40 Fun and Sophisticated Bachelorette Party Ideas (That Don’t Involve Vegas or Penis Straws)

• Great for: small groups, low-key socializing, destination parties

Instead of partying all night and sleeping ’til noon, incorporate some sun salutations into your girls’ getaway. (After months of planning you could probably use a good vinyasa flow, anyway). Turns out, there’s a whole site dedicated to finding these type of retreats, no matter your price point or party size. If an entire weekend of yoga seems a bit extreme, squeeze a session into one aspect of your trip—say, a weekend at the beach with a morning of downward dogs and setting intentions, followed by sparkling wine at lunch.

• Great for: small to medium groups, pampering, low-key socializing

Mail your gals a plush terry-cloth robe and an invite to the fanciest spa in town. Insider tip: Most spas offer discounts of 10 to 15 percent for groups larger than four or six. Try for a spot with a common space for everyone to hang out, but if not, at least schedule your pedicures together. Then revel in some glorious alone time during the hour-long massage.

• Great for: small to medium groups, daytime celebrations, low-key socializing

An afternoon at a vineyard is another great way to take the edge off—hello, infinite bottles of rosé—without any of the penis-straw-induced mayhem. The best part is that you don’t have to commit to an entire weekend. Chances are there’s a vineyard within driving distance from you. Just rent a bus or a limo (or a very kind fiancé chauffeur), book a fancy Airbnb and you’re all set.

• Great for: small to medium groups, virtual celebrations, two-part events

Everywhere from Sur La Table to your favorite patisserie holds some version of a cooking class. Start by picking the cuisine (classic Italian, sushi, layer cake—you name it), then do a little digging. The real selling point: It’s impossible to have drama on a full stomach.

• Great for: small to medium groups, active parties, two-part events

If your friends aren’t afraid to poke fun at themselves, this one’s for you. Find a class that teaches the moves to one of today’s popular music videos. For example, DivaDance in New York City and Austin, Texas, holds classes dedicated to Beyoncé, Bieber and old school Christina Aguilera.

• Great for: small to medium groups, two-part events

A comedy club may seem one step up from Chippendales, but it's a recipe for hilarity—especially when the stand-ups know you're there for a bachelorette party (mother-in-law jokes abound). Call the club in advance and reserve a front-row table. After a few espresso martinis, you’re guaranteed to leave in stitches.

• Great for: small groups, outdoor activities with luxe accommodations

If the pseudo outdoors is more your speed, then we highly recommend exploring an upscale camping site, where you can sleep inside without fear of bug bites, rocks in your back and wild animal attacks. Two thumbs up if you can score one in a national park.

• Great for: small to medium groups, low-key socializing, daytime celebrations

If you live near a body of water, sign up for a day cruise with your pals and enjoy a few hours of scenic views and socializing in a fresh and fun setting. Most boat tours serve adult beverages and food on board, and some companies offer private bookings, so you and your guests can have the whole vessel to yourselves. For a truly special experience, check out all the options and pick the swankiest one you can find.

• Great for: small to medium groups, sexy vibes

Skip the male strippers and keep it classy with a night at a cabaret club where you can catch a performance that’s actually interesting. Live jazz music, Cirque-style acrobatics, seductive burlesque dancers and lively variety shows that serve up a little bit of everything—a dinner theater or cabaret club reliably has top-notch food, strong cocktails and memorable entertainment on the menu.

• Great for: small to medium groups, thrill-seeking

Make it a destination party and book a few tickets to California or Florida for a resort-style Disney experience, or just head to a nearby Six Flags for the day (there are tons of ‘em). Either way, there’s no better way to celebrate the end of an era than with some nostalgic fun at a theme park with friends—you know, ‘cause you’re really never too old to enjoy the thrill of a rollercoaster and the greasy goodness of funnel cake.

• Great for: groups of any size, free-range socializing

If the timing is right, score tickets to a music festival for you and your gang. It’s pretty hard to beat a bachelorette party that entails a whole weekend of dancing to live performances from not one but several of your favorite artists whilst surrounded by your favorite people. What to pack? Every hip and Insta-worthy outfit you own, of course.

• Great for: small groups, low-key socializing, pampering

Lounging in luxury robes, swimming in the pool, getting pampered at the spa, watching movies, enjoying five-star food and drink delivered to your room—a weekend or even a one-night staycation with friends at a luxury hotel is truly a treat. Just plan some games to play, so there’s additional fun to be had once everyone has availed themselves of the hotel amenities, and be sure to spring for the best and roomiest suite you can afford, so the whole group can party and crash in one spot. (Adjoining rooms will do the trick, too.)

