Before we begin our post on some of the greatest honeymoon destinations, let me introduce you to the author of this post, my husband. Bram and I have been travel enthusiasts since we met in Australia over three years ago. Bram launched his blog Travel Experience Live, a travel website dedicated to travel and photography, in 2012. So what better person to write a guest post on honeymoon destinations!
Honeymoon destinations are plenty and where to go depends entirely on the taste of the newlyweds. Not everyone’s the same and, as a result, what people look for in a honeymoon varies greatly. From romantic to adventurous, honeymoons can be divided in a wide range of categories.
So, let’s take a look at the very best destinations in each category.
Romantic Honeymoon Destinations
Greece
One of the oldest countries in the world, Greece is set at a fabulous location. Think tens of thousands of Mediterranean islands, golden sunsets, gorgeous seaside towns, blue water and sunshine. Some places in Greece seem like they were just made to be visited by honeymooners. Santorini, for example, is easily one of the most romantic places on the planet.
Maldives
The archipelago of the Maldives competes for the title of best honeymoon destination in the world. It consists of more than a thousand coral islands and offers fabulous ocean sunsets, wide beaches, massages in exotic luxury resorts (often on their very own island), overwater bungalows and beach villas, and some of the world’s best diving and snorkeling.
Italy
The only things that need to be said here are: pizza in Naples, pasta in Sicily, Vespa rides on the Amalfi coast, candle light dinners in Rome, romantic boat rides on the canals of Venice, and wine and fine dining in Tuscany. Italy is without a doubt one of the most – if not the most – romantic honeymoon destinations.
Cultural Honeymoon Destinations
Thailand
Thailand is a surprisingly diverse country and a great destination for couples who want to do a variety of activities on their honeymoon. Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, is a cosmopolitan city, to which the island getaways of Phuket and Phi Phi provide a perfect contract. A visit to Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai adds a splash of great cuisine to a honeymoon already filled with culture, scenic landscapes and pristine beaches.
Austria
Maybe a surprise on this list, but Austria has enormous honeymoon potential. The combination of the majestic Alps and the old city of Vienna is something that’s quite unique. As the city of Beethoven, Mozart and Schubert, Vienna is the world capital of classical music, but there’s beautiful architecture, a wonderful coffee culture and fine dining as well. There is no place like Austria to see a musical performance.
France
France may just be too big to visit during a honeymoon. It’s better to pick a selection of places in France as your honeymoon destinations and spend some more time exploring those. An obvious place is Paris. The City of Light is jam-packed with grand historic buildings and fantastic museums. Also make sure to head into the countryside and sample some wine and local breads and cheeses. If you’re ever going to go on a picnic, let it be in France.
Beach Honeymoon Destinations
Aruba
Aruba is one of those islands that have almost the exact same climate all year round. So, it doesn’t matter if you get married in the fall, winter, spring or summer; Aruba will always offer sunshine, azure blue waters and white beaches.
Tahiti
Knowing that this is an island in French Polynesia in the South Pacific, you may already be able to imagine what it looks like. And you’re probably spot on: it is a laidback island that consists of wide white sandy beaches, coral reefs, palm trees and other exotic plants and flowers. Several luxury resorts make this an ideal destination for a beach honeymoon.
St. Lucia
The small island country of St. Lucia is often called ‘the jewel of the Caribbean’, a title that says something. Its inland regions are covered with rainforests and the magnificent Piton Mountains provide a spectacular backdrop to the white palm-lined beaches. This truly is a tropical paradise. Besides soaking up the Caribbean sun on the beach, newlyweds can also go hiking, sea kayaking, snorkeling or horseback riding.
Adventurous Honeymoon Destinations
New Zealand
It’s hard for a country to be more diverse than New Zealand. It is the perfect destination for an active honeymoon in an unspoiled natural landscape. There are empty beaches to sunbathe and swim, lakes to fish in, rivers to kayak or raft in, fjords and mountains to explore and even volcanoes to climb. It is an excellent country for a road trip, too.
Iceland
As the land of fire and ice, Iceland features glaciers, geysers, volcanoes and waterfalls. In summer it’s a spectacularly green place, while in winter the purple and green dances of the Northern Lights brighten the skies. This is the place to go off-road driving, hiking, ice climbing, snowmobiling or dog-sledding.
Australia
Australia is so big that your honeymoon would have to last for years to see everything. The great thing, however, is that its enormousness also makes it an incredibly diverse country. There’s a variety of adventurous options; 4-wheel driving on the white sandy beaches of Fraser Island, skiing in the aptly named Snowy Mountains, diving the Great Barrier Reef or hiking in one of its numerous national parks are just a few examples.
Alternative Honeymoon Destinations
Kenya
Kenya is very probably not on the wish list of the average newly married couple. It is, however, a great destination. There are luxurious bush resorts, offering views of Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance and wildlife safaris. Kenya is one of the best honeymoon destinations for a combination of luxury and African adventures.
Curaçao
This little island off the Venezuelan coast doesn’t appear in the honeymoon spotlights as often as its Caribbean neighbors. Maybe that is because it lacks the beaches the others do have. Instead this small Dutch island has an incredibly rich history, great food and gorgeous colonial architecture. It’s a melting pot of more than fifty different nationalities and one of the most culturally diverse destinations in the world.
Croatia
Croatia gets a lot less tourist attention than other Mediterranean countries. While it is in fact a fast-growing destination, the high season is still relatively calm. The Dalmatian Coast and ancient cities such as Dubrovnik and Split make this both an extremely romantic and cultural destination.
Have you been to any of these places for a honeymoon or vacation? Tell us how it was in our comment section below.
