Top 10 honeymoon destinations for 2027

After months of wedding planning, your honeymoon is your first big trip as a married couple. You picture it romantic, exotic, perfect. But between the lagoons of the Maldives, the temples of Japan and the safaris of Tanzania, choosing is not easy, and the destination that looks dreamy on Instagram is not always the one that suits you, or the right season for your dates.

In this ranking, I share the 10 destinations I most often recommend to newlyweds, each with the best time to go, the ideal length, an indicative budget and the kind of couple it suits. And if you would rather just enjoy the anticipation, I design your tailor-made honeymoon, from the very first idea until you are back home.

The 10 destinations in this ranking: 1. Bali, 2. Japan, 3. Maldives, 4. Tanzania and Zanzibar, 5. Seychelles, 6. Costa Rica, 7. Greece, 8. Italy, 9. Sri Lanka, 10. French Polynesia.

How to choose your honeymoon destination

Before choosing a country, I always start with the same question: what kind of trip would do you both good? After a wedding, some couples dream of not organising anything at all, others of an adventure that takes them completely out of their routine. Both make wonderful honeymoons, but they do not lead to the same place.

Then, four criteria make the difference:

• The season: every destination has its best time. The same island can be ideal in May and rainy in January, so choose it according to your travel dates.
• The length: a week is enough for Greece or Italy, but not for French Polynesia or Japan, where I recommend at least two weeks.
• The pace: total rest, a touring trip, or a mix of both, with a few beach days to finish.
• The budget: flights, accommodation, transfers and activities. Long-haul flights weigh heavily, but some destinations stay affordable once you are there.

Good to know: nothing says you have to leave the day after the wedding. Pushing your honeymoon back by a few weeks or months often lets you aim for the best season, catch your breath after the preparations and enjoy gentler prices. Just don't wait too long, so you keep your honeymoon perks.

Make the most of your honeymoon perks

Many hotels have special touches for newlyweds: a bottle of champagne or a cake on arrival, a room upgrade subject to availability, a complimentary romantic dinner or couples' massage, sometimes even a real discount on the stay.

These perks come with one condition: the trip has to take place fairly soon after the wedding. Depending on the hotel, this window is usually 3 to 12 months, and proof is almost always required (marriage certificate).

Conditions vary a lot from one hotel to another: some offer a simple gesture, others real honeymoon deals, sometimes with a minimum length of stay. I compare them for you when choosing your hotels, and I mention your honeymoon with every booking.

My top 10 honeymoon destinations

1. Bali, between rice terraces, temples and beaches

Bali remains a safe bet for a honeymoon that mixes relaxation and a change of scene. You start in Ubud, with its terraced rice fields and temples, in a villa with a pool in the middle of the jungle, then head to the coast, or a neighbouring island such as Nusa Lembongan or the Gilis, to finish with your feet in the water. Balinese massages, temple ceremonies and the warmth of the locals do the rest.

• Ideal for: couples who want rest, beautiful places to stay and culture, all at once.
• Best time: May to September, during the dry season.
• Ideal length: 12 to 15 days.
• My tip: two or three stops at most: with the traffic, journeys often take longer than you would expect. All the details in my Bali guide.

2. Japan, for a cultural and refined honeymoon

Japan appeals to curious couples who love food and beautiful scenery. Between the neon lights of Tokyo, the temples of Kyoto and a night in a ryokan, a traditional inn with hot baths and a refined dinner, every day brings its share of wonder. To round off the trip, a detour via Hakone or the Japanese Alps adds a touch of nature.

• Ideal for: curious couples who love walking, tasting and discovering.
• Best time: late March to early April for the cherry blossoms, October and November for autumn colours.
• Ideal length: 14 to 18 days.
• My tip: book ryokans very early for cherry blossom season, they are the first places to fill up. It is all in my Japan guide.

3. The Maldives, for a restful honeymoon

The Maldives are the destination of total rest: one island, one hotel, a turquoise lagoon, and nothing left to organise. Overwater villa, snorkelling with rays and turtles, spa facing the ocean, dinner on a sandbank: it is the ideal honeymoon to reconnect after the excitement of the wedding. The time difference is only 3 to 4 hours, and flights from Paris take 10 to 12 hours, with one stop.

