Are you looking to spend some quality time with your other half? We’ve got some great suggestions for an unforgettable time away, from exotic beach holidays to bustling European city breaks.
Our list of 7 holidays for couples is sure to be a great inspiration for your next romantic getaway.
Antigua
By far one of the most beautiful and intimate islands in the Caribbean, Antigua lends itself to the perfect romantic holiday.
If you and your loved one can bear to tear yourselves away from any of the island’s 365 beaches, there’s plenty to do on Antigua. Why not explore the capital of St John’s or take a zip line ride through tropical rainforests! In the evenings, there’s no place better to be than Shirley Heights, an extraordinary lookout point where you can enjoy unforgettable ocean views with a cocktail in your hand.
For romantic couples looking to get away from it all, stay in Galley Bay, a beautiful adults-only hotel that boasts a beach nearly a mile long. There’s even a selection of non-motorised watersports activities available for those couples who are feeling a little more adventurous.
With all that in mind, it’s no wonder why so many couples return to Antigua year after year.
Antigua fact: The Caribbean country’s official name is Antigua & Barbuda. After 349 years as a British colony, the twin islands gained independence in 1981.
The Maldives
Let life’s stresses and strains drift away on this idyllic archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Home to some of the most stunning beaches in the world, a luxury break on one of the 185 inhabited islands on offer in the Maldives means you’ll have no problem finding somewhere to lay down your beach towel and soak up the rays in this beautiful location.
If you’re an adventurous couple, you’ll be pleased to know that there are plenty of opportunities to go diving in the Maldives. After all, what could be more incredible than discovering a treasure trove of tropical marine life and colourful reefs with an underwater expedition?
When it comes to accommodation, the Maldives is hands down one of the most romantic destinations. Water bungalows perch over cyan blue waters provide unparalleled views from your bedroom. If you’re feeling particularly indulgent, why not arrange a couple’s massage in your luxury holiday hideaway?
But don’t forget to keep your energy levels topped up by sampling healthy portions of the delicious food on offer. This exclusive destination serves up a wide range of tasty treats, from freshly caught seafood to fragrant curries flavoured with freshly-picked coconut and zesty melt-in-the-mouth soups.
The Maldives fact: To highlight the threat of rising ocean levels and climatic changes, Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed moved the cabinet meeting of October 2009 to the bottom of the ocean.
Disneyland Paris
Paris is a city designed for romance and Disney’s European outpost is no exception.
From high-octane rides for thrill-seekers to sophisticated spas and gourmet dining, Disneyland Paris is definitely for adults as well as kids.
In fact, Disneyland Paris, with its fairytale accommodation and colourful villages packed with shops, is perfect for a grown-up getaway.
The best restaurants for grown-ups are probably the Moroccan-themed Agrabah Café in Adventureland and French-themed Bistrot Chez Rémy in Walt Disney Studios Park.
Victorian-themed Walt’s, meanwhile, has an elegant ambience plus fantastic views of the evening parade along Main Street.
The superb evening entertainment in Disney Village also includes live bands and Disney films, while dazzling nightly fireworks display in the park is absolutely spellbinding. No matter what your age, there’s something very special about seeing Sleeping Beauty’s castle illuminated with fireworks.
Disneyland Paris fact: The venue is connected via a secret network of underground tunnels that allow Mickey Mouse and friends easy access from one side of the park to the other.
Las Vegas
There’s no place quite like Las Vegas – it’s a once in a lifetime destination. An oasis in the middle of the Nevada desert, Vegas is a full-on, 24/7 party venue; shamelessly bold, glitzy and glamorous, it’s surely unrivalled in terms of entertainment and just sheer, brilliant fun!
But how do couples seeking a romantic break in Las Vegas stack the odds in their favour? First, it’s not just about casinos. To see how this city is carved out of the middle of the Mojave Desert, take the lift 108 floors up to the top of the Stratosphere Tower.
To shed some light on the city’s neon history, take a walk through the pedestrianised Fremont Street Experience – the location for Las Vegas’s first neon sign, which also offers easy access to Las Vegas Boulevard aka the Strip,
It’s longer than it looks, and often hotter than Hades, but every visitor should stroll the length of the Strip at least once.
Away from the casinos, there’s loads for romantics to experience. Catch the monorail to the Bellagio Hotel making sure you’ve a good viewing spot for one of the on-the-half-hour performances of the famous, fabulous fountains.
Alternatively, get out of town for a picnic at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, one of the most picturesque places in Las Vegas.
Set aside a week and just go with it. If you can, squeeze in a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon too.
Las Vegas fact: The MGM Grand Hotel’s lion mascot weighs in at 50 tonnes and is the largest bronze sculpture in the United States.
Porto
The gentle pace of life in Portugal’s second city is perfect for couples seeking a little romance. This is the place for long, seafood dinners, slow strolls through sleepy streets and a white port and tonic as the sun sets.
The rambling old town forms the heart of the city, with beautiful buildings adorned with tiles and sloping, cobbled streets.
Many couples take a holiday to Porto to experience the city’s greatest export – Port. This will mean crossing the River Douro to Gaia and exploring one of the city’s many Port wine cellars.
However, a good point to start exploring the rest of the city is São Bento train station because its walls are lined with blue and white tiles depicting scenes of former battles and the history of transportation. From there, stroll up to Liberty Square, past the gorgeous façades of the surrounding buildings, and head up Rua das Carmelitas to Igreja do Carmo, another example of a stunning tiled façade.
