6 Best Hamptons Day Trips from New York City

Chosen by many celebrities as their place of rest and leisure, the Hamptons is an oasis of peace that delights with its rural beauty and rustic villages. Just 100 miles from New York City, the Hamptons is the perfect destination for a full-day excursion.

Far from the skyscrapers of New York, here you will find countless rural landscapes, open skies, and homes with the most exquisite designs. On the many different excursions from New York City, you can visit the towns of Sag Harbor and Southampton, go shopping at Tanger Outlets, see celebrity homes, and much more. These are just some of the things you can visit on a trip to the Hamptons, which is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in New York.

Among the many excursion options from NYC, this one offers a balanced combination of the tranquility of the Hamptons countryside and a shopping trip, where you can find excellent deals at Tanger Outlets without completely leaving the rhythm of the big city behind.

The tour can start from New York and pass through Queens to reach the coast of Long Island, where you can admire the best rural landscapes alongside dreamy designer homes. In Sag Harbor and Southampton, in addition to discovering their stunning corners, the guides will tell you about the 300-year history of these cities.

You will have the opportunity to stop for a wine tasting, and you will have free time to explore these beautiful places at your own pace and to your own taste, as well as to take advantage of the offers at Riverhead Tanger Outlets.

Details of interest

• Price: from €160 per person.
• Duration: approximately 12 hours in total.
• Transportation: you will be picked up at your hotel and travel by minibus or van.
• Advantages of this option: wine tasting is included and you have free time to go shopping.
• Disadvantages of this option: not recommended if traveling with children, as they may get tired during the long journey.

Is there anything more glamorous than a picnic on the beach in the Hamptons? The answer is a resounding yes! Arriving at the picnic aboard a helicopter. Without wasting any time in city traffic on the way to the Hamptons, you will travel to your destination in a modern and comfortable helicopter, enjoying panoramic views of both Manhattan and the rural landscapes and coastline.

This is an experience for groups of up to 6 people. It can be done both during the day and at night, and upon arrival, depending on your schedule, you will have a personal assistant waiting for you with a gourmet lunch or dinner in a luxurious setting. It should be noted that if you have any special dietary requirements or preferences, you can indicate this when booking the excursion.

After a day in the Hamptons, you will return to Manhattan by helicopter. This is undoubtedly an unforgettable experience that stands out among the top 10 things to do in New York City in the summer.

Details of interest

• Price: around €390 per person.
• Duration: approximately 5 hours.
• Transportation: the tour includes pickup at your hotel or Airbnb and transfer to the helicopter.
• Advantages of this option: it is a completely out-of-the-ordinary experience, where you can enjoy the luxury that celebrities are accustomed to.
• Disadvantages of this option: not suitable for pregnant women or people with heart conditions.

In this case, the tour offers you a day trip to the Hamptons, traveling in a private car with a personal driver. As in other cases, you can go in a small group with other travelers or with your family, friends, or whoever is traveling with you.

During the day, you will have free time to organize yourself as you wish, as well as being able to stop with the driver at certain specific places. As part of the tour, you will be taken to spend some time at the famous Coopers Beach and make a 20-minute stop at Mulford Farm. You will also be driven through Montauk, in the town of East Hampton, the Long House Reserve, with its almost 6 hectares of gardens full of trees, vegetation, and all kinds of sculptures, the iconic Montauk Point Lighthouse, the Parrish Art Museum, and the Shinnecock Museum and Cultural Center.

You can explore the other resorts in the Hamptons and the rest of the region on your own. You'll be there in time for lunch, where you can enjoy the prestigious restaurants this incredible place has to offer. Please note that lunch is not included in the price of the tour.

Details of interest

• Price: from €570 per person.
• Duration: approximately 8 hours.
• Transportation: the tour includes hotel pickup, and you will travel in a private car.
• Advantages of this option: this is a private tour with a driver at your disposal, ideal for maximum relaxation and not having to worry about anything.
• Disadvantages of this option: lunch and drinks are not included.

This tour takes you from Manhattan to the Hamptons to enjoy a day dedicated to gastronomy, and especially wine tasting, with a visit to the wineries in the area. These excursions are among the most comprehensive, as they include transportation, an experienced guide, and a very special itinerary.

The tour begins in Southampton, where you can explore its picturesque shops, beaches, cafes, and the iconic Billionaires Lane, a 5-mile-long oceanfront street lined with the most luxurious mansions. You will then continue on to Sag Harbor, a whaling village dating back to the 18th century, where you will explore the region and have time for lunch at the harbor. If you like, you can try the famous fresh seafood.

As the last and main part of the tour, you will cross aboard the Cross Sound Ferry to North Fork, where you will find small towns, vineyards, 29 wineries, and some stalls selling agricultural produce.

Details of interest

• Price: from €1,050 per person.
• Duration: approximately 12 hours.
• Transportation: includes pickup from your hotel or Airbnb, and you will travel by van or minibus.
• Advantages of this option: this is a themed excursion dedicated to gastronomy and fine wine, ideal for delighting your senses.
• Disadvantages of this option: it may not be an ideal option for children.

