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25 Best Countries for a Honeymoon This Year (Cost, Visas & Best Time to Go)
Fact-Checked By Maya Whitfield
The best country for your honeymoon depends on your budget, the season you are traveling in, and how much visa paperwork you are willing to handle. Italy, Greece, and Costa Rica consistently rank as the most accessible all-rounders for US and UK couples. The Maldives and Bora Bora lead in overwater luxury. Japan, Tanzania, and New Zealand are the standout picks for couples who want an adventure, not just a beach.
Most “best honeymoon destinations” lists blend cities, islands, and countries into one long scroll, which is beautiful for inspiration but useless when you are actually trying to decide which country to book. This guide ranks 25 countries specifically, by what actually determines whether a honeymoon works: cost, visa hassle, flight time, and the season you are travelling in.
We have included a comparison table up front so you can scan the whole field, then dig into the sections that match your budget and your idea of romance.
Jump to: Quick Comparison Table | 25 Countries Ranked | Budget-Friendly Picks | Visa-Free Countries | Mistakes to Avoid | FAQs
Key takeaways
- Italy, Greece, and Costa Rica are the most accessible all-rounders for couples who want romance without a logistical headache.
- Portugal and Thailand offer the best value for money among globally popular honeymoon destinations, with mid-range nightly rates under $200 USD.
- Visa-free access varies sharply by passport. US and UK passport holders can enter most of the countries on this list without a visa, but a few popular picks, including Tanzania and Bhutan, require advance paperwork.
- Season matters more than the country itself. A Maldives honeymoon in July is a rain gamble. A Greek island honeymoon in November is a ghost town. Match the country to the month, not just the brochure.
- Budget an average of $250–$500 USD per night for mid-range honeymoon accommodation in most popular countries, with the Maldives, Bora Bora, and Switzerland pushing significantly higher.
Quick-Comparison Table: 25 Honeymoon Countries at a Glance
We ranked these countries on five criteria: romance factor, cost relative to peers, flight accessibility from major US and UK airports, visa ease for US and UK passport holders, and seasonal flexibility. The scores are subjective but transparent. The cost bands reflect mid-range accommodation in high season. Always check current visa requirements on your government’s official travel website before booking.
Cost estimates reflect mid-range boutique hotels and resorts during high season. Flight costs are not included. Visa information reflects standard tourist entry for US and UK passport holders. Always verify current entry requirements on your government’s official travel website before booking. For comparing flight prices, use Kayak. For hotel availability, Booking.com covers most of these countries comprehensively.
25 Best Countries for Honeymooners, Ranked
Each entry below covers why the country earned its spot, what it costs, visa requirements, and the best months to go. We have included a “where to stay” pick for each because a honeymoon lives or dies on the accommodation choice, not just the country. The rankings are subjective but consistent: we weighted romance, cost accessibility, seasonal reliability, and ease of travel roughly equally.
@rachelgwilson Italy honeymoon recommendations in July?! Feeling overwhelmed with options and prices and wanting to have an incredible honeymoon but nervous of messing it up (coming from someone who isn’t great at planning).
1. Italy
Why here: Italy is the closest thing to a honeymoon guarantee in the northern hemisphere. The food is exceptional across every region. The coastlines of Amalfi, Cinque Terre, and Puglia rival anywhere in the world. The cities, Rome, Florence, and Venice, need no introduction. You can build a trip around art, around wine, around slow mornings in a countryside agriturismo, or around all three. It works in spring, summer, and early autumn. It works for couples who want to be active and couples who want to sit on a terrace with an Aperol spritz for two weeks. The infrastructure is excellent, the train network connects the major destinations without a car, and the language barrier is low for English speakers in tourist regions.
Cost snapshot: Mid-range boutique hotels run $200–$400 USD per night in high season. A three-course dinner for two with wine costs $60–$100 USD in most towns. Flights from the US East Coast to Rome or Milan average $600–$900 USD round-trip in shoulder season.
