Romantic weekend away
Romantic weekend away: eight hotels to book in Black Week
Saturday morning, and neither of you has set an alarm. Breakfast arrives on a tray, the coffee is hot, and the only thing on the plan is dinner at eight.
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In short: a romantic weekend away
A romantic weekend does not need a long journey. Stockholm, Copenhagen and Amsterdam are short flights from most UK airports, and Madeira and Seville are mild by February. If you book in Black Week, choose free cancellation and compare the total with a price you noted before the sales began.
Our first choice for a weekend for two: Ett Hem in Stockholm. Check availability and prices at Ett Hem
The best thing about a weekend for two is that it is short enough to actually happen. No week of childcare, no long-haul flight and no holiday spreadsheet. What decides whether the weekend works is mostly the hotel.
So we have chosen hotels where the room and the atmosphere are reason enough to go. All score highly with guests on Hotels.com, and none of them is a big conference hotel.
When is the best time for a romantic weekend?
From January to March most European cities are quiet, and hotels often have a better choice of rooms. The exception is Valentine's weekend, which in 2027 runs from Friday 12 to Sunday 14 February. If you want to go then, book early. Hotels for that weekend are in our guide to Valentine's breaks.
If you want sunshine, late winter is a good time for Madeira and Seville. It is warm enough to sit outside at lunchtime, but not so hot that the city becomes hard work.
Should you book your weekend in Black Week?
Yes, if you know roughly when you want to go. Which? found that 73 per cent of the holiday deals it checked on Black Friday 2023 were cheaper than in December and January (Which?). Hotels vary more, so check the price yourself.
Note the price for the same dates before the sale and compare the total. Our guide to checking travel prices shows you how. More Black Week advice is in Black Friday travel.
A city break for two
Three small hotels, in cities where a weekend can be spent eating well and walking a lot.
Stockholm: Ett Hem
Ett Hem is a 1910 townhouse in Lärkstaden with twelve rooms and a garden at the back. It feels more like a home than a hotel. The sitting room has an open fire, and the glass conservatory is full of plants. Dinner is served in the house, and most of Östermalm is within walking distance.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Ett Hem
Amsterdam: The Dylan
The Dylan occupies an old canal house on the Keizersgracht, with a quiet courtyard behind the gate. The rooms differ from floor to floor, and some look out over the canal. In the evening you can walk along the canals to the Jordaan in a few minutes.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Dylan
Porto: Torel Avantgarde
Torel Avantgarde sits on the hillside above the Douro, and its 47 rooms are named after artists such as Dalí and Giacometti. The hotel has a spa with indoor and outdoor pools. The old Ribeira district lies below, and across the river are the port lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Torel Avantgarde
A palace in Tivoli
Nimb Hotel stands in the middle of Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
A spa weekend for two
Some weekends are mostly about doing nothing at all. Then a spa and a pool matter more than museums.
Copenhagen: Nimb Hotel
Nimb Hotel is in the Moorish-inspired palace with the onion domes in Tivoli, right by Copenhagen Central Station. It has a spa and two restaurants, and the rooftop pool opens in summer. The train from the airport takes about a quarter of an hour, so the weekend can start on Friday afternoon.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Nimb Hotel
Skåne: Ystad Saltsjöbad
Ystad Saltsjöbad has stood on the beach at Ystad, in southern Sweden, since 1897. The spa has heated pools indoors and out and is for guests aged 16 and over. Copenhagen is about an hour away by car, and the Österlen countryside starts just east of the hotel.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Ystad Saltsjöbad
Milder weather in February
Reid's Palace stands on the cliff above the sea in Funchal. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Milder weather for two
When it is grey at home, a few degrees and some sunshine can make a weekend. These three are bright in February and March.
Madeira: Reid's Palace
Reid's Palace opened in 1891 on the cliff above Funchal, and afternoon tea on the terrace is still part of a stay. The hotel has four outdoor pools and its own sea bathing area. The gardens run all the way down towards the water.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Reid's Palace
Seville: Hotel Alfonso XIII
Hotel Alfonso XIII was built for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition and is a few minutes from the cathedral and the Real Alcázar. The rooms surround a Moorish-style courtyard, and palms shade the pool. In March the orange trees in the streets start to blossom.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Alfonso XIII
Marrakech: La Mamounia
La Mamounia lies just inside the city walls of Marrakech, with large gardens between the hotel and the streets. Winston Churchill painted here. Today there are six restaurants and a spa with an indoor pool, and you can walk to Jemaa el-Fna square.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at La Mamounia
How to make the most of the weekend
Add a night: Sunday nights are often cheaper than Saturdays, and an extra night makes the weekend calmer.
Ask about the room: Check whether it has a bath, a view or a balcony before you book, not afterwards.
Book dinner early: The best restaurants fill up on Saturdays, even in low season.
Choose free cancellation: Then you can move the weekend if something gets in the way.
Our first choice for a weekend for two
Ett Hem
Ett Hem is a townhouse in Lärkstaden, Stockholm, with only twelve rooms, and you notice it. You can sit by the fire in the sitting room or in the conservatory with a book from the library. Dinner is served in the house, and the garden is at the back. It is not cheap, and rooms go quickly at weekends. Book with free cancellation, though, and you can still secure the date now.
Romantic weekend away: frequently asked questions
Where can we go for a romantic weekend away?
Stockholm, Copenhagen and Amsterdam are short flights from most UK airports and have plenty of small hotels for two. For sunshine in winter, Madeira and Seville are good choices in early spring. Choose a hotel with few rooms, and book dinner in advance if you are travelling on a Saturday.
When is Valentine's Day in 2027?
Valentine's Day is Sunday 14 February 2027, so Valentine's weekend runs from Friday 12 to Sunday 14 February. It is a popular weekend in many cities, and romantic hotels fill quickly. If you want to go then, book early and choose a room with free cancellation.
Is it cheaper to book a romantic weekend on Black Friday?
It can be, but not always. Which? found that most of the holiday deals it checked on Black Friday 2023 were cheaper than in December and January. Hotel prices vary more. Note the price for the same dates a few weeks before, and only book if the total really is lower.
What should we look for in a romantic hotel?
Look for a hotel with few rooms and something out of the ordinary, such as an open fire, a spa or a view. Read what guests say about noise and beds. Ask about a bath or balcony before you book, and check whether breakfast is included in the price you are comparing.
How long should a romantic weekend be?
Two nights is enough for most cities, from Friday to Sunday. If you travel further, to Madeira or Marrakech for example, three or four nights gives you more time to relax. Sunday nights are often cheaper than Saturdays, so a long weekend may cost less than you think.