Top Romantic Destinations in Europe

Cheap Valentine Getaways

Viennese Whirl

Have an Austrian Affair: palaces and balls, carriages and gowns. Vienna is a city that exudes romance, never more so than in early spring. The Glorious Ball Season is traditionally the time when young lovers are courted and seductions are consummated. Hooves echo on cobblestones as carriages rush between residencies, cherry blossom returns to trees, and the birds serenade the returning sun. Strolling the streets is like stepping into the past, making Vienna a sophisticated choice for a romantic weekend. Wrap up warm and see the sights! Book a bed with Hostel Ruthensteiner

Parisian Passions

Claiming the crown as the world's most romantic city, Paris supplies the perfect backdrop for romance. It has been the catalyst in some of the great love affairs of time and fiction: Napoleon and Josephine, Esmerelda and Quasimodo, Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir. The perfect place to wander arm-in-arm, consumed with love and longing. Paris is crammed with cobblestone passageways providing plenty of opportunities to lose yourselves in body and spirit, luscious gardens to complement your lover’s beauty and of course delectable restaurants serving up the finest aphrodisiacs.Stroll along the Sein, soak up the café culture, some of the world's best art and of course the Eiffel Tower. Need we say more? Check out St Christopher’s Inn.

Valencian Valentine's

For a Valentine’s Day hotter than your average, head to Spain's coast and enjoy Valencia's old town charm. Ancient Roman walls surround the cobbled streets and plazas. Valencia provides the perfect scene for relaxing with sun and sangria (or agua de Valencia) in one of the many pavement cafes. Also housing some of Spain's most impressive modern architecture and arts centres, Valencia is a vibrant city with an exhilarating night life. Sample tapas in the fountain filled squares and enjoy the scent of oranges and flower blossom along the river and parks. Don't miss out on a romantic walk on the beach (and the Paella Valenciana)! Book Home Youth Hostel.

Dutch Delight

Amsterdam's illuminated bridges in the evening light are amongst the most romantic locations in Europe. Cycling along canal banks, scooting past picture-box merchant houses, interspersed with Expressionist monuments, architecture in Holland’s capital gives a filmic quality to any occasion. As night falls, and the lamps glow upon bridges, the effect is enchanting, and the perfect setting for a romantic stroll. For the more adventurous, shall we say, there are of course the ‘specialist boutiques’ and venues offering everything and anything to make the night go with a bang. Warning: Amsterdam is a city famous for flowers and diamonds, and both will dent your budget. Book a bed.

Roman Holiday

Rome! The etymological and spiritual root of romance. The scene for some of history’s greatest love affairs; the Eternal City is an amorous place. Rome has a panoply of opportunities for romantic excursions: recreate the classic scene in La Dolce Vita, by wading through the Fontana di Trevi, the much romanticised Baroque masterpiece. Or imitate Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday¸ the epitome in understated cool, exploring the city on scooter, declaring your love on the magical Spanish Steps. The Piazza Navona, the view from the Vatican across the bridges at sunset. Stroll along the Tiber and soak up the history of one of Europe's most intriguing cities, and enjoy an aperativi in one of the romantic piazzas. Get swept up in the moment and book a romantic room!

Love Binge in Bruges

The saying goes, chocolate is a girl’s best friend and the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, so indulge yourself a little! With centuries of expertise in creating the world’s most decadently delightful chocolates, Bruges is a very enticing option for a romantic break. The day of love sees the city hosts the annual Chocolate Festival, where you can expect to be “pampered, surprised and seduced!” Get your hands dirty and treat yourselves to a chocolate fondue! The cobbled streets and charm of wandering by the canals in this quaint city will have you seduced. Book a hostel in Brugge!

Books and Roses in Barcelona

While Saint George might be renowned for his courage against dragons in England, for Catalans he represents a very different ideal; romantic love. The region's patron saint day, on April 23, is similar to Valentine's Day in other parts of the world, and is sometimes known as The Day of the Rose or The Day of the Book. This is because historically men would give their loved one a rose, and women would return the gesture with a book, based on the idea of "a rose for love and a book forever". These days, opportunistic merchants line the streets with stalls of roses and books, and on average four million roses and over 800,000 books will be sold over the course of the day! It's certainly more sophisticated than a bunch of petrol station flowers and a fluffy pink card. A perfect choice for a cultural escape with a loved one. Book a bed in Barcelona.