Planning a wedding is a huge feat, spanning months if not years and lots of time and energy. After you’ve shared your special day, it’s vital that your honeymoon is a trip that enables you to unwind and share your special first few moments together as a newlywed couple.
Europe is the perfect place for a romantic honeymoon, offering five-star world-class hotel suites and gorgeous beach settings that are sure to keep the spark ignited after your wedding night. We discuss some of our favourite honeymoon destinations in Europe to help you plan your getaway with ease, so you can focus on all the other important aspects of your wedding to come.
Budapest, Hungary
Budapest is the perfect place for couples who prefer cultural experiences and exploring history. Additionally, with plenty of spa facilities and world-class eateries, it’s the ideal base for a few days of romance.
Where to Stay in Budapest for Couples
There are two sides to Budapest, each offering something different. Pest is the upscale part of the city, with Michelin-starred restaurants and the Hungarian State Opera a short walk away. Buda is more private, with quiet streets and sunrise walks, in addition to more boutique hotels.
Four Seasons Gresham Palace
Located on the Pest side of the city, the Four Seasons Gresham Palace is an Art Nouveau masterpiece, akin to a royal palace with its wrought-iron peacock gates and several million mosaic tiles. Couples need to book one of their River View rooms that come with a step-out balcony, so you’re almost directly looking out over the Chain Bridge and Buda Castle.
There is a spa on the top floor with an infinity pool, and the hotel offers concierge service, including high-end experiences like private dinners on the stage in the opera. You can also dine at KOLLÁZS Brasserie & Bar, which seamlessly blends Hungarian and French cuisine to produce incredible dishes such as slow-roasted duck leg with braised red cabbage and the classic French onion soup.
Hotel Clark Budapest
An adults-only luxury hotel on the Buda side, the Hotel Clark Budapest offers modern and stylish rooms with contemporary art. The Danube View Room is the top choice with massive open windows and views of the Danube bridges and the Parliament building. The Leo Rooftop on the 8th floor is a sought-after spot for cocktails in Budapest, offering their signature Tree of Life Cocktails and small plates such as garlic and chilli prawns and homemade prawn croquettes.
What to do in Budapest for Couples
Budapest is a highly walkable city with so much packed into its centre, ensuring couples can see and do as much as possible within just a few days. However, we recommend taking things slow and indulging in some of the more luxurious experiences during your stay to return home refreshed and ready for a future together.
Soak in the Széchenyi Baths
Budapest’s thermal baths are a must for any visitor, more so for honeymooners who are looking to relax after a stressful few months of planning. Instead of general tickets, opt for a private spa package with a superior or deluxe relaxing room. In here, you’ll get a private hostess, body or back massage, and complimentary glasses of sparkling wine for up to four hours.
In 2026, the cost of the Private Spa Experience ranges from €350 to €420, depending on whether you visit during the week or weekend, or if you book a morning or evening slot.
Attend a Premium Wine Tasting Experience
Organise a premium-tier wine tasting course inside the Buda Castle Cave, where you’ll be seated at your own private table with exclusive Hungarian wines, along with a side of tapas and bite-sized nibbles (including pogácsa, which are savoury scones).
It’s an intimate experience where you’ll get taken through the ruins of a Dominican Cloister to a small room lit by candlelight. Typically, you’ll get to sample 7-9 wines, including the Tokaji Aszú and the 6 Puttonyos. There are only a few tables available, so booking ahead of time is essential – aim to visit around 5 pm so you can see the Fisherman’s Bastion lit up as you leave.
The cost ranges from €41 per person for the standard package to €79 per person for the signature premium tasting course, the latter being highly recommended for the selection of aged wines.
Eat dinner on the River Danube
The River Diva experience is popular among couples looking for a romantic trip along the River Danube alongside high-end gourmet cuisine. It stands out from other cruises with its 4-course served menu of dishes such as mushroom-crusted cod fillet, French pork chop with potato gratin, and rich chocolate ganache.
At around 2.5-3 hours, the journey doesn’t overstay its welcome, and you can discuss the highlights of your recent nuptials as you take in the panoramic views of the Chain Bridge and Buda Castle – be sure to ask for a front-facing igloo for the best views on the upper deck, which are styled with faux fur throws and adjustable heaters.
Lapland, Finland
Not all couples want to head off on beach holidays, with some finding joy in snow-dusted landscapes and views of the Northern Lights. Lapland is the ideal winter wonderland for a once-in-a-lifetime trip, offering the chance to snuggle up in glass igloos and relax in a private sauna.
Where to Stay in Lapland for Couples
What you plan to do during your stay will determine your type of accommodation, and you may choose to spend a few days in a glass-topped cabin before moving to a luxe log chalet with a fireplace. Here are some of the top choices for your trip.
Levin Iglut
Found atop Utsuvaara mountain with an unspoiled view of the environment, you’ll find some of the most famous glass igloos from around the world. Their most luxurious option, the suite igloo, features a private terrace with a jacuzzi, along with breakfast and welcome drinks.
