The 17 most romantic European city breaks for 2020, and where to stay
Looking to take your relationship to new heights? A European city break will do the trick. Whether you’re partial to a candlelit meal by a river or having a heart-to-heart atop an ancient town square, one of these destinations below will more than deliver. Read ahead for the 17 best cities in Europe to whisk away your beloved, along with our tried-and-tested recommendations for where to stay while you’re there.
Rome
With its cobbled piazzas, al fresco trattorias and time-weathered Baroque churches, Rome feels like a film set built especially for your very own Italian La La Land (singing selected opera arias is an optional extra). You may not be allowed to wade barefoot into the Trevi Fountain like Anita Ekberg in La Dolce Vita, but there are any number of other scenic backdrops for dalliance and declarations. And the mild weather also helps to stoke those amorous flames.
Where to stay
Lifestyle Suites
Rome, Lazio, Italy
9Telegraph expert rating
Lifestyle Suites' architect-owner has let his imagination run riot in this glitzy makeover of a 15th-century palazzo overlooking glorious Piazza Navona. Though the décor may swerve close to kitsch, the attention to detail and concern for comfort make it surprisingly intimate. Special touches in some of the rooms (a velvet swing, designer hammock) inspire and delight. The view of the square from the lovely roof terrace is hard to beat. Read expert review From £167 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Hotel Palazzo Manfredi
Rome, Lazio, Italy
8Telegraph expert rating
This 20-room hotel makes no secret of its luxury cachet and is so close to the Colosseum that you can almost hear the lions roar. Designer Giorgia Dennerlein mixes styles and periods with an exuberance that makes for undeniably romantic interiors. The rooftop restaurant is among the most romantic in Rome. Read expert review From £256 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Venice
It’s difficult to mention Venice without using the word ‘romantic’. From its pastel reflections in quiet canals to its softly splashing gondola oars, and its labyrinthine alleyways where the silence is broken only by the occasional echoing footstep, every inch of Venice oozes romance. The illusion will be shattered from time to time: as you push your way through crowds to cross the Rialto bridge, or join an interminable queue to enter St Mark’s Basilica. But stroll away, venture down a quiet calle, and the magic floods back.
Where to stay
Aman Venice
Venice, Veneto, Italy
9Telegraph expert rating
The Clooneys celebrated their nuptials in this 16th-century Grand Canal palace. Yet there is much more to say about this incredible property, which balances contemporary décor with museum-quality treasures in 24 luxurious suites. Many of the rooms overlook the Grand Canal and are adorned with historical architectural details. The Alcova suite is the star with its ceiling frescoes by 18th-century Venetian painter Tiepolo. Read expert review From £894 per night Check availability Rates provided by Mr & Mrs Smith
Cima Rosa Boutique Bed & Breakfast
Venice, Veneto, Italy
9Telegraph expert rating
Cima Rosa offers five elegant classic-contemporary rooms – three of them overlooking the Grand Canal – and exceptional service from a welcoming female team, creating a home-from-home feel that draws guests back time after time. The stylish, antique-meets-modern b&b is the creation of an Italian architect and American decorator couple. The lovely courtyard garden is the ideal setting for a romantic tête-à-tête. Read expert review From £128 per night
Amsterdam
Intimate, cheeky and gently alluring, Amsterdam charms and seduces. The old beauty has been doing so for centuries, and knows just what lovers require: tree-lined canals, fairy-lit bridges, gliding swans, buckets of blooms bursting out on almost every street corner. It’s all small-scale and seems just for you – that table for two with a view Rembrandt would recognise; the cosy café where you feel alone in a room of murmurs. Amsterdam deftly delivers the goods.
