How to Choose Your Dream Honeymoon Destination (+ Honeymoon Planning Checklist)

Your honeymoon is basically your reward for surviving wedding planning, seating charts and approximately 700 questions about what colour napkins you want. It’s also your first big trip as a married couple, so choosing where to go can feel like a pretty major decision. Do you want cocktails on a tropical beach, pasta on the Amalfi Coast or an adventure somewhere that looks like it belongs on another planet? The good news is there really isn’t one “perfect” honeymoon destination—it’s about finding the trip that feels most like the two of you.

Tropical Islands for the Ultimate Do-Nothing Honeymoon

If your dream honeymoon involves waking up, putting on a swimsuit and having absolutely nowhere you need to be, a tropical island is pretty hard to beat. Think the Maldives, Bora Bora or the Seychelles, where bright-blue water, white-sand beaches and dreamy resorts basically come standard. It’s the kind of honeymoon where your biggest decision of the afternoon might be pool or beach. And honestly, where better to show off your stunning diamond wedding band than against a backdrop of sparkling water and ridiculously beautiful sunsets? Tropical destinations are especially perfect if your wedding planning experience has left you craving a week of doing as little as humanly possible.

European Honeymoons for Romance + Exploring

If sitting beside a pool for seven straight days sounds slightly too relaxing, Europe gives you the best of both worlds. You can spend your mornings sightseeing, your afternoons at cute cafés and your evenings eating pasta and drinking wine somewhere objectively prettier than your regular Tuesday-night dinner spot. Paris is the classic romantic choice, while the French Riviera and Amalfi Coast bring major coastal honeymoon energy. Santorini offers those iconic white buildings, dramatic views and gorgeous sunsets, while Barcelona is an ideal urban destination if you want beaches, incredible food, cocktails and a city to explore. Bonus points for combining a couple of destinations and turning your honeymoon into a mini European adventure.

Adventure Honeymoons for Couples Who Can’t Sit Still

Not every honeymoon needs to involve lying horizontally beside a pool. If the two of you would rather hike, explore and come home with approximately 4,000 photos, build your honeymoon around adventure. Iceland is one incredible option, with dramatic volcanic landscapes and the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights. New Zealand is another bucket-list choice, especially if mountains, forests, road trips and outdoor adventures sound more romantic to you than an all-inclusive resort. You can still book beautiful hotels and romantic dinners—you’ll just have a little more adrenaline mixed into the itinerary.

City Honeymoons for Foodies + Culture Lovers

Maybe your version of romance is getting dressed up, wandering around a beautiful city and finding a tiny restaurant you end up talking about for the next decade. In that case, skip the traditional resort and plan a city honeymoon. Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Florence and other European cities give you incredible food, architecture, museums, shopping and nightlife without requiring an aggressively scheduled itinerary. Leave enough free time to wander because some of the best honeymoon memories tend to happen between the things you actually planned.

Mix Relaxation + Adventure

Can’t decide between exploring and doing absolutely nothing? Don’t. A split honeymoon can give you both. Spend a few days exploring a city and then head somewhere coastal for the second half of the trip. You could pair Rome with the Amalfi Coast, Athens with a Greek island or Barcelona with a quieter beach destination. This approach is especially fun if you have a longer honeymoon and know you’ll get restless spending ten straight days in one place.

Your Honeymoon Planning Checklist

☐ Set your honeymoon budget
☐ Decide: beach, city, adventure or a mix
☐ Check passports + travel requirements
☐ Book flights + accommodations
☐ Make a short must-do list
☐ Reserve any popular restaurants + activities
☐ Arrange airport transfers or transportation
☐ Buy travel insurance
☐ Leave room for spontaneous days
☐ Pack, unplug + enjoy being newlyweds