10 Romantic Places to Visit This Year

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My husband and I love traveling. We have more than 40 trips planned this year alone, because not only do we both enjoy traveling to new and beautiful places, but we also feel that traveling brings us closer together and helps strengthen our relationship. Here are 10 of the most romantic places we’ve visited in the 6 years we’ve been together, that I would absolutely recommend to any couple looking for a place to spend their honeymoon, take an anniversary trip, or just getaway together.

Tulum
Tulum was easily one of the most beautiful and peaceful places we’ve been in the past few years. We loved the scenery of the gorgeous Caribbean Sea and white sand beaches, the proximity to unique things like cenotes and the Mayan ruins, and the availability of organic, healthy foods everywhere we went. The city can be easily explored by bike or on foot, and at night you can see the entire Milky Way Galaxy and stars shining clearly above, since there’s almost no light pollution. There were also a lot of really unique restaurants like the treetop restaurant situated inside of a massive treehouse overlooking the jungle called Kin Toh, the beachside restaurant serving up gorgeous meals at Sanará Resort called The Real Coconut, and the highly instagrammed smoothie shack called Matcha Mama. You can read my full travel guide to Tulum here, see which cenotes were our favourites here, read all about visiting the Mayan Ruins of Tulum here, and explore 20 of our favourite places to eat in Tulum in this guide.

Ruins of Tulum at Tulum National Park Mexico

The Real Coconut Tulum at Sanará Resort Luxury Restaurants of the World

Venice
I fell in love with Venice from the moment I stepped off the train at Venice’s Santa Lucia train station. Coming from an Italian family, I’d dreamt of visiting Italy since I was a child when my mother would tell me stories of where her parents came from while teaching me Italian. Seeing it in person for the first time, and with the person I love most in the world was an experience I will never forget. It’s no secret that Venice’s canals, unique foods, and colorful carnivals and streets are romantic, but we had no idea what we were in for. While the city would be just as fun to visit with family or as a solo traveller, there was just an air of mystery and romance that I still can’t explain that made this one of the most memorable places I’ve ever been. There’s nothing quite like watching the sunset over this ancient, sinking city and it’s breathtaking skyline of old buildings as gondolas sing traditional Italian songs in the warm summer heat. You can read my full traveler’s guide to Venice here.

Gondolas along the Canal in Venice, Italy by Annie Fairfax

Gondola in Canal Best Things to See and Do in Venice Italy by Annie Fairfax

Venice Italy Canal Italian Food Venezia Gondola Gondoliers Boats Nautical Preppy Architecture Windows Travel Guide to Venice What to Do Eat Stay in Venice

Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden is a city famous across Europe and Asia for its unique thermal baths, one-of-a-kind luxury spa treatments, and perfect position in the Black Forrest region of Germany. This city is a must visit destination for any traveler who enjoys spas, breathtaking views, and luxury shopping. The food in Baden-Baden was outstanding and I still dream of the Spätzle we enjoyed here, and my husband and I both loved hiking up to the ancient castle of Altes Schloß, also known as Hohenbaden to look down upon the city tucked peacefully away in the valley. Everyone here was so friendly and inviting, and the city was peaceful and romantic because even though it’s a larger city in Germany with plenty to eat, see, and do, we felt like we could completely relax and focus on one another in this beautiful spa town. You can read my complete guide to Baden-Baden here, and read about the hotel we stayed in Der Kleine Prinz, here.

Colmar
If you’re looking for an out of the way, yet charming and delightful French village to visit, Colmar should be at the top of your list. Called “Little Venice” by some due to the presence of numerous canals throughout the city, Colmar is the city the village in Beauty and the Beast was based off of, and was home to the person who created the Statue of Liberty. Most people don’t speak English here, so you’ll need to bring a French dictionary if you visit, but we never had any trouble with my rudimentary knowledge of the language, smiles, and pointing to our dictionaries when we couldn’t figure out what to say. Everyone we met here, unlike the village in Beauty and the Beast, was kind and helpful, and we were invited to watch a football match with some of the locals. This city is especially beautiful in the spring and summer when the flowers and trees are in full bloom, and the perfect compliment to the city’s brightly coloured buildings. Colmar also happened to be one of the least expensive places we visited during our time in Europe. You can read my full guide to Colmar here.

