The World's Best Honeymoon Destinations: Romance at Every Budget

Planning a honeymoon is one of the most significant travel decisions most couples will ever make: this is the trip that sets the tone for how you travel together, the one you will talk about for the rest of your lives, and often the most money you will spend on a holiday in a single go. The good news is that the world's best honeymoon experiences are not all located behind a £20,000 price tag. From volcanic Azorean islands to butler-service African safari camps, from Kyoto in cherry blossom season to private atolls in French Polynesia, this guide covers the genuinely outstanding options at every price point, along with the practical information that makes the difference between a dream honeymoon and a stressful one.

Under £3,000 per Couple: Maximum Romance, Minimum Outlay

Lisbon and the Alentejo, Portugal

Portugal is the most underrated honeymoon destination in Europe for couples on a tighter budget. Lisbon offers historic hilltop neighbourhoods, excellent wine, one of the world's great dining scenes at prices well below Paris or London, and warm Atlantic beaches within an hour. Extend the honeymoon inland to the Alentejo, Portugal's sparsely populated heartland of cork forests, medieval walled towns, and agriturismo farmhouses: a herdade (farm estate) with a private pool in the Alentejo costs £100–150 per night, a fraction of equivalent Provence or Tuscany pricing. Two weeks for two people, including flights from the UK, is achievable for £2,000–2,500.

Puglia, Italy

The heel of the Italian boot is now firmly established on the romantic travel map. Trulli (traditional conical stone houses, many now converted into holiday rentals) in the Itria Valley, masseria (converted farmhouse hotels) with swimming pools set among olive groves, Baroque hilltop towns like Ostuni and Lecce, and the turquoise Adriatic and Ionian coastline make Puglia one of Italy's most romantic regions. A week in a private trullo costs £800–1,500; budget £2,500–3,000 total for a 10-day honeymoon including flights from the UK.

The Azores, Portugal

The nine volcanic islands of the Azores, a Portuguese archipelago in the mid-Atlantic, offer dramatic crater lakes, whale watching (the Azores sees 24 of the world's 80+ cetacean species), thermal pools built into lava rock, and a genuine sense of remoteness that more accessible European destinations cannot provide. São Miguel, the largest island, has the most facilities; Flores is the most wildly beautiful. Flights from Lisbon take 2–3 hours. A 10-day Azorean honeymoon including flights from the UK costs £1,800–2,800.

Montenegro

Montenegro has the dramatic Adriatic coastline of Croatia's Dalmatian coast at roughly half the price. The Bay of Kotor (a fjord-like inlet surrounded by medieval towns and mountains) is one of the most beautiful bodies of water in Europe. Perast, a tiny Baroque village with two island churches offshore, is achingly picturesque. A week's honeymoon in Montenegro including accommodation in a boutique hotel on the Bay of Kotor costs £1,500–2,500 per couple including flights.

£3,000 to £6,000 per Couple: The Classic Romantic Tier

Santorini, Greece

Santorini's cave hotels carved into the volcanic caldera cliff face, with infinity pools overlooking the submerged crater and the sunset view from Oia, represent one of the most photogenic honeymoon settings on earth. The island is best in May and June (before peak-season crowds and price surges) or September (warm sea, thinner crowds, lower prices than July–August). Expect to pay £250–600 per night for a genuine caldera-view cave suite. A week in Santorini for two, including flights from the UK, runs to £3,500–5,500 depending on accommodation choice and timing.

Amalfi Coast, Italy

The 50km Amalfi Coast drive between Sorrento and Salerno is one of Europe's most romanticised stretches of road, and with good reason. Clifftop villages spilling down to the sea, lemon groves, ancient Roman villas, and the turquoise Tyrrhenian below: this is as picturesque as Europe gets. Hiring a private boat for a day (from €300–500) is the essential Amalfi experience, allowing you to reach coves inaccessible by road and anchor for a swim in water of extraordinary clarity. Book accommodation well ahead: the best hotels in Positano and Ravello sell out a year in advance for June and September dates.

Kyoto in Cherry Blossom Season

Japan is one of the world's great romantic travel destinations and Kyoto in cherry blossom season (late March to mid-April, exact timing varies by year) is its most romantic week. The Philosopher's Path along the canal between Nanzenji and Ginkakuji, the vermillion torii gates of Fushimi Inari at dawn, and a ryokan (traditional inn) with a kaiseki dinner are experiences that no other destination replicates. A 12-day Japan honeymoon covering Tokyo and Kyoto, with good ryokan accommodation and a Japan Rail Pass, costs approximately £4,000–5,500 per couple including flights from the UK.