• Ideal for: couples who want to rest without any constraints.
• Best time: November to April.
• Ideal length: 7 to 10 nights, or at the end of a trip after Sri Lanka.
• My tip: the choice of island changes everything (size, reef, seaplane or boat transfer). I compare all this in my Maldives or Mauritius article and my Maldives guide.

4. Tanzania and Zanzibar, safari and beach

For a honeymoon you will remember for a lifetime, the Tanzania and Zanzibar combination is hard to beat. A few days of safari in the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire, with nights in lodges overlooking the savannah, then the Indian Ocean, the lanes of Stone Town and the white-sand beaches of Zanzibar. The thrill of the big animals, then the gentleness of the island.

• Ideal for: couples who want a big adventure, followed by rest.
• Best time: June to October, in the dry season, or January to February.
• Ideal length: 12 to 15 days.
• My tip: this is the trip that needs the most preparation, as the best lodges are booked far in advance. See my Tanzania guide.

5. The Seychelles, nature and privacy

The Seychelles have a wilder feel than many beach destinations: pink granite boulders, rainforest, beaches where you meet more tortoises than travellers. You combine Mahé, Praslin and La Digue at a gentle pace, sometimes with a few nights on a private island. The time difference is small, and French is one of the official languages.

• Ideal for: couples who want the beach, but with real nature to explore.
• Best time: April, May, October and November.
• Ideal length: 10 to 12 days.
• My tip: end on Mahé, where the airport is. I have written a whole article on the Seychelles honeymoon.

Find our honeymoon destination

6. Costa Rica, nature and adventure for two

Costa Rica suits active couples who dream of nature: Arenal volcano and its hot springs, the Monteverde cloud forest, the Pacific beaches where monkeys come right down to the sand. The lodges, often tucked away in the forest, keep things romantic, and a few final days on the coast let you unwind before flying home.

• Ideal for: sporty, nature-loving couples.
• Best time: December to April, during the dry season.
• Ideal length: 12 to 15 days.
• My tip: don't add too many stops: distances look short on the map, but mountain roads make journeys much longer. More ideas in my Costa Rica guide.

7. Greece, islands on your doorstep

Greece offers a romantic honeymoon without going far: barely more than three hours' flight, white villages above the sea, tavernas by the water and unforgettable sunsets. Santorini is the most famous, but Paros, Naxos, Milos or Folegandros have a gentler, more authentic feel.

• Ideal for: a honeymoon close to home, with just a few days off.
• Best time: May, June, September and early October.
• Ideal length: 8 to 12 days, on two or three islands.
• My tip: avoid Santorini in August, when it is very crowded, and stay on a neighbouring island instead. See my Greece guide.

8. Italy, romantic and gourmet

Italy is the destination for food-loving couples who appreciate beautiful things. The Amalfi Coast and its cliffside villages, Tuscany and its hills of vineyards and cypress trees, Puglia and its masserias, or a Rome, Florence and Venice combination: every region lends itself to an elegant honeymoon, with no jet lag.

• Ideal for: couples who love good food, art and boutique hotels.
• Best time: April to June, then September and October.
• Ideal length: 8 to 12 days.
• My tip: choose two regions rather than four, to really enjoy them. All my ideas in my Italy guide.

9. Sri Lanka, the most varied

In two weeks, Sri Lanka offers a rare palette. First there is the Cultural Triangle, the region at the heart of the island between the ancient royal capitals of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Kandy, with its temples and UNESCO-listed sites such as Sigiriya rock. Then the train through the tea plantations, safaris to see elephants and leopards, and finally the beaches of the south. It is a honeymoon that unfolds step by step, starting with discovery and ending in a beautiful hotel facing the ocean. The country also pairs very well with a few nights in the Maldives, an hour's flight away.

• Ideal for: couples who want to experience everything in one trip.
• Best time: December to March for the south and west coasts, April to September for the east coast.
• Ideal length: 14 to 18 days.
• My tip: the right coast in the right season is the key. It is all explained in my Sri Lanka guide.

10. French Polynesia, the trip of a lifetime

French Polynesia instantly brings to mind lagoons, overwater bungalows and the feeling of being at the end of the world. Bora Bora is the legendary island, but Moorea, Huahine, Taha'a or the Rangiroa atoll round off the trip beautifully, each with its own atmosphere. It is far, more than twenty hours' flight, and that is exactly what makes it such a special honeymoon.

