Photo credit~ Deanna Troy Travels
Palais Blanc, Marrakech, Morocco
April Hope Love Lust or Bust
Soft, flowing, white curtains, enormous, luxurious beds, a heated pool in the middle of a gorgeous courtyard, your choice of French, Italian or traditional Moroccan meals, and the most beautiful views of the Medina from the rooftop terrace are just a few reasons you will fall in love with this elegant, romantic riad.
In fact, you’ll fall in love with the entire country.
Hiking through the High Atlas Mountains, camel trekking, luxury glamping in the Sahara, and dining on just-caught seafood in Agadir overlooking the ocean are just a few reasons people return to Morocco year after year.
And Palais Blanc tops the list of favorite places to stay for many travelers in this amazing, exotic, and incredibly romantic country.
Whatever your ideal romantic getaway is, you’ll feel like royalty being pampered at Palais Blanc.
Sicily, Italy
The island today is what Italy used to be; a preserved slice of old-world travel that couples may be hard-pressed to find these days. For more ideas of a romantic road trip, check out the latest post on Mapping Megan.
Antarctica
Onsen Hot Pools, Queenstown, New Zealand
Namibia
We drove straight from the airport to Sesriem. We were staying in what we’d assumed was a pretty basic government campsite but turned out to be full on romantic glamping. We had a huge tent with a massive bathroom and a stunningly beautiful bed. All this in the middle of nowhere on the edge of one of the most beautiful national parks in the world. We even took a dawn hot air balloon ride over the sand dunes. I cried.
Accidental romance can be a lovely thing.
Florence, Italy
The most romantic place I’ve ever been to is Florence, Italy.
Dalat City, Vietnam
In February of 2017, my boyfriend and I were backpacking throughout Vietnam. A fellow traveler told us we had to go to Dalat for Valentine’s Day as it was made for lovers and the most romantic city in Vietnam. I was skeptical at first – “How could an entire city be romantic?” but we decided to give it a try and incorporate some much-needed romance into our rough and tough backpacking lifestyle.
Upon arriving we were welcomed by cool weather which was a relief from the sweltering heat. We learned later that this was one of the reasons Dalat became romantic, as Vietnamese locals would vacation there because it was cool all year round.
Then we were awed by the adorable French colonial architecture, every building looked like it was out of a fairy tale. Not just the buildings gave the fairy tale vibe, but all the activities available were straight out of a princess story. We started our Valentine’s Day by floating on a lovely swan boat and then gliding on a pink tandem bicycle. After that, we were escorted on a horse and carriage that looked just like Cinderella’s!
When I thought the day couldn’t get any more special we explored Dalat’s famous flower gardens. Some of which are designed specifically for couples, one of these gardens is even called the “Valley of Love”. Finally, we ended our day with a romantic dinner by candlelight and a rose given to us by the restaurant. My mind was blown, every part of Dalat city was romantic! It was so nice and special to have this whole day and this whole town to celebrate with my loved one. It was the best Valentine’s Day we ever had!
Ragusa, Scicily
Tangting, Nepal
Cavoero, Portugal
Pico do Arieiro, Madeira, Portugal
places are as romantic as the Pico do Arieiro summit, the third highest
peak of the Portuguese island called Madeira.
It was there, somewhere between Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo summits, where I finally understood that the boyfriend who stood next to me, who cared for me and supported me on the most difficult parts of the hike…that this spectacular man will one day become my husband.
One year later, on that same mountain, already with wedding rings on our fingers, we had our outdoor wedding photoshoot in the clouds. The place will always be an important one for me and my husband and we return there anytime we can.
Pai, Thailand
Girona, Spain
Paris, France
Paris is known as the ‘city of love’ and indeed, it is hard to beat as a romantic destination. First and foremost, Paris is stunning: whether you enjoy the architecture of the Grand Boulevards or prefer the quiet charm of the Shakespeare & Co. bookstore and the left bank, Paris delivers and offers couples some of the most beautiful backdrops to an intimate stroll.