• Great for: large groups, at home, themed parties

No good concerts scheduled to coincide with your party date? No problem. Just turn a private venue (or your own pad) into Studio 54 for the night and queue up a playlist of 70s disco hits that will get everyone out on the dance floor. For best results, make sure the sound setup is topnotch, the decor is on point and the guests obey the Boogie Nights dress code.

• Great for: small to medium groups, active parties, two-part events

Sure, it’s a fun team-building exercise with officemates, but this high-energy activity is even more enjoyable among the chosen company of your bachelorette party. Best of all, most axe throwing venues serve a full menu that includes craft beer and cocktails, and the pastime itself is totally safe (and much easier than you think after a quick intro course from a pro), so you needn’t worry about the event ending in tragedy.

• Great for: small groups, destination parties

Head to a ski resort for some winter weather thrills, complete with a cozy lodge stay so the crew can unwind after a day on the slopes with movies, games and plenty of hot (preferably spiked) beverages. Psst: A vacation rental with a hot tub is kind of a must.

• Great for: small to medium groups, virtual celebrations

There’s nothing quite like bonding with your besties by trying to escape a locked room with them. But seriously, escape rooms are stimulating and fun—and the teamwork required to crack the code and break free really does bring folks closer. Book an in-person escape room session for your bachelorette party, or invite guests to your place to participate in a virtual experience. Either way, you can count on everyone present being fully engaged.

• Great for: medium to large groups, two-part events

Here, a laid back party idea that involves renting out a theater, or (weather permitting) setting up a projector screen in the backyard, for an intimate viewing experience that takes place somewhere a little less ordinary than the living room couch, yet still doesn’t require every guest to keep their lips zipped for the entirety of the event. As for the movie pick, feel free to lean into the occasion with a cheesy rom-com, or perhaps take advantage of the opportunity to make your friends watch any offbeat flick you’ve been dying to see—you really can’t go wrong, so long as there’s an abundance of food and beverage.

• Great for: at home, small to medium groups, low-key socializing

Make it a daytime affair with an oh-so sophisticated brunch party where guests arrive dressed in their Sunday best to wash down a mouth watering spread of morning and lunchtime favorites with bottomless Champagne cocktails. An expertly curated brunch menu, a solid playlist and perhaps a few, post-meal parlor games are all you need to ensure a successful bachelorette bash.

• Great for: small to medium groups, at home, low-key socializing

Dinner parties are divine…unless you’re saddled with the chore of cooking, serving and cleaning up, that is. A bachelorette party only happens once (one hopes), so it’s perfectly reasonable to splurge on a house call from a professional chef who can handle the dinner, while you focus on the party.

• Great for: small to medium-sized groups, at home, virtual parties

Bring in a professional artist to teach you and your guests some basic techniques and then let your creativity (and a few glasses of chardonnay) take over. With good wine and even better compa​​ny, this low-key event is sure to be a hit, even if the finished canvases are more comedy than fine art.

• Great for: small to medium groups, two-part events, low-key socializing

If wine tasting isn’t your speed, consider a (literally) stronger alternative and head to a distillery instead. The process is actually pretty interesting and a tour can be quite informative. Plus, everyone will get to sample the goods—whiskey, moonshine, what have you—so it’s a fine way to get everyone in the mood to party some more afterwards.

• Great for: small to medium groups, low-key socializing

Bowling is kind of a perfect party sport—namely because it’s not crazy competitive, everyone has to wait for their turn, thus allowing ample time for socializing, and every bowling alley has beer on tap. Rent a lane or two, pass around the frosty brews and let the good times roll.

• Great for: medium groups, party vibes

Find a drag show near you and you and your crew are guaranteed a good time. Best of all, if you give advance notice that a bachelorette party is taking place, there’s a good chance the performers will pull the bride-to-be on stage for a little extra fun.

• Great for: small to medium groups, party vibes, at home

Rent a room at a nearby karaoke bar or set up your own karaoke system at home—either way, everyone will be ready to let loose and belt it out after a drink or several. The end result is a memorable night of silly fun (and potentially terrible singing).

• Great for: any size group, low-key socializing

Do your research and pick the best spot in Chinatown for a fun and interactive meal featuring a wide array of yummy bites. Plus, the Chinese dim sum tradition is known to be a social affair that’s well-suited to low-key celebrations.

• Great for: small to medium groups, themed party

Watch Clue to get inspired and then choose from a huge selection of different murder mystery themes (you can find a host of fun, downloadable options here) and let the detective work begin. Just be sure to bring in some decor to set the dark mood and consider serving cocktails and hors d’oeuvres that fit the theme. After all, it’s hard to solve a crime on an empty stomach.

• Great for: any size group, low-key socializing

What better way to connect with your friends before the big day than with a picnic in the park? Obviously, this idea is dependent on the weather—but if the bachelorette party is planned for the warmer months, it only makes sense to take advantage of the sunshine and fresh air. Plus, all you need to do is stock a couple coolers full of wine, beer and other beverages and make it a potluck-style event so one person doesn’t have to supply all the food.

