In honour of the up and coming Saint Valentine’s day here are five of the most romantic places I’ve ever visited:

Montmartre, Paris

Photo: Begona V

Despite heavy tourism I still think Paris’s last village is one of the most romantic and charming areas of Paris. Follow in the footsteps of Amelie and take your time to explore the atmospheric winding cobbled streets, houses with shutter board windows and quaint 1930’s style cafes. Grab a Croque-Monsieur, climb the steps to the Sacré-Cœur and enjoy one of the most panoramic views in town. Montmartre is a gastronomical and cultural haven and you wouldn’t have to walk far to find an art gallery or typically Parisian chic vintage boutique. Of course the nostalgically attractive but probably overpriced bars and restaurants come complete with the obligatory charismatic, gesticulating and attentive waiting staff. For a more peaceful stay keep the time you spend in the seedier neighbouring Pigalle district to a minimum but make sure you visit the world-famous and iconic Moulin Rouge theatre at least once.

My personal Montmartre trip highlights:

• Staying at the Le Chat Noir, a quirky design boutique hotel dedicated to the infamous 19th-century cabaret of the same name.
• Visiting the Generation Art Gallery-a gallery of colorful, contemporary and surprisingly affordable art.

Highlands, Scotland

Photo: Martin Sojka

The Highlands will always be on my list of one of the most romantic and unforgettable places I’ve ever visited. Hire a car and drive into the depths of Scotland through breathtakingly beautiful wild sloping landscapes, ancient woodlands, majestic castles and crystal-clear lochs. There will be also plenty of alone time, in the less touristy areas you’d be hard pressed to spot anyone else in vast expanse of beautifully surreal, lunar-esque scenery. In these areas the lakes and woods have eery stillness and you can view a land virtually unchanged for hundreds of years. If the wind and rain start beating you down don’t worry you can always warm up again by your cosy log cabin fire.

My personal Scottish Highlands trip highlights:

• Trying to spot otters on the peaceful and rugged Isle of Skye (voted 4th best island in the world by National Geographic magazine)
• Abandoning the foolish idea of climbing Ben Nevis on a short and ill-equipped trip and hiking the much easier and well-worn tourist path to the Ben Nevis Valley instead.

Big Sur, California

The Pacific Coast Highway that runs through the area known as Big Sur is a road that seems custom made to live out the top-down, wind-in-your-hair American road trip fantasy most people have always dreamt of. Highway 1 is well deserving of its reputation of being one of the most unforgettable and exhilarating road routes in the world. Wind your way along the cliff top road with dramatic views of the blue-green pacific and waves crashing underneath and then camp under the stars at one of the perfectly located camping sites. If you’re not a particularly outdoorsy person stop off one of the quirky bohemian coastal towns instead and enjoy the welcoming hospitality and free cheese and wine evenings that most of the Inns offer.

My personal Big Sur trip highlights:

• Visiting one of the hotels located near Big Sur’s hot springs-a place where the boho/hippy spirit is still very much alive and well.
• Whale watching for hours from the balcony of the gorgeous Tickle Pink Inn in Carmel.

Lake Garda, Italy

Photo: Renata F Oliveira

More laid back than Rome and less crowded than Venice, Lake Garda is a place that has seduced the likes of DH Lawrence, Ibsen and oh.. George Clooney. It would also be my choice for one of the most romantic destinations in Italy, if not Europe. Where can you go wrong with a beautiful sea-like mountain lake flanked by impossibly gorgeous and quintessentially Italian villages with names like Limone and Gardone Riveria? Each of the lake-side villages are very different from the last, ranging from a historic town dominated by a medieval castle to a picturesque village brimming with flowers and pastel-coloured houses. Hire a convertible car and zig-zag your way through caves and tackle the hair-pin bends James Bond style then choose an attractive harbour-side trattoria to eat alfresco, sip limoncello and watch the sunset.

My personal Lake Garda trip highlights:

• Hiring a speed boat before checking the guide book and only narrowly avoiding ’sea-sickness’ while sailing in the northern choppier end of the lake.
• Gaining an insight into an eccentric and possibly insane rich man’s mind on a day trip to the Vittoriale – a bizarre villa and the home of Gabriele D’Annunzio (the most colourful and controversial personality of Italian literature).

Amsterdam

Photo: MorBCN

Whilst not an obvious choice I found this beautiful and fun city to also be a great place for couples. Amsterdam has a unexpected romantic quality that you just can’t put your finger on but its undeniably there. Maybe it’s the relaxed culture and unbelievably friendly locals, the city’s compact layout and lack of cars or the canals, cobbled streets and uniquely tall gabled houses. If you’re less than open minded or easily shocked stay away from the red light district and concentrate on the culturally rich and historical side of Amsterdam, visit instead the Tulip, Van Gogh or Anne Frank museums. My advice for a more pleasant ‘couples’ break is to stay away from the smaller run down hotels and book into more contemporary or luxurious accommodation.

My personal Amsterdam trip highlights:

• An easy afternoon spent sipping beer in a local-filled typical Amsterdam ‘Brown Cafe’ – famous for their nicotine-stained walls and woody interiors.
• A 3am pizza ‘lock-in’ at the pizza joint around the corner from our hotel (an example of how friendly and laid back the Amsterdam culture is – I can’t imagine many pizza restaurants owners in other cities giving away all the days unsold pizzas to whoever happens to be in the restaurant at the time!)

Tags: getaway, love, romance, romantic break, romantic weekend, trip, valentines
Share the love: add us to one of the fine sites above!