On the lookout for somewhere extra special to pop the question — or searching for somewhere to make new memories with your other half? We’ve got you covered with our pick of the most romantic destinations around the world, perfect for that next unforgettable trip.
Yes, it’s a cliché, but for good reason. Whether strolling hand-in-hand through Montmartre’s intimate lanes or sipping champagne high up the Eiffel Tower, Paris is one of the most romantic cities in the world. The self-styled “City of Love” oozes passion, from Rodin’s erotic sculpture, The Kiss, to the Wall of Love — where over 300 declarations of love are inscribed in multiple languages.
After a candlelit bistro dinner for two on the Champs-Élysées, take a walk along the lamp-lit Seine — the very heartbeat of Paris.
Coral reefs, palm-fringed beaches, and a lilting calypso vibe; the Caribbean is perfect for a romantic getaway together. The best time to visit for dry, warm days is from December to April. The Caribbean’s most romantic destinations include Cuba, set to a salsa pulse of Latin love and gorgeous St Lucia: its needle-sharp Pitons and secluded beaches lend a touch of paradise for budding cupids.
Looking for the perfect place to pop the question? There’s a black-sand beach at Jokulsarlon, where chunks of stranded sea ice sparkle like diamonds. Volcanic, like the early throes of passion, Iceland will particularly appeal to younger flames. Bathe in the warm geothermal waters of the world-famous Blue Lagoon and luxuriate in local mineral-rich silica spa treatments together before embracing under the electromagnetic otherworldliness of the northern lights.
The Seychelles is the definition of a loved-up destination; not least for honeymooners seeking beach holidays. With brilliant white sand, crystal-clear azure waters, sparkling corals, and world-class adult-only resorts, the Seychelles is one of the most romantic holiday destinations on earth. Snorkel with turtles from the wonderful Cote D’Or beach on Curieuse Island, browse black pearls in the boutiques of Mahé, or settle in for a drink watching blood-red sunsets illuminate the warm Indian Ocean.
Irresistibly Instagrammable, the Dalmatian coast of Croatia is the ultimate tonic for couples seeking quality time together. Explore craggy limestone coves and islands by boat or lace up your boots to wander around the red-tile-roofed Unesco world heritage towns. Try avoiding peak summer, when cruise vessels overwhelm this coast. Instead, choose the shoulder seasons either side of summer to enjoy a more bearable Mediterranean climate, quieter old town streets, and intimate bars to toast your love with Dalmatian wine from the coast’s sunkissed vineyards.
With Sappho’s erotic poetry and Lord Byron’s romantic verse to the winged God of Love, Eros, Greece can justifiably claim to have invented the art of love. With hundreds of islands to explore, romantic holiday options exist for couples at all stages of betrothal. You might spend your days exploring historic Athens — perhaps Lycabettus Hill for its smouldering sunsets — or toast the volcanic beauty of popular Santorini by the swimming pool with a crisp assyrtiko. Younger couples can party the night away on Mykonos while older hands may reaffirm their vows in historic Delphi at the foot of Mount Parnassus.
The ultimately tragic 15th-century Duchess of Amalfi’s life was defined by love along a coast framed by romantic vistas and coves. Italy is a paragon of love and one of the world’s most romantic destinations: from a gondola ride in the Venetian canals to Tuscany’s rural idyll. Yet the Amalfi coast is a visual and sensual aphrodisiac. Positano’s picturebook hillsides of pastel-shaded houses enchant while amid glorious gardens and the operatic setting of Ravello, couples can gaze lovingly at spellbinding sea views from Villa Cimbrone’s Terrace of Infinity.
Could the 17th-century Moghul Emperor, Shah Jahan, be the most romantic figure in Indian history? His dedication to his departed love, Mumtaz Mahal, led to the construction of the ivory-white marble mausoleum of Agra’s Taj Mahal — at the heart of India’s Golden Triangle. A fabulously romantic holiday would explore Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur by a luxury rail journey. Besides the sublime Taj Mahal, seek out an Ayurveda massage for two in Delhi.
Take the famous steam train from Fort William to Mallaig and you can expect to be moved by seawater lochs, castles, and mountain glens where golden eagles fly. Smokestacks and rattling rails might sound like a holiday for train buffs rather than a romantic getaway. Yet, the scenery in Scotland is divine and imagine, along route, a cosy dinner for two, perhaps in a castle, enjoying local venison, before retiring with a peaty whisky in front of a roaring fire. The true earthy romance of the Scottish Highlands.
