In 1809, Lord Byron declared this lost-in-time Portuguese
enclave as “the most beautiful [place] perhaps in the world”, so
enamoured was he by the fern-frilled forests and fairy-tale palaces
dotted across its rolling hills. Located in the foothills of
Portugal’s Sintra Mountains, the curious town is a
designated Unesco World Heritage site on account of its whimsical
architecture. The 19th-century Pena Palace is considered the city’s
jewel. Surrounded by extensive parkland, the yolk-yellow,
Moorish-influenced fortress, complete with checkerboard-floored
cloisters, entirely azulejos-tiled bedrooms and grotto-filled
gardens, provides a crash course in 19th-century decadence. Just a
40-minute train journey from Lisbon, Sintra is a great option for a classically
romantic break.

Where to stay: Tivoli Palácio de Seteais

As the original city of star-crossed lovers, it seems apt that
Verona continues to entice lovers to its sun-burnished streets.
Visiting couples tend to leave amorous letters at Casa di Giulietta
(Juliet’s house) as a sign of their everlasting love. Beyond the
city’s literary value, though, this is a date-ready destination
with a restaurant scene fond of a candlelit table for two, and a
compact historic centre made for dusk strolls (and street-corner
kissing). Dine on rich ragù pasta plates and regional risottos at
rustic osteria Al Duca, then take a seat in the opulent opera
house for an evening performance. If you find yourself biting your
thumb at swooning sweethearts filling the streets of the centre,
head across the Adige River to Veronetta, a quieter, cosier
neighbourhood that’s free from crowds. Local legend suggests that
lovers who find each other in the labyrinth within the 16th-century
Giardino Giusti gardens, a masterpiece of Renaissance landscaping,
are destined to stay together to “timeless end”.

Where to stay: Boutique Hotel Trieste

We’ve pegged Marrakech as a destination to watch in 2023 and it’s largely down to
the opening of Rosemary, a new romantic riad from the designer behind
city homeware brand LRNCE, later this year. Book in when it opens
and you’ll have the perfect base from which to explore the romance
of the Red City. Start by exploring the ruins of El Badi Palace,
before setting your sights on the Musée Yves Saint
Laurent – adjacent to Le Jardin Majorelle. For those with a few
days to explore further afield, Marrakech is a great base for day
trips. Set out on a camel trek across the Sahara; enjoy an intimate
dinner in a traditional Berber tent; go on a day excursion to the
Atlas Mountains; or head towards the sea to explore the coastline
of Morocco and the creatively inclined Essaouira.

Where to stay: Until Rosemary opens, we’re
bookmarking the beautiful El Fenn

If Paris is too gauche, and Berlin too try-hard, head to
Hamburg. Despite its initial business-first
appearances, the German port city has an unheralded bohemian side –
just look at it’s football fans. Anti-fascist, social
justice-loving St Pauli supporters eschew hooliganism of any kind
and that same distinctive fringe culture ripples through the city.
Home to a multicultural population, it has a restaurant scene both
innovative and continent-hopping – and a cultural line-up to match.
The museum mile takes in five major galleries: the Deichtorhallen and the Kunsthalle – home to one of Europe’s largest art
collections – are both worth pinning on your Google Map. Spend
Sunday exploring the weekly market that sprawls along the Elbe;
pick up some distinctive travel gear (think, bags, belts and water
bottles) for your next adventure from gorpcore shop Property Of; then
scout out the harbour-side venues housing the city’s distinctive
electronic-music scene for an early-hours rendezvous with your
other half.

Where to stay: Side Hamburg

The world’s most northerly capital sits cheek-by-jowl with some
of the world’s most dramatic landscapes. With its multitude of
geothermal lagoons, glacial and volcanic marvels, it’s easy to
recognise Iceland’s allure, and Reykjavík’s proximity to the countryside makes
it a no-brainer if you’re the kind of couple whose love language
involves compasses and carabiners. Skip the crowds heading off to
the popular sites of the Golden Circle – a route that takes in
Iceland’s dramatic natural wonders – and set your satnav closer to
the city. The hour-and-a-half Kerid Crater lake hike is where local
lovebirds go to spend quality time together. A short hike around
the 3,000-year-old volcanic crater offers 360º views of its
nearly-neon blue waters.

Where to stay: Sand Hotel

A weekend in Paris? Too obvious. Bruges offers much more romance
than the French capital. Belgians may not have the sizzling
reputation of their Gallic neighbours, but they’re dab hands at
crafting amorous infrastructure. With its cobblestone streets,
boat-dotted canals, cosy brewpubs and a cornucopia of chocolate
shops, the West Flanders destination is a ready-made romcom set.
Add in the Lover’s Bridge across Minnewater lake and we’re cheerily
bidding goodbye to our Parisian plans. Avoid the naff carriage
rides and take to the medieval streets on foot to explore the
soaring towers, gothic churches and historic corners of this
photogenic city. The views from the 12th-century belfry are worth
climbing the 336 steps for, although those au fait with the
plotline of In Bruges might want to give it a miss.

Where to stay: Hotel de Orangerie

Brave of heart, listen up. This one’s a make-or-break option
that will put your couple compatibility to the test. Hike from one
mountain cabin to the next, following the fuzzy peaks of Slovakia’s
High Tatras range, or pack a tent and follow the Tatranská
Magistrala trail, a majestic but little-known route that takes
about four days to complete. This is the Alps as they might have
looked 100 years ago; no tourists, plastic pollution or chain
hotels in sight. If you’re willing to put in the leg power, expect
to be rewarded with outrageously awe-inspiring views of crystalline
lakes cradled by uncultivated wilderness. Post-hike, book a room at
the historic inn Doma u Nás, in the mountain town of Poprad.
It’s a surprisingly slick stay, with an exceptional restaurant.

Where to stay: Doma u Nás

A round-trip of the 24,000 islands in the Stockholm Archipelago
might be a little much to ask of your partner, regardless of
whether they’re a new beau or contractually bound spouse. Instead,
head for either Landsort or Gällnö. Both of these isles offer lakes
for dipping, crags for climbing, beaches for lounging and an
endless array of cottages for cosying up in come evening. Visit in
high summer, and there’s seemingly endless daylight hours in which
to relish the islets’ natural bounty.

Where to stay: Archipelago House

They may be located 45km off England’s south-west coast, but on
a good day, the Isles of Scilly look like one of the Caribbean
gems found on the other side of the Atlantic. Life here, as with
its far-flung doppelgangers, runs on “island time”, which makes it
a strong option for couples who want to get away from city
stresses. Pootle about St Mary’s, a stony coastal village plucked
straight from the pages of an Enid Blyton book, explore the
overgrown shipwreck within the Tresco Abbey Garden, or simply pack
a rucksack and spend the day skimming the remarkable azure
coastline either on foot or by boat.

Where to stay: The
New Inn