serra Sintra Hills. The pine-fringed Santa Maria trail takes you past some of the city’s biggest sights, like the orange-and-yellow Pena Palace and the centuries-old Moorish Castle. If you prefer to kick back and relax, Sintra boasts some of the best beaches in Portugal, from secluded spots to sandy stretches, ideal for windsurfing and kayaking.
Check out our holidays to Portugal.
Far-flung escapes
Wave bye-bye to dreary winter weather and hello to a spot of sunshine with your mates in Dubai. It’s got the lot – cloud-brushing skyscrapers, white beaches that give Ibiza a run for its money and sleek shopping centres. The best bit? Dubai’s desert location means there’s more to explore than you think. Gather the group and bounce across the dunes on a 4x4 tour, or rent a clear-bottom kayak at nighttime to see the city’s bioluminescent (a fancy phrase for glow-in-the-dark) marine life come alive after sunset. Traditional more your style? The sprawling souks have survived the city's modern makeover, selling everything from spices and jewellery to handwoven fabrics like silk and cashmere.
Check out our holidays to Dubai.
If the budget’s no problem, head to The Land of Smiles – AKA Thailand – for the group trip of the year. Here, buzzing city energy meets the calm of beach living with the bonus of year-round toasty temps. Our recommendation for a jam-packed itinerary includes ticking off temples in Bangkok, trying a taste of Thailand with an authentic Pad Thai and making tracks through the jungles of the north. Party vibes calling? Meet Phuket. Here, bars line the streets and neon-lit nightclubs stay open until sunrise.
Check out our holidays to Thailand.
Check out our holidays to Dubai.
If the budget’s no problem, head to The Land of Smiles – AKA Thailand – for the group trip of the year. Here, buzzing city energy meets the calm of beach living with the bonus of year-round toasty temps. Our recommendation for a jam-packed itinerary includes ticking off temples in Bangkok, trying a taste of Thailand with an authentic Pad Thai and making tracks through the jungles of the north. Party vibes calling? Meet Phuket. Here, bars line the streets and neon-lit nightclubs stay open until sunrise.
Check out our holidays to Thailand.
Beach escapes
Sun, sea and a short flight from the UK makes Lanzarote the perfect place to holiday with your pals. Pitch up in Puerto del Carmen – it’s the spot for up-tempo evenings, with trendy bars and restaurants lining the waterfront. Slow the pace for a day and head to the Green Caves or Cueva de los Verdes if you speak the lingo. Oh, and just to confirm, they’re not named after their colour but after the family who once kept their farm animals nearby. The lava caves – formed after the eruption of Monte Corona a whopping 21,000 years ago – are like something from another planet.
Check out our holidays to Lanzarote.
If resting and relaxing is the group vibe, nowhere does beach breaks better than Cape Verde – it’s got the toe-sinking, bucket-and-spade type of sand you see on glossy magazine covers. Boa Vista (which translates as ‘beautiful view’) is the place to be, and it certainly delivers on its name. Boasting 55 kilometres of textbook sandy shores, you’ve got loads of places to lie undisturbed on a lounger and chill. Gather the group for a taste of traditional catchupa, a slow-cooked stew with beans, chorizo and tuna or meat that’s a staple in island life – it’ll knock the socks off any stew back home.
Check out our holidays to Cape Verde.
Check out our holidays to Lanzarote.
If resting and relaxing is the group vibe, nowhere does beach breaks better than Cape Verde – it’s got the toe-sinking, bucket-and-spade type of sand you see on glossy magazine covers. Boa Vista (which translates as ‘beautiful view’) is the place to be, and it certainly delivers on its name. Boasting 55 kilometres of textbook sandy shores, you’ve got loads of places to lie undisturbed on a lounger and chill. Gather the group for a taste of traditional catchupa, a slow-cooked stew with beans, chorizo and tuna or meat that’s a staple in island life – it’ll knock the socks off any stew back home.
Check out our holidays to Cape Verde.
Found your fave spot?
Get the holiday out the group chat and browse our great-value breaks.
Need more inspo? Find out where's hot in February or get clued up on our packing hacks before your next getaway.
Pssst. Head to the Discover homepage for our latest articles.
Author: Laura Wilkinson
Last updated: 29.01.2025
Get the holiday out the group chat and browse our great-value breaks.
Need more inspo? Find out where's hot in February or get clued up on our packing hacks before your next getaway.
Pssst. Head to the Discover homepage for our latest articles.
Author: Laura Wilkinson
Last updated: 29.01.2025