Best honeymoon vacation spots
Kick off your happily ever after with a romantic trip to these honeymoon destinations.
The only thing as exciting as “I do,” is jetting out to your long-awaited honeymoon. After the knots are tied and all of the stress of wedding planning is over, you and your new spouse deserve an indulgent, romantic getaway to enjoy some alone time and mark the start of your lives together. Have a dream honeymoon destination in mind?
What makes a good honeymoon vacation is unique to every couple. To some, paradise means an all-inclusive resort with white-sand beaches and refreshing cocktails. To others, it means going off-grid, blissfully lost under towering trees and a sky full of stars. With cities, beaches, and mountains in mind, you’re sure to find your perfect escape in our list of the best honeymoon vacation spots.
Featured Vacasa rental: Molokai Shores #A304
If not the most popular honeymoon destination, Hawaii must rank within the top three. Given the islands’ warm communities, stunning natural beauty, and no passport requirement (for U.S. travelers), it’s not hard to see why. If you’re looking for a balance of activity, downtime, and resort amenities to boot, head to the Big Island. Here, you’ll find whale-watching tours, hiking trails through Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and over 100 beautiful beaches for lounging.
For a more indulgent vacation, with a variety of luxurious resorts, and plenty of nightlife, Oahu will be your best match. Relax with a spa day by the ocean or a romantic dinner of fine dining. However, if you don’t mind going the extra mile for quiet seclusion and lush, unspoiled nature, look no further than Molokai’s jaw-dropping greenery. While it takes a bit more to get out to this uncommercialized island, every second spent exploring its waterfalls, tall sea cliffs, and fringing coral reefs will be worth it.
Featured Vacasa rental: Dos Monitos 1
There are few things more exciting than exploring somewhere new with your new spouse. What better backdrop to enjoy the adventure than a tropical rainforest? Costa Rica holds a special air of romance. Between ziplining through the trees or embarking on a hike through the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, you’ll be in for an unforgettable honeymoon.
Find all-inclusive resort stays with amenities like outdoor pools, beach access, shuttle service, tours, and more in the Puntarenas Province. With its close proximity to Jacó and one of the most popular beaches, Playa Manuel Antonio, you’ll have everything you need at your fingertips. More inclined to an off-grid experience? Playa Avellanas in the Guanacaste Province provides a more remote feel, with secluded white-sand beaches, untouched jungles, and a nearby city for nights out on the town.
Featured Vacasa rental: Maritima Golf 4A
Incredible food, thrilling nightlife, and world-class beaches—who said you can’t have it all on your honeymoon? Tulum is another favorite honeymoon vacation destination due to its ample activities and all-inclusive resort offerings. Start your morning with fresh fruit for breakfast and a dip in the infinity pool, then head out on a day of sightseeing or moving from one beach chair to another. If you’d prefer a more authentic experience in Mexico, but you don’t want to skimp out on luxury resorts, try Puerto Vallarta. While you’ll still have access to golden beaches, city life, and scuba diving, you’ll also enjoy the charm of cobblestone streets and historic buildings.
Featured Vacasa rental: Beach Glass #5-IC
The Outer Banks has long been a favorite beach destination for locals and tourists alike, and a romantic honeymoon is no exception. Catch a beach sunrise while searching for seashells and wind down the evening with a horseback ride by the ocean. The Outer Banks is a dream honeymoon destination for both nature lovers and beach enthusiasts, since its barrier islands are known for their wildlife conservation and uncommercialized shorelines. Kayak and birdwatch through the maritime forest in Kitty Hawk, book a sailing tour or dolphin cruise in Nags Head, and be sure to grab a cute photo by Cape Hatteras Light Station on Hatteras Island. Relax with some alone time to the soothing crash of Atlantic Ocean waves.
Featured Vacasa rental: Cape Cod Cottages #3
Get the best of both mountain scenes and beach tranquility with a romantic honeymoon to the Oregon Coast. Here, you’ll find charming and quiet coastal towns, with outdoor attractions like striking views of the rugged coastline, whale-watching tours, and puffin sightings—not to mention endless hiking trails. Find a honeymoon souvenir at an antique store, sightsee a number of art galleries, plan a night of wine tasting, and savor delicious seafood dinners. Because this stretch of the Pacific Ocean is too cold for swimming, the Oregon Coast sees fewer crowds than your usual sunny shore, but on the plus side, you might feel like you two have the coast to yourselves.
Cannon Beach is a great place to stay for views of the famous Haystack Rock, with a walkable downtown and convenient access to trails along Ecola State Park. A Newport vacation rental brings you closer to whale-watching tours, Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, and must-see geological sites, like the Devil’s Punchbowl and Thor’s Well. Never miss a wave with a beach bungalow or curl up under the trees in a cozy cabin, all with the company of your sweetheart.
