Choosing the best places for a honeymoon in Europe is a delightful dilemma. As wedding bells fade into the background, newlyweds can look forward to a dreamy vacation in destinations as diverse as the Mediterranean islands and the snow-capped peaks of the Alps, in cosmopolitan cities steeped in history or luxurious resorts in chic regions like the French Riviera.
Add Europe’s trains to the mix, and you can weave together cities and resorts across regions and borders, crafting personalised itineraries that reach destinations you’ve long dreamed of visiting.
But where to begin? This guide takes a flying tour around some of the best places for a honeymoon in Europe, with an eye on destinations that can be folded into the tour of a lifetime.
Best Places for a Honeymoon: Romantic Cities for Cultural Discovery
Europe’s vibrant cities are some of the best places for a honeymoon if romance and cultural discovery tops the newlywed agenda.
Cities across the continent boast walkable old towns dripping in history and character. Where fine dining restaurants mingle with foodie haunts and museums and cultural attractions cater to all interests. And a luxurious hotels are at the centre of it all.
Our guide to honeymoons by train in Europe reveals a variety of ideas for newlyweds. These five romantic cities make perfect anchors for honeymoon tours with a difference.
Kraków: a medieval old town dripping in romance
For romance steeped in history, Kraków is a honeymoon delight. The medieval old town is pedestrian-friendly and wonderfully atmospheric, centred on a grand market square lined with elegant cafés and horse-drawn carriages. Wawel Castle rises above the Vistula River and the urban Planty Park, both splendid spots for a sunset stroll.
Evenings can be spent sipping cocktails in lively Kazimierz or sharing intimate candlelit dinners in timeworn cellar restaurants.
Tatra Mountain resorts and spas are reachable on tours from Kraków. There are several UNESCO World Heritage sites and boutique hotels abound, accentuating Kraków’s credentials as a honeymoon destination for cultural discovery layered with romantic moments.
Better still, Krakow is well connected by comfortable trains from Warsaw, Prague and Vienna, making it a scenic, effortless addition to a longer European honeymoon itinerary.
Edinburgh: romantic romps around the Scottish capital
Dramatic history and arresting architecture set the scene in Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital.
The Old Town’s cobbled lanes and Georgian architecture create an inimitable atmosphere, inviting hand in hand strolls along the Royal Mile to the enigmatic Edinburgh Castle.
Spirited old pubs and refined restaurants serving Scottish fare cater to different moods. A rich heritage is ripe for exploring in landmarks and hidden corners. While trains transport visitors to the wilds of the Highlands, offering a real mix of activities.
Elegant five-star hotels and boutique townhouses add to the enchanting milieu, hitting all the high notes for honeymooners.
Pair Edinburgh with London or York. Or head into the Highlands to discover castles and lochs on special trains, including the iconic Jacobite Steam Train.
Paris: the capital of amour is a timeless honeymoon jewel
Paris has set a romantic benchmark for generations. The City of Light still delivers the magic for newlyweds.
Candlelit dinners on Seine cruises in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, sipping wine in Left Bank cafés where philosophers debated life, and an abundance of inventive bistros and Michelin-starred restaurants pile on the romance.
Upscale shopping in the Golden Triangle or lazy afternoons in village-like Montmartre compete with trips to glittering Versailles or strolls through historic quartiers are on the couples friendly menu. Plus, ome of Europe’s grandest hotels and most luxurious boutique lodgings, so you can savour your Parisian stay in style.
With fast trains linking Paris to cities in France and in eight neighbouring countries, the French capital pairs easily with a lavish journey through European culture.
Venice: gondolas, palazzos and timeless romance
Venice has enchanted romantics for centuries. Gliding on a gondola beneath bridges and discovering hidden piazzas and family-run trattorias is part of the magic for couples.
Meanwhile, world-class museums like the Gallerie dell’Accademia, home to Michelangelo’s original David, and the Peggy Guggenheim vie with famous sights like the Doge’s Palace and Bridge of Sighs for the attention of newlyweds.
Restored palazzo hotels and luxurious lagoon-side retreats make this one of the best places for a honeymoon with style. With fast trains arriving from Verona, Florence and Milan, Venice enriches an Italian journey through art, gastronomy and timeless romance.
Porto: bohemian fun and riverside adventures for newlyweds
Porto has gained a lot of love from European travellers in recent years. It’s a wonderfully diverse place to celebrate your love.
