The Best Destinations We Have Traveled to as a Couple, Ranked
Updated April 2026 | 5 min read
Top couples destinations at a glance
| Japan | Italy | New Zealand | Istanbul | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food | Best we have had anywhere | The obvious draw | Not the main draw | Extraordinary food scene |
| Ease of travel | Efficient transport, safe streets; language barrier outside tourist areas | Easy pace; Amalfi Coast transport can cause arguments | English-speaking, good roads, feels safe everywhere | Massive city; hotel location matters more than anywhere |
| Cost | Not a deciding factor | Not a deciding factor | Expensive | Great value for money |
| Main drawback | Language barrier; small hotel rooms | Crowds, especially in summer | Expensive and very far from everywhere | Traffic is brutal; city is massive |
| Standout moment | Random ramen shop in Shinjuku at 11pm | Afternoon wine at a sidewalk cafe in Florence | Road tripping the South Island | Sunset from a rooftop bar over the Bosphorus |
| Best for | Any couple; repeat visits | Couples who want to slow down and eat well | Couples who like the outdoors | Couples who want culture and great food at good value |
Jenna and I have been to over fifteen countries together across six continents. We have done beach vacations, city breaks, road trips, adventure travel, and a frankly unreasonable number of F1 races. Not every destination hits the same way when you are traveling as a couple, so here is our honest ranking.
I am ranking these on the overall couples experience: how easy it is to enjoy together, the food scene, walkability, the ratio of romantic moments to logistical headaches, and whether we left wanting to come back.
Tier 1: Would Go Back Tomorrow
1. Japan
Nothing else comes close. The combination of incredible food, efficient transport, safe streets at any hour, and the constant feeling of discovering something new makes Japan the best place we have traveled together. Tokyo is endlessly interesting, Kyoto is beautiful in ways that photographs cannot capture, and the food is the best we have had anywhere. We have been twice and will go again. Jenna still talks about a random ramen shop in Shinjuku that we found at 11pm on a Tuesday. The only downside: the language barrier is real outside of tourist areas, and hotel rooms are small. Neither matters.
2. Italy
We have also been to Italy twice, and it delivers on every front. The food is the obvious draw, but what makes Italy great for couples is the pace. You can spend an entire afternoon drinking wine at a sidewalk cafe in Florence and it counts as an activity. The Amalfi Coast is stunning. Rome has more to do than you can fit in a week. The downside: Italy tests your patience with crowds, especially in summer, and the Amalfi Coast transport situation can cause actual arguments if you are not prepared for it.
3. New Zealand
If you and your partner like being outdoors, New Zealand is unmatched. Road tripping the South Island together was one of the best experiences of our lives. The landscapes change every thirty minutes. The drives themselves are the attraction. It is also extremely easy to travel here: everyone speaks English, the roads are good, and the country feels safe everywhere. The downside: it is expensive and very far from everywhere.
Tier 2: Excellent for Couples
4. Istanbul
Istanbul does not get enough credit as a couples destination. The food scene is extraordinary, the architecture is jaw-dropping, and the city has an energy that is hard to describe. Watching the sunset from a rooftop bar overlooking the Bosphorus while the call to prayer echoes across the city is about as romantic as it gets. Great value for money too. The downside: the city is massive and traffic is brutal, so location of your hotel matters more here than almost anywhere.
5. Bali
Bali earns its reputation. Ubud in particular is an incredible base for couples: the rice terraces, the temples, the yoga and spa culture, the food. We spent a week there and did not run out of things to do. The beaches in the south are solid but not the best we have seen. The downside: the traffic in southern Bali is terrible, and the Instagram crowd can make certain spots feel more like a photo set than a destination. Stay in Ubud or Canggu and you avoid most of this.
6. Paris
The cliche exists for a reason. Paris is excellent for couples. Walking along the Seine at night, eating pastries for breakfast, sitting in a park with a bottle of wine. The city does romance well and does not apologize for it. The food scene has gotten more interesting in the past few years, with younger chefs doing creative things beyond classic French cuisine. The downside: Paris is expensive, the Metro smells, and the city has more attitude than anywhere else in Europe. None of this matters if you go in with the right expectations.