La Maison des Têtes Colmar, France Travel Guide

SchlossHotel HugenPoet in Essen, Germany
My husband made my dreams of spending the night in an actual castle come true when he surprised me with a stay at SchlossHotel HugenPoet in Essen, Germany. This castle is nearly 1,000 years old and is absolutely beautiful, with sprawling gardens surrounding the property and plenty of peace and privacy. We were treated like royalty from the moment we arrived, and while this is another place where the staff don’t necessarily speak English, we got on just fine with my working knowledge of German and lots of gratitude. This is a popular venue for weddings in Europe, and if you’re looking for a magical place for your big day, you can rent out the entire castle. Spending time with my love in the German countryside was a dream come true, and the fact that we did in it a massive castle we had almost all to ourselves was an unbelievable memory I will cherish forever. This is truly one of the most romantic places I’ve ever been. You can read my complete review of SchlossHotel HugenPoet here.

Schlosshotel HugenPoet Luxury Castle Hotel in Essen Germany by Annie Fairfax Romantic Travel Destinations

Querétaro
The Mexican city of Querétaro is surrounded by mountains and aqueducts, and filled to the brim with beautiful stucco colonial style buildings. We had the time of our lives here dancing at night under the stars to live music in the plaza with the locals, trying unique foods like their take on crêpes and massive “leche shakes”, which are out of this world milkshakes made with local ingredients. Querétaro also has a plethora of gorgeous rooftop restaurants and bars, which we took full advantage of to watch the sunset over the hills and across the buildings of one of our favourite cities in Mexico. We stayed in the beautiful, colonial style pink manor called Casa de la Marquesa and loved every minute of it. You can read my complete guide to Querétaro here.

Mackinac Island
In the north of my home state of Michigan in the United States, there’s a little island called Mackinac Island. It’s only about 8 miles around, but it’s so full of life, beauty, and charm that I’d be remiss to leave it out of this roundup. It’s where my husband first kissed me and told me he liked me when we were just starting to date, and it’s where we’ve returned to, summer after summer, to enjoy the sweet, fresh breeze off of our fresh water lakes, and to soak in the million dollar northern Michigan sunsets my home is famous for. There are no cars allowed on the island, but it’s easy to take a horse drawn carriage ride to your destination, walk on foot, or ride a bike around the island. If you’re looking for the ultimate experience in luxury, beauty, and romance, book at stay at one of my favourite hotels in the world, Grand Hotel, which is the crowning jewel of this gorgeous island. You can do everything from enjoying world class dining and award winning golf courses, to sailing, hiking, biking, star gazing, and simply relaxing and enjoying one another’s company. Explore Grand Hotel in this photographic tour, and read about the best places to eat on the island here.

View from Esther Williams Swimming Pool Grand Hotel Mackinac Island

Golfing on the Jewel Golf Course Grand Hotel Mackinac Island Michigan Titleist Golf

Rome & Vatican City
History fans like myself will know why Rome is one of the most romantic cities in the world. There’s everything you could dream of here, like world class salons and spas and incredible shopping, to ancient historical sites like the Roman Colosseum, and museums with some of the greatest treasures in the world. When in Rome, take a day to explore Vatican City and admire gemstones the size of bricks and other incredible treasures stolen by the Catholic Church throughout history, and admire the beauty of the world’s smallest country. Read my full guide on what to eat, see, and do in Rome here, and my guide to Vatican City here.

View from Altare della Patria Monument of Victor Emmanuel ii Rome: The Complete Traveler's Guide

Altare della Patria Monument of Victor Emmanuel ii Rome: The Complete Traveler's Guide

The Complete Traveler's Guide to Vatican City, Italy St. Peter's Basilica, Home of the Pope Places Every Catholic Should Visit

Beverly Hills
For fans of luxury shopping and spas, there’s nowhere quite like Beverly Hills, California. We spent a day and a half here and loved every second of our luxurious experience. Read my guide to Beverly Hills here.

Beverly Hills: The Complete Traveler's Guide

Los Angeles
Los Angeles is such a fun city, because there’s nothing you can’t do in this city. there are dozens of awesome museums (here are 5 of my favourites!), lots of great beach towns in the area, spas and fine dining, or street food and dive bars if that’s more your speed. I think Los Angeles is the perfect city for couples to visit, because they can completely customize their trip based on their mutual interests and budget! Check out my favourite romantic dinner spot in Los Angeles called Hinoki and the Bird, and keep an eye out for my travel guide, coming soon!