It’s been a while since I wrote a good ol’ listicle. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I thought I’d compile 5 Destinations for the romantic in you. Whether you’re boo’ed up or single, these cities make for a lovely gateway where romance can be found at every corner. If you’re not romantic – well, I’m sorry for you – these cities still have something to offer for a quick 4-day vacation (assuming you’re traveling from the East coast). Let’s get started!
1. Paris, France 🇫🇷
You know I wouldn’t make this list without putting “The City of Love” on it. Paris has art, music, picturesque neighborhoods, a strong terrace culture, and good wine. The food can be hit-or-miss ngl, but if you go to Black-owned restaurants or vegan spots, it’s usually a hit.
If you have the budget, a hotel room with a view of the Eiffel Tower is probably the most romantic setting you can get. If your wallet doesn’t run that deep (mine doesn’t 😅), the 9th, 11th, and 18th arrondissement are good neighborhoods to stay in. One of my favorite walks is to start at the Jardin du Palais Royal, go down to the Louvre, then turn west and walk through the Jardin des Tuileries and Place de La Concorde. Once there, you can either walk the Champs-Elysées all the way to the Arc de Triomphe, or walk alongside the Seine all the way to the Eiffel Tower. It’s a gorgeous walk early in the morning when the city hasn’t waken up yet and/or after the evening rush hour.
In the Arc de Triomphe area for lunch or dinner? Get a reservation at Leriche Restaurant for elevated Caribbean cuisine. One word of caution though – it is not cheap. Take a look at their Valentine’s Day menu to get an idea of what’s offered.
Don’t feel like walking and it’s a sunny day? Grab some croissants or a baguette at Boulangerie La Parisienne and have a picnic in the Jardin du Luxembourg. My favorite part of the garden is la Fontaine Médicis. It’s quiet and peaceful, but the garden is gigantic and you will definitely find a spot to your taste.
In the evening, take a sunset cruise with Bateaux Parisiens, watch the Eiffel Tower’s lights twinkle on the hour every hour, or go dancing at the Jardin Tino Rossi. Salsa, tango, swing – if it’s a couple dance, they probably have it. Even in winter! (You won’t see me there though 😆). Note that dances don’t happen every day but you’ll have more chances if you go between Thursday and Sunday.
Looking for a more bougie experience? Catch a ballet at the really really really swanky Palais Garnier (you can also visit the Palais on a self-guided or guided tour) or do a wine tasting in the Louvre’s cellars.
All of these activities can be done solo or with a loved one. The best parts of Paris are found by walking around and let the vibes guide you.
2. Lisbon, Portugal 🇵🇹
I know what you’re thinking. Lisbon? Romantic? How? If I was talking to you right now, I would tell you to close your eyes and picture the scene, but obviously you need your eyes to read. So check this.
You wake up in the morning in your quiet apartment at Casa Amora Studios. Your breakfast is fresh and hand-delivered at the time you previously set. You either have your breakfast at the studio or step outside across the street in the peaceful Jardim das Amoreiras where you can also grab coffee at the Quiosque. If it’s Tuesday or Saturday, you can head to the flea market at Campo de Santa Clara and hunt for souvenirs. If it’s not too cold, maybe you can take a stroll in the Jardim da Estrela.
For sunset, you have two options. Have a glass of wine at one of the numerous miradouros (viewpoints) of the city or take a sunset cruise on the Tagus in a traditional boat.
For dinner, get a reservation at Lost In (ask for a table outside with a view) or at Clube de Jornalistas and get lost in the vibes. Finally, catch a movie at one of the open-air cinemas (Cine Society Lisbon or Black Cat Cinema) in the summer.
After you’ve done all that, come back and tell me Lisbon isn’t romantic. I’ll wait.
3. Sevilla, Spain 🇪🇸
Another surprise on the list. Sevilla? Really? Yes, really. Because when you’re queer and feel accepted wherever you go, it deserves a shout (this is also the case for Lisbon, in case you’re wondering).
