For most newlyweds, your honeymoon is the trip of a lifetime. Sure, you may end up taking bigger or wilder trips down the road, probably with your growing family, but the first post-wedding getaway is epic. It allows you time to enjoy each other with all the planning and stress behind you. It sets the tone for the adventures you’ll have in your future, and it provides memories that will last your lifetime.

Whether you’re lie-on-a-beach-with-a-coconut people, daring foodies, adventure junkies, snow bunnies, or city folk, there are incredible places near and far to indulge your personal idea of romance. We’ve collected a definitive list! Here are the top 25 honeymoon destinations around the world. 

1. Amalfi Coast, Italy

There are many reasons the Amalfi Coast continues to be at the top of honeymooners’ bucket lists. It’s hard to picture more classically romantic a scene than Positano’s steep village streets, Moorish architecture, azure water and colorful loungers and umbrellas lining the dark sandy beaches. Glamour comes easy, especially at the five-star Le Sirenuse, where the formula for a sexy, sophisticated getaway is tried and true.

2. Antigua & Barbuda

Pastel facades, bustling markets, tropical fruits, limestone formations and, of course, plenty of pristine beaches: Antigua and Barbuda are essentially Eden. Between the two islands you can find yourselves alone on powdery white sand, or on a catamaran sailing between the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea at sunset. Head to all-inclusive resorts such as the opulent and recently renovated Curtain Bluff (where tennis, sailing, water-skiing, scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking and bocce are included), along with once-in-a-lifetime private-island (literally) getaways like Jumby Bay Island.

3. Australia

The debate between Sydney and Melbourne is like the one between LA and New York—but there are so many other parts of this great island nation, too. In the former stay at the QT Bondi to work on your golden tan, or the newish Old Clare Hotel for an urban adventure. After checking out foodie mecca Melbourne’s divine restaurant scene and mural-filled laneways, hit the artsy Jackalope Hotel for wine-country immersion on the Mornington Peninsula. Western Australia has a lot to offer, with buzzy Perth giving honeymooners bang for their buck, Rottnest Island offering up adorable quokkas and Chris Hemsworth–approved glamping at Discovery Rottnest Island, and outback and ocean adventures in the Kimberley and Ningaloo Reef. And it’s hard to find more idyllic beaches than those in the Whitsundays, of course. 

4, Bali, Indonesia

A honeymoon in Bali is pure magic. The Indonesian island—the only one in the huge country that’s Hindu—is a perfect place for passion. With a bit more of an exotic feel than the tropical islands closer to the US, Bali doesn’t only offer unspoiled beaches, surfing, snorkeling and massages, it’s full of culture, art, music, rice terraces and temples, many, many temples. Nature is celebrated here, and it’s easy to get into the spirit at unbelievably lush properties such as Four Seasons Bali at Sayan and Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve for jungle vibes, and Uluwatu Surf Villas or Mulia Villas for coastal bliss.

5. Costa Rica

The Pacific side of Costa Rica has everything for nature and adventure enthusiasts. Santa Teresa is a tiny beach town with plenty of surfing to mellow the vibe. There’s wildlife everywhere, the ocean is warm, the waves are perfect and the rainforest above the beach is home to creative kitchens and boutique-y hotels such as Florblanca Resort and Milarepa. Farther north, on Peninsula Papagayo, is the intimate, immersive boutique resort Kasiiya, with elegant platform tents and a profusion of ways to get into the wild and connect with each other and nature. Up on a quartz mountain overlooking the Pacific Ocean is The Retreat Costa Rica, a go-to for all things spa, healing and organic gardens.

6. Cyclades, Greece

This group of islands in the Aegean Sea includes favorites like Santorini (where Grace Santorini is fresh off a gorgeous renovation) and Mykonos, home to the new swoon-worthy, entirely farm-to-table Nesaea restaurant. There are also important archaeological ruins, stunning sunset vistas and up-and-coming islands like Paros and Folegrandos, where you can experience the beauty of your surroundings with fewer faces around. Even better, explore the whole region by 104-foot luxury yacht with Entre Cielos. 

7. Dominica

There are rivers and streams, waterfalls, hot sulfur strings and a boiling lake, not to mention the Caribbean Sea, in Dominica, making it a water baby’s playground. The region’s longest hiking trail is also an option. Eco-resorts are hitting big after Hurricane Maria devastated the island, and it’s now a haven for jungle-y adventures (like canyoning in Titou Gorge), relaxation (see the mud pools of Wotten Waven Hot Springs), whale watching, and beautiful new hotels including Jungle Bay, Secret Bay and Cabrits Resort & Spa Kempinski.  

8. Fiji

Is there a more classic exotic island honeymoon than Fiji? It’s hard to imagine something better than hopping between five-star resorts on the South Pacific’s 300-plus islands, filled with white sand, palm trees, mountains and blue lagoons. For a dose of heaven on earth, visit Laucala, a private-island destination blending tropical rainforests and volcanos with deserted beaches, sustainable locally grown cuisine and activities ranging from diving and golf to horseback riding and game fishing. Kokomo Private Island Resort and Nanuku, Auberge Resorts Collection, are two more options for postcard-perfect getaways. 

