Honeymoon
Honeymoon by month: where to go in every month of the year
The wedding date often decides the honeymoon. A dream destination in the wrong month can mean rain, wind or crowds, while the right month gives you calm sea, dry days and space to yourselves.
Picolo Editorial
Picolo's honeymoon guides contain no affiliate links. Our picks are made independently by our editors.
This calendar shows where we send couples in each month of the year, with a link to our full guide for every month and to the destinations themselves. Use it to match your dates to the right place, or the right place to your dates.
In short: the honeymoon year at a glance
December to March: the Indian Ocean and the tropics are at their best, with the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Zanzibar, Costa Rica and the Caribbean.
April and May: the calm months in the Seychelles, and spring in the Mediterranean.
June to August: Europe's summer, and the dry season in Bali, Zanzibar and Mauritius.
September and October: the Mediterranean after the crowds, and the Seychelles calm again.
November: Mauritius, the Seychelles and the Gulf before the winter peak.
Not sure which ocean? Our guide to the Maldives, Mauritius or the Seychelles compares the three. For the full list of destinations, start with our best honeymoon destinations.
How to read the calendar
Each month lists the places we pick for a honeymoon that month, in our order of preference. The reasons are about season: dry weather, calm sea or a quieter time to visit. Prices and school holidays matter too, so check the months either side of your dates before you book.
December to April is the dry season in the Maldives. Jawakara Islands, Lhaviyani Atoll. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Winter: December, January and February
December
The Maldives: the dry season starts, with calm, clear water. See our Maldives honeymoon guide.
Sri Lanka: the south and west coasts are dry. See Sri Lanka honeymoon.
Oman: warm days and cool evenings in the desert and on the coast. See our Oman travel guide.
St Lucia: the Caribbean dry season is under way. See our St Lucia guide.
Zanzibar: a short dry spell between the rains. See Zanzibar honeymoon.
Read more in honeymoon destinations in December.
January
The Maldives and Sri Lanka: both in their best season.
Costa Rica: the dry season on the Pacific coast. See Costa Rica honeymoon.
Maui: winter is whale season off Hawaii. See our guide to Maui and the Big Island.
Zanzibar: still in its short dry spell.
Read more in honeymoon destinations in January.
February
St Lucia: the heart of the Caribbean dry season.
Thailand: Koh Samui and the Gulf coast are at their driest. See our Thailand travel guide.
Costa Rica and Maui: both still in season.
Zanzibar: the last dry weeks before the long rains.
Read more in honeymoon destinations in February.
Spring: March, April and May
March
The Maldives: the end of the dry season, often with the calmest sea.
Dubai: warm days before the summer heat. See our Dubai guide.
Mexico: the dry season on the Caribbean coast. See our Mexico travel guide.
Sri Lanka and Costa Rica: both still dry.
Read more in honeymoon destinations in March.
April
The Seychelles: one of the calm months between the trade winds. See Seychelles honeymoon.
The Maldives: often the calmest and clearest water of the year.
Mexico and Thailand: the end of the dry season.
Oman: the last comfortable weeks before summer.
Read more in honeymoon destinations in April.
May
The Amalfi Coast and Santorini: spring in the Mediterranean, before the summer crowds. See our guides to the Amalfi Coast and Santorini.
The Seychelles: still calm.
Mauritius: the start of the drier winter season. See Mauritius honeymoon.
Bali: the dry season begins. See Bali honeymoon.
Read more in honeymoon destinations in May.
The dry season in Bali runs through the European summer. Tegallalang. Photo: Niklas Weiss / Unsplash
Summer: June, July and August
June
The Amalfi Coast, Santorini and Crete: long days and warm sea in early summer. See our Crete guide.
Bali and Zanzibar: the long dry season.
Read more in honeymoon destinations in June.
July
Mauritius: dry winter weather.
Zanzibar and Bali: the heart of the dry season.
Lake Como: summer in the Italian lakes. See our guide to Lake Como and Lake Garda.
Read more in honeymoon destinations in July.
August
Bali, Zanzibar and Mauritius: all still dry.
The Norwegian fjords: long, light evenings and the greenest landscape of the year. See our guide to the Norwegian fjords.
Lake Como: high summer.
Read more in honeymoon destinations in August.
Autumn: September, October and November
September
The Amalfi Coast, Santorini and Crete: warm sea and fewer people after the school holidays.
Maui: quieter than in summer.
Zanzibar: still in the dry season.
Read more in honeymoon destinations in September.
October
The Seychelles: calm again between the trade winds.
Santorini and Crete: the last warm weeks of the season.
Mauritius: spring, with longer and warmer days.
Maui: a quieter month before the winter season.
Read more in honeymoon destinations in October.
November
Mauritius and the Seychelles: both good before the hotter, wetter months.
Dubai: the cooler season begins.
Cape Verde: sunshine about six hours from London. See our Cape Verde guide.
Mexico: the start of the dry season.
Read more in honeymoon destinations in November.
Our verdict
What Picolo chooses: for a winter wedding, the Maldives or Sri Lanka. For a spring wedding, the Seychelles or the Amalfi Coast. For a summer wedding, Bali, Zanzibar or Mauritius. For an autumn wedding, Santorini or the Seychelles.
Why: these places are in their best season in those months, and they are well suited to a honeymoon.
The trade-off: the best months are also the most popular. If you can, travel a week or two either side of the peak, or book early.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month for a honeymoon?
There is no single best month, because the seasons differ around the world. April and October are flexible choices, with the Seychelles calm and the Mediterranean warm in both. For tropical beaches in winter, December to March suits the Maldives and Sri Lanka.
Where should we go on honeymoon after a summer wedding?
Bali, Zanzibar and Mauritius are all dry from June to September. For something closer to home, the Amalfi Coast, Santorini and Crete are warm until October, and quieter from September.
Where should we go on honeymoon after a winter wedding?
The Maldives, Sri Lanka, Zanzibar, Costa Rica and the Caribbean are all in season from December to March. For a shorter flight from the UK, see our guide to winter sun destinations in Europe.
Should we go straight after the wedding?
Not necessarily. Many couples take a few days away first and the main honeymoon later, when the season is better or prices are lower. Our cheap honeymoon destinations can help if budget is the deciding factor.
Sources
The calendar follows Picolo's month-by-month honeymoon guides and our guides to the best time to visit each destination. Seasons for the Indian Ocean are explained in our comparison of the Maldives, Mauritius and the Seychelles. The flight time to Cape Verde comes from Clickstay. Last checked: 3 November 2026.
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