• Great for: medium groups, arts enthusiasts, low-key socializing

For a bride-to-be who would appreciate a celebration that involves a dose of art and culture, Museum Hack is a company that offers VIP bachelorette party tours at some of the most renowned museums in major cities (Chicago, NYC, LA, San Fran and D.C.). The tours are customizable and involve scandalous secrets relating to the exhibits, plus games of your choice, photo opps and even the option to pop a few bottles while you’re there. Pretty neat, right?

• Great for: small to medium groups, active parties, two-part events

A strip club is probably not on your bachelorette party radar, but pole dancing probably should be—namely because it’s a great workout (keep it up and you’ll have abs of steel on your wedding day) and a super fun and decidedly sexy way to learn a new skill while connecting with a group of girlfriends. Our recommendation? Head to a wine bar for a Champagne toast or hit up a Russian bathhouse (i.e., banya) to relax in the steam room when the class is done.

• Great for: medium groups, low-key socializing, at home

You can always find a local bar that’s hosting a trivia night, but we think the better way to go is to host a more intimate event at home, so that the trivia questions can really be all about the bride-to-be. Come up with quiz questions that touch on her interests, guilty pleasures and shared memories. Bonus points if you have prizes on hand for everyone who gets a right answer and a bigger reward for the winner of the game.

• Great for: medium to large groups, at home, low-key socializing

A pool party is a no-brainer for a summer bachelorette party and it’s also a very budget-friendly way to pull off the celebration, too—provided you or someone you know has a pool in their backyard, that is. Invest in festive pool floats, set up a margarita bar and maybe score some bachelorette-themed merch for every guest to sport, and you’ll be good to go.

• Great for: small groups, low-key socializing, arts enthusiasts

Artistic brides-to-be might consider taking their squad to a local ceramics shop that has a paint-your-own option. Pretty much every pottery store that offers this creative activity will let you rent the whole place out for a special occasion and most likely allow you to bring in a few bottles of bubbly, too. If you’re looking for a fresh take on a paint and sip party, this one fits the bill.

• Great for: small to medium groups, two-part events, active parties

Here, another idea for those who want to work up a sweat with their squad. Rock climbing gyms will happily host groups, and often at a discounted rate. The adrenaline-fueled activity also provides a great endorphin rush so everyone will be in the mood to keep the party going at whatever bar or restaurant you head to next.

• Great for: medium to large groups, two-part events, active parties

This throwback activity has stood the test of time—namely because it’s still as fun as you remember to run around in the dark with a laser gun. It’s also an excellent way to bond with your besties, since there’s teamwork involved. Once you’ve wrapped it up, bring the group to a bar or back to your pad for some drinks and an opportunity to socialize.

• Great for: medium to large groups, two-part events, active parties

Go retro with a roller rink visit and you’ll have a dance party on wheels. Bonus points if you insist on an 80s or 90s dress code. Most importantly, prepare for a workout and definitely pick a place where the group can enjoy some food and bev afterwards.

• Great for: any size group, two-part events

Yet another throwback activity with nostalgic vibes, an arcade party is a great way to interact with a group of friends over some light competition and loads of entertainment. Plus, there are photo booths and prizes built into the experience so it’s sure to be memorable, and once the gaming is over, everyone can grab a bite to eat and enjoy a little low-key socializing.

• Great for: small to medium groups, two-part events

The excess and trashiness of a Vegas bash is not your speed, so why not go a different direction entirely and gather a group of gals to spend some time giving back to the community with you. There are countless volunteer opportunities around so you can easily find one that speaks to you, and the activity is proven to promote happiness and bonding among participants. After everyone has done some good for others, celebrate with some Champagne at a venue of your choosing.

• Great for: any size group, low-key socializing

Invite your wedding party for a day of sunbathing, swimming and catching up on the sand. Make sure there are frosty drinks and plenty of sandwiches, and consider activities like boogie boarding, beach volleyball and frisbee. The main benefit of a beach party is really just that anything goes and nobody goes broke. You can even schedule it for the evening hours and do the whole bonfire thing.

• Great for: medium to large groups, themed parties

Take inspiration from the biggest blockbuster film of 2023 and go full Barbie with the theme of your bachelorette party. It will be kitschy, fun and very pink (like, even the cocktails and food). Just be sure to get the playlist right and pick a venue that can accommodate a large, carefree crowd.

• Great for: medium to large groups, active parties, two-part events

Much like laser tag, but a little more hardcore—paintball involves teamwork, strategic thinking and a whole lot of active fun. Battle it out with your besties in the field and then call a ceasefire for food and drinks at a favorite spot to refuel and enjoy some post-game socializing.