Valentine's Day Travel Experiences for a Romantic Getaway

Dining room at the landmark Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo, California — Photo: Buyenlarge / Getty Images

If you’re looking for a Valentine’s Day idea that really shines this year, consider booking a plane ticket instead of a restaurant reservation. Traveling with your partner provides an opportunity to experience new places and cultures together and discover new sides of yourself and your sweetheart. When you’re thinking about how best to connect this February, consider one of these special experiences in beautiful locales worldwide.

From admiring a giant chocolate fountain in Switzerland to scouting the northern lights in Iceland, here are some of our favorite romantic Valentine’s Day travel experiences.

Best tourist destination: Paris
Underrated hidden gem: Scotland
Best for wine lovers: St. Helena, California
Best for adventurous couples: Machu Picchu, Peru
Best for spa enthusiasts: Bali

Read on for our full list of recommendations.

Escape the crowds in Paris.

A dining room and library at the Ritz, Paris — Vincent Leroux / Courtesy of Ritz Paris

What this idea lacks in originality it makes up for in elegance. A Valentine’s Day à la Français has a certain ring to it — a five-carat, cushion-cut if you’re lucky. You’re also likely to snag a good deal, as winter is considered the City of Light's off-season and one of the best times of the year to visit. You and your partner won’t mind the windchill when you’re snuggled up in a lavish suite at the Ritz Paris. Pamper yourselves in the spa and hit teatime at Salon Proust before donning that vintage Dior you just bought and strolling arm-in-arm with your significant other along the Seine.

Go on a castle crawl in Scotland.

Exterior of Inverlochy Castle — Sergio Lora / Getty Images

Channel the wild, windy romance of Outlander with a Highland (or lowland) fling. Scotland is known for its medieval and modern castles, and many are open for wandering and resting alike. For a daytime adventure, slip on your wellies and take a tour of an ancient estate like Edinburgh Castle, Culzean Castle, or Eilean Donan Castle. Stay overnight in one of the plushly appointed rooms at Inverlochy Castle, where you and your partner will have 400-thread-count Egyptian cotton linens and views of the property’s private loch.

Wine taste your way through St. Helena, California.

Wine Tasting at Harvest Inn in St. Helena, California — Courtesy of Harvest Inn

Napa has long been a lovers' destination, and for good reason. From the Michelin-starred restaurants to the mesmerizing vineyards, the region oozes with romantic charm. There are many great hotels in Napa Valley, but we recommend the Harvest Inn in St. Helena, where you can stroll through the on-site vineyards before sharing a local cabernet sauvignon by your in-room fireplace. Nearby highlights include the Coppolas' wine estate, Inglenook, and Thomas Keller's world-famous fine dining establishment The French Laundry. Be sure to take your valentine to Castello di Amorosa, the medieval-style "castle of love" built by vintner Dario Sattui in nearby Calistoga.

Explore Machu Picchu, Peru.

Swap roses for orchids and Champagne bubbles for mountain mists — Valentine’s Day looks different at this altitude. Share the once-in-a-lifetime experience of exploring the ancient Incan ruins with your partner for memories as precious as a Peruvian opal. Tambo del Inka in the Sacred Valley provides a five-star home base before you head off on PeruRail's luxury Vistadome Observatory train to the legendary archaeological site of Machu Picchu. Stay a night or two in neighboring Aguas Calientes, home to natural hot springs. Or, if you want to spend more time at the ruins, you can't get any closer than Sanctuary Lodge, a Belmond Hotel, Machu Picchu, an upscale property situated just outside the entrance.

Build your spiritual bond in Bali, Indonesia.

Private Dining at Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Bali, Indonesia — Courtesy of Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

The jungles and beaches of Bali are rife with opportunities for you and your partner to deepen your spiritual connection. A resort like Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, can arrange tours of nearby temples, sessions with traditional healers, and couples' spa sessions — all in addition to conventional romantic offerings like candlelit dinners and luxurious villas equipped with private pools.

Hit the slopes in Saint-Sauveur, Quebec, Canada.

Quebec ski resorts among the best near Montreal include Mont Saint-Sauveur. — Courtesy of Mont Saint-Sauveur

Saint-Sauveur has all the romance of a snow-dusted European town, without the long-haul flight time. Just an hour's drive north of Montreal, this ski destination sits among the peaks of the Laurentian Mountains. The resort here, Sommet Saint-Sauveur, offers cold-weather activities like skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing, as well as a hearty dose of French-Canadian charm. Winter sports by day and French food by night is an ideal combination for adventurous travelers looking for an extra-special Valentine’s Day. Book the romantic couples' packages at Manoir Saint-Sauveur, which includes a bottle of sparkling wine, a three-course dinner at the on-site restaurant La Tablée, and a 60-minute Swedish massage for two.

