Couples Guide To Europe: Where to Go For Food, Romance, Nature, And More
Caleb, my husband, and I LOVE Europe! We have been to 75% of the countries that make up the continent, and one thing we know is that not all countries are created equal, depending on your travel style/reasons for traveling.
If you’re a foodie couple (like us! hi!), there are better places than others. The same goes for if you want art and history or nature and everything in between.
In this guide, we put all our travels together to help you determine the best countries and cities to visit to have a vacation that is perfect for you!
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Quick Navigation:
- Foodie couples
- Beach lovers
- Adventurous couples
- Wine lovers
- Couples on a budget
- For art and history
- For hidden gems
- For romance
- For the highlights
- For nature
For Foodie Couples: Spain, Italy, Denmark
Spain
Spain is our favorite country for food (and a topic pick for one of the best places for couples in Europe in general) because of tapas! You get SO many unique flavors and dishes, and we love the style of eating where you jump around multiple places in one night. IT’S SO MUCH FUN and it’s a great way to share food which is one our top tips for traveling as a couple!
Oh, did we mention the amazing wine and vermouth that people seem to drink all day?
We recommend choosing Madrid or San Sebastian if you visit, as these are the best cities for foodie couples.
THIS is our favorite food tour in Madrid (we’ve done it twice!)
And THIS is our favorite food tour in San Sebastian. It’s a must-do if you want to understand how to eat Pintxos like a local.
Italy
Do I really need to tell you why Italy makes the list? PIZZA, PASTA, WINE, am I right? The food is SO fresh and simple in Italy, and that is one of the reasons that it is so good that you’ll come home and cry into your meatballs from Applebees. It’s just not it.
Did we mention the wine and the sequel? You also can’t leave without tying a pistachio cornetto (a pistachio cream-filled croissant.) Don’t share one, though; they’re worth the calories for your own.
We recommend Rome, Bologna, or Palermo. We didn’t see the hype with Naples, to be honest.
We talk about this food tour in Rome every single week and it’s been years since we did it. It’s THAT epic.
Denmark
If you like seafood and sweets (not together), this country is for you.
We specifically recommend Copenhagen because it smells like cinnamon everywhere you go. The cinnamon rolls are incredible, and the cardamom buns from Juno Bakery will change your life.
Don’t miss the open-faced sandwiches called Smorrebrod, which are hearty and creative with many flavors going on. We loved them at Restaurant Schønnemann, and the staff made this whole experience SO memorable.
For Beach-Loving Couples: Portugal, Croatia, Spain
Portugal
It’ll be really easy to find gorgeous beaches all across Portugal, and it’s usually an affordable European destination, so it’s great if you’re a beach-loving couple who wants to be ballin’ on a budget.
Check out Madeira, Cascais, or anywhere in the Algarve region.
Croatia
They don’t call this the gem of the Adriatic for no reason! Caleb and I thought the beaches here are some of the most beautiful in the world, with the sea being so blue that you won’t even have to put a filter on all those Instagram photos we know you’ll take.
Check out Dubrovnik, the island of Brac or Gradac.
Spain
If you want beaches and amazing food, head to Spain. Being partially in the Mediterranean, you have some gorgeous beaches with blue water and tropical, romantic vibes.
Our favorite is Mallorca, but Malaga is equally epic.
For Adventurous Couples: Iceland or Switzerland
Iceland
I mean, it’s called the land of fire and ice…what else do you need to know? We drove around the island (our road trip questions in tow!) for a week and saw so many amazing things, from volcanoes to glaciers to geysers to landscapes that literally looked like you were on Mars. It’s kinda nuts.
The whole island is where you gotta be, so no specific city recs here!
Note: it’s not cheap, but it’s worth it.
A huge mistake we wish we did not make was NOT booking any tours. You won’t get to experience as much! Click here to check out some of the epic things you can do in Iceland!
Switzerland
Another not-so-cheap destination that is totally worth it if you want some epic experiences. You can climb up the Alps, ski, paraglide, base jump, and so much more.
The scenery is unreal-beautiful too!
We love the whole Jungfrau region (stay in Wengen, which is so cute!) as well as Interlaken.
We did this paragliding experience and it was a serious “pinch me” moment. Such an epic thing to cross off your bucket list!
For Wine Lovers: France, Spain, Italy, Slovenia, Hungary
France, Spain, Italy:
If you were looking for some European destinations catered to trips for couples who love wine, you wouldn’t trust our opinion if we didn’t recommend these 3, right? We have to say that the hype is real when it comes to these well-known destinations for wine lovers (like us)
France has amazing red wines in the Bordeaux region and white wines in the Alsace region.
Italy has incredible wines pretty much everywhere, and Rioja in Spain is a red wine lover’s dream.
Slovenia & Hungary
If you’re looking for an off-the-beaten-path wine destination and like white wine, try Slovenia or Hungary. We’ve visited wine regions in both places, and they ruined us for white wine from literally anywhere else in the world.