Marrakech, Morocco

A riad (traditional courtyard house) with a rooftop pool in Marrakech's medina is one of the most atmospheric honeymoon accommodations available anywhere. The best riads (Dar Ahlam, El Fenn, Riad Yasmine at more accessible prices) transform ordinary evenings into something genuinely extraordinary. Combine the medina with a private day trip to the Atlas Mountains, a hammam session, and a dinner in the Djemaa el-Fna square. A week in Marrakech including flights costs £2,500–4,500 depending on riad quality.

£6,000 to £12,000 per Couple: True Luxury

The Maldives

The Maldives remains the benchmark overwater bungalow honeymoon destination. Its 1,200 islands are spread across a vast area of the Indian Ocean, and most resorts occupy their own private atoll, accessible only by speedboat or seaplane from Malé. At the best-value end of genuine luxury, Cinnamon Dhonveli and Kandima Maldives offer overwater bungalows from $350–550 per night. Mid-luxury options include Constance Moofushi and Baros, from $700–1,000 per night, both with exceptional house reef snorkelling. A two-week Maldives honeymoon with overwater accommodation and seaplane transfers costs £6,000–10,000 per couple depending on resort tier. Book 8–12 months in advance for the best availability and rates.

Bali, Indonesia

Bali combines rice terrace views, genuine spiritual culture, world-class spa treatments, and extraordinary value into one of the most beloved honeymoon destinations in the world. A private villa with a plunge pool in the Ubud rice paddies costs £100–300 per night at mid-range. Combine this with three to four nights on the cleaner, less crowded island of Nusa Penida (catamaran ferry, 45 minutes from Sanur) for dramatic sea cliff scenery and manta ray snorkelling. A two-week Bali honeymoon including flights from the UK costs £4,000–8,000 depending on villa quality and activities.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka offers one of the most varied and romantic two-week itineraries available for this budget. Start in the ancient ruins of Sigiriya, take the scenic tea-country train from Kandy to Ella (one of the most beautiful train journeys in Asia), stay in a boutique tea planter's bungalow in the hill country, then finish at the colonial-era Galle Fort on the southern coast, where boutique hotels occupy restored Dutch merchant houses within the 17th-century walls. A 14-day Sri Lanka honeymoon including flights from the UK costs £5,000–9,000 per couple.

£12,000 and Above: The Finest Experiences in the World

Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Bora Bora's overwater bungalows above a turquoise lagoon with a Mount Otemanu volcanic peak backdrop represent the peak of the overwater bungalow experience. The Four Seasons Bora Bora and the St Regis Bora Bora Nui are the two outstanding properties. Overwater villa rates at both run from $1,200–2,500 per night. A 10-night Bora Bora honeymoon at one of these properties, including flights from the UK via Los Angeles, costs £12,000–20,000+ per couple. The experience genuinely justifies the price for couples who have it within reach.

Amanpulo, Philippines

Amanpulo occupies the entire Pamalican Island in the Sulu Sea, an eight-minute private charter flight from Manila. It holds 42 casitas and pavilions, a ratio of staff to guests that ensures service of extraordinary quality. Rates start at approximately $1,800 per night. A week at Amanpulo costs in the region of £12,000–15,000 per couple including the charter flights from Manila.

Singita, Tanzania or South Africa

Singita's safari camps in the Serengeti and Kruger National Park represent the finest end of African safari accommodation. The Singita Grumeti concession in Tanzania borders the Serengeti's northern migration route and the camps, including Faru Faru and Sabora, provide butler service, private guiding, and extraordinary wildlife access. Rates are approximately $2,000–3,000 per person per night all-inclusive. A five-night Singita honeymoon safari costs £14,000–20,000 per couple.

Booking Tips and Honeymoon Perks

Always mention your honeymoon when making a booking, even if it feels awkward. Hotels at every price point frequently offer complimentary upgrades, room decorations, a bottle of Champagne, or a complimentary breakfast to honeymooners. The upgrade you get by mentioning it when checking in rather than at booking stage is often a better room than the one originally offered.

For peak-demand destinations, especially the Maldives, Bora Bora, Santorini in summer, and the Amalfi Coast in June and September, book 8–12 months in advance. Waiting until three months before departure means paying full rate for whatever is left.

Honeymoon Travel Insurance

Standard travel insurance policies may not provide adequate cover for a honeymoon. Check specifically that your policy covers: wedding gift deposits (if your honeymoon was gifted), the full accommodation value in the event of cancellation (many policies have per-person limits that do not cover expensive resort packages), and any pre-booked experiences such as dive trips or private tours. Medical evacuation cover is particularly important for remote destinations such as the Maldives or Amanpulo, where the nearest hospital may be a helicopter or boat ride away. A specialist couples or wedding travel insurance policy from providers such as Cover-More or Battleface typically costs £60–120 extra per couple but provides cover tailored to the specific financial risks of honeymoon travel.

Related: Maldives: Which Resort is Right for You? | Bali Travel Guide: Ubud, Seminyak, and Nusa Penida