The restaurant Utsu (which reopens on September 1st) allows you to dine under the stars while sampling their 3-course or 5-course tasting menus, which usually include dishes like rich deer stews and roasted reindeer.
Hotel Beana Laponia
A boutique, adult-only hideaway where personalised service is a key selling point. The family-owned hotel breeds and races Alaskan huskies, which you can meet, say hi, and see in action on a private sledding trail.
Rooms are stylish yet rustic, kitted with bathrobes and quality toiletries – the Lumen Design Suite is the epitome of luxury with a private outdoor jacuzzi and indoor sauna. You can expect a range of local delicacies during dinner at Restaurant Sulokuono, from fresh fish caught at Lake Unari to wild cloudberries, and personal service is always guaranteed. As guests, you also have free access to forest skis and maintained toboggan runs directly on the property.
It’s worth noting you are in the wilderness, so there’s nothing for 60 km, but this does ensure the most peaceful and intimate stay.
What to do in Lapland for Couples
Lapland offers experiences like nowhere else in the world for newlyweds, whether you’re seeking adventure or something more intimate. The frozen environment and low light pollution of certain areas ensure once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Book a Private Aurora Trip
Organise an aurora hunt for the two of you, where a private guide will take you deep into the wilderness in a luxury Range Rover or Porsche Cayenne to find the clearest of skies. It’s a bucket-list experience, allowing you to see the beautiful Northern Lights in all their glory, which a traditional picture can’t do.
Arctic GM and Wild About Lapland offer expert-led tours starting from €810 and lasting around 3-4 hours, but they’ll often happily drive further afield to Sweden or Norway should it be cloudy in Rovaniemi, especially since many offer an Aurora Guarantee. You will also likely be taken to a private lakeshore or wooden teepee, along with a campfire where you can wait for the best view of the lights while sipping on Champagne and tucking into gourmet Lappish snacks.
Embark on a Private Husky Safari
Take the reins into your own hands on a husky safari, allowing you to explore the area at your own pace. You’ll be given a masterclass from an expert, who will teach you how to use the metal claw brakes and how to command the pack of eager Alaskan huskies, before you embark on your hand-crafted wooden sled.
The top operators of these experiences are Bearhill Husky and Beana Laponia, with costs ranging from €150 to €280 per person for 2-3 hours.
Ride in a Heated Sleigh
A heated sleigh ride is the best way to cosy up together and brave the Arctic winds while also getting to potentially see the Northern Lights. Premium resorts and operators such as Northern Lights Village in Saariselkä or Levi and Apukka Resort in Rovaniemi offer these excursions, which cost between €100 and €160 per person and last around 3 hours.
You’ll head into your very own semi-enclosed snow sledge with a glass roof, where you’ll then be driven by your guide using a snowmobile to pull the sled. Sit back and relax as you glide over frozen lakes and hills and take some snaps to show to your family when you return home.
Cappadocia, Turkey
Cappadocia is a destination you’ve likely seen in travel magazines before, famous for its colourful hot air balloons and incredible morning sunrises. It‘s also famous for its cave hotels and unbelievable Turkish cuisine that turns just a mere few days into a fairytale for an unforgettable honeymoon.
Where to Stay in Cappadocia for Couples
Home to dreamy valleys and rock-carved architecture, Cappadocia is home to some truly unique buildings that are the perfect setting for milestone celebrations. Turkey itself is known for luxurious experiences and treatments, and the hotels in the region live up to these expectations.
Museum Hotel, Uçhisar
One of the most luxurious hotels in the region and described as a living museum, the hotel is known for its 34 antique-filled cave rooms, with artefacts from the Hittite and Ottoman periods.
The Museum Hotel is found atop one of the highest points in the city, with stunning views over Göreme and the Love Valley. The heated outdoor pool and private wine fountains (where you can pour wine directly from the wall in your room) are just additional touches that ensure you have an experience like no other. The hotel’s restaurant, Lil’a, serves Anatolian and Cappadocian cuisine, including dishes like a traditional wedding soup of slow-cooked lamb neck, tandoor beef ribs, filet mignon, and sea bass.
Kyakapi Premium Caves (Ürgüp)
If you’re more geared towards space and opulence, the Kyakapi Caves are the better choice of accommodation. You’ll find these in a restored 18th-century neighbourhood with utmost privacy. For newlyweds, the Grand Pool Suites or Majestic Cave Combination suites are the best choice with plenty of space and private indoor swimming pools, saunas, and Turkish hammams.
The hotel is also home to a Michelin-starred restaurant, Revithia, which is Cappadocia’s first and only eatery to receive said accreditation. The menu includes dishes such as lamb sweetbread, striploin pastirma pickle (a cured beef), and Ürgüp Köftürü (a classic grape molasses jelly served with buffalo cream). There is also a range of terroir-driven volcanic wines to pair with these dishes.
What to do in Cappadocia for Couples
With a mild to warm climate and rocky landscapes, Cappadocia is the perfect environment for outside exploration. Couples can get involved in activities they wouldn’t usually be able to do at home while still being able to bond and spend quality time together.