Where to stay
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam
Amsterdam, Netherlands
9Telegraph expert rating
A large, though privately owned, stand-alone hotel that stretches through 25 houses, between two canals. It is a delightful warren of passages, stairways, sudden open spaces, with many original features intact, but with a fresh, contemporary atmosphere and modern art collection. It’s in a prime location in the canal belt, close to major sights. Gracious service, a garden courtyard, supremely cosy beds and good cuisine add to the mix. Read expert review From £253 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Sweets
Amsterdam, Netherlands
9Telegraph expert rating
Bridge-operators’ cabins, dating from 1673 to 2009, on bridges all over town, have been converted into independent hotel suites. The collection is ingeniously designed to make maximum use of space and offer top comfort, while giving great views of the canal. There are no normal hotel facilities, but the layout is top in the novelty ranking – and as intimate as can be. Read expert review From £111 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Paris
It is an old classic but one that rarely disappoints. Paris is the city of romance per se when it comes to a weekend away en amoureux. Languid walks along the bridge-laced Seine, un café or cocktail on a café pavement terrace, bon vivant dining in candlelit bistros and gastronome temples, a kiss after dark atop the magical light-spangled Eiffel Tower – it is quintessential Parisian moments like this that make France’s seductive, art-rich capital such A-list romance material.
Where to stay
Le Pavillon de la Reine
Paris, France
8Telegraph expert rating
Paris locations don’t get more picturesque or charming than this. The hotel is located in an aristocratic mansion off the stunning Place des Vosges, the gorgeous symmetrical centrepiece of the Marais district. The 17th-century mansion, constructed under Henry IV, sits in its own private garden courtyard. The on-site Spa de la Reine has a hammam and hot tub. Read expert review From £270 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Grand Powers
Paris, France
9Telegraph expert rating
The 1920s Haussmann mansion – in the prestigious Golden Triangle – is an oasis of on-trend Parisian chic. Radiant rooms mix Chanel hues with 1920s craftmanship and modern design. Rooms feature bijou Juliette balconies with romantic tables-for-two or – in some suites – sweeping terraces with Eiffel Tower views. The bar offers all-day dining, and there is a rather dreamy spa, with a sauna, hammam and bubbly whirlpool. Read expert review From £301 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik's Old Town takes you back centuries, along cobbled streets lined by noble Baroque stone buildings. Outside the medieval city walls, bathe in the deep blue Adriatic at trendy Banje beach, or catch a taxi-boat to Lokrum islet, with its botanical garden and peacocks. Tour the wineries of Pelješac peninsular to taste velvety red Dingač and eat fresh oysters at Ston. After dark, dine by candlelight at Proto in Dubrovnik's Old Town or at Orsan overlooking the yachting marina.
Where to stay
Villa Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik, Croatia
9Telegraph expert rating
Sophisticated but relaxed, this five-star contemporary retreat is built into a cliff, overlooking the turquoise Adriatic towards Dubrovnik's city walls. The 56 rooms and suites have private sea-view terraces. There's a spa with an indoor pool, a beach with white parasols, and a gourmet restaurant. Read expert review From £272 per night Check availability Rates provided by Mr & Mrs Smith
St. Joseph's
Dubrovnik, Croatia
9Telegraph expert rating
This lovely boutique hotel, set in a beautifully restored 16th-century stone building in Dubrovnik’s picturesque old town, attracts discerning couples on a romantic city break. It's a chic but unpretentious retreat, with predominantly white décor and Baroque chandeliers. The maid will bring up an exponentially indulgent breakfast (fresh baked goods, fruit platter, homemade cakes and pies, excellent Arabic coffee) to your room at your desired hour. Read expert review From £147 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Florence
Not for nothing is this compact Renaissance gem one of Italy’s most popular wedding destinations; even Kim Kardashian and Kanye West tied the knot here. Surrounded on three sides by a timeless landscape of hills dotted with mellow villas, cypresses and olive groves, Florence offers some of the world’s greatest art treasures, top-class shopping, a vibrant restaurant scene, plenty of opportunity for aimless wandering and an excellent choice of hotels offering rooms with dreamy views. For something a bit different, hire a boat to take you down the Arno at sunset, accompanied by a bottle of bubbly.
