The Hamptons · Travel guide
Things to Do in The Hamptons
The Hamptons are a string of South Fork towns, beaches, harbors, galleries, and farm roads rather than one single resort. Use this guide as your map from Southampton to Montauk, with Zoya's picks for what to do, where to base yourself, and how to plan the season.
6 neighborhoods · 12 things to do · 2 itineraries
The Hamptons in brief
What not to miss when visiting the Hamptons?
Do not miss an ocean beach, a village center, and an eastern South Fork stop such as Montauk Point Lighthouse.
How do you spend a day in the Hamptons?
Spend the morning at a beach, walk a village such as Southampton or Sag Harbor, then finish with seafood and a harbor or ocean sunset.
What do people do at the Hamptons?
People visit beaches, browse village shops, explore art and history, eat seafood, visit farms and vineyards, and spend time in Montauk.
Explore by neighborhood
The Hamptons's neighborhoods, mapped
The Hamptons run west to east from Southampton and Water Mill through Bridgehampton, Sag Harbor, East Hampton, Amagansett, and Montauk. Choose Southampton for beaches and shopping, Sag Harbor for waterfront history, East Hampton for art and village polish, or Montauk for fishing, surfing, and the South Fork's eastern edge.
Montauk
Surf beaches, a working harbor, seafood, and the lighthouse at the island's eastern edge.
East Hampton
Village streets, major art stops, historic homes, and one of the South Fork's best-known beaches.
Southampton
Wide ocean beaches, polished shopping streets, and some of the area's deepest colonial history.
Sag Harbor
A walkable harbor village shaped by whaling history, independent shops, restaurants, and its cinema.
Bridgehampton
Historic streets, equestrian events, vineyards, and a useful midpoint between west and east.
Amagansett
Accessible beaches, a farmers market, and a small music venue with outsized local history.
See & do
The best things to do in The Hamptons
The best things to do in The Hamptons combine an ocean beach, a village main street, a cultural stop, and a meal built around local seafood. Start with Coopers Beach or Main Beach East Hampton, then add Montauk Point Lighthouse, Parrish Art Museum, Sag Harbor's waterfront, or a farm and vineyard stop.
Montauk Point Lighthouse
In Montauk
Ditch Plains Beach
In The Hamptons
Montauk Harbor
In Montauk
Main Beach East Hampton
In East Hampton
Pollock-Krasner House & Study Center
In East Hampton
LongHouse Reserve
In East Hampton
Coopers Beach
In The Hamptons
Main Street and Jobs Lane Shopping District
In Southampton
Parrish Art Museum
In Southampton
Long Wharf
In Sag Harbor
Bridgehampton Main Street Historic District
In Bridgehampton
Amagansett Farmers Market
In Amagansett
Highlights across the city; each neighborhood guide has the full list for its area. Ratings link to each place's Google listing; prices are approximate, per person, in USD.
Plan your trip
The Hamptons itineraries, from a weekend to a week
Three days is the practical first trip, giving you time for a western village, an eastern beach, and Montauk without spending the whole visit in traffic. Use the one-day plan for a focused coast-and-village visit, or hand the three-day route to Zoya to tailor around your beach priorities, restaurant bookings, and season.
Where to stay
Where to stay in The Hamptons
The best base depends on your route: Southampton suits western beaches and shopping, East Hampton balances village life with access to the east, and Montauk is the right call for surf, fishing, and a more relaxed waterfront feel. Sag Harbor and Bridgehampton make strong middle-ground bases, while Amagansett keeps you close to beaches and small-town food stops.
Popular areas to stay
Tap an area to preview it, then open the full where-to-stay guide.
Know before you go
The Hamptons travel essentials
Plan around summer access rules, high lodging and restaurant demand, and the long distances between towns. The LIRR Montauk Branch and Hampton Jitney connect New York City with the South Fork, but a car is useful, and Route 27 traffic can reshape a summer day.
Best time to visit
Memorial Day to Labor Day is the busy season; late spring and early fall are quieter, but check seasonal business hours.
Is The Hamptons expensive?
Summer lodging, dining, and beach parking can add up quickly, so reserve early and check access fees before driving over.
Best beaches
Compare Coopers Beach, Main Beach, Ditch Plains, Hither Hills, and other beaches by parking, permits, surf, and facilities.
Best restaurants
Plan around seafood shacks, waterfront tables, seasonal farm cooking, and reservations in the busiest months.
The destination on screen
The Hamptons on screen
The Hamptons often appear on screen as a summer setting for money, secrets, friendship, and reinvention, with Montauk and the wider East End standing in for a world apart from New York City. These works use the area for its beaches, houses, and seasonal social orbit.
- TV series, 2014
The Affair
The drama is set around Montauk and uses the East End as the backdrop for its shifting views of one summer relationship.
- Reality TV series, 2017
Summer House
The reality series follows a group sharing a summer house in Montauk, placing the town's beach-weekend culture at the center.
- Film, 2003
Something's Gotta Give
The romantic comedy places Diane Keaton's character in an East Hampton beach house, making the Hamptons part of its central setting.
Ready to plan your The Hamptons trip?
Tell Zoya, your personal travel assistant, how you like to travel, and she'll turn any of this into a day-by-day plan that fits your dates.
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