Fly high in a hot air balloon
You can’t visit Cappadocia and not take a trip in a hot air balloon – it’s what the area is best known for. You’ll drift across the valleys amidst other colourful balloons while toasting to your future with a glass of champagne.
Always book your trip for the morning when the winds are calmer, and the sunset is most beautiful. Generally, you’ll spend 60-75 minutes in the air, with the cost ranging from €150 for a standard package to €4,500 for a private charter with transfers. The best operators in the area include Royal Balloon and Voyager Balloons.
Ride off into the sunset
Hop on a horse and ride side by side with your partner across the valley and vineyards in Cappadocia, with the sunset providing an unbeatable backdrop. The region has even been nicknamed the ‘Land of Beautiful Horses’, with the most reputable ranches found in Çavuşin and Göreme (such as Cappadocia Cowboy and Dalton Kardeşler At Çiftliği). A standard one-hour ride through the Sword Valley can cost €20 all the way up to €100 for a private guide through Rose and Red Valleys.
Chill in a Turkish hammam
A Turkish hammam is the height of relaxation, offering full-body scrubs, foam massages, steam rooms, and hair washing. It’s the perfect way to release all the tension in your bodies together, but note that some venues separate men and women, especially traditional ones.
As Cappadocia is a tourism hub, many here have adapted to Western preferences, including Deep Spa Cappadocia and Kelebek Cave Hotel, with prices ranging from €30 for a basic package to €150 for exclusive use of couples’ suites with premium products.
Lake Como, Italy
There are many romantic locations in Italy that are ideal for honeymoons, including Venice and Florence, but nothing can compare to Lake Como. With dramatic mountains and historic villages, along with the calm lake waters, you have a slow-paced location where you can truly appreciate one of the best moments of your life.
Where to Stay in Lake Como for Couples
For romantic getaways in Lake Como, two regions come to mind: Bellagio and Varenna. The former is the poster child for luxury getaways, featuring fine-dining restaurants and colourful houses, with the latter more targeted to those seeking something quieter and more intimate, with a lakeside setting.
Passalacqua
Awarded the crown of best hotel in the world in 2024, Passalacqua is an 18th-century villa with terraced gardens, personalised service, and suites decorated with frescoes and Murano glass. The 5-star hotel is split into three buildings: The Villa, The Palazz, and Casa al Lago, with the latter being the ideal spot for honeymooners, with its proximity to the water and private garden.
There’s no dining room; instead, you walk into the kitchen and discuss what you want with the chefs, enjoying your meals by the pool or on your private terrace. Each afternoon, you’ll even find a complimentary array of pastries served on a vintage trolley.
Grand Hotel Tremezzo
The orange and white hotel is one of the most striking buildings on the lake, famed for its floating pool and hidden outdoor jacuzzi. The pool is also surrounded by more than 150 species of azaleas and is so much more private than the lakefront, with a real sand beach on the lake’s edge.
There are five restaurants to choose from for your evening meals, including La Terrazza Gualtiero Marchesi (famous for its saffron risotto topped with 24-carat gold leaf) and Da Giacomo al Lago, which collaborates with the famous Milanese seafood institution. To celebrate your life together, the private terrace rooms on the highest floor are a no-brainer, with butler service and a private heated jacuzzi overlooking the lake.
What to do in Lake Como for Couples
With easy access to the waters of the lake, there is so much for couples to do, from renting a private boat to dining by the lakeside. The alpine backdrops are enough to make any couple reminisce about how they fell in love, while also making new memories together.
Fly High in a Seaplane
Experience the lake from a bird’s eye view aboard a seaplane, offering unbeatable views of the Bellagio and stunning villas below. Decide who will sit next to the pilot and who will sit in the back ahead of time so you can sit back and relax in the sky, taking in all of your surroundings.
The Aero Club Como is the oldest seaplane flight school in the world and the only operator you should go with, with prices ranging from €140 to €190 per person for a 30-minute session. With limited slots, aim to reach out weeks in advance.
Go Hiking in the Moonlight
Why confine yourself to the daytime for your activities, when you can avoid the crowds and observe the peaceful side of the lake at night? Head up Monte Boletto while catching the sunset, before being guided back down with headlamps and the glare of the moon above.
You can expect to pay between €20 and €55 for standard group hikes or up to €150 for a premium tour that includes hidden trails and traditional cuisine at a remote mountain lodge.
Jet off on a Private Boat Tour
Take a tour or rent a private boat with a captain to pass by main sights like the Villa del Balbianello, the most famous villa on the lake, and the ‘Orrido di Nesso, a hidden gorge with a waterfall under an ancient stone bridge.
For the ultimate opulent experience, Como Classic Boats offers vintage Riva models, with prices for a two-hour tour being around the €1000 mark. You may also go for a small 40HP self-drive boat, where you don’t need a nautical license, and prices range from €90 to €120 plus the cost of fuel.