While I’ve never personally taken a honeymoon nor have I traveled exclusively with a significant other, I am oftentimes asked to write about the most romantic countries I’ve visited (or dream locations I’d like to travel to with a boyfriend someday).
Below I’m highlighting 7 super dreamy locations! Some of these countries simply exude romance from the moment you step off the plane. Others I’ve witnessed hundreds of couples walking the streets hand-in-hand. And then some I just know would be amazing destinations to explore with the one you love. Although traveling to these romantic destinations with my sister has been incredible, I can’t wait to return someday with my special someone.
Florence, Italy
Known for its art and history, Florence is a one-stop shop for everything fun and romantic! Nothing beats taking in the city views while cuddling up to your hubby. You can stroll the streets, sip on a mojito from Serre Torrigiani in Piazzetta (the cutest garden-like bar), take turns riding the city’s carousel, and wake up early to take photos of the Duomo before tourists flood the streets.
Florence is rather inexpensive compared to other cities in Italy. Plus, it’s just a bus ride away from Pisa and other parts of Tuscany. You and your significant other will have nothing to w(h)ine about while partaking in a vineyard tour, skipping through the rows of grapes, and sipping on Italy’s world famous reds. Lastly, you will want to stop and see the infamous Statue of David, as well as pack a picnic to watch the Tuscan sun go down. We had the best luck snagging a spot near the Piazzale Michelangelo for a panoramic view of the city.
Santorini, Greece
Home to the world’s prettiest sunsets, Santorini is a place you don’t want to miss out on! You and your significant other will have the absolute best time ATV-ing around the island, taste-testing all the Greek food and wading in the sparkling blue water. Greece’s economy isn’t in great shape making this a place that is super inexpensive for Americans. There is no room to feel guilty for buying an extra crepe or gyro because you’re helping out the locals!
If you choose Santorini for your honeymoon destination, you absolutely cannot skip an Oia catamaran cruise with Sunset Oia. This excursion allows you to stop at both the red and black sand beaches, snorkel with the oceanlife and capture the most breathtaking photos of the sunset while in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. Inland is just as pretty with the blue and white buildings, churches, and ancient Akrotiri museums and ruins. Have I convinced you yet?
Cinque Terre, Italy
If you ever have the privilege of visiting the Cinque Terre I sincerely hope you are traveling with someone you love. Cinque, meaning five in Italian, is made up of five towns all connected by a hiking trail, as well as a train for those who don’t want to walk (hi!). If you and your partner are adventurous and love the outdoors, I could not recommend Cinque Terre more! Plus, they even have a Lovers Lane you can walk between the different towns. The skittle-colored houses and crystal clear water are just two reasons to set your sights on this location. Each town offers its own set of perks and specialities.
When I visited, we stayed in La Spieza (the cheapest of the towns) and then took the train or hiked to our destination each day. I highly recommend you check out this airbnb. The couple who owns it could not have been more caring and it’s ideal for a set of happy honeymooners! Riomaggiore, closest to La Spezia, is a great spot to take in all the colorful buildings and watch the sunrise/sunset. Manarola is perfect for wading into the ocean and cliff jumping! It offers spectacular views. Corniglia is the one village we skipped due to rain, but I heard it is just as breathtaking! Vernazza is arguably the most photogenic and Monterosso is the most touristy. This is where you will find the most easy to get to beaches! You and your lovebird will love Cinque Terre, I promise you!
Cappadocia, Turkey
Cappadocia is a region of Turkey made up of several towns and made famous in recent years by Instagram influencers documenting the daily lift-off of hundreds of hot air balloons at sunrise. When we visited we stayed and did our exploring in Göreme, a town located about an hour away from the airport. The landscape of Göreme is beautifully created by rock formations varying from sandy tan colors to pure white. Walking around this town truly felt like walking around on the moon.
The most romantic part of Cappadocia occurs between 5:00 am and 7:00 am, depending on the time of the year, when hundreds of hot air balloons rise in sync with the sunrise. There were more pinks, reds, and oranges dotting the sky than I thought I would ever see. It was absolutely majestic. Walking through Imagination Valley (there’s also a Love Valley, lovers) you can look at rock formations that appear to be people, animals, or common objects. You can use your imagination to share what you see in these formations. It reminded me of looking at the clouds as a kid and dictating everything I saw. Nostalgia!
