Best European Honeymoon Hotels

It’s hard to imagine a more exotic and romantic honeymoon destination than Greece. And Amanzoe, on a hilltop on Peloponnese’s east coast, takes that vision to exclusive new heights.

Take a helicopter from Athens and land in a place with a private beach club on a postcard-perfect bay where everything just feels tailor-made to you. Speedboats wait to zip you to the nearby islands of Hydra and Spetses, or to secret coves for some alone time (you can also take a kayak).

The resort boasts 38 minimalist pavilions, beach cabanas, and villas, each with a private terrace and pool looking out over the blue Aegean Sea. Here, luxury translates to many things, from the quiet serenity of time spent lazing on the sand, to the hospitable staff who call each guest by name.

Amanzoe has an on-site fitness center, an expansive spa that delivers signature treatments using Aman Skincare, and four restaurants serving cuisine inspired by Greece culture and beyond. 

Quaint, yet expansive, this English countryside estate, just one hour from London, is a favorite of royals, stars, and regular folk who wish to get away. Plus, Heckfield Place is the perfect bucket list honeymoon destination for couples with an appreciation for farm-to-table cuisine. The hundreds of acres surrounding the restored 1700s Georgian manor boast organic farms, orchards, and gardens that serve the famed Chef Skye Gyngell’s two restaurants, Marle and Hearth.

A cozy atmosphere pervades, whether you're hiking, picnicking, sipping wine, or snuggling up in the hotel's cinema watching a flick. The fitness center offers yoga and Pilates classes, as well as signature personal training sessions, and a divine spa uses proprietary natural products.

Here, you'll spend romantic rendezvous in your modern, yet earthy, guest room. But you can also attend The Assembly, where you can experience movies and events that center around the core themes of the estate.   

The Amalfi Coast is the cure for anything. And Le Sirenuse, a family-run hotel perched dramatically above the Mediterranean Sea, delivers the ultimate in accommodations in the iconic honeymoon destination of Positano.

This coast is legendary, and for good reason—you’ll never tire of the views from your vibrantly tiled, atmospheric room or suite (there are 58 of them in total), especially those with private terraces. At the two bars (one is located at the pool), it’s perfectly acceptable to drink Prosecco at any time of day.

There’s plenty of sightseeing in Positano, but you can also indulge in pure relaxation by the hotel's pool, surrounded by lemon trees and plush lounge chairs. The comprehensive spa, complete with a sauna, steam bath, and ice room, offers synchronized couples’ treatments. And, the Michelin-star restaurant, La Sponda, is a treat worthy of the most romantic trip of your life.   

Abadia Retuerta LeDomaine is a place where you can stargaze on the grounds of a historic abbey, hot air balloon over acres of vineyards, listen to a private concert piano with a side of wine, and taste Spanish tapas under a 100-year-old oak tree—all in one vacation.

This hotel-winery, and spa, boasts a serious history. It’s set in a 12th-century abbey with a unique vibe that makes you believe you can still hear monks chanting. The property is graced with a biodynamic garden, and you can enjoy wine tasting among the barrels, bike and horseback riding, hot air ballooning, and eating at a Michelin-star restaurant, Refectorio.

In less than a two-hour train ride from Madrid, you're transported to the Duero Valley's rolling hills, seen from all of the guest rooms which are serviced by a 24-hour butler. Book a treatment in the super-luxe couple’s spa suite at Santuario (awarded "Best Historic Luxury Spa in Europe" at the 2022 World Luxury Awards), where you'll release every ounce of tension ever held.

This luxury hotel delivers the best of both worlds. It's located on a private island in the Venetian lagoon, only 10 minutes from Piazza San Marco, so you can have seclusion and intimacy whenever you want it.

Fifteen acres of ancient gardens and 900-year-old monastery buildings—complete with soaring ceilings, Instagram-worthy staircases, and silk-wrapped walls—grace the grounds. And this decadence carries over into 196 guest rooms boasting classic design mixed with modern conveniences.