Where to stay
Villa Cora
Florence, Tuscany, Italy
9Telegraph expert rating
A fantasy world of immaculately-restored luxury, Villa Cora is an outstanding hotel offering a superb facilities, impeccable service and a best-of-both-worlds location. The lovely garden and pool are a calm, cool refuge after a hot, sticky day in central Florence. The magnificent bathrooms are a dream, done in marble and stocked with rose-scented bath products and embroidered robes – ideal for a romantic soak à deux. Read expert review From £247 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
AdAstra
Florence, Tuscany, Italy
9Telegraph expert rating
The AdAstra enjoys a privileged setting in one of the city’s great private gardens. The classy, comfortable and highly original hotel has the feel of an aristocratic private apartment, replete with vast chandeliers, fine stucco work, antique furniture and fresco paintings. Each room carries a different theme but all are quite lovely. Read expert review From £105 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Madrid
Madrid is made for romantic moments. Start by cosying up around noon with a glass of vermouth at a pavement café in Plaza de la Paja, then spend a decadent afternoon on a tapas crawl around the Austrias neighbourhood, sharing little dishes of sizzling prawns and garlicky mushrooms. As the light starts to fade, head to the astounding Debod Temple, an ancient Egyptian structure that is orientated towards the setting sun, then stroll past the Royal Palace to Las Vistillas to watch the moon come up over the Guadarrama mountains.
Where to stay
Gran Meliá Palacio de los Duques
Madrid, Spain
9Telegraph expert rating
This five-star hotel in a lavishly remodelled palace is a great choice for a special occasion or treat. While not huge, the rooftop pool, surrounded by decking with sunbeds and a hot tub, is very appealing and has panoramic views across the city to the mountains. The Thai Room spa is an exotic, luxurious space for serious pampering a deux with a range of top-level treatments, a sauna and a steam room. There's also 24-hour room service. Read expert review From £257 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Heritage Madrid Hotel
Madrid, Spain
9Telegraph expert rating
The five-star Heritage is a hotel where you can relax in exquisite interiors, sip champagne and eat oysters on the secret roof terrace, then slip out to Madrid’s best restaurants and boutiques. It’s set in an elegant building that dates back to the early 20th century and retains many of its Belle Époque original features, with interiors transformed by Lorenzo Castillo, one of Spain’s most respected designers. Read expert review From £188 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Barcelona
Barcelona is a seductive place, with something to woo everyone. Stroll along the beach at sunset and duck into a tangle of shadowy lamplit streets to find that perfect little bar for a sundowner. Pick up some jamón ibérico and a bottle of the local red for a picnic in one of the leafy gardens around the city. And if the occasion calls for haute cuisine unveiled by gloved waiters, Barcelona will rise to it.
Where to stay
Cotton House Hotel
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
8Telegraph expert rating
Housed in the former headquarters of the city’s cotton guild, this hotel has honoured its origins. As well as original features and antique furniture, you’ll encounter rooms with names like 'Taffeta' and 'Damask' and a small salon with displays of cotton bolts where you can have your very own shirt made to measure. The library, still stacked high with original books, is perfect for a romantic nightcap. Read expert review From £184 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Hotel Neri
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
8Telegraph expert rating
The Neri is a delightful little hotel housed in a 17th-century mansion, just next to the cathedral and a wide range of Barri Gòtic eating and drinking options. Its terrace on an atmospheric little square and its leafy rooftop bar are a major draw. If you're lucky enough to get room 107, you’ll get to sleep under a rather wonderful medieval coffered ceiling. The superb hotel restaurant, 'a', is worth a visit in its own right. Read expert review From £186 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Lisbon
Lisbon is a city of seduction and mystery. Narrow streets, long shadows, lantern light on cobbles, moonlight dancing over the gilded domes which punctuate the skyline. Dawn sweeps in on the Atlantic breeze, painting the city’s red roofs pink; signalling an end to the nights where Moorish streets echo with the soulful strains of fado. You can lose yourself in Lisbon, throw caution to the wind, be swept off your feet... fall in love.
