A honeymoon is a once in a lifetime trip, and choosing a romantic destination requires careful planning. While other trips might focus on an activity, like skiing, the honeymoon is a chance for newlyweds to focus on each other.
Every couple will imagine something different when planning their perfectly romantic honeymoon, but hopefully the destinations below will generate some ideas.
24. Isle of Skye, Scotland
A misty island off the northwestern coast of Scotland, Skye is best for honeymooning couples who might enjoy the sound of rain on an old slate roof. Most villages have gracious inns with big fireplaces, questionable plumbing and plenty of local whiskey.
“The whole island is full of beautiful views, lochs and mountains,” writes Matador member Michelle Waite. “All of Skye is great for walks and lovely drives.”
23. Luang Prabang, Laos
Many travel writers, myself included, have pegged Luang Prabang as the most romantic town in Southeast Asia. A flurry of new boutique hotels and classy restaurants doesn’t detract from the languid charm of the old city.
Don’t miss a day trip to Kuang Si waterfall, or a ferry ride across the Mekong to the village of Ban Xieng Mene.
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22. Charlevoix, Quebec
Honeymooning in Quebec is a smart choice for North American couples who are tempted by Europe but lack the time or money to cross the Atlantic.
Montreal is big and cosmopolitan, Quebec City is steeped in history, but my pick for the most romantic spot in the province is tiny Baie St. Paul, the cultural center of the Charlevoix region, with countless art galleries, cozy inns and easy access to spectacular hiking trails.
21. Baja, Mexico
Many honeymooners are looking for sun, sand and value. There are plenty of beach resorts in Baja, and although I usually don’t recommend the resort experience, it’s not a bad choice for honeymooning couples who simply want to bask in marital bliss.
There’s a more exciting side of Baja beyond the resort gates, though, and plenty of deserted lagoons where travelers can find solitude.
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20. Dominica, Caribbean
Dominica is known as “the Nature Island” — it’s lush, green and mountainous, with villages hanging onto the edge of volcanoes, overlooking the crystal blue waters of the Caribbean. Trails in the tropical forest lead to waterfalls, plunge pools and hot springs. Steamy.
19. Kyoto, Japan
The great travel writer Pico Iyer once went to Kyoto to pursue a monastic lifestyle and study Zen Buddhism, but he ended up falling in love instead.
Like Luang Prabang, Kyoto is dotted with ancient temples that evoke a sense of calm and wonder. Japanese hospitality and grace is unparalleled, and those who can afford to stay in a traditional inn should not pass up the opportunity.
18. Big Sur, California
Big Sur is an epic chunk of sweeping California coastline where lovers can wander for days and weeks between hot spring pools and old growth forests overlooking the Pacific.
Finish off the honeymoon by cruising up to San Francisco on Highway 1 and celebrating with a bottle of champagne and a big Chinatown meal.
17. The Big Island, Hawaii
OK, any island in Hawaii would make for a terrific honeymoon destination, but the Big Island gets my vote because it’s less crowded than Maui or Oahu.
Fewer tourists doesn’t translate into a lack of things to do, however. There’s plenty to explore on the Big Island, including black sand beaches, tropical waterfalls, flowing lava and horse ranches. Don’t miss the sunrise from the summit of Mauna Kea.
16. The Northeast Kingdom, Vermont
Cozy inns, quiet country roads, questionable weather…are you starting to notice a theme?
The Kingdom refers to the rural northeast corner of Vermont, a scattering of communities that manage to be both progressive and conservative, heartily welcoming and fiercely independent.
Instead of choosing a destination for day trips, just get lost on winding dirt roads that always seem to lead to friendly family farms. If you’re planning an autumn wedding, foliage in the Kingdom is spectacular.
15. Wine Country, Argentina
The vineyards of Mendoza and Salta in northwestern Argentina produce terrific red wines against the dramatic backdrop of the Andes.
Argentina is a less expensive destination than wine regions of California or Europe, so couples can take their time, soak up the atmosphere and maybe even sign up for tango lessons.