Caleb is a “red wine guy,” and these regions have converted him!
In Hungary, try the Badacsony or Tokaj region, and try the Primorska or Podravje region in Slovenia. If you can visit Lepa Vida winery in Slovenia, you’re in for a major treat!
If you go to Budapest, don’t think and just book this wine tasting. This is one of the best things we’ve ever done and we made friends with the guide so much so we went there almost nightly. Tell him Taylor and Caleb sent you.
If You’re On a Budget: Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia
While nowhere in Europe is *cheap* anymore, especially when we compare it to some of our travels across Southeast Asia, we have found Hungary, Slovakia, or Slovenia to be the best “bang for your buck” if you’re a couple traveling on a budget!
We’ve found that accommodations and wine are the cheapest across these cities compared to other parts of Europe. Food is a little less expensive but more comparable to other more popular countries.
If you’re going to Hungary (our top pick), we recommend Budapest. In Slovakia, we found Bratislava to be so charming and beautiful. The capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana, is an obvious choice, but it’s one for a reason!
For Art and History: Italy, France, Germany
Italy
It goes without saying that Italy is steeped in history! From the Vatican to the Colosseum in Rome to the ruins of Pompei, and don’t forget all the conquering, there has been a lot going on in Italy.
We recommend Rome, Florence, and Venice.
France
Some of the most famous painters come from France, which has some of the most renowned museums in the world.
We recommend Paris (duh) or Lyon.
Germany
You know what happened here in the past, so I don’t need to tell you about how much history is in Germany. It also has a unique and forward-thinking art scene, especially in cities like Berlin.
We recommend Munich, Berlin, or Cologne.
For Hidden Gems: Slovakia, Poland, Estonia
Slovakia
Slovakia has been one of the most surprising places we’ve ever been. It has beautiful nature, great wine, low prices, nice people, gorgeous architecture, and one of the best Christmas markets we’ve been to.
We love Bratislava, and parts of it look like a cheaper and less-touristy version of Prague.
Poland
Pierogies anyone? But seriously, you can feel the history in Poland, and we love the grungy vibe that some of the major cities give off. The food, like the Slovakian food, is hearty but delicious, and the people are some of the nicest that we have ever met!
We love Krakow and Wroclaw.
Estonia
If you want to feel like you’ve traveled to the Middle Ages, Estonia is for you. The main city is Tallinn, and the old town feels like a pastel-colored castle. We were there at Christmas, and there was almost no one there. EPIC!
For Romance: Prague, Florence, Hallstatt
I know these are cities and not countries, but the other categories on this list are kind of wide-sweeping, where the whole country falls into it. However, that is not the case when we’re talking about the most romantic places in Europe.
And, yes, Paris is overdone in the romance department.
Prague
While we have to warn you that it is SO “peopley” that somehow doesn’t deter from Prague’s romance. There is a reason why it’s always one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the world. The pastel buildings and beautiful Charles Bridge will make you feel like love is literally in the air.
Florence
With its gorgeous architecture, stunning views from the many bridges, stunning sunsets, and gorgeous gardens to walk around, Florence is one of the most romantic cities in all of Europe. Plus, you could do a whole “lady and the tramp” moment and share some spaghetti, right?
Hallstatt
There is no other city that looks more like a postcard, which is why it’s our pick for one of the most romantic cities in Europe. This gem in Austria is perfect for cozy, romantic getaways in adorable cabins sipping on mulled wine.
For the Highlights: London, Paris, Rome, Prague
If Europe wrote a “best of” album, I would be 1. Impressed that a country wrote an album and 2. Positive it would include these 3 cities because they are some of the top-visited cities in Europe.
While we love these cities, we would urge you to get off the beaten path and discover some of the *other* cities surrounding them if you choose to go.
For Nature: Ireland, Iceland, Finland, Austria, Switzerland
Ireland
It is one of the greenest countries that we have ever been to, and we highly recommend a road trip if nature is your jam. You’ll drive through lots of fields with sheep and see some breathtaking scenery, like the cliffs of Mohur.
Iceland
Volcanoes, glaciers, and extra-terrestrial-looking landscapes… that’s all you need to know.
Finland
We particularly loved our visit to the Lapland region of Finland, where you’ll find the Arctic Circle. The nature is stunning, and you’ll have the chance to see the northern lights if you go at the right time.
PRO TIP: we stayed in these glass igloo houses, and it was worth every penny. Major bucket list experience. We recommend the Kelo Glass Igloos, otherwise you don’t get your own shower. Not so romantic.
Austria/Switzerland
They’re both home to the Alps with charming, postcard-worthy villages. You can’t go wrong with either, but we would choose Austria over Switzerland just because it’s a little cheaper.
Still not sure where to go? We made a fun, short quiz you can take to figure out what is the best European county for you!
So, which country/city are you going to choose for your next adventure?
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