8 of the Most Romantic Places Around the World for Couples To Visit

Harness the power of suggestion with a sail to Lover’s Beach (also known as Playa del Amor), a remote slice of natural beauty where the Sea of Cortez meets the waters of the Pacific. Soaring limestone rock formations isolate this golden stretch from the rest of Los Cabos, so the only way to reach the beach is by sea. Just be sure to land on the right spot, as next to Lover’s Beach rise the perilous cliffs of, ahem, Divorce Beach (Playa del Divorcio). Baja California also boasts a wealth of adults-only luxury resorts, ideal for relaxing with your loved one in hot tubs or during couples' massages and spa treatments.

Related: 10 Top-Rated Romantic Experiences Per Viator Travelers

Channel history and Hollywood with a jaunt to the iconic Niagara Falls (also known as the “Honeymoon Capital of the World”), which straddles the border between the US and Canada. Its natural beauty has topped the list of romantic destinations for honeymooners since the early 19th century and has provided the dramatic backdrop for countless romantic ballads, films, and declarations of eternal love.

On a romantic weekend getaway, you and your boo can marvel at the thundering falls as you cruise through the mist or take in its majesty from above with a scenic helicopter flight, plus steal a kiss at a height of 175 feet (53 meters) on board the Niagara Skywheel.

Create your silver-screen road-trip adventure along one of the most scenic stretches of highway in Europe. Germany’s Romantic Road winds its way through the storybook landscape of Bavaria, passing medieval castles, walled villages, and rolling vineyards on its more than 220-mile (355-kilometer) route. Wander hand-in-hand through the streets of Rothenburg on the Tauber River, gaze starry-eyed at the Neuschwanstein and Linderhof castles, and picnic on the banks of the Forggensee—one of the region’s most romantic vacation spots.

No more romantic story has ever been told than that of Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet. To experience it first-hand, venture to the magnificent Italian city of Verona to visit Juliet’s House, where you can stand on the famed balcony as your “Romeo” declares their adoration from below. After, take a moonlight stroll through the old town to the ancient Roman Arena and enjoy an evening concert or opera performance. As darkness falls, the audience lights thousands of small candles that flicker fetchingly in the stands like the stars that Romeo so famously (and tragically) defied.

This spectacular ancient Buddhist temple is home to the Jishu Shrine, said to be the city’s oldest shrine dedicated to love. Presided over by Okuninushi-no-Mikoto, the god of relationships, Jishu Shrine is one of the most popular romantic destinations for those looking for love—its matchmaking powers are legendary—as well as couples seeking a divine blessing over their union. Walk between the shrine’s two Koiuranai-no-ishi (Love Fortune Stones) with your eyes closed as your partner guides you for an extra pinch of luck in love. Don’t forget to purchase one of the many relationship-related charms for enduring good fortune as a couple.

Never has heartbreak taken as splendid a form as the Taj Mahal, the dazzling marble mausoleum built by Mogul emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century as a tomb for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. This monument to eternal love is considered the finest example of Mogul architecture in the world and is particularly stunning at dawn when its soaring dome glows golden and the masses of tourists have yet to arrive. Otherwise, try to snag one of the very limited tickets for a moonlight visit available only five nights each month: The night of the full moon and the two nights preceding and following.

Sexy and sophisticated, Buenos Aires combines cosmopolitan cool with the sultry heat of tango, making it the ideal place for romantic getaways in the city. Known as the “Paris of South America,” Argentina’s capital is certainly a city of love in its own right, rich in lavish architecture, lively parrillas (steak houses), and the legendary milongas (tango dance clubs) of San Telmo. Explore the city’s sights by day and then delve into its seductive nightlife with a tango show and dinner and boutique hotel stay once the sun sets.

Raise a glass to the apple of your eye in one of the most mesmerizing wine countries in the world. Set between Cape Town and the Cape Fold Mountains, this series of idyllic valleys is home to a clutch of historic towns and farmsteads that produce some of South Africa’s premier wines. Take a wine-tasting day trip by car, wine tram, mountain bike, or even private helicopter to the vineyards of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Paarl to visit boutique wineries and sample their vintages. Then, relax over a tasting lunch and admire the classic Dutch architecture and sweeping views across the vines to the mountain peaks on the horizon.