With Valentine’s day having just passed, there may be a few out there who feel they have been outdone by their partners. If you feel like that roses and card were not enough, then you might want to think about jumping on a plane and treating your beloved other half to a romantic weekend in a city they were not expecting. Here are a few romantic gems around the world off of the beaten path:
- Budapest
A popular city, Hungary’s capital of Budapest could offer you the best of both worlds with its affordability, yet stunning surroundings. The city sprawls along the river Danube and with views from Castle Hill and Gellert Hill there are plenty of opportunities to embrace while looking over the panorama. If you are scared of heights though, the river tours which will let you see the architecture Budapest can boast from their Imperial past. Wine and Beer festivals take place throughout the year so maybe you could coincide your romantic break with one of these, and make it a holiday to forget!
- Copenhagen
The Scandinavian city of Copenhagen is perfect for those couples who want to snuggle by a fire and get out of the cold with each other. The Danish capital also boasts winding cobble streets with which you can walk hand in hand and take yourself back to a simpler time. Whatever Paris can do Copenhagen can do too! If you walk across the bridge spanning the harbour Bryggebroen you can write your name on a padlock and attach it to a fence in time honoured clichéd tradition.
- Ghent
It may not be the first place that comes to mind but with Bruges bursting at the seams with tourists, just 20 minutes away is the equally beautiful city of Ghent. With its classic Belgian architecture, it’s like walking into a time machine. A visit to the botanical guardians will get you out of the notoriously wet Belgian weather. A river tour can be great way to see the city and the captains of various companies are also your guide. Naturally for a country like Belgium these will be in a variety of languages.
The restaurant Couer D’Artichaut wold be a great choice for a loved up couple, with a menu fit for Kings, in fact you might bump into one as it has been known for the King and Queen of Belgium to eat there. A great alternative to the usual, this surprising city could be a great place to discover together and go home and tell your friends about.
- Venice
It may be smelly, but if you really want to blow the socks off your partner and money is no object what better place to impress a loved one than the canaled wonder of Venice. Make sure to travel on the water taxi from the airport, it may be expensive at €90, but is well worth the view and the sense of grandeur of arriving by boat.
Make sure to visit the Rialto market and if you have access to a kitchen, make sure to pick up some fresh ingredients to cook for your partner and doubly impress them. If you can’t cook, try a local bacaro where the residents usually dine away from the hordes of tourists filling up St. Mark’s square. If architecture is more your thing, then almost every building is a delight, but check out the San Moise Church with its baroque stylings. It was also the birthplace of the casino with its Il Ridotto wing and you can walk the corridors pretending to be 17th Century high rollers!
- Bled
Another little known city, this picturesque area of Slovenia is an absolute hidden gem. You can do the searching for images yourself, it will make you realise straight away why it is included in this list. Slovenia is mountainous and looks like a fairy-tale. In summer you will be able to enjoy the delights of the glacial lake Bled, where the city lies, and in the winter it becomes a wonderland appearing as though a giant has dowsed it in icing sugar. Much like Ghent, none of your friends will know of Bled, this means you can enter with an open mind and run around like giddy teenagers discovering all the nook and crannies, before recanting tales to your friends.
