This February, tell that special someone just how much they mean to you with a Valentine’s Day romantic getaway. Here, you’ll find the top seven romantic destinations in the world; places in which you can make memories that last a lifetime. So, sit back and let us do the legwork for you; then, just book a trip to one of these destinations and take all the credit.
Top Seven Romantic Destinations for Valentine’s Day
7. Buenos Aires, Argentina—In the city renowned for inventing the dance of passion (the Tango), you will find plenty of dark restaurants and dance halls to ignite your passion during the night, while finding art, culture and coffee shops to stimulate you intellectually during the day. Not only that, but when it’s cold in the Northern Hemisphere (February), it’s nice and warm down in the South, meaning that your hearts won’t be the only things heating up during the night.
6. Amsterdam, Netherlands—Because it is so well-known for other things (legalized marijuana and prostitution), the romantic side of Amsterdam is often overlooked. But what makes this such a great getaway for lovers is that everything in the city is accessible by bike or boat. Similar to the canals of Venice, you can take moonlight boat rides while sipping on wine. During the day, rent bikes and explore the city together. And if the two “other things” appeal to the more exploratory romantic in you, well, you can certainly make it a holiday to remember!
5. Havana, Cuba—The phrase“old time charm” doesn’t even apply here, mostly because in Cuba, itstill is the 1950s. Travel back in time to a balmy destination filled with hot Havana nights and live music that fuels the steamy and sultry dancing. This is the artistic capital of Cuba, electric with carnal desires, Hemingway’s Havana, in-home paladars and the pure virginity of the Eastern Beaches.
4. Barcelona, Spain—All at once a beach-town and thriving metropolis, Barcelona offers you the Spanish passion and old-timey romance of the matadors mixed with trendy cafes, nightclubs and bars. It really is a city of duality, someplace that you can lose yourself each and every time you visit. Take in the Gaudí architecture and the galleries and museums in the Born neighborhood for cultural stimulation before you embark on a romantic balloon ride across the sky, giving you great views of the winding alleyways and surrounding countryside.
3. New York City, United States—The romanticism of Broadway shows and tourism of the Big Apple is just too much to pass up. Midtown certainly has a magical feel, especially if you’ve never been before. Romanticism is a dreamy state and New York City is all about big dreams: if your love can make it here, it can make it anywhere! Carriage rides through Central Park afford you some alone time in a city that is teaming with people. But perhaps best of all is that the night life here is why it’s called The City That Never Sleeps. There’s always something to do so you can stay out all night—and stay in bed all day. Then, go out and enjoy some of the best and most romantic restaurants in the world.
2. Paris, France—Known for decades as one of the romantic places on Earth, the “City of Lights” is still right up there, despite some of the pouty, rude inhabitants of the city. Don’t let them get you down as you enjoy the stunning views of the entire city from Montmartre or stroll along the Champs-Élysées. Visit the Wall of “I Love You’s” and leave your own indelible mark on the city, just as it will leave on your hearts. But of course, don’t forget dinner at the top of the Eiffel Tower, followed by a romantic stroll along the banks of the River Seine.
1. Florence, Italy—Ah, the Italian Renaissance. A time for rebirth centered in the town of Florence. And just like the Renaissance, your love will experience a rebirth as you take in the inspired art that overflows the museums and galleries right onto the street. Idealistic statues and beautiful architecture flow from every corner of the city. Be sure to visit the fairytale-like Boboli Gardens of Pitti Palace, walk under the arches and porticos of the arcades at Piazza Santissima Annunziata, dine on rustic Tuscan dishes at a trattoria in Santa Croce square, take a passeggiata (walk at dusk) on the Via deiCalzaiuoli where you’ll see street performers and local vendors selling their wares—the sights, sounds and smells of this city will make you fall in love with it—and each other.
As a New Yorker, my only advice is to *maybe* avoid Times Square, carriage rides, etc., at least if you’ve been to the city before. Times Square is so crowded that I can imagine having an awful time… I haven’t truly enjoyed the area since I was little. (Even as a Broadway-obsessed teen, I dreaded having to be there.) And as for carriage rides, there’s a tendency to get ripped off and if you’re an animal lover, stay away — there’s serious mistreatment of the horses.
I would suggest strolling through the park on your own, and possibly go to some of the other nice ones too — Bryant Park is tiny but lovely; Union Square and Madison Square have fun parks, too. There are also botanical gardens in Brooklyn and the Bronx which are very pretty. When I was first seeing my boyfriend, we had some lovely NYC dates: a free outdoor Shakespeare performance in Riverside Park, a day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, walking the Brooklyn Bridge. All these dates were romantic and (yay!) inexpensive.
I love everything about my city, but I know my idea of romantic isn’t pushing your way through a crowd of loud tourists, their loud kids, and vendors selling “I survived Hurricane Sandy” t-shirts (awful, but that exists).