This excursion takes you from Manhattan to the Hamptons by helicopter, not only reducing a 3-hour drive to a 45-minute flight, but also allowing you to enjoy the stunning scenery along the way. This tour is undoubtedly one of the best helicopter rides in NYC.

Once in the Hamptons, you will have about 4 or 5 hours to explore the area at your own pace. During that time, you can visit the magnificent beaches, restaurants, and shops, sites of historical interest, and, of course, the luxurious mansions. Many of these buildings belong to celebrities such as Madonna, Steven Spielberg, and Beyoncé. And if celebrities and the world of entertainment are something that interests you, consider taking one of the many tours of movies and series filmed in New York City on your return to the Big Apple, because I assure you that you will not regret it.

Please note that this experience includes only the helicopter ride, transfers to the heliport, lunch, and any other activities you decide to do in your free time in the Hamptons will be at your own expense.

Details of interest

• Price: from €800 per person.
• Duration: approximately 6 hours.
• Transportation: you must make your own way to the heliport to enjoy an incredible helicopter ride.
• Advantages of this option: this is a tour where you can enjoy aerial views of the region and all the charm of the Hamptons.
• Disadvantages of this option: not suitable for pregnant women or people with heart conditions.

This tour is specifically designed for shopping in the Hamptons. The experience is personalized, as it is conducted in groups of no more than six people.

The guide will take your group to see the most important sites of interest in the Hamptons, such as mansions, harbors, beaches, and historic sites. But in addition to that, and as the highlight of this excursion, you will have a shopping tour where you will be shown the best places to buy all kinds of things, and free time in the shopping centers so you can buy whatever you want at your leisure. Among these places, the famous Tanger Outlets stands out.

The excursion includes pick-up and drop-off at your hotel or Airbnb in a private van. Snacks and lunch are not included.

Details of interest

• Price: from €1,100 per person.
• Duration: approximately 12 hours in total.
• Transportation: Pick-up from your accommodation is included, and you will travel in a comfortable van.
• Advantages of this option: guide to the best shops and shopping centers.
• Disadvantages of this option: it is exclusively for those who want to go shopping, as this activity is emphasized over touring the area.

The best way to book a trip to visit the Hamptons from New York City is online. This way, you can check that the tour operator has good references and positive reviews, and you can also see the wide range of options available and choose the one that best suits your plans. Remember that this is an ideal place to visit with the youngest members of the family, making a trip to the Hamptons one of the 10 best things to do in New York with children.

The Hamptons have many tourist attractions, and this can make a single day there leave you wanting to continue exploring. Therefore, a fundamental tip is to organize your visit very well.

Look at the alternatives offered by guided tours to see which one best suits your tastes. Do you want to spend more time on the beach? Are you more interested in seeing the architecture and luxury mansions? Do you want to go shopping? Decide what you don't want to miss and then spend the rest of your time seeing as many attractions as you can.

In any case, if there's still something you want to see, what better excuse to return to the Hamptons and maybe stay there for a few days next time? This place is ideal if you decide to visit New York in August.

The Hamptons are very close to Manhattan, but it's important to note that traveling on your own can be complicated in terms of organizing your time and making the most of the day to see all the points of interest. If you're not staying in the Hamptons and are instead taking a day trip from NYC, the best option is to book a guided tour.

Getting to the Hamptons by public transportation can take quite a long time. For example, by train, the estimated travel time is approximately 3 to 4 hours, which greatly reduces the time available in the area (if you want to return the same day). On the other hand, by booking a tour, your time is perfectly organized so that you can make the most of your hours in the Hamptons. The tours take you to the main attractions in the area and give you plenty of time to appreciate the place.

Due to the amount of things there are to see and enjoy in this prestigious coastal region, the average duration of a trip to the Hamptons is between 8 and 12 hours in total. So if you are planning to book a tour from New York City to the Hamptons, keep in mind that between the tour itself and the transfers, you will be busy for a full day. Consider this when planning your stay in the Big Apple.

It all depends on the option you choose from the alternatives, but the most important tourist attractions in the Hamptons and its surroundings are:

• Westhampton: this stands out as one of the most peaceful towns in the Hamptons.
• Quogue: this village is the wildest and where nature stands out the most. If you have time, it is very interesting to visit the Quogue Wildlife Refuge.
• Southampton: one of the most glamorous areas, with its Main Street lined with shops, cafes, high-end restaurants, and much more. Among the restaurants, I recommend Sant Ambroeus, where you can try the best Italian pasta.
• East Hampton: The most luxurious mansions in the Hamptons are located here.
• Sag Harbor: This is a whaling village with a lot of history behind it. It stands out for its picturesque and welcoming atmosphere.
• Montauk: this is where you'll find the iconic lighthouse and the best waves for surfers. It's also known for its fresh seafood, which you can enjoy at the Lobster Roll restaurant.