The Hamptons

A cluster of seaside resort villages on the east end of Long Island, New York — the mansions and beaches of Southampton, East Hampton and Sag Harbor, ending at Montauk Lighthouse.

The Hamptons occupy the South Fork at the eastern end of Long Island, New York, a string of seaside villages and hamlets — Westhampton, Southampton, Water Mill, Bridgehampton, East Hampton, Amagansett and Sag Harbor — reaching all the way to Montauk at the far eastern tip. It's the traditional summer retreat of New York's wealthy and famous. You'll find wide white Atlantic beaches, colonial-era shingled houses and windmills, harbors from the whaling era, and art landmarks closely tied to the Abstract Expressionists, such as the Parrish Art Museum and the Pollock-Krasner House. Summers are warm and fairly dry; June–August is peak beach season, when hotels and parking are extremely tight and prices double; in September–October you can still swim, the North Fork wineries are in harvest season, and with fewer crowds and lower prices it's the best-value time to visit; in winter most beach facilities close. The area divides into three parts: Southampton to East Hampton for beaches, village strolls and galleries; Sag Harbor and Shelter Island for an old harbor and island cycling; and Montauk at the eastern tip for the lighthouse, surfing and seafood. Ferries via Shelter Island connect to the North Fork, whose wineries, farms and Greenport harbor make a good day trip. Getting there: from Manhattan, the Hampton Jitney bus or the Long Island Rail Road takes about 2–3 hours, and in summer there's a weekend express straight to Montauk. Sights are spread out, so rent a car or bike; beach parking often requires a resident permit or a daily fee. Plan on 2–4 days; book summer weekend lodging one to two months ahead, or visit midweek to avoid the crowds.

Top sights

• Coopers Beach – Southampton Village's signature beach, with fine white sand and Atlantic surf in front of a row of oceanfront mansions. It has repeatedly r…
• East Hampton Village – Often hailed as one of America's loveliest villages, surrounded by green lawns, an old windmill and colonial houses, with well-known shops…
• Sag Harbor – A 19th-century whaling town with its harbor, historic theater and Greek Revival captains' mansions well preserved. It is the most atmospher…
• Montauk Point Lighthouse – Authorized for construction by President Washington in 1796, this is New York State's oldest lighthouse, standing on the headland at the ea…
• North Fork Wine Country – The wine region of Long Island's North Fork, where dozens of family wineries line Route 25. Visitors can taste wine, pick fruit and browse…
• Main Beach, East Hampton – The main beach of East Hampton village, where dunes and grey-shingled bathhouse pavilions form a classic Hamptons seascape.
• Southampton Village – The oldest village in the Hamptons, founded in 1640, with boutiques, galleries and historic houses lining its main street.
• Sag Harbor Whaling & Historical Museum – A whaling museum housed in a ship owner's mansion built in 1845; the giant whalebone arch at its entrance is Sag Harbor's landmark.
• Montauk – A surf and sportfishing town at the eastern tip of Long Island, more laid-back than other Hamptons villages, known for harbor seafood and b…
• Ditch Plains Beach – Montauk's best-known surf beach, with a stable reef-bottom break suitable for beginners through advanced surfers.
• Camp Hero State Park – A coastal defense base from WWII and the Cold War, with giant radar towers and hidden gun bunkers on the sea cliffs; also the site of the u…
• Hither Hills State Park – A seaside state park at the gateway to Montauk, known for its slowly moving 'walking dunes' and oceanfront campground.
• Parrish Art Museum – A barn-inspired art museum designed by Herzog & de Meuron, housing two centuries of works by Hamptons artists.
• Westhampton Beach – A small seaside village at the western end of the Hamptons, with a lively main street and a wide Atlantic beach on the Dune Road side.
• Greenport – A North Fork harbor town with a vintage carousel, fishing docks and seafood restaurants; ferries connect to Shelter Island.
• Shelter Island – A quiet island between the North and South Forks, reachable only by ferry, with a third of its land protected as a nature reserve.
• Mashomack Preserve – A large nature reserve in southeastern Shelter Island, with oak woods, tidal creeks and coastline crossed by trails, and dense osprey nesti…
• Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center – The home and barn studio of Abstract Expressionist masters Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner, where paint drips remain on the studio floor.
• Guild Hall of East Hampton – An arts center opened in 1931 that combines an art museum with the John Drew Theater, offering summer performances and celebrity talks.
• Hook Windmill – A wooden smock windmill built in 1806 with its internal machinery intact; a landmark of East Hampton.
• The Big Duck – A duck-shaped farm stand built in 1931, which gave rise to the term 'duck architecture' and is a classic roadside photo stop on Long Island.
• LongHouse Reserve – A sculpture garden founded by textile designer Jack Lenor Larsen, with works by de Kooning, Yoko Ono and others scattered across lawns and…

Where to eat

• Nick & Toni's – An East Hampton Italian institution open since 1988, known for its wood-fired oven and produce from its own garden. It…
• Duryea's Lobster Deck – A lobster deck on the shore of Fort Pond Bay in Montauk. Its lobster roll and lobster Cobb salad are the signatures, an…
• Candy Kitchen – An old-fashioned ice cream parlor and diner in Bridgehampton, opened in 1925, serving house-made ice cream. It is cash…
• The Clam Bar – An open-air seafood shack on Montauk Highway in Napeague, operating for over 40 years. Its lobster roll and steamed cla…
• Bostwick's Chowder House – A casual seafood restaurant that East Hampton locals have frequented for decades, with generous portions of lobster rol…

Itineraries

• Long Island Forks: Wine Country to Montauk – From New York to the eastern tips of Long Island: wine tasting on the North Fork, ferry across Shelter Island, and beac…