Travel tips
Best honeymoon destinations in Europe: 6 places to go
Terraces above the Mediterranean, a hidden house in the Marais and a fjord with no roads in. These are six honeymoon destinations in Europe, and the hotel we would choose in each.
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In short
The Amalfi Coast is our first choice for a honeymoon in Europe, with Il San Pietro in the cliffs at Positano. Santorini and Crete give you a warm sea from June to September. Lake Como, Paris and the Norwegian fjords suit couples who want more than a beach. All are a short flight away, so a week is enough.
Our first choice: See rooms at Il San Pietro di Positano
Not everyone has the time or the wish to spend twelve hours on a plane. A honeymoon in Europe gives you more nights at the hotel and fewer in the air, and many of the most romantic places are under three hours from the UK. Choose by what you want to do each day, not only by the weather.
Six honeymoon destinations in Europe
Positano
Il San Pietro is built into the cliffs east of Positano.
Italy: Il San Pietro di Positano, Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast is the classic honeymoon choice, with villages clinging to the cliffs and boats to Capri. Il San Pietro sits just east of Positano, with a lift down to a small bathing deck and terraces above the bay. The best months are May, June and September, before and after the summer crowds.
Best for: couples who want Italian food, boat trips and views.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Il San Pietro di Positano
Oia
Canaves Oia Suites sits right above the caldera.
Greece: Canaves Oia Suites, Santorini
Santorini is the island many people link with honeymoons, and the sunset over the caldera is the reason. Canaves Oia Suites is set into the cliffs at Oia, with the caldera right below the terrace. Stay here for the last nights, and pair it with a quieter island first.
Best for: couples who want sunsets and good restaurants.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Canaves Oia Suites
Hersonissos
The bungalows stand over a lagoon in the hotel gardens.
Greece: Stella Island, Crete
Crete is big enough to combine beaches, mountains and the old town of Chania on one trip. Stella Island near Hersonissos is adults only and has bungalows built over a lagoon in the hotel grounds. It is the closest you will get to an overwater villa without flying to the Maldives.
Best for: couples who want the overwater feeling with a short flight.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Stella Island Luxury Resort & Spa
Tremezzo
Grand Hotel Tremezzo sits on the water facing Bellagio.
Italy: Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Lake Como
Lake Como is all villas, gardens and boats between small villages, around an hour from Milan. Grand Hotel Tremezzo sits on the water facing Bellagio, and its pool floats on the lake. May, June and September are the best months.
Best for: couples who want a classic grand hotel and boats instead of a car.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Grand Hotel Tremezzo
Le Marais
One of the rooms at Pavillon de la Reine.
France: Pavillon de la Reine, Paris
Paris suits couples who want food, art and long evenings rather than a beach, and it works all year. Pavillon de la Reine is hidden in a courtyard off Place des Vosges, behind an ivy-covered facade. The hotel has a spa, and the Marais with its galleries and small restaurants is all around you.
Best for: couples who want a city and romance at the same time.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Pavillon de la Reine
Norangsfjord
The fireside salon at Hotel Union Øye.
Norway: Hotel Union Øye, Sunnmøre
For a honeymoon with mountains rather than beaches, the Norwegian fjords are hard to beat. Hotel Union Øye opened in 1891 at the head of the Norangsfjord, with the Sunnmøre Alps right outside, and has welcomed kings and writers. The season runs from May to September. Hotel Union Øye is a member of De Historiske, with which Picolo has a commercial partnership.
Best for: couples who want mountains, fjords and history.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Hotel Union Øye
Frequently asked questions about a honeymoon in Europe
Where in Europe should you go on honeymoon?
The Amalfi Coast is our first choice, with cliffside villages, great food and boats to Capri. Santorini is best for sunsets, and Crete offers the most variety. If you want something other than a beach, Lake Como, Paris or the Norwegian fjords are good choices. All are a short flight from the UK.
When is the best time for a honeymoon in Europe?
May, June and September are the best months in the Mediterranean, with warm weather and fewer people than in July and August. The sea is warmest in September. Paris works all year, while the fjord hotels in Norway are open from May to September.
Is Italy or Greece better for a honeymoon?
Italy suits couples who want food, culture and villages, as on the Amalfi Coast and at Lake Como. Greece is better for beaches and sunsets, with Santorini and Crete the strongest choices. Many couples combine the two, for example the Amalfi Coast first and a few days on a Greek island afterwards.
How long should a honeymoon in Europe be?
A week is enough for one destination, as the journey is short. With ten days you can combine two places, such as the Amalfi Coast and Capri or Santorini and Crete. Choose places with good connections so you do not lose a whole day moving between them.