5 Romantic European Destinations You'll Love
Rachael Rogers knows exactly how to find romance in every corner of the continent! As the founder of For the Story Vacations and a full-time nomad living around Europe, she has explored countless breathtaking locations. Here are her top five romantic destinations that will sweep you off your feet!
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Rachael is an expert when it comes to European travel. She lives a nomadic lifestyle around Europe and is the founder of For the Story Vacations, a boutique European travel planning business!
Dubrovnik, Croatia
This magical city is one of the only places that still has full medieval walls intact around the entire city.
Take a quick 30 minute drive to the Montenegro border!
There is so much immense beauty in this area! This country has many fantastic beaches.
Croatia typically has very sunny, warm days April through November. Be aware that the summer will be very hot.
If you’re looking for a high end vacation, there are so many options for five star resorts, boating excursions, and secluded beaches.
If you’re interested in history, there is so much to learn here.
Dubrovnik is known for its truffle, essential oils, and wine. You can find lots of these things in the main city center!
The train situation in Croatia is not great. You will need to hire a driver/private transfer or rent a car if you want to get between cities.
If you hire a private driver, you can plan to make stops at vineyards or other attractions along the way.
If you are staying at a hotel, talk to your concierge about driver recommendations.
You could easily fill two weeks by only exploring Croatia. It is so incredible and beautiful!
Provence, France
The Provence region of France is SO underrated!
You will find some of the greatest rosé and other wines here. There are so many vineyards!
Visit some of the many medieval hilltop villages in this area! There are so many villages 5-10 minutes apart and they are so charming and magical! Try to go during lavender season if you can for the most epic views.
Stay at bed & breakfasts when you can. They are incredibly charming and such an amazing experience. This also helps you meet locals that will know so much about the area.
This is the area to visit if you love antique shopping. It is to die for! You won’t find cuter boutiques anywhere else.
If you’re staying in other areas of France, you can easily take a train to Avignon in the Provence area.
You can fly into Paris, Nice, or Marseilles and take a train. You will want to rent a car in this area.
Douro Valley, Portugal
The Douro Valley is one of the most underrated wine areas in Europe.
This destination is only one hour from Porto. If you fly into Lisbon you can take a train or hire a car to get to this area.
This valley has huge, beautiful hills. The vineyards are on these steep hills, which means that the grapes are hand picked.
Be sure to visit both the big, popular winehouses as well as the small local ones! You will have completely unique and special experiences.
Take a sunset boat cruise down the Douro River with a local cheese platter and drinks!
Stay in “wine barrels” for a fun experience! There are also amazing 5 star hotels and bed and breakfasts in this area.
This area is so lush and does get a lot of rain. June-August will give you the least amount of rain.
Cotswolds, England
The Cotswolds is the place to visit if you love charming villages with the cutest architecture.
You will want to rent a car or hire drivers to take you around. You can easily take a train from London or Birmingham.
The villages are very close together, so you can easily bounce around lots of them.
This area is filled with the cutest and most delicious tea houses with homemade scones, clotted creme, and jelly.
If you love Pride & Prejudice or other Jane Austen stories, you can visit filming locations from many of the movies.
High-end bed & breakfasts are very popular here. You will have turn down service, claw foot bathtubs, and all the other charming touches.
San Sebastian, Spain
San Sebastian is in the Basque (northern) part of Spain. It’s very close to the French border! From Barcelona, you can take a 6 hour train ride or 45 minute plane ride.
This city is a gorgeous mix of French and Spanish architecture! It is also so clean and beautiful.
There are incredible Michelin star restaurants here for the foodies!
Make sure to try the pintxos (Basque tapas). There are so many great restaurants to get this! Don’t miss it!
If you love the beach, you won’t be disappointed here!
This city is a unique blend of cultures, people, food, and traditions. It’s also super beautiful and romantic!
Follow along with Rachael!