romantic cities

Taormina, Sicily

With sweeping hilltops, intricate floral landscapes and fruit trees, stunning Mediterranean waters, and majestic Mount Etna as a backdrop, everywhere you stroll is full of wonder. Explore the Graeco-Roman Theatre ruins that overlook the charming town below, follow stairways and passageways lined with flowers, enjoy delectable Sicilian cuisine, take a swim on flawless Mediterranean beaches, or hike active volcano Mount Etna to peer into the smoldering crater.

Photograph courtesy of Travel & Lust

Photograph courtesy of My Italy Trip

Photograph by Caitlin Tracy

Photograph courtesy of Chiara Stradina

Photograph courtesy of Chiara Stradina

Paris, France

Known globally as the city of love and the gourmet capital of the world, Paris will undoubtedly exceed your expectation. From strolling through luscious hilltop gardens of the Parc des Buttes Chaumont, ascending through candlelit bohemian walkways of Montmartre towards the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, rowing a boat to the Temple of Love in the Bois de Vincennes, learning to tango at twilight at the nightly meet ups on the Seine, or dining in one of Paris’s 40,000 restaurants, the city of love is a romance seeker’s fantasy. Its illustrious gastronomic history, elegant architecture, richly diverse culture, and seductive native language are sure to leave you completely enchanted.

Buttes Chaumont — View of Temple de la Sybille, Buttes de Chaumont

Photograph courtesy of New Years Eve Paris

Photograph courtesy of New Years Eve Paris

Temple Boat, Bois de Vincennes — Bois de Vincennes and the Temple of Love

Photograph courtesy of New Years Eve Paris

Twilight Tango Gatherings, come one come all Wednesday through Sunday!

Photograph courtesy of New Years Eve Paris

Love Locks of Pont des Arts — “Love Locks” of Pont des Arts, where lovers from far and wide come to proclaim their devotion by attaching a lock with their carved initials onto the bridge, and throwing the key into the Seine

Photograph courtesy of 9News

Magical Château Saint James Restaurant, with balloon-shaped pergolas which recall the garden’s former incarnation as a launch pad for hot-air balloons.

Photograph courtesy of Global Blue

Photograph by Caitlin Tracy

Marrakech, Morocco

Morocco’s eclectic “Red City” is a timeless paradise for those seeking romance. With a range of restaurants covering all budgets and appetites, you may dine like kings and queens in Bedouin tents or palace=like Riads. Imagine enjoying authentic Moroccan cuisine with aromas of fine incense and spices filling the air, beneath ornate architecture or in lushly landscaped courtyards. In Marrakech, there is no scarcity of exotic, captivating culture.

Photograph courtesy of Quora

Photograph courtesy of Trip Advisor

Restaurant Albaraka — Restaurant Al Baraka

Photograph courtesy of Palestine Today

Photograph courtesy of Tigmi

Photograph courtesy of Quora

Photograph courtesy of Ilim Tour

Jaipur, India

Jaipur, the picturesque “Pink City” of India, an opulent oasis in the desert filled with ancient wonders. Being the capital of India’s most decorated state, Rajasthan, Jaipur has a richly enthralling culture and history. Stunning architecture, and vivid with life, Jaipur will fill your soul with warmth. Whether you visit the vast number of temples, palaces, and forts, dine on delectable traditional Indian cuisine, or wind through markets and passageways looking for treasures, you’ll never want to leave!

Photograph courtesy of Gypsea Lust

Photograph courtesy of Atlas Obscura

Photograph courtesy of Embark on Travel

Photograph courtesy of Linen & Lavender

Photograph courtesy of Blue Dreams

Photograph courtesy of Passion Passport

Venice, Italy

Long renowned for its romantic serenity, this Adriatic Queen will capture your heart. Venice is situated across a group of 118 small islands that are divided by canals and linked by 400 bridges. Take a leisurely gondola ride to an idyllic cafe, sample some homemade gelato, have a masterfully crafted cappuccino, sip on a glass of fine Italian wine, and dine in as many authentic Venetian restaurants as possible! Home to Casanova, decadent theaters, gorgeous cathedrals, perfect sunsets, and music on street corners, Venice is without question one of the romance capitals of the world.

Photograph courtesy of Nois 7

Photograph courtesy of Ohh Couture

Photograph courtesy of Italy Travel

Photograph courtesy of Pieter Arnolli

Copenhagen, Denmark

Whether it’s a spring afternoon or a snowy morning in Copenhagen, you will feel an abundance of warmth in this Scandinavian Shangri-La. Famous for its signature nationwide mood being hyggelig (pronounced hoo-gah-leeg), translated from Danish as “cozy”, there wont be a cafe or corner of town that wont inspire you to curl up with your lover. Spend the day in the self-proclaimed autonomous bohemian district of Christiania to walk amongst trees, and see the unparalleled architecture of adorable homes. Visit Tivoli Gardens pleasure park for delightful Danish culture, or explore Nyhavn, the 17th-century waterfront canal and entertainment district. Copenhagen is cozy and inviting, rain or shine.

Photograph courtesy of Pieter Arnolli

Photograph courtesy of Pieter Arnolli

Photograph courtesy of Visit Denmark

Photograph courtesy of Get Your Guide

Photograph courtesy of Trip Advisor

Photograph courtesy of Design Boom

Antigua, Guatemala

Nestled in a vibrant valley of the Mayan highlands between four volcanos, Guatemala’s former colonial capital exists outside of time. In the “land of eternal spring,” every inch you gaze upon is as charming as a museum or film set, with cobblestone streets lined with bougainvilleas and violet jacaranda trees, irresistibly adorned cafes, courtyards, churches, and ruins, and the stunning backdrop of volcanos erupting. Among the top wedding and honeymoon destinations in the world, this town is alive with love. You never know if a small doorway will lead to a secret garden, elaborately landscaped courtyard, or splendidly embellished home. Visit the ruins and beautiful gardens within the Hotel Santo Domingo, or dine in unparalleled beauty and visit the gallery and terrace gardens at Maison Panza Verde. Hike to the top of a volcano for sunrise, shop for indigenous textiles and local treasures at Nimpot, or take a day trip to 12 thousand feet to see a mountaintop Shire at Hobbitenango, the Tolkien inspired eco-hotel, restaurant, and adventure destination.