Travel tips
Best honeymoon destinations: 9 places and the hotels we would book
Beach, culture or rainforest? These are the honeymoon destinations that work best for newlyweds, when to go, and one hotel in each place.
The best honeymoon destinations are the Maldives, the Seychelles, Mauritius, Bali, Santorini, the Amalfi Coast, Sri Lanka, Costa Rica and Kyoto. Each offers a different kind of trip: pure beach and ocean, culture and food, or nature and adventure. Choose by how you want to spend your days, and by the season you can travel.
The first evening of a honeymoon stays with you. Salt water in your hair, a table set on the sand, the quiet after months of planning and a long day of celebration. That is why we spent as much time on the hotel as on the destination in this list.
*The links to the hotels are partner links. If you book through them, Picolo may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.*
How we chose these honeymoon ideas
The place has to work for two, with calm, good food and something to experience together.
The hotel has to sit where the experience is: on the beach, above the caldera or deep in the rainforest.
We spread the list across the seasons, so there is a good choice whenever you get married.
Hotel facts come from Hotels.com, travel advice from well established travel knowledge.
Beach and ocean: a honeymoon with sand between your toes
The Maldives
Laamu Atoll lies far south in the Maldives, with fewer resorts and a lot of ocean.
The Maldives: Six Senses Laamu
Best time: December to April. Best for: couples who want to do as little as possible, as beautifully as possible.
Six Senses Laamu has its own island on Laamu Atoll, with villas both on the beach and out over the lagoon. The days are about snorkelling straight from the steps, dinner with your feet in the sand and a sky dark enough to see the stars properly.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Six Senses Laamu
The Seychelles
Granite boulders, turquoise water and palms right down to the shoreline on Praslin.
The Seychelles: Constance Lemuria
Best time: April to May and October to November, when the wind is calmest. Best for: couples who want beaches, but also nature to walk in.
Constance Lemuria sits in the north west of Praslin, close to Anse Georgette, with its own golf course and three beaches. Spend a day in the Vallée de Mai, the palm forest where the coco de mer grows, and come back to a pool that seems to spill into the sea.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Constance Lemuria
Mauritius
Grand Baie is the liveliest bay on the north coast, with boats, bars and quiet beaches nearby.
Mauritius: LUX Grand Baie
Best time: May to December, outside the cyclone season. Best for: couples who want beach time with restaurants and some life.
LUX Grand Baie sits on the bay on the north coast, a couple of minutes from Grand Bay Beach. Start the day by the pool, take a boat out to the islands off the coast and have dinner in Grand Baie in the evening. Our Mauritius guide has more ideas for the island.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at LUX Grand Baie
Culture and food: when you want more than a sun lounger
Santorini
Oia sits in the north west of the island, looking straight across the caldera and the volcanic islands.
Santorini, Greece: Canaves Oia Suites
Best time: May to October. Best for: couples who want sunsets, good restaurants and short distances.
Canaves Oia Suites is set into the cliffs of Oia, with the caldera right below the terrace. In the evening the whole village drifts west to watch the sun go down. From the hotel you skip the crowds and see the same view with a glass in hand.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Canaves Oia Suites
The Amalfi Coast
The hotel is built into the cliff just outside Positano.
Amalfi Coast, Italy: Il San Pietro di Positano
Best time: May to June and September. Best for: couples who want Italian food, boat trips and terraces above the sea.
Il San Pietro di Positano clings to the cliffs just east of Positano, with a lift down to a small beach. Hire a boat for the day and follow the coast to Amalfi and Capri, then come back to lemon trees, vines and a view across the whole bay.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Il San Pietro di Positano
Kyoto
The hotel sits on the Kamo River, within walking distance of Gion and Nishiki Market.
Kyoto, Japan: The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto
Best time: March to April for cherry blossom, November for autumn colours. Best for: couples who want culture, food and a different kind of honeymoon.
The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto sits on the Kamo River, a few minutes from Nishiki Market. See the temples before the tour buses arrive, eat your way through the market at lunch and walk along the river to Gion in the evening.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto
Nature and adventure: a honeymoon for couples who want to explore
Bali
The Ayung River runs through the valley below the hotel, surrounded by jungle and rice terraces.
Bali, Indonesia: Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan
Best time: May to September, in the dry season. Best for: couples who want jungle, spa and culture, with the beach as a day trip.
Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan sits in the river valley outside Ubud, with villas looking straight into the jungle. Morning yoga, a walk through the rice terraces and dinner in Ubud make it easy to mix calm and adventure. Read more in our Bali guide.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan
Costa Rica
The rainforest around La Fortuna lies in the shadow of Arenal volcano.
Costa Rica: Nayara Gardens
Best time: December to April, in the dry season. Best for: couples who want rainforest, hot springs and wildlife.
Nayara Gardens sits in the rainforest near La Fortuna, with Arenal volcano close by and hot springs nearby. Fill the days with hanging bridges, waterfalls and sloths in the trees, and the evenings with a warm soak while the forest hums around you.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Nayara Gardens
Sri Lanka
Cape Weligama stands on a headland high above the Indian Ocean on the south coast.
Sri Lanka: Cape Weligama
Best time: December to April on the south coast. Best for: couples who want beaches, surf, tea and safari on one trip.
Cape Weligama sits on the cliffs above the bay at Weligama on the south coast, with Turtle Bay beach nearby. Combine a few days here with the tea country in the highlands and a safari in Yala, and you get three trips in one.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Cape Weligama
When should you book your honeymoon?
Book the hotel 4-6 months ahead, especially for the Maldives, Santorini and the Amalfi Coast in high season.
Mention that you are on honeymoon when you book. Many hotels do something extra for newlyweds.
Check the rainy season and cyclone season for the destination before you fix your dates.
Want a shorter trip in Europe first? See our Valentine's breaks or 8 of the world's most unique hotels.
Frequently asked questions about honeymoons
Where is the best place to go on honeymoon?
The most popular honeymoon destinations are the Maldives, the Seychelles, Mauritius, Bali and Santorini. For more culture, the Amalfi Coast and Kyoto work well, while Costa Rica and Sri Lanka suit couples who want nature and wildlife.
When is the best time to go on honeymoon?
It depends on the destination. The Maldives and the south coast of Sri Lanka are best from December to April, Bali from May to September, and Santorini and the Amalfi Coast from May to October. Choose the destination by when you can travel, not the other way round.
How long should a honeymoon be?
Most honeymoons last 10 to 14 days. For the Maldives, the Seychelles and Mauritius the long flights are part of the trip, so plan at least ten nights to properly unwind. A shorter honeymoon suits Santorini or the Amalfi Coast better.
What are good luxury honeymoon destinations?
Good luxury honeymoon destinations include the Maldives, the Seychelles, the Amalfi Coast and Santorini. Look for hotels with private villas, beach dining and spa, such as Six Senses Laamu, Constance Lemuria and Il San Pietro di Positano.
Do hotels do anything special for honeymooners?
Many hotels offer something extra for newlyweds, such as sparkling wine, a decorated room or an upgrade when available. Always mention that you are on honeymoon when you book, and bring your marriage certificate if the hotel asks for it.