The fabled Port cellars and private winery tastings in the Douro Valley are one way to enjoy couples’ moments. Douro River cruises and roaming the bohemian cobblestone streets another. Boutique townhouses and deluxe riverside hotels give you real choices to mark the special occasion in style.
With trains heading to effervescent Lisbon, historic Coimbra, and the sun-drenched beaches of the Algarve, Porto can be one stop on a honeymoon tour packed with cultural variety.
Countries hosting a mix of the best places for a honeymoon
Europe rewards leisurely discovery. Touring individual countries can bring several of the best places for a honeymoon together on a lifetime odyssey where memories are made at every stop.
Inspired by our destinations guide spotlighting rail tours around Europe, here are three countries with a wealth of options for newlywed adventures.
Italy: timeless romance through history and art
Italy boasts a treasure trove of the best places for a honeymoon in Europe, from Sicily in the Mediterranean to glamorous Alpine lake resorts in the north.
The capital, Rome, is the star. A place to breathe in history and see sights you’ll talk about for years.
Florence is another honeymoon jewel. A Renaissance masterpiece where rooftop terraces and Tuscan wine tastings add to the irresistible romance. With train rides through Tuscany’s cypress groves and hilltop villages, Florence can anchor a bewitching honeymoon around one of Italy’s most prized regions.
Stylish Milan adds designer boutiques, elegant aperitivo bars and an evening of opera at the fabled La Scala. Head north to reach Lake Como, a byword for chic living. Or head to the long coastline to share romantic moments in seductive places like Cinque Terre or the sparkling Amalfi Coast.
Boutique palazzos and luxurious countryside villas amplify Italy’s status as one of the best places for a honeymoon for generations, with countless spots to celebrate your love in style. Fast, comfortable trains link cities up and down the peninsula; travel between them is effortless and often best enjoyed with a glass of fine Italian wine and good company.
Spain: home to some of the best places for a honeymoon under the sun
Spain wraps romance in sunshine. Every Spanish region has its own personality, inviting newlyweds to enjoy slow journeys across a country that knows how to welcome visitors.
In the one corner sits Barcelona, a vibrantly stylish honeymoon destination where roaming around Gaudí’s whimsical architecture blends into evenings of rooftop cocktails and late-night tapas.
Valencia’s beaches and authentic paella restaurants of Valencia offer a more laid-back taste of Mediterranean living. Meanwhile, Madrid’s grand boulevards, world-class art museums and irrepressible energy make the capital a magnetic destination for culture-loving couples.
The southern coastline is perhaps home to the best places for a honeymoon in Spain. The beaches of the Costa del Sol and history and art in Malaga, Picasso’s home, stand out. A prize destination couples won’t forget is the Alhambra. The grand Moorish Palace exudes romance, much like nearby Seville, the home of flamenco and orange-scented courtyards.
Elegant paradors and chic boutique hotels, coupled with a delectable regional gastronomy, enrich the honeymoon experience across Spain. A country that is easy to explore thanks to Europe’s longest high-speed rail network.
Greece: stylish islands and honeymoons infused with history
Greece pairs the grand sweep of history with the kind of easy, sun-drenched romance newlyweds will relish. Whitewashed villages, glittering bays and long, unhurried dinners by the Med set a gloriously relaxed pace.
Athens, where the Acropolis illuminates a skyline dotted with rooftop restaurants, is the tip of a voyage through Greek heritage that can visit diverse cities like Thessaloniki and Volos.
An even more seductive voyage for honeymooners begins on the Greek islands.
Island-hopping through the Cyclades enchants couples like nowhere else in Europe. Sunset moments in sophisticated Santorini, whitewashed windmills and understated elegance on Mykonos, and the tranquillity and traditional villages of Naxos and Paros combine to make the island chain one of the best places for a honeymoon under the sun.
Other Greek islands draw newlyweds to chic beach clubs, luxurious villas and refined resort towns, making Greece and the islands a classy yet culturally enriching honeymoon destination in the glittering Mediterranean.
More of the Best Places for a Honeymoon: Multi-Country Rail Journeys
Peek at our collection of pre-crafted tours and you’ll find inspiration for honeymoons bringing together some of Europe’s most seductive destinations.
