There is no rivalling Europe when it comes to romantic city breaks for couples. Rome, Venice, Paris, Madrid, Athens, the list goes on for some of the world’s most ancient and romantic places that continue to capture the imagination of billions of people from around the world. But Europe’s cities offer much more than romance.
For couples who long to explore more together, Europe remains the place to satisfy any shared curiosities. From wine-making to modern art, ancient history to incredible architecture, there’s as much food to eat as there is food for thought at all of these dream-like destinations to explore as a pair.
Turin, Italy
Turin ranks among the very best city breaks in Europe for couples thanks to its understated elegance and unique attractions. As the capital of the House of Savoy, Turin developed as a place of governance and learning, famed for its academia and culinary prowess, dominated by impressive piazzas and long arcades that enshrine its status as a royal city, with cobblestones and marble paving everywhere one walks underfoot. The city’s appeal is timeless, perfect to visit no matter the season, and provides tangible rewards for visiting at different times of the year thanks to fewer tourists and seasonal events.
Turin houses some of the most interesting attractions in Italy that are surprisingly light on Roman-period exhibits. The Museo Egizio, second only to Cairo in terms of its scale and collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts, remains one of Italy’s most incredible museums. Another notably unique attraction is the Lingotto Building, the former site of Fiat’s iconic factory, made famous by the infamous rooftop driving sequences in the classic British caper, The Italian Job. This rooftop circuit was used extensively as a test track for Fiat’s cars, and is still in use today in a limited role as an electric car test circuit. With sweeping views of the city and a fascinating museum to explore, it’s attractions like this that belie why Turin stands out as an alternative Italian city break.
Reims, France
Reims was once France’s ceremonial centre, chosen as the site where monarchy and church would align and where the kings of the country were crowned for centuries. The Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims – Reims Cathedral – is the remnants of this ancient tradition, and is of a larger scale but similar design to its namesake in Paris, offering visual confirmation of the city's importance in the country’s long yet complicated relationship with the monarchy. Much of Reims was destroyed during the First World War, and the cathedral sustained heavy damage and needed considerable repairs. However, the restoration has been achieved on a city-wide level to dramatic effect, pushing Reims into contention for one of the most charming places in France.
Below the city lies another legacy, perhaps more formative and unique, that has had even more of an impact on its identity. The chalk beneath Reims, quarried first by the Romans, later became essential to the production and storage of champagne. These underground cellars stretch for miles and tens of metres below ground, and are a must-visit attraction along with the champagne houses above them. Ruinart, Pommery, Veuve Clicquot, and Taittinger, each of these global brands has its own unique style and layout for their cellar. Discovering the secrets behind the production of France’s greatest export is not just educational, but delicious, with the opportunity to spend days indulging in tasting some of the finest champagne vintages produced, while also understanding Reims’ importance as the key to the production of this liquid gold.
Vienna, Austria
Vienna was the centre for the administration of one of Europe’s greatest land empires that stretched from the Alps all the way to the Adriatic Sea. Rather than projecting a single identity, the city absorbed influences from the Central and Eastern European cultures it assimilated, refining them into a unified imperial language of art, architecture, music, and gastronomy. Institutions such as the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the State Opera beg to be enjoyed in all their glory, along with the works of the litany of composers that came to this city during its golden age for music.
Another destination that’s appropriate to visit in all seasons, Vienna in summer allows for hot days hiking up to Kaltenberg’s slopes and exploring the many vineyards on the hillside, and then a rewarding dip in the Danube after. Winter brings a fairytale-like charm to the city with the odd dusting of snow and icy temperatures cutting crisp through the romantic cobbled streets and alleys of the old town. The most joyful attraction however, is the zoo, the first of its kind in the world and nestled within the grounds of the Schönbrunn Palace, with a dizzying array of animals in its care that will help make any couple feel like excited kidsagain.
Porto, Portugal
Over thousands of years, the River Douro carved a route from far inland to the Atlantic, and the city of Porto grew along its banks as a working port long before it became the beautiful hilly city it is today. Of course, whilst serving as an important trade route for the territory, what would later go on to help define the region significantly is wine. The lodges and converted warehouses across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia reflect centuries of export, regulation, and partnership, particularly with Britain, whose aristocracy was (and still is) infatuated with Porto’s distinctly stronger version of the alcohol, and this district is well worth a visit for its historical prominence.
Landmarks like the beautiful São Bento station and Livraria Lello also seamlessly fold the magic and allure of the city into everyday life. The iconic trams and beautiful sloping streets that run from high up in the hills down to the harbour are perfect for avid walkers not afraid to tackle steep inclines. Whilst undoubtedly most beautiful during the summer, spring and autumn also offer ample opportunities to explore the area in good weather, and temperatures at this time of year are rarely as unforgiving as they are during the height of summer. A destination filled with stunning food, great wine, and shifting panoramas to present this glorious city in a new light.
Gdańsk, Poland
Situated on the Baltic coast, Gdańsk prospered as part of the Hanseatic League, trading grain, timber, and amber across northern Europe. The resulting wealth has produced a city defined by merchant houses straddling pretty canals, which although devastated during the Second World War, has been restored to its former glory, with the Old Town a candidate for designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
With no shortage of things to do, couples can explore the markets (particularly lovely during the winter with the Christmas market in town), admire the local architecture, venture towards the beaches on the nearby Baltic coast in summer for sun and sand, or engage more with the rich past and heritage of this port city. Just outside of town lies the Westerplatte Monument, commemorating where the war officially began for Poland, and the nearby Museum of the Second World War is a gripping showcase of the human impact of the conflict on life in Poland.
Split, Croatia
Split may possibly be the world’s greatest retirement project. When the Roman emperor Diocletian chose this stretch of Adriatic coastline for his summer palace and later-life dwelling, he embedded imperial architecture so deeply into the local area that it remains one of the finest examples of Roman architecture and engineering anywhere. Over time, the palace became the beating heart of the city, with medieval houses, churches, and markets sprouting up inside its walls, creating a city that evolved without clear breaks between eras. The entirety of the Old Town of Split is nestled within the confines of this palace, and shockingly visible for all to see and admire its pristine marble floors and columns that stretch almost everywhere across its boundaries.
Beyond the city’s old walls, ferries link Split to Croatia’s world-renowned chain of islands that boast considerable natural wonders such as the Blue Hole and Hvar’s Starigrad. The peninsula is a prime beauty spot thanks to its beautiful beaches and clubs in summer, but nature lovers will enjoy hiking the cliffs to admire the secluded monastery cut into the bedrock. With the option available to take a day trip to the incredible Krka National Park and its implausible array of waterfalls, Split is very much an adventurous couples' paradise on the sunny Adriatic coast.