You and your partner can spend hours walking through all the stores dedicated to handmade pottery or rugs. Galerie Ikman is a store that holds thousands of Turkish rugs, easily shipped to the USA as we were told. Perhaps the biggest perk of vacationing, or honeymooning, in Cappadocia is the cost of everything. Turkey’s national currency is the Turkish Lira (TL) and the conversion to US dollars is about .15 to every $1. This means a fancy five-star hotel often costs less than $100, and a romantic dinner for two often ranges from $20-30 total. Allie and I were amazed at the prices, scooping up souvenirs for $0.05 USD and “splurging” on 30 minute taxis to our hotels for $7 total. If you are looking for a honeymoon on a budget, Cappadocia might just be the place for you.
Amalfi Coast, Italy
The Amalfi coast is actually made of a variety of small towns that are all equally beautiful and majestic. When my sister and I went, her top choice was Positano because of the views of colorful houses stacked upon each other built seemingly into a hill. She also read that Positano has one of the most beautiful beaches, Marina Grande Beach. Although Positano is the primary place tourists and lovers come to visit, it also is one of the most expensive towns to stay in with several five-star luxury hotels. Therefore, Allie and I stayed a few towns over in Sorrento which was much more affordable and easily accessible to Positano by quick, yet unreliable and crowded, public transportation.
Positano and surrounding towns are filled with lemon trees (heard of limoncello?), the best gelato shops, and beautiful restaurants with unbeatable apertivo deals. This is the perfect place to spend hours on the beach followed by a romantic dinner or sunset boat cruise. There are also daily cruises to Capri that leave directly from the beach in Positano. Similar to Greece, most of these towns are accessible by motorcycles. It would take a brave soul to drive through the windy uphill streets of these small Italian towns, but if you’re up for it it’s the best way to see everything there is to see in the rainbow colored Amalfi Coast. With so much to see and do, this is a dreamy vacation spot for you and your significant other to enjoy.
Paris, France
It wouldn’t be right to write a whole post about romantic places without including the city of love – Paris. Newlyweds flock to Paris each year for their honeymoon trips. It is hard to stroll through the streets without bumping into a happy couple. Paris is perfect for couples that like to relax and aren’t into the typical tropical-like trip. It’s hard not to fall in love with Paris. From the history to the delicious food (hello carbs!) and wine, you cannot go wrong spending a few days in this city. Taking a day trip to the Palace of Versailles is also super do-able and you won’t want to miss those spectacular views.
Paris is home to the Notre Dame, which is being rebuilt, the Jardin des Tuileries, the Louvre museum, and of course the coveted Eiffel Tower. You could easily pull up Google maps and just wander from monument to monument with your allowed time. It is evident, the capital of France was made for lovers, and if you choose this romantic location you won’t be disappointed. May you watch the Eiffel Tower twinkle with lights each night, eat one too many bread baskets, and enjoy all the sites France has to offer. (Check out this blog post if you’re looking for more to do in Paris).
San José, Costa Rica
You get the best of both worlds in San José! Perhaps most unique about this city is that you can enjoy city life, but are also a short drive away from rainforests, volcanoes, beaches, and mountains. You truly can experience all terrains and it’s quite easy to get around. It’s helpful to know a little bit of Spanish, especially if you plan to use their public transportation but for the most part the locals are extremely helpful.
You and your sweetheart will have the time of your life zip lining throughout the forest, sitting at the beach, and spotting monkeys and sloths in the trees. By far the most romantic part of Costa Rica is hunting down different waterfalls and taking a dip. There are also several catamaran trips you can choose from, museums and stunning sightseeing opportunities. While it’s been several years since I’ve been there, Costa Rica will always be a dreamy, romantic location to me.
Whether you stay in the states, choose a beach destination, or jet over to Europe, I hope you have the best time on your honeymoon or traveling with your romantic partner! If you end up visiting any of the above places, please tag me on Instagram and let me know how it went! Enjoy!