Visa: Visa-free for US, UK, EU, and Australian passport holders for stays up to 90 days.
Best months: May, June, and September. July and August are hot and crowded. April and October are quieter but risk more rain.
Where to stay: Le Sirenuse in Positano for a splurge with a view that justifies the rate. Borgo Santo Pietro in Tuscany for a countryside estate with a working farm and a Michelin-starred restaurant. For mid-range, agriturismos throughout Tuscany and Umbria offer character and home-cooked breakfasts for under $200 a night.
2. Greece
Why here: The Greek islands deliver the postcard, whitewashed villages, blue-domed churches, and cliffs dropping into impossibly clear water. Santorini gets the honeymoon headlines, and it earns them at sunset, but Milos, Crete, and Paros offer similar beauty with fewer crowds and lower prices. Athens gives you two days of ancient history and excellent food before you head for the ferries. The food is straightforward and exceptional: grilled seafood, horiatiki salad, and local wine that has improved dramatically in the last decade. The ferry system lets you island-hop without flying, which keeps the pace relaxed.
@angela_ceccarelli As a travel advisor and a Greece honeymooner myself, I can confidently say Greece is hard to beat for a honeymoon. 🇬🇷 This perfect itinerary takes you island-hopping to four breathtaking islands, staying in luxurious hotels, wandering through whitewashed old towns, and swimming in crystal-clear waters. ☀️ • If you’re tying the knot and dreaming of an ultimate Grecian honeymoon, reach out and let’s make it happen! ✈️ #greece #honeymoon #itinerary #travelplanning #honeymoonhotel #europe #luxurytravel #traveladvisor #mykonos #santorini #ios #paros
Cost snapshot: Mid-range hotels run $180–$350 USD per night. A taverna dinner for two with wine costs $40–$70 USD. Flights from the US to Athens average $700–$1,100 USD round-trip.
Visa: Visa-free for US, UK, EU, and Australian passport holders.
Best months: June and September. July and August are peak crowds and peak heat. May and October are quieter, but some island restaurants and hotels close for the season.
Where to stay: Katikies Hotel in Oia, Santorini, for the caldera view. Daios Cove in Crete for a luxury resort with a private beach. For a quieter island, Milos Breeze Boutique Hotel offers the cliffside pool experience without the Santorini price tag.
3. Costa Rica
Why here: Costa Rica is the answer for couples who want a honeymoon that alternates between adventure and stillness. One day you are zip-lining through a cloud forest. The next day you are on a Pacific beach with a cold Imperial beer watching howler monkeys in the trees. The country is compact enough that a two-week trip can comfortably cover a volcano, a rainforest lodge, and a beach resort without internal flights. The tourism infrastructure is well-developed, the roads are manageable, and the safety record is among the best in Latin America.
Cost snapshot: Mid-range eco-lodges and beach resorts run $180–$350 USD per night. A good meal for two costs $40–$70 USD. Flights from the US to San José or Liberia average $400–$700 USD round-trip.
Visa: Visa-free for US, UK, EU, and Australian passport holders for stays up to 90 days.
Best months: December through April is the dry season on the Pacific coast. The Caribbean coast is drier in September and October. May through November is the green season: fewer crowds, lower prices, and afternoon rain.
Where to stay: Nayara Springs in Arenal for an adults-only thermal-spring retreat with a volcano view. Hotel Aguas Claras in Puerto Viejo for a boutique Caribbean-side beach stay with excellent food.
Maya’s honest take: “Costa Rica is not the cheapest country in Central America, but it is the easiest honeymoon in the region for couples who have never traveled in Latin America. The wildlife viewing alone, sloths, toucans, and monkeys from your hotel balcony, makes it feel like a documentary you are actually inside. Skip San José entirely and head straight for the coast or the highlands.”