Go on a safari in the Serengeti, Tanzania.

Private Dining at the pool at Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti — Richard Waite / Courtesy of Four Seasons

Serengeti National Park is one of the most sought-after safari destinations in the world, playing host to quintessential wildlife experiences like the Great Migration, when millions of wildebeest and zebra cross through Tanzania, often followed by lions and leopards (their predators). Witnessing these animals in action can give you and your partner a new perspective and draw you closer as a result. And if you're assuming lodging and dining here will be more rustic than romantic, think again. At the Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, luxurious accommodations include plunge pool suites and freestanding villas. The lodge is in the middle of the Serengeti Plain, so it’s not uncommon to see animals come right up to the property.

See the aurora at Thingvellir National Park, Iceland.

Northern Lights at the Thingvellir National Park in Iceland — Friðþjófur M. / Getty Images

Valentine’s Day is a great time to see the northern lights in Iceland, since there's so little sunlight in winter between each long, aurora-strewn night. The northern lights are caused by collisions between solar particles and Earth’s magnetic field, and those tend to happen most frequently around the vernal equinox each March — meaning Iceland is also a great spot for a belated Valentine's trip. Spend a few days in Reykjavík, then head to Thingvellir National Park, a popular place to spot the lights not too far from the city.

Experience literary romance in Verona, Italy.

Valentine's Day at Piazza dei Signori in Verona, Italy — StrenghtOfFrame/Getty Images

A city for lovers, Verona is the fictional home of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. A five-day celebration called Verona in Love transforms the city each February, with symbols of romance everywhere you look. Heart-shaped lights illuminate the streets, hearts are projected onto buildings, and vendor stalls are arranged to form a giant heart-shaped market in Piazza dei Signori. The festival also features free concerts, poetry, a love song-writing contest, and a public reading of the most romantic letters to Juliet that have been sent to Verona from around the world. Local restaurants also offer special deals to celebrate the holiday.

Relax in a harborside hot tub in Copenhagen.

CopenHot, Hot Tubs in Copenhagen, Denmark — Courtesy of CopenHot

For the lovebirds who are sick of cold weather and need a little warmth in their lives, there may be nothing better than trying some Scandinavian hydrotherapy. At CopenHot, located in the city's hip Refshaleøen neighborhood, you can cozy up together in an outdoor hot tub overlooking Copenhagen Harbor — in the dead of winter. Once you’ve rinsed off, stop in at CopenHot’s panoramic sauna to seal in this wellness treatment.

Try the private island life in French Polynesia.

Overwater Bungalows at Vahine Island in Tahiti, French Polynesia — Cedric Angeles / Alamy

Private islands offer perfect seclusion and will seriously heighten the romance factor on your Valentine’s Day getaway. For a taste of the private life, head to French Polynesia, which is bursting with whole-island resorts where you and your fellow hotel guests will be the only people for miles around. Book a stay at Motu Nao Nao or The Brando, an eco-resort that has hosted President Obama and Beyoncé, among other celebrities.

Night kayak in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Serafina Beach Hotel, San Juan, Puerto Rico — Courtesy of Serafina Beach Hotel

Puerto Rico is just a short (and often inexpensive) flight from the East Coast, yet once you’re there, you’re in a different world. For an enviable Valentine’s Day experience sure to bring you and your loved one closer, stay at the Condado Ocean Club and let the concierge arrange a nighttime paddle around the Laguna del Condado for you. Between watching the lagoon's marine life through the clear bottom of your LED-illuminated kayak (or stand-up paddleboard) and lounging by the resort's infinity pool, the trip is bound to reignite your sense of adventure and give you time to bond with your honey.

Pamper your sweetheart in Singapore.

The Orchid, an open-air greenhouse designed to complement the hotel's garden and variety of tropical orchids. — Courtesy of Shangri-la Hotels

Take a trip to Shangri-La — the hotel in Singapore, that is. This paradise, located in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city, is one of the most luxurious hotels around and even made our 2023 readers' list of favorite Singapore hotels. Make Valentine's Day extra sweet with pastries from the on-site bakery, Shophouse, enjoy an afternoon tea service in the Rose Veranda, or book a romantic dinner for two at the Origin Grill steakhouse.

