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Your honeymoon is, for most couples, the most significant holiday of their lives. The destination you choose sets the tone for a trip that will be remembered and talked about for decades. Whether you're after barefoot luxury in a tropical lagoon, vineyard dinners in the Tuscan hills, or the extraordinary culture of Japan, 2026 is a wonderful year to be a honeymooner — prices have stabilised, flight routes have expanded, and hotels are competing hard for the honeymoon market.
We've curated the 10 most romantic destinations on Earth, covering a range of budgets, travel styles and flight times from the UK. For each, we've included typical honeymoon costs, the best time to visit and what makes it genuinely special.
💍 Booking tip: Always tell your hotel or resort you're on your honeymoon at the time of booking. The vast majority of quality properties will upgrade your room, add a bottle of champagne, or arrange a special turndown — usually at no extra cost.
Maldives
🇲🇻 Indian Ocean — 10 hours from UK
The Maldives is the world's most iconic honeymoon destination — and with good reason. Overwater bungalows perched above turquoise lagoons, house reefs teeming with manta rays and reef sharks, and an almost surreal level of natural beauty. The Maldives delivers on every expectation.
The country consists of 26 atolls and over 1,000 islands, so choosing the right resort matters enormously. North Malé Atoll resorts (Baros, Velassaru, Niyama) are accessible by speedboat from the airport in 30–45 minutes. Remote southern atolls (Six Senses, Soneva Fushi) require a seaplane transfer but offer unparalleled seclusion. For a honeymoon, we recommend budgeting at least £4,000–£6,000 per couple for a genuinely special experience — though budget overwater stays do exist from around £2,500pp.
Santorini, Greece
🇬🇷 Aegean Sea — 4 hours from UK
Santorini's caldera views at sunset from Oia are among the most photographed images in the world — and being there in person, watching the sun sink below the volcano as the whitewashed cliffside glows amber, is genuinely breathtaking. The island is unashamedly romantic: clifftop infinity pools, candlelit restaurants, and dramatic scenery at every turn.
Stay in Oia or Imerovigli for the best caldera views. Book cave-house hotels like Canaves Oia or Mystique for a genuinely special honeymoon experience. The island is busy June–August; May and September offer the perfect balance of warmth and relative quiet. Budget around £2,500–£5,000 per couple for a week including flights.
Bali, Indonesia
🇮🇩 Southeast Asia — 15 hours from UK
Bali offers something unique among honeymoon destinations: extraordinary luxury at genuinely affordable prices, combined with a richness of culture, spirituality and natural beauty that no Caribbean island or Maldivian resort can match. Ubud — surrounded by emerald rice terraces and ancient temples — provides a romantic backdrop unlike anywhere else. Seminyak and Canggu offer beachfront luxury.
A honeymoon in Bali can be tailored perfectly. Start with two nights in a clifftop villa in Uluwatu, move to a rice-terrace retreat in Ubud, and finish on Nusa Penida or Lombok. For a 10-night trip with villa stays, budget £2,500–£4,000 per couple including flights. You can do it for less; you can spend much more.
Amalfi Coast, Italy
🇮🇹 Southern Italy — 3 hours from UK
The Amalfi Coast is Europe's most dramatically beautiful stretch of coastline — vertiginous cliffs dropping into an impossibly blue sea, with pastel-coloured villages clinging to the rock face. Positano, Ravello and Amalfi itself are three of Italy's most romantic towns. A lemon-scented terrace, a carafe of local wine, and a view of the sea below — it's the Italian dream made real.
Base yourself in Positano for maximum romance. Take a boat trip along the coast, visit the Villa Cimbrone in Ravello (one of Europe's most beautiful gardens), and day-trip to Capri. Budget £3,000–£6,000 per couple for a week including flights to Naples. Avoid August — the coast is extremely busy; May, June and September are ideal.
Seychelles
🇸🇨 Indian Ocean — 11 hours from UK
The Seychelles offers one thing that even the Maldives cannot: extraordinary beaches with huge granite boulders, lush jungle, unique wildlife (Aldabra giant tortoises), and a French Creole culture that makes island life feel genuinely interesting rather than just luxurious. Anse Lazio on Praslin and Anse Source d'Argent on La Digue are two of the most beautiful beaches on Earth.
Bora Bora, French Polynesia
🇵🇫 South Pacific — 24 hours from UK
Bora Bora is the world's most expensive honeymoon destination — and arguably its most jaw-dropping. A dormant volcano rises from the island's centre, ringed by a jade lagoon of almost impossible clarity. The iconic overwater bungalows here (at Four Seasons, St Regis, Sofitel) are the originals and still the finest. Budget £8,000–£15,000 per couple. The distance and cost make this a once-in-a-lifetime trip — which is exactly what a honeymoon should be, for those who can manage it.
Numbers 7–10: Equally Unforgettable
🏯 Kyoto, Japan 🇯🇵
Best: March–April or NovemberThe most unusual honeymoon on this list — ancient temples, zen gardens, ryokan inns with traditional kaiseki dinners, geisha districts and some of the world's most extraordinary food. Japan is supremely romantic in an understated, refined way that no beach destination can replicate. Best in cherry blossom season (late March–April) or autumn colours (November). Budget £4,000–£7,000 per couple.
🍷 Tuscany, Italy 🇮🇹
Best: May–June or SeptemberA Tuscan villa honeymoon — rolling hills of cypresses and vineyards, village piazzas, Michelin-starred food, wine estates and Renaissance art — is the European alternative to the tropical honeymoon, and one of the most consistently beloved. Rent a farmhouse villa in Chianti for a week. Budget £2,500–£5,000 per couple including flights to Florence.
🐬 Mauritius 🇲🇺
Best: May–DecemberA sophisticated Indian Ocean honeymoon island with better infrastructure and more cultural variety than the Maldives. The north has turquoise lagoons; the south has dramatic coastline. French Creole food is outstanding. Top hotels (Le Touessrok, One&Only Le Saint Géran) are among the finest beach resorts in the world. Budget £3,500–£7,000 per couple.
🌋 St Lucia 🇱🇨
Best: December–MayThe Caribbean's most dramatic island — the twin Piton peaks rising from the rainforest, hot springs, and the most beautiful bay beaches. Jade Mountain and Ladera resorts are purpose-built for honeymoon romance. Budget £4,000–£8,000 per couple including long-haul flights.
❤️ Our Top Pick
For couples who want the iconic honeymoon experience, the Maldives delivers like nowhere else. But for those willing to explore: Bali offers similar romance at a fraction of the cost, and Santorini provides Europe's most spectacular honeymoon backdrop just 4 hours from the UK. The right choice depends entirely on your budget, travel style and how far you're willing to fly.