As well as beautiful landscapes, the city has lovely, cozy hotels and many restaurants for candlelit dinners that embody the most traditional type of French romanticism. For the best couple experience, make sure you include in your Paris itinerary a stop in Montmartre and plan an evening drink on the terrace above Printemps before taking an obligatory stroll along the Seine.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Cappadocia in Turkey
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Dubrovnik, Croatia
our experience was fantastic. I recommend everyone having a dinner in one of the best restaurants in the Old Town, with candle lights and roses, this can be one of the best romantic experiences you can ever have. In addition, Dubrovnik and its beaches are simply so wonderful, pure crystal water and the smell from the ocean makes everything so idyllic.
Menemsha, Martha’s Vineyard
Venice, Italy
Charles Bridge, Prague
Jade Mountain Club, St. Lucia
Gothic Quarter, Barcelona
Vista Verde Ranch, Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Gyeongju, South Korea
Lisbon, Portugal
Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Bali, Indonesia
Iguazu Falls, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Masai Mara Triangle, Kenya
Yerevan, Armenia
Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy
Legend has it that throwing a coin in the fountain ensures your return to Rome. But for those with romance on the brain, look for the smaller fountain the left of the Trevi Fountain. It’s called the fountain of lovers and according to legend guarantees you and your partner, eternal love. More places to visit here.
Salzburg, Austria
Langkawi, Malaysia
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, Miami, Florida
Maldives
La Casa di Pasta, Beirut, Lebanon
Sofia, Bulgaria
I love the way the yellow vintage trams look as they pass by Cyrillic street signs and Orthodox Churches and the flower vendors selling bouquets on every other street corner. I love enjoying a meal with my boyfriend in one of Sofia’s best restaurants and then heading to Sense Rooftop Bar later in the evening to see Sofia’s most beautiful building, the gorgeous Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, all lit up from above. It’s an underrated but undeniably romantic city!
Seville, Spain
There are many romantic things you can do here. I recommend visiting the Real Alcazar, Plaza De Espana, Maria Luisa Park, taking a carriage ride through the city and seeing a Flamenco show! You will fall in love with the most romantic city in Spain and even all of Europe just as I did. More things to do in Seville here.
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Tokyo, Japan
One of most romantic places I have been to is Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in Tokyo, Japan. Shinjuku Gyoen is one of the most beautiful parks in Tokyo. It is a peaceful, quiet and relaxing oasis in the middle of the hectic city and a great place for a romantic picnic or stroll. The park has three different types of gardens (Japanese traditional, English landscape and French formal) and also has a greenhouse, teahouse, ponds and wooden bridges.
While Shinjuku Gyoen is a romantic place year round, the best time to visit is in the spring when its many cherry trees reach full bloom. Even though it is one of the most popular places in Tokyo to enjoy the cherry blossoms, it never feels crowded. The gardens are large so you can easily spend at a few hours here on a date with your love.
Santorini, Greece
Piazzale Michelangelo, Florence, Italy
It is a bit of a climb to Piazzale Michelangelo but well worth the effort. Plan on arriving at least 1 hour before the sunset begins so you can take in the city’s ever changing scene as the light slowly fades.
The Seychelles
One of my favorite places there was Anse Source d’Argent beach, on the island of La Digue. This beach, covered in giant granite boulders makes for such a picturesque place to spend a relaxing time. And even when the beach can be full, you can find some seclusion by getting a hidden spot in between boulders.
And, don’t be surprised by the number of weddings you’ll see at the beach, restaurants, and other sites. Chances are you’ll crash one or two.
Taj Mahal, India
Nerja, Spain
Quebec City
Watkins Glen State Park, NY
Watkins Glen State Park in Watkins Glen, New York is one of the romantic places I’ve visited. With 19 waterfalls in just over a mile and a half, every turn around a corner in this gorge reveals yet another beautiful fall. Because of the gorge’s path, you’ll even end up behind one of the falls. Cap off the visit by sailing on the True Love Schooner on Lake Seneca.
Ait Faska, Morocco
April Hope Wanderlusty Tours
Villa Diaf Johanne in Ait Faska, Morocco is actually an oasis compound made up of a large, exclusive main villa, and two smaller, separate villas (or bungalows). From each, you have a breathtaking view of the Atlas mountains and the lush gardens around you.
Why should one have to choose between enjoying the exciting nightlife and trendy rooftop bars or hot live music venues where the who’s who elite of Marrakech hang out, and the beauty and serenity of a room where your window opens up to a peaceful garden filled with thousands of flowers and fresh mint leaves just waiting to be picked and brewed for your morning tea?