Take a Champagne bath in the Poconos, Pennsylvania.

The Champagne Tower Suite at Cove Haven Resort — Courtesy of Cove Haven Entertainment Resorts

If you want a more retro Valentine’s Day experience within driving distance of New York City, look no further than Cove Haven Resort in the Poconos. The four-level Champagne Tower suite features a whirlpool bath inside a seven-foot-tall bubbly glass, where you can live out your most lavish hot tub dreams. There's also an in-room fireplace, perfect for cozying up while snow falls across the mountains outside, and a heart-shaped heated pool — because everyone needs to lean into Valentine’s Day kitsch sometimes.

Get cozy in a five-star cottage in Barnard, Vermont.

Twin Farms in Barnard, Vermont, has rooms outfitted with stone fireplaces and hot tubs. — Courtesy of Twin Farms

There are quaint country bed-and-breakfasts, and then there’s Twin Farms. This resort's private cottages, tucked into the bucolic wilds of central Vermont, have been artfully designed with sumptuous details like stone hot tubs and mosaic tile fireplaces. This place was made for quality time. Watch the snow fall outside your windows with a tall pour from their Reserve Wine List, carve into that fresh powder on the private slopes, and, if you’re feeling social, rub elbows at the nightly cocktails-and-canapés reception. The staff can even prepare an intimate picnic for two almost anywhere on the property's 300 acres — pick the Lift Shack for a cozy spot boasting ski-hill views and a fireplace.

See a 30-foot chocolate fountain in Zurich.

A 30-foot chocolate fountain pours chocolate from a giant whisk into a pool in the Lindt chocolate museum. — Courtesy of Lindt

Sure, you could pick up a heart-shaped box of chocolates for your lover — or you could take them to Zurich to explore a whole museum of the stuff. The Lindt Home of Chocolate proves once and for all that the Swiss are the world’s premier chocolatiers. Peruse custom candy in the world’s largest Lindt chocolate shop, make your own sweets in the chocolateria, and, of course, marvel at the 30-foot-tall fountain that flows with pure Swiss chocolate. When you're done, sleep off your sugar high at a genuine Swiss chalet or Alpine castle. We recommend The Dolder Grand, perched above Lake Zurich.

Get the celebrity treatment in St. Barts.

View of St Barths Bucket Regatta — Studio Borlenghi / ALeA / Getty

Your partner is the most important person in your life, and with a jaunt to St. Barts, you can give them the true VIP treatment. This glamorous playground for the rich and famous nestled in Caribbean waters is resplendent with luxury hotels that boast private pools and powdery private beaches. Cheval Blanc St-Barth — or "the Maison," as it's sometimes known — sits on sun-kissed Flamands Beach and features beach suites with soaking tubs and sea views, garden suites with swimming pools and alfresco dining areas, and private Caribbean barbecues with French wine.

Visit the Island of Love in Croatia.

Galesnjak, Heart Love Island, Croatia — 4FR / Getty Images

In Croatia, you’ll find a heart-shaped experience that doesn’t have “Be Mine” stamped across it. Galešnjak is an island off the Dalmatian coast, and it gets its amorous nickname from its naturally occurring heart shape. The islet is all-natural, with absolutely no development, but it’s open to all tourists, beach-goers, and campers, so you and your sweetheart can still appreciate its unspoiled landscape. Stay in one of the numerous hotels or Airbnbs in nearby Turanj and charter a boat over to the paradisiacal retreat.

Stay in a love nest in San Luis Obispo, California.

Get all lovey-dovey at California’s Cupidcore capital. The Madonna Inn, halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, takes Valentine’s Day to a new level with kitschy maximalism and vintage charm. Tuck into the inn’s signature Pink Champagne cake in a rose-colored booth at the opulent Gold Rush Steak House before sneaking off to your Love Nest suite. Adorned in shades of pink, with a little lookout tower at the top of a spiral staircase, this room is sure to show you and your lover la vie en rose.

Live like royalty in Marrakesh, Morocco.

Aerial view of Royal Mansour's Grand Riad private terrace with pool and lounge areas — Courtesy of Royal Mansour

It’s no mirage: The private riads at the Royal Mansour are as lavish as they appear. Enjoy Marrakesh’s mild winter weather on your rooftop terrace by the private plunge pool before indulging your sweet tooth at a patisserie workshop. As if the natural splendor of the Ochre City weren’t enough, the Royal Mansour has a romance package that includes an intimate dinner and a private suite in the spa, where you and your partner will receive a sensuous massage.