5 city breaks to take with the girls

To celebrate International Women’s Day this week, we’re sharing some of our favourite city break destinations to take with the girls.

New York City

I bought plenty at Woodbury Common back when I visited in 2017!

Visit classic sights including the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, the Empire State Building and Brooklyn Bridge, or take a stroll along the High Line and through Central Park. Head to Broadway for a show or maybe take a cultural excursion down to Yankee Stadium or Citi Field to get caught up in the all-American tradition of a baseball game.

New York is also a popular wintertime destination for Christmas shoppers, and there’s plenty of places to make your purchases.

Whether you’re going to a Manhattan-based department store such as Macy’s or Century 21, or heading out of town to a discount outlet village like Woodbury Common, where you can find plenty of bargains and gifts for your loved ones.

To top off an evening, visit one of the city’s various rooftop bars where you’ll be able to sip a Manhattan cocktail with incredible views.

Milan

Looking across to Milan’s financial district from the iconic Duomo

Although a major European metropolis, Milan can sometimes have a big-town feel, with its major sights and attractions all within walking distance, making it the perfect place for a weekend away with the girls.

You can find foodie spots all over the city, but there are few places better to eat in Milan than the picturesque Navigli district, with its cobbled streets and beautiful canals.

Milan is also home to Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper painting, and it is advisable to book a viewing slot in advance, while Milan Cathedral is a Gothic masterpiece where visitors can climb up to its roof and enjoy the beautiful architecture up-close.

If you’re a fashionista, then Milan is the place to be. Discover the Milan Fashion District with an exclusive one-hour walking tour, with a chance to visit a selection of the city’s finest ateliers and fashion stores in the famous Quadrilatero della Moda area. For shopping, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the country’s oldest active mall, is ideal, with its designer boutiques and extravagant window displays.

Singapore

Looking up at the trees of Gardens by the Bay in Singapore

Explore the amazing city-state of Singapore and experience multicultural sights and sounds including the Singapore Flyer observation wheel and Gardens by the Bay.

For the culturally-minded, Singapore is home to an impressive range of museums, while the areas of Chinatown, Little India, and the Arab Quarter pay homage to the city's roots and play host to some of its top cultural sights, events and cuisine.

Head to Marina Bay Sands and sip a cocktail in or around the world’s highest infinity pool, while taking in an incredible panorama of the Singapore skyline. Access is complimentary for guests at the hotel, although visitors can buy a day pass.

Marbella

Head to Spain’s Costa del Sol and enjoy a city break in the sun in Marbella. The resort, known for being a glamorous destination, has plenty to see and do including its Old Town, with picturesque streets, flower-filled plazas and delightful shops and galleries selling clothes, accessories and handmade crafts.

Marbella also has a fantastic gastronomic scene with everything from vegetarian and vegan cafés to beachfront chiringuitos and Michelin-starred restaurant including Dani Garcia and Messina.

If you’re looking for something a little more fast-paced, just down the road is the glitzy Puerto Banús, where people flock for beautiful golden beaches and vibrant nightlife, with excellent bars, nightclubs and restaurants open until the early hours. Known as a playground for the rich and famous, you’ll see plenty of yachts and exotic cars on a visit here.

Budapest

This view from Fisherman’s Bastion is one of Europe’s very best

Divided into two parts – green and hilly Buda and the urban Pest – Hungary’s capital has so much to offer visitors. Make a stop at the stunning Parliament Building, learn about Budapest’s Ottoman past on Castle Hill, and head up to Fisherman’s Bastion for sumptuous views over the capital.

You can also step into one of the many natural hot spring baths the city has to offer and experience a relaxing and rejuvenating few hours soaking in the medicinal baths or having a Turkish massage. Széchenyi Thermal Bath is the most famous of these, with 15 indoor baths and three grand outdoor pools dressed in stunning modern renaissance architecture.

Get involved in the vivacious nightlife that Budapest has to offer by visiting ones of its ruin bars – created in the early 2000s when a collective of Budapest’s art scene converted some of the city’s disused buildings into watering holes