9. Iceland

Iceland is for adventurers. It’s lengthy list of attractions includes the spectacular Northern Lights in the wintertime (stay at Ion for an impeccable viewpoint), seemingly endless opportunities for trekking, riding the country’s famously tiny but strong horses, exploration of caves, volcanos, ice fields and glaciers; and steamy hot springs and lagoons—the new Retreat at Blue Lagoon is the place to sleep and play at the most iconic of them all, with a spa built into the volcanic earth and a five-star restaurant. The land of fire and ice may be cold, but there’s enough adrenaline and romance to keep you hot.

10. Japan

Natural beauty, sake, sushi, history, culture—Japan balances rich ancient heritage with the modern in its awe-inspiring cities and maintains a vast network of hikes and walks for those more inclined to nature. There’s skiing and shrines, cat cafes and stunning coastline. Tokyo is a city that lights up all the senses (consider the deluxe ryokan-style Hoshinoya Tokyo), while Kyoto boasts more than a dozen UNESCO World Heritage Sites (plus the brand-new and breathtaking Aman Kyoto). The country boasts a trending chain of tropical coral isles, too—Okinawa, where Hoshinoya Taketomi Island gives a peek into traditional Japanese island life, and the new resort Halekulani Okinawa celebrates authentic culture and nature immersions.

11. Maldives

Hear Maldives and you instantly think honeymoon. The tropical South Asian nation is made up of 26 coral atolls in the Indian Ocean, which means unlimited beaches, turquoise waters for miles, extensive reefs and plenty of fresh fish and seafood. You’re pretty secluded at whichever of the luxurious resorts you choose—such as the Four Seasons' dream collection and pioneering, super-private Soneva Fushi—so expect a vacation filled with intimate meals, spa treatments, underwater adventures and just plain relaxation.

12. Morocco

Do you and your partner share an intense curiosity about the world? If so, a simple beach holiday won’t do. Think about exploring somewhere exotic like Morocco. In Marrakech, a Berber-era medieval walled city, you’ll dine on mouthwatering dishes, navigate the maze-like souks holding hands, watch storytellers and musicians perform and feast your eyes on spectacular architecture and design. You can stay like kings at the palatial pink Amanjena, or go a bit more traditional in the beautiful city of Fes, at chic Riad Fes. Richard Branson’s Kasbah Tamadot a gorgeous home base for hiking the Atlas Mountains, and Essaouira is the most charming seaside village with camels on the beach and plenty of twisting cobbled paths to explore.

13. Napa Valley, California

Sonoma’s buzz overtook its Northern Cali neighbor for a while, but Napa is experiencing a moment once again, with a slew of beautiful boutique-y boltholes—the intimate, experiential Ink House and stunning Las Alcobas—and even a beer-tasting trail. The most known American wine country is full of charm, not to mention game-changing vino and iconic restaurants (anywhere by Thomas Keller), such as those at Calistoga Ranch. Four Seasons Napa Valley recently bowed, as did Vista Collina, a resort with its own Food & Wine Center, bringing couples who love the culinary arts options beyond imagination. Beyond the wine you can relax at plentiful spas, or if you’re feeling frisky there are hikes through redwoods and by lakes.

14. Paris, France

Talk about a no-brainer. Paris is the City of Lights, but it might as well be called the City of Love. If you appreciate a great romantic walk hand-in-hand, you’ll love the French capital, which offers culture, architecture and art alongside, of course, incredible food and wine. From iconic luxury stalwarts like the Four Seasons George V and Le Royal Monceau — Raffles Paris to impeccably designed new boutique hotels such as Hotel Providence Paris, you can tailor a honeymoon to your style, whether it’s classic and fancy or more boho and artsy.

15. Rajasthan, India

Known as a vibrant destination for Holi, the ancient Hindu festival, Rajasthan is a dynamic place to visit anytime. Experience contrasts the likes of which you’ve never seen by visiting both rural villages and cities such as Jaipur, the capital, known as the Pink City. Go tiger trekking in the desert and tour striking architecture. And live like queens and kings at the pink palace hotel Amanbagh, the one-time Mughal royal retreat. Along with the usual luxury trappings, you can even learn the most exotic of sports, camel polo.

16. Switzerland

Between Zurich’s excess of chocolate, flowers and lingerie—not to mention art, Michelin-starred food and supreme TLC at The Dolder Grand—and the Swiss Alps’ extreme beauty, world-class skiing and year-round natural attractions, Switzerland has plenty seducing newlyweds. The UNESCO-protected Lavaux wine region is another major crowd-pleaser, looking over Lake Geneva and showcasing not only incredible vino but also epic hikes, floating restaurants (see Le Montreux steamboat), chocolate houses, and Europe’s only overwater hotel. Hotel Palafitte channels Tahiti but on Lake Neuchatel, with ladders from the bungalows plunging you directly into the water.