From there, hit up the Bombarda district around Miguel Bombarda Street for cool street art, galleries, vintage shops and cafés.
For a romantic stroll, head to the Jardins do Palácio de Cristal, which offers beautiful views of the city from lookout points. Remember to keep an eye out for the resident peacocks.
Panoramic views of Porto are also on offer at Clérigos Tower, which is also one of the most important monuments in the city, Just beware that the route to the top involves climbing 240 steps.
For those wanting to reserve their energy for Porto’s nightlife, it’s possible to use the city’s network of trams to tour the must-see sights.
Porto fact: The city’s nickname is Invicta, which means unconquered in Portuguese. Porto withstood a siege lasting more than a year during the Portuguese civil war.
Florence
Although there’s never a bad time of year to visit Florence, Tuscany’s cultured and compact capital is particularly alluring in early spring before the crowds and high temperatures of summer arrive.
The must-see sights of Florence include the Galleria dell’Accademia, which is home to Michelangelo’s masterpiece David; the Uffizi Gallery, where masterpieces by the likes of Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael are on display; and the city’s cathedral with its much-photographed terracotta dome.
Piazza della Signoria, meanwhile, is the historic and political centre of the city and located next to the Uffizi Gallery. Here, you will find statues including the Fountain of Neptune and a replica of David.
But Florence is not just about art and culture. Many visitors to Florence also take in the Ponte Vecchio – the city’s first bridge to cross the Arno River that is now lined with shops selling gold and silver jewellery.
When it comes to shopping, Florence is filled with top-quality independent retailers, and the side streets around Palazzo Pitti have some of the most interesting. Stroll down Oltrarno’s Sdrucciolo dei Pitti for a mix of fashion and antiques. On the other side of the River Arno, Via di Parione is known for high-end designers while the souk-like San Lorenzo Market at Piazza San Lorenzo specialises in leather goods.
Florence is also a food lover’s dream destination. Typical Tuscan delicacies include bowls of delicious stracciatella, a traditional egg soup seasoned with plenty of parmesan and breadcrumbs, and Castagnaccio – a unique chestnut cake made just with chestnut flour and water.
Add in heaped plates of pasta, local cheese and melt-in-the-mouth ice cream and one thing is certain with a holiday to Florence: you won’t go hungry!
Florence fact: The city is traditionally divided into four quarters, named after the most important churches. Three of them – Santa Maria Novella, San Giovanni and Santa Croce – are on the right-hand bank of the Arno, while Santo Spirito is the only quarter south of the river.
Budapest
For many couples, one of the highlights of a city break to Budapest is a visit to the Szechenyi Thermal Baths – one of the largest spa complexes in Europe.
However, the city that is divided into the Buda and Pest districts by the Danube River has many other attractions. These include Buda Castle on Castle Hill, the Great Market Hall – where visitors can sample all kinds of traditional Hungarian food and drink – and Margaret Island, which is found in the middle of the Danube and is most noted for its musical fountain and Japanese garden.
On an entirely different note, the Museum of Terror is also worth a visit to learn more about the Nazi occupation of Hungary and life in the Communist era.
The Danube, however, dominates Budapest and a boat ride along the river is an excellent way to tour the Hungarian capital. Options include sightseeing in the day, an evening dinner and dancing cruise or even a nightclub cruise.
Nightlife on dry land in Budapest is not to be underestimated, either. The city centre has a wide choice of large clubs that offer a lush setting to enjoy cocktails and champagne. Alternatively, head to the ruin bars in the Jewish Quarter to experience a night out in an abandoned building that has been transformed into a trendy drinking and music venue.
Budapest fact: After London, Budapest has the oldest underground train system in Europe. The line opened in 1896 in the year when Hungary celebrated its 1000th anniversary, hence the name Millennium Underground. It’s still in use as subway M1 and it connects the city centre with City Park.
Goa
It might be India’s smallest state, but Goa is is a huge hit with couples looking for a romantic holiday not least because of its 80 miles of glorious coastline and average daytime temperatures that don’t dip below 25C even in January.
The vast majority of Goa’s 30-odd beaches have bars and restaurants offering a wide range of food and drink. In fact, many visitors fall in love with Goa because of the food on offer. Popular dishes in this part of India include fish curry rice, which is both tangy and spicy due to the use of chillies and turmeric.
Crab XecXec, on the other hand, is a curry made from ground coconut, coriander and dry mixed roasted spices that are added to crab meat. The impenetrable coconut gravy dish is frequently served with rice or bread.
For couples that can drag themselves off the beach, Goa offers a multitude of attractions. Many couples taking a break in Goa visit a spice plantation, while some choose to explore the area’s historic monuments, such as Fort Aguada. This attraction, which is perched over Sinquerim beach and offers magnificent views, is an architectural marvel of the 17th century that was constructed by the Portuguese in order to defend their land from the Marathas and the British.
For those who prefer getting to grips with local wildlife, Goa offers opportunities to get close to dolphins and turtles, view a huge range of exotic birds and take a trip into the jungle.
If shopping is your passion, Goa has a huge number of markets, including the weekly Anjuna Flea Market where bargains await for those prepared to indulge in a spot of haggling.
Goa fact: The state has more than 8000 liquor licence holders, down from a high of more than 11,000 at the start of 2017.