The most romantic places in the world. That’s quite a challenge and rather than list all of the “romantic” places everyone else shares, this is the Not a Pedestrian Life list – our list.
1. Al Bustan Palace, Muscat, Oman
The kind of words that roll of your tongue to describe this property includes majestic, epic, romantic, old Arabia, and breathtaking. This palace was built in 1982 with the 9th floor reserved for Sultan Qaboos. This is the kind of property where you can recharge your batteries in luxury – and for most of us, this is a once in a lifetime experience.
2. Sydney from the harbor, especially during VIVID Sydney.
Harbour cruises are definitely a thing in Sydney, but my personal favourite is taking a ferry from the circular key to either Manly or Darling Harbour. But if you want to make things extra romantic, choose your timing wisely, and take that ferry during VIVID Sydney. Vivid is a festival of illumination – it is an amazing light show that layers light art onto some iconic Sydney landmarks.
3. Picnics by the Rhine, Germany
There’s nothing quite like a picnic basket, with those little bottles of bubbly, and some fabulous cheese and charcuterie. An afternoon lounging on the banks of the Rhine with your love is a romantic way to spend an afternoon. Just stay off the bike paths – the cyclists take no prisoners.
4. A cruise on Milford Sound, New Zealand.
Milford Sound is one of those places that blow your mind. The scale of the natural beauty isn’t easily captured by words or pictures.
5. Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat
Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat, near Atherton, Australia, was the perfect place to spend part of our honeymoon. A delightful place for a romantic retreat, these treehouse structures have full height doors which slide open to the tropical cool climate rainforest. A 90-minute drive from Cairns, this property is open all year round – you will need access to a car and we highly recommend stopping by the Cairns markets to pick up food to take with you. This is the kind of place where you can hide for a few days. There is no cell coverage up there and it is an opportunity for a true retreat.
6. New York at Christmas
New York at Christmas just has a special kind of romance in the air. It could be the extraordinary store windows decorated for the holiday season, or the chilly weather and decorations on every corner.
7. Louvre (in either Paris or Abu Dhabi)
The dappled light in the Louvre, Abu Dhabi creates a blissful sort of romance. Water features are built into its fabric. The Louvre in Paris is not a place you will likely ever exhaust. It is a veritable pandora worthy of long languorous afternoons of exploring. Avoiding the tourists is somewhat of an art form, but nevertheless, magic abounds.
8. The Opera
Our personal favourites in the US are Santa Fe Opera, New Mexico, or Kennedy Center, Washington DC. Paris and Milan are just magical. 2020 was the first year in 7 we didn’t see a live opera. We are hoping that we’ll be able to get back into our rhythm sooner rather than later.
9. The Airport, wherever we are saying hello!
We have so so many goodbyes at airports. It has been a challenge to remember the joy of meeting together in a place where we have said goodbye so often. Perhaps the ambivalence will always be present, but so too is the romance of the
10. Kamp Bled, Slovenia
Lake Bled is picture perfect, and so are the triangular windows of the wooden tents at Kamp Bled.
Our most Romantic Places in the world
These are our most romantic places in the world. This will likely not be the same as yours.