• Ideal for: a big, exceptional honeymoon.
• Best time: May to October.
• Ideal length: 14 to 18 days, with three or four islands.
• My tip: alternate a very luxurious island with a simpler one to keep the budget reasonable. See my French Polynesia guide.

Season and budget: the 10 destinations at a glance

To compare more easily, here are the key benchmarks. Budgets are indicative, per person, in comfort (4★ hotels or equivalent), excluding international flights.

Which destination for your honeymoon dates?

Is your wedding in June and you were dreaming of the Maldives? It is not necessarily the best season. Here, by month of departure, are the destinations from this ranking that are in their best season. To go further, my world seasons calendar covers many more countries.

Which destination for your style as a couple?

Your tailor-made honeymoon by Lisa

Planning a honeymoon usually means doing it while also planning a wedding. My role is to take that load off your shoulders, so all that is left for you is to choose and to dream. If you are still torn between two destinations, that is actually where I start: hearing what you want, then suggesting the one that suits you.

My tips for a successful honeymoon

• Travel in the right season, even if it means pushing the honeymoon back a few months.
• Don't try to see everything: two or three stops, with at least three nights at each, are enough to really enjoy it.
• Keep a few days of rest at the end of the trip, so you come home relaxed.
• Mention your honeymoon with every booking, to hotels and airlines alike: many have special touches, a little surprise on board, a glass of champagne on arrival at the hotel, or even a honeymoon deal, usually on presentation of your recent marriage certificate.
• Check the formalities early, especially if one of you is changing name: the plane ticket must match the passport exactly.
• Think about your wedding list: your loved ones can give you part of the trip with a travel gift voucher.
• To stay connected from the moment you land without roaming charges, get an eSIM before you leave: my code NEWHORIZONS gives you 15% off Saily (partner link).

To go further, I have also gathered the honeymoon mistakes to avoid.

What I bring to your honeymoon

• advice on the destination, based on your dates, your wishes and your budget
• an itinerary designed for you, with flights, transfers and stops in the right order
• hotels chosen for their atmosphere and location, from charming guesthouses to overwater villas
• romantic moments booked ahead: beach dinner, couples' spa, private excursion
• a line-by-line quote, with no hidden fees
• a clear travel booklet with all your bookings and my recommendations
• a single point of contact, reachable 7 days a week during your trip

They trusted me with their honeymoon

Start planning my tailor-made honeymoon

FAQ: your questions about honeymoon destinations

What is the best honeymoon destination?

There is no single best destination: it all depends on your season, your budget and the pace you want for the trip. The Maldives, the Seychelles and French Polynesia are safe bets for a restful honeymoon, Japan, Italy and Greece for a more cultural trip, and Tanzania or Costa Rica for adventure.

What are the 3 best honeymoon trips?

For most couples, the winning trio is the Maldives for total rest, the Tanzania and Zanzibar safari-and-beach combination for emotion, and Japan for culture and refinement. If you only have a few days off, Greece or Italy are the best alternatives without a long-haul flight.

How much does a honeymoon cost?

As a rough guide, allow from €1,600 to €1,800 per person excluding flights for 10 days in Italy, Greece or Bali, from €3,000 for the Seychelles, around €4,200 to €5,500 for the Maldives or a Tanzania and Zanzibar combination, and from €5,800 for French Polynesia. Long-haul flights come on top, from around €800 for the Indian Ocean to over €1,800 for Tahiti.

How do you build a honeymoon that fits your budget?

That is the whole point of a tailor-made trip: building the journey around your budget, not the other way round. To do so, you travel in the right season, avoiding school holidays and festive periods. You alternate charming places to stay with one or two exceptional nights, and limit the number of stops to cut down on transfers. You also make the most of the hotels' honeymoon perks. With the same budget, you can choose a destination close to home with exceptional hotels, or a long-haul trip with a truly beautiful finale.

When to go on honeymoon in 2027?

It depends on the destination: November to April for the Maldives and Sri Lanka, May to October for Bali and French Polynesia, spring or autumn for Japan and southern Europe. If your wedding falls in midsummer, Bali, French Polynesia or Tanzania are in their best season, while the Maldives are better kept for a departure between autumn and spring.

How far ahead should you plan your honeymoon?

Ideally six to nine months before departure, and a year ahead for French Polynesia, a safari in high season or Japan during cherry blossom time. It is the best way to have your pick of hotels and flights, while keeping time to enjoy the wedding preparations.