Featured Vacasa rental: Seaside Gem
Wedding planning is hard work. Your honeymoon should be a deep breath of relaxation. For endless sunshine, diverse cuisine, dreamy beaches, and an air of “no worries,” California’s got you covered. Once you hit the West Coast, there are plenty of options to choose your own adventure.
Post up along the Northern California Coast, in scenic corners like Sea Ranch or Bodega Bay, for staggeringly beautiful beaches, sleepy small towns, and convenient access to the Redwoods and wine country. Have something a little fancier in mind? Treat yourself to a romantic getaway to Sonoma County, where you can sightsee the area through world-class wine tasting, horseback riding, or a hot air balloon tour. Toward the Southern California Coast, you’ll find bustling cities like San Diego, famous white-sand beaches, amusement parks, spas, and so much more. Snag a celebrity-style oceanfront vacation rental with private beach access for a truly unforgettable trip away.
Featured Vacasa rental: Main Street Station #2304
If a romantic honeymoon to you means fresh mountain air and fun in the outdoors, Colorado is tough to beat. This all-season honeymoon destination promises races down the winter ski slopes and exhilarating white water rafting come summer. Sip your morning coffee watching the sunrise from a cabin with a mountain view and lace up your hiking boots. Rocky Mountain National Park makes a beautiful backdrop during the spring and summer, when the meadows are in bloom and you can hit one hiking trail after another. For winter sports lovers, stay close to the snow with a ski-in/ski-out luxury resort stay in Aspen or Breckenridge. After a long day of adventure, ease those muscles and enjoy time together by the hot tub or fireplace.
Featured Vacasa rental: The Barn - Suite #4
Whether rolling verdant hills, snowcapped peaks, or vibrant fall foliage, New England has romance on lock. Follow up your wedding with a blissful honeymoon vacation strolling through picturesque small towns, sampling artisanal cheeses, and cozying up by the fire. What more could you ask for? Find the perfect spot to decompress together with a cabin in Ludlow or a slopeside condo in Stowe. Seek out waterfall views like Buttermilk Falls, spot covered bridges on a scenic drive, and taste your way through Sugarbush Farm for a (maple-sweet) local tour. Far from flashy cities and noisy streets, you’ll feel your stress slip away.
Featured Vacasa rental: Condo 114 at North Creek Resort
Plan your escape up north and savor Canada’s breathtaking Blue Mountains. Snow or sun, this mountain range holds plenty of ways to refresh and recharge after your big day. Take your pick of spas for a couples massage and a soak in the thermal baths. Once you’re back on your feet, enjoy the mountains’ natural beauty with a race down the fresh-powder slopes. For more outdoor fun, head out to the forests for wildlife viewing, mountain bike routes, and hiking trails. Take a romantic picnic out by Northwinds Beach and sample local spirits with a few evenings of wine tasting. While not completely off-grid, you’ll feel worlds away with some coveted peace and quiet.
Featured Vacasa rental: Eden’s Gate
For some, Texas’s wine country is a hidden treasure. The area abounds with local vineyards, blue bonnet-adorned fields, and sightseeing attractions. The Bavarian town of Fredericksburg is considered the central hub of it all, offering authentic German cuisine, a surprising number of outdoor activities, and live music around every corner. Wander through farmers markets and antique stores, day trip out to Austin or San Antonio, and beat the heat with a dip in a sapphire-blue swimming hole. Take advantage of the area’s quaint charm with a romantic honeymoon at a bed and breakfast or riverside vacation rental.
Featured Vacasa rental: 195 East Bay
Charleston is sure to add a fairytale touch to your honeymoon vacation. Carriage rides and cobblestone streets are just the beginning, as you embark on a culinary journey through fluffy beignets and homestyle Southern cooking. Find a vacation rental in the heart of the action downtown while keeping popular beaches along Sullivan’s Island just a stone’s throw away.
For more sunned sands, plan a day trip up to Myrtle Beach, where the boardwalk comes alive with sparkling lights, amusement park rides, and fried pier food delicacies.
Featured Vacasa rental: Casa Testoro
Dusty red mountains, eye-catching adobe houses, and an unbeatable food scene—maybe your dream honeymoon vacation rests in none other but New Mexico. Live up your honeymoon with nights of food, wine, and dancing, after a long day of exploring the outdoors. New Mexico’s capital city of Santa Fe abounds with activities to offer, so you can be sure there won’t be a lull in your itinerary unless you want to. Between white water rafting and touring the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, indulge in a relaxing soak and beautiful views at Spence Hot Springs. With Taos just an hour and a half away, you can even sneak in a ski trip if you need a change of scenery.
The U.S. is chock full of romantic honeymoon destinations for every kind of couple. The Oregon Coast, Hawaii, Charleston, and the Northern California Coast rank within the top getaways for honeymooners.
While ideas of romantic honeymoon destinations differ, places like Costa Rica, Vermont, Hawaii, and California’s Sonoma County have no shortage of love in the air.