Where to stay
Santiago de Alfama
Lisbon, Portugal
9Telegraph expert rating
Santiago de Alfama, converted from a 15th-century building with Roman remains, is located in Alfama, the oldest neighbourhood in the capital. The 19 rooms are all different whilst celebrating the best of Portugal, from the modern art on the walls to the Claus Porto soaps in the bathrooms. An atmospheric café spills out onto the cobbled street. Read expert review From £162 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Palacio Belmonte
Lisbon, Portugal
9Telegraph expert rating
This tranquil palace dates back to the 15th century, and houses just 10 suites. In each, windows are thrown open with bird song carried in on the breeze, warm marble lies underfoot and private terraces overlook Lisbon. In the lush gardens, a black marble pool lies under cascading pink bougainvillea. Read expert review From £440 per night
Copenhagen
There’s a touch of the fairytale to Copenhagen: here a mermaid and a star-shaped fortress, there a spire of intertwined dragons’ tails, everywhere quaint cobbled streets and pretty painted townhouses. It’s tailor-made for loved-up strolls along lakes and canals and snuggled-up people-watching, cocooned in blankets at pavement cafés. Plus it’s full of cosy, candlelit bars and restaurants, often hidden away off the main streets, so you feel as if you’ve stumbled across your own little secret.
Where to stay
Nimb Hotel
Copenhagen, Denmark
9Telegraph expert rating
Nimb impresses on all fronts, from its fairytale façade and location (by the Tivoli Gardens) to the impeccably styled interiors, excellent service and many dining options. The hotel’s original 1909 building looks particularly striking after dark, lit up by thousands of softly glowing light bulbs. The rooms offer a pleasing balance between clean-lined Nordic design, hand-picked antiques, and offer either open fires or balconies overlooking Tivoli. Read expert review From £319 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Sanders
Copenhagen, Denmark
8Telegraph expert rating
This graceful boutique hotel, owned by a former dancer with the Royal Danish Ballet, is refined yet relaxed, with luxurious rooms – by design studio Lind + Almond – and a convenient location at the heart of the city. The bar, TATA, has a retro glamour to it, with golden velvet armchairs, decadently dim lighting, and white-tuxed bar staff who serve up excellent cocktails. Read expert review From £277 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Reykjavik
With some of the most uniquely dramatic landscapes in Europe – if not the world – there’s no denying Iceland’s inherent allure. Its diminutive capital Reykjavik, home to just 150,000 souls, has contrastively romantic feel, with its village-esque atmosphere, colourful houses and peaceful vistas that span both sea and mountains. Come in winter and you can cuddle up in a hot tub and watch the northern lights; in summer you can stroll around the city’s lake and through its atmospheric neighbourhoods.
Where to stay
101 Hotel
Reykjavik, Iceland
9Telegraph expert rating
One of Reykjavik’s first-ever boutique hotels is still one of its best. It offers unapologetically chic interiors, a futuristic restaurant and bar, and its own collection of contemporary art. The rooms have intimate touches (fluffy rugs, quality linens and freestanding tubs overlooking the harbour) that help counterbalance its design-savvy aesthetic. There’s also an on-site spa with a steam bath, plunge pool and hot tub. Read expert review From £249 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre
Reykjavik, Iceland
9Telegraph expert rating
This self-billed 'lifestyle hotel' offers a brilliantly central location, dapper and well-appointed rooms inside a historic building, and chic public areas. The interiors nod to local design, food and culture: there’s Icelandic Omnom chocolate for sale, water filtered by Icelandic lava, and a library specialising in Icelandic literature. Read expert review From £134 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Four-star Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik
£ 629 pp 3 nights £210 per night Check availability Provided by Inspired Luxury Escapes
Berlin
While it’s well known for its tumultuous past, rough edges and boisterous nightlife, Berlin can also be a surprisingly gentle and romantic city. Criss-crossed by tree-lined rivers and canals, dotted with gorgeous parks and surrounded by pretty lakes, it’s ideal for springtime strolls and summertime picnics. In the colder months, abundant candelit cafés and bars provide ideal settings for an intimate intimate tête-à-tête, while the world-famous Christmas markets provide oodles of charm during December.
