20 Things to Do in the Hamptons During Summer 2024

The house is booked, the beach bag is packed, and you’re ready to slip into those espadrilles. Summer in the Hamptons is here and we’ll be spending it lounging on the beach deciding once and all which lobster roll is best, and scoring killer vintage finds at the chicest boutiques. Whether you’re visiting for the first time, or the Hamptons is your home away from home, we’ve got the only to-do list you need this summer.

Name something better than spending the day lounging on the beach. We’ll wait.  Whether you’re looking for the high dunes and white sand of Cooper’s or a family friendly beach like Mecox there’s a beach or two waiting for you in the Hamptons. So pack that beach bag, don’t forget a good summer read, and put your toes in the sand. 

Whether your drink of choice is a glass of rosé, an IPA or a whiskey, the East End has a tasting room for you. Taste your way through the rosés at Wölffer Estate Vineyard (Sagaponack), beer at Montauk Brewing Company (Montauk) or whiskey, bourbon, gin and vodka at Long IslandSpirits (Baiting Hollow).

It’s not really summer until you’ve had at least one lobster roll, is it? Whether you prefer Maine-style or Connecticut you’ll find plenty to choose from in the Hamptons. Head to Lunch aka the Lobster Roll Restaurant for the best-selling Classic (Maine-style), bring your partner to Duryea’s for a roll while enjoying the sunset or gather up the kids and treat them to lobster rolls on the fishing docks at The Clam Bar, which is debuting some new items this summer like lobster fritters and a sushi dog.

Ready to sweat? Try a spin class at The Barn, the Bridgehampton SoulCycle location. Or HI(I)T up Barry’s Hamptons. Both the Southampton and Wainscott outposts offer classes seven days a week. Tracy Anderson’s sustainable workout program is available in Water Mill and Sag Harbour. In Montauk, The Surf Lodge has complimentary weekend wellness classes for guests. Or say namaste at  Montauk OM. But remember to book early—classes go fast in peak months.

Not that you’d ever get tired of your Hamptons town but if you’ve overlooked Amagansett the sleepy beach hamlet is the place to spend a dreamy day. Shop the chic boutiques, get tacos at La Fondita and hit the beach.

Rainy day in the Hamptons doesn’t mean there is no way to play. These towns are home to several museums of all sorts. Those with kids should check out the Children’s Museum of the East End. History buffs of all ages can learn about the area’s maritime past at the Sag Harbor Whaling Museum. If we had to pick just one, though, it would be the South Fork Natural History Museum. The butterfly and wildflower gardens are stunning—and how often do you get the opportunity to meet a turtle or learn about sharks in the local waters?

You deserve to pamper yourself this summer. Have a spa day at one of the Hamptons’ most blissful spas. Soak in the healing powers of Himalayan salt at Montauk Salt Cave, lap up the luxe life with a deep-tissue massage at Topping Rose House, or indulge in a marine-inspired facial at Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa. But remember you’re not the only one that deserves a spa day. Better book that facial or massage in advance.

Want to escape the crowd while still enjoying the best of the East End? Spend the day in the Springs. This Hamptons hamlet is full of history (like the Pollock-krasner House) and calm bay beaches (oh hi, Maidstone Beach), all wrapped up in a scenic landscape.

Lace up your hiking shoes, gather up your pup (or borrow your bestie’s dog) and hit the trails. The Hamptons are home to some of the most picturesque trails where you can work up a sweat without having to hit the gym and many like the Walking Dunes Trail at Hither Hills State Park are dog-friendly.

Long, lazy summer afternoons are made for catching up. Sip some of the Hamptons best margaritas at Coche Comedor (Amagansett), travel to the Caribbean by way of Hampton Bays with rum-based Bloomer at R.Aire, catch the sunset while enjoying a cocktail at Bostwicks on the Harbor (East Hampton) or try Mango Tango mocktail at Bell & Anchor (Sag Harbor).

There is no shortage of great places to shop in the Hamptons. From fashion, accessories, home and fine jewelry at the new LoveBinetti (Sag Harbor) to old favs like Reformation, (East Hampton) and NIBI (Montauk, Bridgehampton and Westhampton), you’ll find everything you need to have your most stylish summer in the Hamptons. Pick up a new pair of kicks at Le Closet’s exclusive sneaker room in Southampton and don’t forget to pop by Sage and Madison (Sag Harbor) for all your hostess gift needs.

Sing your heart out at Almond’s Karaoke Thursdays (Bridghampton). Prefer to listen and dance? Guild Hall (East Hampton) has a silent disco party happening plus a plethora of other live performances this summer and LTV Studios celebrates 40 years of business by hosting various series throughout the summer including the Hamptons Summer Songbook by the Sea, East End Underground Concert Series, LTV’s World Voices and Playwrights’ Theatre of East Hampton. Plus, an evening at Stephen Talkhouse (Amagansett) is a must.

Every year a new crop of restaurants opens in the Hamptons, each angling to become the place to be. Check out the Hamptons only food court at the Hampton Eats (East Hampton). It’s full of favorites like Villa Italian Specialties, Beach Bakery, Montauk Bake Shoppe, and more. Make reservations for Arthur & Sons (Bridgehampton) where Michelin star chef Joe Isidori is serving up classic Italian American dishes. Challenge your friends at lawn games at Il Pellicano and Bijoux (East Hampton) where restauranter Kyky Conille is opening an Italian restaurant and nightclub combo. Or travel to Greece by way of the East End as Montauk Beach House Bar & Grill becomes Montauk’s only Greek restaurant.

Along with lobster rolls, ice cream is the quintessential Hamptons summer treat. Whether you favor fruity gelato, classic soft-serve or something in between, there’s a cone or cup waiting for you in the Hamptons. Better yet, make this the year you decide once and for all if gelato from Carissa’s The Bakery, one of Candy Kitchen’s banana splits, or a classic soft-serve at Southampton’s The Fudge Shop is the ultimate summertime winner.

You can’t really head to the beach without a stack of books. Before you scoop out the perfect place for your towel, snag the hottest reads of summer at Book Hampton in East Hampton, Sag Harbor Books in Sag Harbor or head to Black Cat Books on Shelter Island and finally get that first edition from your favorite author.

The name draws you in but you’ll stay for the charm. Love Lane in Mattituck is the perfect place to spend a morning. Stop into Love Lane Kitchen for breakfast, (you want the stuffed French toast), before wandering up the lane popping into the boutiques like Mint and the Village Cheese Shop.

When the time comes for a break from the beach (and it will) there are flowers. You’ll find an oasis of tranquility hidden in plain sight at the Peconic Land Trust Bridge Garden in Bridgehampton. Or as part of your North Fork day trip, head to the stunning Lavendar by the Bay. The best time to visit is summer, when the lush, fragrant fields are in peak bloom.

Grab a paddle and get a workout and a tan while exploring Long Island’s curvy shoreline. Stand-up paddleboards (SUPs), kayaks and canoes are an affordable way to get on the water without much experience needed. East Hampton’s Paddle Diva offers SUP classes, group tours and rentals. In Riverhead, Long Island Canoe Kayak Rentals has a number of tours in the mellow Peconic River. Or make this the summer you finally learn to surf by taking lessons from the pros at Hamptons Surf Co.

Along with the miles of sandy beaches, fabulous shopping and delicious eats, the Hamptons is known for its incredible art scene. Wander Parrish Art Museum, duck into the many galleries and don’t miss the Hamptons Fine Art Fair when it returns to Southampton this July.