Skip Santorini, dodge the Maldives because romance Is Alive in the Weirdest Corners of the Earth.
You and your partner are unique. While other couples flock to Bora Bora like moths to overpriced citronella candles, you crave something, different. You’re not about that cookie cutter honeymoon with heart shaped towels and mimosas that taste like sadness. You want shared awe, unexpected wonder, lace with a little fear.
So, pack your mismatched hiking boots, update your will, and grab your least judgmental attitude because these are real, underrated vacation spots for couples who are over sunset clichés and ready for love in all the wrong (and wonderfully right) places.
1. Giethoorn, Netherlands – Venice Without the Chaos or Pigeons
Forget the gondolas. Try a whisper boat. Giethoorn is a village so peaceful it feels like it was designed by two introverts with a Ph.D. in romance and zero tolerance for car horns. With no roads, you’ll float past thatched-roof cottages like you’re in a Nordic fairy tale — one where nobody’s trying to sell you selfie sticks.
What You'll Do in Giethoorn
Paddle your love boat under arched bridges, argue over steering, then make up over waffles thicker than your emotional baggage.
Romance Rating:
9/10. Would elope here in wooden clogs.
2. Isla Holbox, Mexico – Cancun’s Cool Cousin That Doesn’t Brag
This island off the Yucatán Peninsula is where flamingos hang out like indie rockers who don’t care about your Instagram. Holbox (pronounced “hole-bosh,” not “whole-box,” you monster) boasts bioluminescent waters, zero cars, and beaches untouched by aggressive resort DJs.
What You'll Do in Isla Holbox:
Swim in sparkly plankton, eat ceviche with your hands, ride bikes like a couple in an indie rom-com montage.
Romance Rating:
11/10 if you like each other more when covered in salt and sand.
3. Kotor, Montenegro – The Other Adriatic, Now With 100% Less Crowds
Dubrovnik’s quieter, hotter sibling, Kotor offers medieval charm, fjord style scenery, and a whole lot of stray cats. Couples can get lost in labyrinthine alleyways, which is fun until you realize one of you left the map back at the Airbnb shaped like a castle.
What You'll Do in Kotor:
Climb ancient fortress stairs until your legs scream, then reward yourselves with fresh seafood and a wine that may or may not have been made in someone’s basement.
Romance Rating:
8/10. Points deducted for cardio induced arguments.
4. Český Krumlov, Czech Republic - A Fairytale, But With More Beer
This town looks like it was built by elves who got their architecture degree from Pinterest. It has a twisty river, a dramatic castle, and enough cobblestones to sprain your ankle romantically.
What You'll Do in Český Krumlov:
Float down the Vltava River in a raft you’ll absolutely fight over steering, then end the day in a medieval tavern where the waiter calls you “my liege.”
Romance Rating:
9/10. Extra points if one of you brings a cape.
5. Colchagua Valley, Chile – Wine Country for People Who’ve Had It With Napa
If you and your partner are into vineyards but allergic to influencer brunches, this South American stunner is your jam (grape jam, specifically). Located a couple hours from Santiago, the Colchagua Valley serves up world class reds, rustic charm, and not a single person saying, “I’m getting notes of leather.”
What You'll Do in Colchagua Valley:
Tour wineries without a single bachelorette party in sight, then sleep it off under the stars in a vineyard cabin with no Wi-Fi (finally, peace).
Romance Rating:
10/10. Especially after the third glass of Carménère.
6. Gjirokastër, Albania – For Lovers of Stone, Ghosts, and Solitude
This Ottoman era hill town is like the set of a romantic horror movie, minus the horror. Stone houses, narrow streets and views that could fix a relationship. It's gorgeous, under visited, and weirdly full of charm for a place that looks haunted in the best way.
What You'll Do in Gjirokastër:
Explore castles, drink raki you’ll regret, and whisper sweet nothings while pretending not to notice how steep the roads are.
Romance Rating:
8/10. Bonus if your couple aesthetic is “medieval Balkan mystery.”
7. The Azores, Portugal – Iceland, But Affordable and With Cheese
These volcanic islands in the middle of the Atlantic are basically what would happen if New Zealand and Hawaii had a moody, stunning baby and raised it in a cow pasture. Green cliffs. Hot springs. No crowds. Ideal for couples who want to feel like they discovered something.
What You'll Do in The Azores:
Bathe in thermal springs, hike into craters, and eat cheese made by cows who’ve seen more sunsets than you have.
Romance Rating:
10/10. Zero distractions. One hundred percent majestic seclusion.
8. Ronda, Spain – Suspended Over a Gorge Like Your Relationship in 2016
Ronda sits on a gorge so dramatic, it feels like a metaphor for your entire romantic history. And yet, it’s breathtaking. Hemingway thought so, and that man knew how to brood with a view. You’ll eat, drink, and watch sunsets from the edge of a cliff, ideally while wearing flowing clothing and not arguing about Google Maps.
What You'll Do in Ronda:
Wander whitewashed alleys, visit bullrings if you’re into that, or just dramatically stare into the abyss while holding hands.
Romance Rating:
9/10. Knock off a point if either of you is afraid of heights.
9. Faroe Islands – Iceland’s Secret Cousin with a Better Poker Face
Green cliffs. Dramatic weather. Sheep that judge your fashion choices. The Faroes are for the couple that watches murder documentaries together and thinks “this would be a great place to disappear into love or fog.”
What You'll Do in Faroe Islands:
Hike into landscapes that don’t look real, eat fermented fish you pretend to enjoy, and stay in turf roofed cabins that feel like a Wes Anderson set.
Romance Rating:
10/10 if you like your romance moody and misty.
10. Matera, Italy – Cave Life, but Make It Sensual
Matera, in southern Italy, is one of the oldest continually inhabited places on Earth. Most of the homes are caves carved into rock. Sound bleak? It’s not. It’s sexy, it’s mysterious, it’s like Airbnb, but ancient and slightly more likely to collapse.
What You'll Do in Matera:
Sleep in a luxurious stone cave, drink wine in candlelight, and bathe like Roman emperors who knew how to throw a date night.
Romance Rating:
11/10. What’s hotter than sustainable prehistoric seduction?
Final Thoughts:
Sure, you could go to Paris, or Bali or any place that has a Hilton and a printable travel guide that Paper Plane Tours Blog has written about. But where’s the adventure in that? You and your partner deserve a getaway that matches your shared quirks. Something weird, and intimate. Something with just enough unpredictability to keep things spicy and possibly mildly terrifying.
Whether it’s floating through a Dutch fairytale or getting mildly drunk in a Balkan ghost town, these destinations promise unforgettable moments and at least one inside joke that will live on long after you forget your passport again.
Now go, fall in love with the world. Just not in the same places as everyone else. That’s basic.