Where to stay
The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin
Berlin, Germany
9Telegraph expert rating
The hotel’s distinctive skyscraper-style building fits perfectly into Potsdamer Platz’s NY-esque cityscape. The marble staircase may say Art Deco, but the rooms have been revamped to give a sleek and contemporary vibe, with plenty of colour blocking, fine lines and edgy lighting fixtures. Fragrances, the hotel’s cocktail bar, is worth the trip alone; there’s no official menu – the bartender will create a special drink based on your favourite perfume. Read expert review From £165 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Hotel Zoo Berlin
Berlin, Germany
9Telegraph expert rating
This place mixes top-notch style with splashes of pre-war nostalgia. And thanks to some savvy aesthetic positioning that lands precisely between glam and bling, it's amenable to everyone from young clubbers to couples. Don't miss the convivial, speakeasy-themed bar. The suites are worth the splurge, as they come with gorgeous designer tubs, record players and double-sided fireplaces. Read expert review From £119 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Budapest
Romance is at the core of Budapest’s being. The Danube runs through the city’s heart, its bridges shining with thousands of lights at night. A palace lords over one bank, giving way to green hills behind, while on the other are broad squares and atmospheric cafés. You'll find boulevards and promenades everywhere – this is a place made for gentle strolls.
Where to stay
Aria Hotel Budapest
Budapest, Hungary
9Telegraph expert rating
The music-themed Aria – in the shadow of St Stephen’s Basilica – is undoubtedly one of the top hotels in Budapest. You’ll find large, fabulously equipped rooms, a soaring garden courtyard with a space-age piano, a seductive underground spa and swimming pool, and an atmospheric rooftop bar. Read expert review From £247 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Baltazár Budapest
Budapest, Hungary
8Telegraph expert rating
This 11-room hotel has a colour, character and attention to design detail (paintings as feature walls, travel trunks as coffee tables) that makes it very special. It’s probably best characterised as boho-chic – funky, even quirky in places, but elegant too. It’s owned by a family of restaurateurs, and as you’d expect, the restaurant is top drawer; order the Hungarian classics, such as goose-liver on fried bread. Read expert review From £60 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Porto
Portugal's second city – with its picturesque riverbank restaurants and sublime sunsets over the River Douro – is one of Europe’s hottest romantic destinations. Porto's hotel scene provides plenty of historical allure and soft-quilted luxury – with unbeatable prices. You can go all-out-to-impress with Belle Epoch grandeur in Baixa or old-world largesse in Ribeira, or keep things intimate at small hideaways beside the river. Either way, Porto is ready to receive you with open arms – and puckered lips.
Where to stay
Grande Hotel do Porto
Porto, Portugal
8Telegraph expert rating
Push through the revolving door of one of Porto's oldest hotels and be whisked away to another era. This classic-style accommodation has greeted many dignitaries over its lifespan, including the Dalai Lama and British Royal family. An opulent classic theme carries through the common areas via padded armchairs, glittering chandeliers, wide marble columns and heavy red curtains – while the lounge area channels a 1920s movie set. Read expert review From £65 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Porto A.S. 1829 Hotel
Porto, Portugal
8Telegraph expert rating
One of Europe’s oldest stationery shops has been converted into a modern yet cosy hotel in the heart of Porto’s downtown area. Artefacts from the former store add to the hotel’s stylish interior design and a street terrace provides a pleasant spot to unwind. There’s a bijou stationery shop on the ground floor, where you can pick up Portuguese-made crafts, smellies and paper goods to commemorate your trip. Read expert review From £67 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Porto A.S. 1829 Hotel, Porto
£ 269 pp 3 nights £90 per night Check availability Provided by Inspired Luxury Escapes
Bruges
Lose yourself in this tiny medieval city. Stay awhile: Bruges reveals its charms fully only to those who do – and has a host of pampering hotels and b&bs to help cast the spell. By day, the small museums offer scintillating art. Atmospheric cafés, artisan chocolatiers and convivial pubs alert the tastebuds – before dinner at one of Bruges’s astonishingly good restaurants. Then walk back along the canals, where the Gothic spires shimmer on the still water.
