Top 5 Romantic Options for a European Weekend Break

The month of February is fast approaching us and with that comes Valentine’s Day, whether you’re a fan of it or not! Europe is a gem for beautiful cities, each perfect for a weekend away. To be honest, any city/destination can be romantic based on your company and what you get up to, but in my opinion, the following options would be particularly lovely for a romantic break.

So whether you’re planning a romantic trip away for Valentine’s Day or just want to find a new picturesque place to visit, keep reading for my top 5!

Lake Bled

Lake Bled in Slovenia is growing in popularity and I can understand why! I’m visiting for the first time later this year (see link to my 2019 plans here). We’ll be going in the summer but it looks so beautiful in winter too.

For a romantic break, stay somewhere with lake views and even better with spa/sauna options! Visit the castle on the shore or up one of the hills for panoramic views of the lake. The island and church in the centre of the lake can also be visited all year round (provided the lake hasn’t frozen).

Reykjavik

Reykjavik is the only destination on this list that I’ve not been to or have specific plans to visit soon. I’ve just written a post with itineraries for Iceland (here) and a romantic weekend in February could involve the Northern Lights and lounging in hot springs.

If I were heading to Iceland for Valentine’s Day then I would scour the internet for the perfect accommodation with big windows (for Northern Lights watching) and a hot tub to take the edge of the Icelandic winter! When you’re sick of your own hot tub, find one of nature’s own and relocate there. The obvious choice for this is the very pretty Blue Lagoon but there are plenty of other ‘Secret Lagoons’ located around Iceland.

Paris

Okay so this is a super obvious choice, I know! I’ve not visited Paris with a boyfriend ever but when I have been I can definitely imagine doing so. Paris just oozes that cool-yet-romantic vibe for me, and since it’s such a big city it has plenty of atmosphere all year round.

Find a classic French restaurant for dinner (not too fancy) and book in advance. If it’s your thing then visit one or more of the many galleries on offer in Paris. Obviously visit the Eiffel Tower and other than that just go strolling… like I said, Paris oozes romance so (unless you find a dodgy neighbourhood) a simple walk in the right company is likely to feel like the perfect date.

Budapest

We visited Budapest in 2018, actually over our anniversary (blog post here). Apart from our anniversary evening, we didn’t really experience any of the romance of the city. On a trip with a significant other I would suggest spending time at one (or more!) of the many thermal baths across the city. An evening river cruise with dinner is something I would have liked to fit into our time there, as the Parliament building looks stunning lit up at night.

Another suggestion would be to go for afternoon tea at the stunning New York Palace Café… we didn’t fit in to our trip but from pictures this just looks like the most beautiful setting for afternoon tea or lunch.

Santorini or another Greek Island

I can vouch for the beauty of Santorini (blog post here) and Mykonos (blog post here) and there’s no doubting the romantic reputation that Greek islands in general have. My impression is that during off season, many restaurants and hotels may be closed. However, with some minimal research you should easily be able to find offerings in February – without all of the tourists! Of course there will also be a lack of atmosphere but this just means that you’ll have a feel of seclusion. When visiting between April – October, you won’t have any of those challenges (but you will have to share with tourists) and Greek islands will always be a beautiful choice for a short break.

From my research it looks like Santorini would be the easiest option for Valentine’s Day but definitely do your research if you’re interested in somewhere else. Anywhere you are, make sure you catch the incredible sunsets (or sunrises if you’re an early bird) and see what local food and drink specialities there are on offer – Santorini is well known for its wine for example.

Other popular options and why I haven’t included them

• Venice – okay this is probably #1 romantic city in most people’s minds. I visited a couple of years ago with my boyfriend and we were underwhelmed. That was just our experience so if you’d love to visit please still do but bear in mind other options too!

• The rest of Italy – Rome, Florence, Milan… you name it, someone else has probably named it as romantic. How would you even begin to choose?!

• Barcelona – often named as a great city for couples. I visited Barcelona such a long time ago (as a teenager) though that I don’t feel like I can comment much on its eligibility as a romantic destination

• Vienna – I’ve heard that Vienna is a lovely gem but I’m yet to visit

• Prague – typically romantic but maybe a little overrun with rowdy stag and hen dos now

• Edinburgh – the home-away-from-home option for UK readers (unless you live in Edinburgh in which case it’s just your home option, sorry!)

So what do you think... which city that you've been to feels the most romantic? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!