7. Barcelona
Barcelona has the ideal mix: great food, beautiful architecture, beach access, nightlife, and walkability. It is one of the easiest European cities to enjoy without a plan. Just pick a neighborhood and wander. The Gaudi buildings are worth the hype. The downside: pickpockets are aggressive, and the tourist density around La Rambla and Sagrada Familia can ruin the vibe.
Tier 3: Good With Caveats
8. The Balkans (Dubrovnik, Split, Kotor, Belgrade, Ljubljana)
Our Balkans road trip was one of our favorite travel experiences, but I would not call it a classic couples trip. It is more of an adventure. Dubrovnik is romantic but overpriced and overcrowded. Kotor is stunning. Belgrade is wild. Ljubljana is underrated. The driving itself is part of the experience. Best for couples who like to be active and do not need luxury. The downside: some of the infrastructure is rough, and the driving can be stressful on mountain roads.
9. Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a perfect two or three-day trip. The canal walks are legitimately romantic, the museums are world-class, and the food has improved dramatically. But it runs out of steam after a few days, and the party-tourist crowd can overwhelm certain areas. Best as a long weekend or paired with another destination.
10. London
London has endless things to do, and the food scene is the best it has ever been. But it is an expensive, large, gray city that requires a lot of logistics. It is better for couples who want culture and dining than for those looking for a romantic escape. We enjoy it every time but leave exhausted.
11. Mexico City
Mexico City is one of the best food cities on earth and remarkably affordable. The neighborhoods of Roma and Condesa are walkable and full of great restaurants. The downside for couples: the city is enormous, and getting around during rush hour can eat hours of your day. It also requires more street awareness than most European cities.
Tier 4: Great Trips, Not Specifically Great for Couples
12-15. Jordan, Austria/Munich, Dubai, Sao Paulo
These were all good trips, but they were not defined by the couples experience. Jordan is incredible but more of an adventure destination. Vienna and Salzburg are beautiful but felt more like cultural tourism than a couples trip. Dubai has luxury but felt sterile to us. Sao Paulo was an F1 trip first, city trip second.
16-18. Singapore, South Korea, Bonaire
Singapore is clean, efficient, and has great food, but two or three days is enough. South Korea is underrated and we want to go back for longer. Bonaire is a diver’s paradise but has limited dining and nightlife options for couples who are not diving every day.
Where We Want to Go Next
Greece is at the top of the list. Everything we hear about Santorini and the Cycladic islands sounds like the ideal couples trip: stunning scenery, great food, small enough to feel intimate. Portugal is also on the list for a similar combination of food, walkability, and value. If you want to read about how we plan and budget for all of this, check out our couples budgeting post and our guide on planning a trip together without fighting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best country to visit as a couple?
Japan is the best country we have traveled to as a couple. The food, transport, and safety make it easy to enjoy together, and the constant feeling of discovering something new holds up across multiple trips. We have been twice and are already planning to go again.
Is Italy good for a couples trip?
Yes, Italy is one of the best couples destinations we have been to. What makes it work is the pace: you can spend an entire afternoon drinking wine at a sidewalk cafe in Florence and it counts as an activity. The main things to prepare for are summer crowds and the Amalfi Coast transport situation, which can cause arguments if you are not ready for it.
Is New Zealand good for couples travel?
If you and your partner like being outdoors, New Zealand is unmatched. Road tripping the South Island together was one of the best experiences of our lives, with landscapes that change every thirty minutes. The downsides are cost and distance: it is expensive and very far from everywhere.
Is Istanbul worth visiting as a couple?
Istanbul is underrated as a couples destination. The food scene is extraordinary, the architecture is jaw-dropping, and it offers great value for money compared to most European cities. The main thing to know is that the city is massive and traffic is brutal, so where you stay matters more here than almost anywhere else.
Affiliate disclosure: This post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you. SafetyWing, Skyscanner, Airalo, Booking.com, Viator.
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Written by Jenna Fattah
I have visited 25+ countries across 6 continents, attended 7 Formula 1 races, and spent 4 years writing about what actually works and what I would do differently. Every recommendation on this site comes from trips I planned and paid for myself. Read more about me