17. Singapore

Give credit to Crazy Rich Asians, or don’t, but Singapore’s steady rise does seem tied to everybody’s favorite romantic comedy of 2018. Still, what’s crazy about the land of insanely good eats is the hospitality boom, the number of amazing new hotels that have opened recently. There’s the JW Marriott Singapore South Beach, designed by Philippe Starck, a Hotel Indigo, a Sofitel on the beachy island of Sentosa, an Andaz near Chinatown, and M Social, also conceived by Starck. Four Seasons just renovated their rooms, and increased flights mean ever easier access from America. 

18. Turks and Caicos

Southeast of the Bahamas, in the Atlantic Ocean, lie the Turks and Caicos, not two islands as might be assumed, but 40. The coral islands are a bit exotic and totally luxurious, with few people to fill up the countless stark-white beaches. Book into the uber-private Ambergris Cay, a 10-suite resort with private plunge pools, impeccable views and all-inclusive rates. There’s also The Palms Turks and Caicos, on iconic Grace Bay Beach, where a massive spa and slew of dining options makes for a rich retreat, or across the island there’s The Shore Club, which boasts luxury villas and opportunities for yacht excursions.

19. Vancouver

For an active honeymoon, Canada’s cool seaport of Vancouver and nearby Vancouver Island have a lot to offer. Its unique setting, surrounded by mountains and also water, makes it popular for a number of outdoor adventures, but it’s also known for its lively art and music scenes. Whatever you choose to spend your days doing—from the confines of the chic city-centric Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel or Tofino’s romantic, forested Wickaninnish Inn—the natural beauty can’t be topped.

20. Tel Aviv, Israel

With its sun-drenched Mediterranean coastline and cosmopolitan status, Tel Aviv is perhaps more unexpected than it should be as a honeymoon locale. It boasts beaches, incredible nightlife, mouthwatering food—often served at open-air cafes—and a lively waterfront promenade and the striking White City, the neighborhood filled with eye-catching 1930s Bauhaus-style architecture. From the Carlton Tel Aviv's rooftop cabana, you can watch the sun drop below the horizon.

21. Lanai

It’s part of Hawaii, of course, but the landscape on Lanai is so otherworldly in parts it’ll make you feel like you traveled to another planet. Options abound: Ride horses up to the pines, or spend the day tooling around the rugged roads in a 4x4 Jeep, snorkeling around spinner dolphins, picnicking with super fresh poke, swimming in the cerulean sea and posing amid the lunar-like rocks of Garden of the Gods. Beyond the famous poke, there’s plenty of goodness to eat and imbibe at the Four Seasons Resort Lanai. And now the all-inclusive wellness-oriented Four Seasons Lanai at Koele, a Sensei Resort, has opened, adding a deluxe new way to relax and rejuvenate mind, body and spirit. 

22. Colorado

The appeal of Colorado is simple: It’s stunning in the winter, blanketed in super-romantic snow, and it’s stunning in the summer, when the white stuff has melted and left behind verdant, bucolic scenes. Active types have no shortage of fun to get into, especially if basing themselves at Vail’s Hotel Talisa, a ski-in/ski-out property where the service is so great they’ll actually bring the chapstick you left in the room to the top of the mountain for you. In Breckenridge you’ll find the sleek and social new ski-in/ski-out Gravity Haus, complete with a Japanese-style onsen. Meanwhile, Beaver Creek boasts the five-star mountaintop getaway Trappers Cabin, where honeymooners can hike, bike and hot tub in style.

23. Croatia

Whether you want to explore magical crystalline terraced lakes and waterfalls, check out historical sites and ruins, sail around on a yacht, tour cathedrals or even go wild partying, Croatia is the place to do it. The country that stretches down the Mediterranean offers a Greek Isle-like flavor but with its own unique culture and look. Superbly designed sea-view spots like Villa Dubrovnik are what this authentic, unspoiled destination is all about.

24. Guatemala

Guatemala is its own distinctive place positioned next to Mexico, that was colonized by Spain. Parts of the Central American nation resemble Antigua with cobblestone streets and colorful buildings, and other areas are thick with rainforests and layered with volcanos. Explore the land's history by visiting ancient Mayan ruins as well as several museums in Guatemala City, which buzzes with nightlife after the sun sets. Get away from civilization at Casa Palopó on Lake Atitlan or in casitas on stilts at Francis Ford Coppola’s lakeside La Lancha, where friendly howler monkeys will lull you to sleep—or wake you up for a beautiful day in the rainforest.

25. North Island, New Zealand

New Zealand’s adventure hub of Queenstown is beloved in the south, but its massive North Island has equal if lesser known opportunities to discover jaw-dropping scenes and sights. Waiheke Island, close to Auckland, is one charming option. Another is Northland, with lush green landscapes and cliffs over the Pacific and Tasmanian Sea. There, try foraging and scuba diving at super private Helena Bay Lodge, or go for 6,000 acres of farmland in the Bay of Islands with award-winning golf, ancient kauri forests and private beaches at The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs. The Farm at Cape Kidnappers further down the island in Hawke’s Bay puts you smack in the middle of primo wine country, not to mention natural beauty. 

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