We’ve picked three itineraries that thread through some of the best places for a honeymoon soaking up Europe’s contrasts.
Alpine escapades through the scenic heart of Europe
The Alps can turn a honeymoon into a storybook journey around Europe’s most dramatic landscapes, with trains the key to unlocking the region.
Soaring peaks, glistening lakes and flower-filled valleys make the journey itself part of the romance on some of Switzerland’s most scenic train routes. Meanwhile, trains loop around the foothills, tying together cities in eight Alpine countries.
This is a region where you can savour the views in supreme comfort, on panoramic tourist trains like the Glacier Express and in mountain-top resorts like Switzerland’s Zermatt. Then drop into cities brimming with travel appeal and packed with activities newlyweds will relish, like cosmopolitan Munich in Germany or the Austrian mountain resort town, Innsbruck.
Luxurious mountain lodges and grand lakeside hotels make the Alps one of the best places for a honeymoon, with spa treatments and fine dining to complete the experience. First-class carriages and panoramic trains keep every leg relaxed, scenic and wonderfully unhurried.
Prague, Vienna, and Budapest: Three romantic jewels in Central Europe
Budapest, Prague, and Vienna are among Europe’s most atmospheric capitals. They make an effortlessly romantic trio for honeymooners.
In Budapest, soak in steamy thermal baths, cruise the Danube at dusk and sip cocktails in spirited ruin bars. Castle Hill glows above the river, while grand cafés serve decadent cakes.
Vienna is an alluring stop en route to Prague. The capital of classical music is eminently walkable and photogenic. Elegant cafes and gilded palaces enliven strolls around an urbane city packed with fine restaurants and 5-star hotels that afford moments of honeymoon indulgence.
Finally, head to Prague, where morning walks through the fairytale Old Town contrast with sunsets over the iconic Charles Bridge. Add a private tour of the immense castle, then dine in a vaulted cellar restaurant for intimate moments in the improbably romantic City of a Hundred Spires.
Follow the Mediterranean along the shimmering French and Italian Rivieras
The French and Italian Rivieras share a sparkling Mediterranean coastline. Together they combine for a wonderfully stylish honeymoon. Palm-fringed promenades, pastel harbours and glittering yachts set a glamorous tone across the shoreline.
The Belle Époque hotels and grand boulevards of Nice are the definition of chic. Feast on Provençal culinary delights before hopping on trains along the twinkling Côte d’Azur past fishing villages and elegant resorts to upmarket Monaco. There, enjoy a night at the casino and a clifftop dinner with views over the billionaire yachts.
Then cross into Italy on a short, borderless train ride to discover resorts along the Italian Riviera. Cap the tour with a stop in Portofino, where waterfront trattorias and private boat trips to hidden coves can tie a romantic bow on a glitzy honeymoon across two cultures and one stunning coastline.
This wraps up our journey to some of the best places for a honeymoon in Europe. For more inspiration, check out our post about the best vacation spots for couples.
If you’re inspired by rail tours of honeymoon destinations in Europe, ask our travel specialists for tailored travel packages that combine first-class carriages and handpicked hotels into a seamless journey, leaving you free to relax, raise a glass and enjoy moments meant for newlyweds.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Places for a Honeymoon
Where are the best places for a honeymoon in Europe?
Europe offers an exceptional range of honeymoon destinations. Paris and Venice are the classic choices for romance and culture. Italy as a whole, from Rome and Florence to the Amalfi Coast, is consistently named one of the best places for a honeymoon. Greece and its islands, Spain’s Mediterranean coast, and the Swiss Alps are equally compelling for newlyweds seeking a mix of scenery, luxury, and cultural discovery.
Is Europe a good honeymoon destination?
Europe is one of the world’s most popular honeymoon destinations, and for good reason. It combines world-class cities, stunning coastlines, Alpine scenery, and a depth of history and culture that few other regions can match. The continent’s high-speed rail network makes it easy to visit several of the best places for a honeymoon on a single trip, moving between destinations in comfort and at your own pace.
How do I plan a multi-destination honeymoon in Europe by train?
The most straightforward way is to choose two or three destinations that complement each other and are well connected by train. Popular combinations include Paris and the Italian cities, Barcelona and the French Riviera, or Vienna, Prague, and Budapest. Rail Escape plans the full itinerary, booking first-class tickets and premium hotels so you can focus on enjoying the trip.