Where to stay
Guesthouse Bonifacius
Bruges, Belgium
9Telegraph expert rating
This is a fabulous place to stay: a medieval and 16th-century house, overlooking a canal, exquisitely decorated and equipped to the standard of a top luxury hotel. The label 'bed and breakfast' does not do it justice: 'Maison d’Hôte de Charme' gets nearer the mark. This exceptional quality is reflected in the price. Read expert review From £161 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Hotel Van Cleef
Bruges, Belgium
9Telegraph expert rating
There is no other hotel in Bruges quite like this: a small luxury boutique hotel in a neoclassical mansion with large terrace overlooking a pretty stretch of canal. Family-owned and managed and designed with exquisite attention to detail; at once gloriously palatial yet intimate. Read expert review From £177 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Prague
Prague is often referred to as one of Europe’s most romantic cities - and for good reason. Set on both sides of the winding Vltava river, its preserved 17th and 18th-century architecture, elegant palaces and gardens, and snaking cobbled lanes often make visitors feel they’ve stepped into a historic film set. Seen from the vantage point of Prague Castle or Letna Park, the city of spires still has as much power to take one’s breath away as ever.
Where to stay
Golden Well Hotel
Prague, Czech Republic
9Telegraph expert rating
With just 19 romantic rooms, the Golden Well (U Zlaté Studné) is an intimate and refined option for a memorable stay in Prague. The interior is sophisticated, there's a seriously top-notch restaurant, and service is pristine and personal throughout. Views from the hotel are over the city rooftops towards Old Town or over the enchanting Royal Ledeburg gardens. Read expert review From £192 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Four Seasons Hotel Prague
Prague, Czech Republic
9Telegraph expert rating
Prague's Four Seasons is one of the city's plushest and best-located hotels, with a blend of styles from different eras which lend plenty of character to the interior and rooms. Décor and furnishings are a mix of classic and contemporary, service is impeccable throughout and there's a swish spa and relaxation pool. The Cotto Crudo restaurant is one of the best Italians – if not best overall restaurants – in the city. Read expert review From £252 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Seville
Spine-tingling flamenco, winding flower-filled alleys, sunset boat rides past floodlit Moorish towers… Seville is always romantic, but thanks to its mild winter, you can even relish tapas and sherry at sun-drenched outdoor terraces in February. Wander through gardens vibrant with bougainvillea, catching jasmine-scented air – it would be churlish not to sneak a secret kiss on a tiled bench in a hidden corner. And who can resist a horse and carriage ride through the ancient streets?
WHERE TO STAY
Casa del Poeta
Seville, Andalucia, Spain
9Telegraph expert rating
This discreet, restored 17th-century mansion is hidden down a tiny alley in Santa Cruz. It can’t be a more romantic setting, with terracotta pots of frondy ferns and vibrant geraniums, and ivy hanging from the upper floors with tendrils trailing over the balconies. The service is worthy of a five-star establishment, and there’s nightly live guitar performances and a large roof terrace with cathedral views. Read expert review From £145 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Hotel Las Casas de la Juderia
Seville, Andalucia, Spain
8Telegraph expert rating
An intriguing maze of 18 houses and palaces in Santa Cruz, with endless plant-filled patios, makes this one of Seville’s most unusual and charming large hotels. Add an elegant piano bar, luxurious Roman-themed spa, and enticing rooftop pool, and you’ve got an upscale, historic bolthole. Read expert review From £70 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Contributions by Oliver Balch, Annie Bennett, Rodney Bolt, Sally Davies, Jane Foster, Anne Hanley, Suzanne King, Mary Lussiana, Lee Marshall, Antony Mason, Adrian Phillips, Paul Sullivan, Nicky Swallow, Flora Flores Watson, Nicola Williams and Venus Wong