14. Costa Rica
With two tropical coastlines, pristine rainforest and plenty of spider monkeys, Costa Rica is a great choice for couples looking for a combination of ecotourism, adrenaline thrills and simple relaxation.
13. Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is a classy Southern town on the Carolina coast with cobblestone streets, historic mansions and incredible shrimp ‘n grits brunches.
Sea-kayaking in the marshes, long walks on barrier island beaches and outdoor concerts on summer nights round out the Charleston experience.
12. Provence, France
Eat cheese, drink wine, make love. Oui, Provence!
11. Antarctica
There are moments on an Antarctic cruise that will take your breath away, but there are also a lot of hours to spend keeping warm in your cabin. This downtime will be more like uptime for honeymooners.
10. Rome, Italy
There aren’t many cities on this list, but Rome demands an exception. It’s a city built for wandering between ancient neighborhoods and discovering hole-in-the-wall restaurants, live music venues and sidewalk cafes.
If you insist on an urban honeymoon, Rome is a classic romantic choice.
9. Cambodia
Cambodia will tug hard on your heartstrings, but there’s a lot of hope in the country these days that balances out the poverty and the crippling legacy of civil war.
Don’t miss the awe-inspiring temples of Angkor, but leave plenty of time to relax on the Gulf of Thailand in Kep, exploring ruined villas and feasting on fresh crab.
8. Turks and Caicos Islands, Caribbean
Jay-Z may fly private jets to the Turks and Caicos, but New Yorkers can get there easily too, now that JetBlue and Continental have introduced non-stop service between Providenciales and JFK / Newark.
Provo, as the main island is called, is where you’ll find almost all of the resorts, but the islands get more charming as you move east along the chain, culminating with tiny Salt Cay, where couples can walk for hours on North Beach without crossing another footprint.
7. Maine Coast
It’s not the best place for swimming, but the Maine shoreline has rugged charm and wicked good seafood. The whole coast is gorgeous, but don’t miss Acadia National Park on Mt. Desert Island.
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6. Bequia, Caribbean
Like Salt Cay in the Turks and Caicos, Bequia — part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines — is a bit of a backwater, but the slow pace and easygoing atmosphere is perfect for honeymooners exhausted by the stress of hosting their wedding. Travel writer Eva Holland makes the island sound idyllic in her Complete Guide to Bequia:
“The island is safe, compact and enjoys perfect weather pretty well year round. So take a walk. Take a nap on the beach. Drink a papaya juice and watch the sun go down.”
5. South Africa
The afterglow of the 2010 World Cup might be fading, but South Africa is one of the most culturally vibrant and naturally stunning countries in the world.
Live it up in Cape Town and then head to one of the Singita game reserves to stay at a luxurious lodge and get up close to lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffalo.
4. Portugal
Tiny Portugal sometimes gets overshadowed by its massive former colony, Brazil, but the combination of castles, beach towns and distinctive local wines is tough to beat.
Lisbon is one of the oldest capitals in Europe and many of the homes are built with thick stone walls, good for keeping cool in summer and toasty warm in the wintertime.
3. Morocco
Morocco is an incredibly diverse country, both in terms of natural landscapes and cultural heritage. In one trip, you can chill on the beach in Essaouira — where Jimi Hendrix used to hang out — see the world’s tallest mosque minaret, and trek through massive sand dunes in the Sahara.
2. Tahiti
Nothing has ever gone wrong in Tahiti.
1. Switzerland
Straight-laced Switzerland might not be a sultry or exotic destination, but honeymooning couples shouldn’t need much extra romantic inspiration.
Switzerland is stunningly beautiful, safe and orderly. Couples can simply enjoy each other — which is really the whole point of the trip.
It definitely was not a relax on the beach type trip, but more of an adventure! We loved the Occidental Grand Papagayo because it was the perfect combination of the relaxing vacation we wanted before Trevor deployed AND adventure. Our favorite tour was def zip lining through the rainforest…what a rush to be 700 feet above ground going 50 mph through a REAL rainforest! We also LOVED our room, it was like a private villa right on the bay! We couldn’t have asked for a better anniversary/pre-deployment trip! Thanks Skip, we’ll be traveling with you next year!