A stunningly large heated swimming pool is the showpiece of the resort and makes for a beautiful place to lounge with a spritz. When you're done jogging, playing tennis, or practicing yoga, spoil yourself at the spa before indulging in a multi-course fantasy of Venetian and Italian specialties at Acquerello Restaurant, one of five dining and drinking venues on the premises.  

If you’re seeking a classic European honeymoon, Paris is the place. And the George V is the hotel in the City of Light. This Four Seasons property is, hands-down, one of the best hotels in Europe, made up of 244 timeless rooms and suites, outfitted with crystal chandeliers and deep soaking tubs. Eiffel Tower views abound, and the hotel sits just steps off the Champs-Elysées. (You’ll have to pass through the famed floral artist, Jeff Leatham’s, ever-rotating installations to get there.)

George V's three restaurants claim a total of five Michelin stars, and 50,000 bottles grace the wine cellar. Foodies can even jet off to Versailles with Chef Zanoni in a hybrid sports car to pick seasonal produce, and then enjoy a cooking class back at the hotel. Don’t miss the elegant swimming pool and spa, where cutting-edge technology is harnessed to produce a sublime sense of calm.

Lake Como is the iconic gem of Italy's Lombardy region. And though the heritage hotels on its banks are out of this world, this relative newcomer, Il Sereno, has stolen hearts with Patricia Urquiola’s modernist take on elegance. All 40 suites offer floor-to-ceiling windows and terraces facing the water. And it's hard to imagine a 60-foot freshwater infinity pool more thoughtfully placed, as if it's floating atop the picturesque lake.

Il Sereno boasts a private beach and dock for arrival by boat, and for scenic lake cruises on the custom-built wooden Riva. Nestled underneath centuries-old arches, the hotel's spa makes an ideal place to while away an afternoon with your spouse. Make sure to bring your appetite, since Executive Chef Raffaele Lenzi leads the Michelin-star, indoor-outdoor restaurant, Al Lago, known for pristinely plated prix fixe meals (complete with plant-based options).

When it comes to fairytale honeymoons, nowhere is as magical as the 13th-century Ashford Castle, set on 350 acres along the shores of Lough Corrib and the River Cong. This setting has it all—woodlands, a lake, and a river. Plus, the hotel boasts 83 guest accommodations that you’ll never want to leave, especially if you’re booked in the super-private Hideaway Cottage.

But there’s also plenty to do here. Equestrian pursuits abound, as well as fly fishing, enrolling in Ireland’s inaugural school of falconry, and even enjoying nine holes of golf.

Indulge in a bubbly and candlelit five-course table d’hote menu in the sophisticated George V Dining Room. Your cherry on top can be a couple's treatment in the castle's renovated state-of-the-art spa.

The spectacular Bavarian Alps are home to one of the world’s most luxurious spa resorts, some 60 miles south of Munich. Crystalline lakes, babbling brooks, impressive peaks, authentic villages, fairytale castles, and famed museums are all within reach of this 162-room resort, complete with a vast bookstore and concert hall.

Take your pick of one of nine on-site restaurants, like a seductive Italian salon or a cozy mountain lodge. Six separate spas treat couples with therapies involving ancient Chinese medicine and traditional Thai rituals. Several on-site pools include a saltwater pool, a sunset pool, and one clothing-optional pool. And there's no shortage of sporting excursions with private instruction, like hiking, e-biking, skiing, and rock climbing.

If your idea of a honeymoon involves Florence, Italy, you should consider the views before booking your bolthole. And, this 19th-century hotel on the Piazza Santa Maria Novella—which underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation—has them, both outside and in. The hotel's original marble floors, restored traditional furniture, and an impressive art collection line the halls, plus three Frescoed Suites boast original ceiling frescoes. The vistas from bed are pretty fantastic, but the rooftop terrace, the heated pool (it's the only hotel in Florence’s city center to have one), and the sky lounge give guests a glorious 360-degree panoramic view over the entire city.

If you can tear yourself away from the cocktails while admiring the Duomo, stroll to the adjacent piazza for locally sourced Italian dinners, or book a private starlit meal above the pool for the ultimate in romantic vibes.