Villa Diaf Johanne is perfect; you get the best of both worlds.
Semi-secluded yet easily accessible, Villa Johanne is so close to Marrakech, yet a world away. And the shockingly low prices make it possible for those with the budget of a peasant to be treated like a pampered princess where all your “Princess and the Pea” dreams of being treated like a long lost royal relative can come true.
If you’re looking for romantic getaways in the U.S.A, click here.
*If you want to read an article about the most romantic honeymoon destinations in South Africa, you can check out this post!
Have you been to any of these destinations?
Where is the most romantic place you’ve ever been? Please comment below!
We never made it to Queenstown April but adored the South Island. All romantic spots indeed.
I haven’t been there, either, but it is on my bucket list. Happy travels, and thank you for writing such fantastic blog posts!
Oh man I just added so many new places to my list!
Your kickass blog is filled with romantic (and fun) photos. Thank you for writing such great content, and for checking out my site.
Testing comments section
Thank you, lol. Yes, it is indeed working. And you just reminded me of what is probably the most romantic date I’ve ever been on…that castle you took me to in upstate NY! What was the name of it?
Good article and interesting to see the variety of places, some definitely which wouldn’t have been thought of but thanks to your post now will be!
Thank you so much for contributing to this post. I look forward to checking out more on your blog, Breaking Barriers!
WOW, we have been to a lot of romantic destinations…but now we are realizing how many we have NOT yet visited. I guess we will just have to extend our honeymoon an extra 7 years.
That’s funny 🙂
But since you guys have become the famous “Honeytrek” honeymoon experts, I think you’ve earned the right to take as long as you like to explore romantic destinations around the world. Thank you so much for contributing to this post, and for having such an amazing blog!
Interesting how these answers seemed to cover a wide spectrum of travel. Now I just need to find a list of romantic places for solo travelers to take themselves haha!
I know I write about romantic travel, but I travel as a solo traveler 99% of the time! The only time it ever hurt was one time when I was standing under the Eiffel Tower snapping selfies, and suddenly I turned around and looked at all of the people around me and realized, wow, I’m in PARIS and I’m completely alone- argh.
Love this! Thanks for including our seductive Sicily recommendation :D! So many fabulous other suggestions too – I’m thinking bucketlist 2019 inspiration 🙂
Thank you so much for contributing to this post. You always have such fantastic articles on the Mapping Megan website!
Excellent website…very detailed and informative. Must try to get away to some of these romantic locations
Thank you, and yes, do check out some of these romantic hot spots. I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful time.
This is a great post. Some places I’m not surprised made the the list and some I was pleasantly surprised to see on the list. I’ve been to a few of these places and it really is hard to pick which would be the ultimate place.
I agree! Stay tuned for an upcoming article on the most romantic places to go in Morocco!
April, what an awesome article! Thank you for including my story into this great collection. It’s so impressive that you found so many varying couples and locations. There is even a spot near my home that I didn’t know about, now it’s totally on my list! Thanks again for your support and I look forward to collabing with you again in the future!
How the heck did I miss this comment? Happy travels and thanks for creating such amazing articles on your adventures around the world!
Interesting site title and the way you write is totally amazing i can say that you’re a smart writer u talk about the culture of the countries and with a smart way you do publicity of hotels , riads i’m a moroccan and you convinced me and made me desire to visit some of those luxurious riads . i wish u a good luck with what u do and more success and prosperity.
Thank you so much, Amar! And thank you for checking out the site. Please keep coming back for more crazy stories and recommendations.
What a well thought out comment. Thank you for taking the time to send us some love!
Thank you so much! Please keep coming back so you can see the latest posts here. We’ve got lots of cool surprises coming soon!
And ps, please subscribe and if you would share this article I would be forever grateful and just maybe the gods of love and sex will reward with a thousand glow-in-the-dark condoms, haha!
It surprised me to see Tangting made it into the list. I am happy about it. Many people don’t know about the Tangting village on the Annapurna Circuit. When thinking of romantic places in Nepal, Ghandruk, Namche, Bandipur, Nagarkot, Pokhara, Chitwan, etc., would usually top the list.
Yes, that’s true; there are so many beautiful, less popular places in Nepal.