Sevilla’s old city is a joy to explore. The narrow cobblestone streets, the colorful buildings, the towering giralda of the cathedral; it’s all very romantic in the morning light. If you’re tired of buildings, the gardens of the Real Alcázar and the Parque de María Luisa are massive enough to make it feel like it’s just the two of you in this world. The latter even has a waterfall.
In the evening, you can grab dinner at one of the many restaurants with outdoor tables in the old city, and eat a gelato while sitting on the steps of the Cathedral while a busker provides a soundtrack to the scene. It’s truly lovely.
4. Prague, Czechia 🇨🇿
I debated for a long time whether or not I should put Prague on this list since my time spent there was minimal compared to the other cities and I feel like it’s the kind of city where you have to dig to find the jewels. Who doesn’t like a good adventure? 😄
Although Prague requires more work than the other cities, that doesn’t mean you can’t set a romantic tone to your trip from the get-go. First, the choice of accommodations. You definitely want somewhere with a view of the river. If you have the funds, the Four Seasons Hotel has one of the best views of the city. We stayed at the Archibald At the Charles Bridge and were very pleased with our river view room (you’ll see it on YouTube soon enough 😉). There are plenty of small restaurants around including the cutest cake shop Fabešová Iveta – Werichova vila – the perfect stop for an afternoon date.
Like Paris, Prague has a gorgeous theater/opera house called Národní divadlo where you can either tour the building or watch live opera with English subtitles. If you want a more hipster vibe, MeetFactory, an art center inside a repurposed railyard may better suit your needs. Cruises on the river are also a thing here. I feel like we have enough to set up a romantic getaway in Eastern Europe.
5. Venice, Italy 🇮🇹
Let me tell you the story of how I feel in love with Venice, or Venezia. It was March 2018. I caught a deal to Amsterdam (back when Wow Airlines had a 50% sale to Europe every Christmas – god, I miss those days). And from Amsterdam, I booked a low-budget flight to Verona. From Verona, I took the train to Venezia. This is key. The experience is not the same if you fly to Marco Polo Airport which is Venice’s airport. When I exited the train station and saw the Grand Canal in front of me and the green copper dome of San Simeon Piccolo Church on the other side, I was speechless. I felt like I had stepped into a movie. Not a movie set. A movie.
As I walked through alleys, crossed little bridges, went up and down stairs on the way to my Airbnb, no car sounds, not many tourists (I stayed in the San Polo neighborhood, not far from the Rialto Bridge but away from the crowds), my heart was singing. And when I went to Piazza San Marco after sunset when most of the tourists/day trippers had gone, and I walked by the water with the old-school street lamps lighting the way, feeling the breeze, and hearing the sea water lapping against the parked gondolas, I was gone. In that moment, it was the best city in the world.
That’s the romance of Venice. If you stay away from the tourist hot spots, it’s a quiet city. You hear kids playing soccer in the piazzas, boats floating past you in the narrow rivers criss crossing the city, nonnas walking out of church. On a boat or on a land, it’s a city that makes you want to hold your partner close and share these romantic moments. Plus, there’s Italian food! 🤤
Just stay away from Piazza San Marco and the Rialto Bridge during the day.
That’s it. Those are the 5 cities for this year. If you’re wondering why they’re all in Europe, there’s three reasons:
- From the East coast, flights to Europe tend to be overnight, so you can leave a Thursday evening, land on a Friday morning (afternoon for the cities more east) and return on a Monday afternoon. Easy weekend getaway
- Most of these cities are queer-friendly. Question mark for Venice since Italy has veered far-right in the last election, but we were in Milan for Christmas and had no issues
- I have been to all these cities, either by myself and/or with my partner. I didn’t want to give you some cliché Paris, Maldives, Seychelles, etc list that would have places I never set foot in. That’s not my style
So now, it’s your turn. Tell me in the comments, what cities have you visited that you feel I should add to next year’s list?
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