The full ranked list continues through all 25 countries. For space here, we have detailed the top 3. The remaining 22 entries follow the same format: France, Portugal, Spain, Croatia, Maldives, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Seychelles, French Polynesia, Fiji, Mexico, Saint Lucia, Argentina, South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, New Zealand, Australia, and Vietnam. Each section includes a cost snapshot, visa note, best months, and where to stay.
Best Budget-Friendly Countries for Honeymooners
A honeymoon does not have to cost $10,000 to be memorable. The countries below deliver genuine romance, excellent food, and comfortable mid-range accommodation for under $200 USD per night in high season. They are not “cheap” in the backpacker sense. They are high-value, where your money buys a level of experience that would cost double or triple in France or the Maldives.
Portugal
$150–$280/night. The Algarve’s coastline, the Douro Valley’s vineyards, and Lisbon’s tiled streets for a fraction of the cost of neighboring Spain or Italy. The food is superb, the wine is underpriced, and the hospitality is genuine.
Thailand
$100–$250/night. Five-star beach resorts in Krabi or Koh Samui for under $200 a night in shoulder season. Street-food dinners for two under $10. The flight from the US or UK is the biggest expense; everything on the ground is exceptional value.
Vietnam
$80–$200/night. The lowest cost base on this list. Boutique hotels in Hoi And beach resorts on Phu Quoc Island for under $120 a night. The street food is world-class and costs pocket change. A two-week honeymoon here costs less than a weekend in the Maldives.
Countries That Don’t Require a Visa for US and UK Honeymooners
If you want to minimize paperwork, the good news is that most of the countries on this list allow visa-free entry for US and UK passport holders for stays of 30 to 90 days. The exceptions worth knowing about are Tanzania, which requires a visa you can apply for online in advance, and Kenya, which now uses an electronic travel authorization system rather than a traditional visa. Sri Lanka, Australia, and New Zealand require an electronic travel authorization completed online before departure, typically approved within 24 to 72 hours.
Always check the official government immigration website for your destination before booking, as visa policies can change with limited notice. Do not rely on a blog post from eighteen months ago, including this one, for entry requirements on the day you travel.
Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Honeymoon Country
These are the missteps I see couples make most often, based on years of reading honeymoon reviews and talking to friends who came back with regrets. None of them will ruin a marriage, but each of them has turned a trip that should have been effortless into something more stressful than it needed to be.
- 1. Picking a country without checking the season first. The Maldives in July is a monsoon gamble. Greek islands in November are half-closed. A destination is only as good as the month you land in it. Reverse-engineer your honeymoon: pick your travel window first, then choose from the countries that are in season during that window.
- 2. Underestimating the jet lag on a short trip. A one-week honeymoon to Bali or Japan from the US East Coast gives you roughly four functional days after accounting for two days of travel and two days of significant jet lag. Either extend the trip to ten days minimum or choose a country with a shorter flight time.
- 3. Booking the cheapest room at the most expensive resort. A garden-view room at a Maldives overwater resort costs $800 a night and delivers none of the experience you booked the resort for. A sea-view room at a slightly less famous resort usually costs less and delivers more. Prioritise the room category over the resort name.
- 4. Over-scheduling the itinerary. A honeymoon is not a sightseeing race. Three cities in ten days sounds manageable on a spreadsheet and feels exhausting in reality. Pick one or two bases and settle in. You can always come back.
- 5. Ignoring the visa lead time. Most couples research honeymoon destinations months in advance but leave visa paperwork until the last few weeks. If your chosen country requires a physical visa application or an in-person appointment, start the process at least eight weeks before your departure date.
Frequently asked questions about the best countries for honeymooners
What is the cheapest country for a honeymoon?
Vietnam and Thailand offer the lowest on-the-ground costs among globally popular honeymoon destinations, with mid-range boutique hotels available for under $150 USD per night and exceptional meals for under $10 per person. Portugal is the best-value option in Europe, with comparable quality to Italy or Spain at roughly 30% lower cost.
Which countries do not require a visa for a US honeymoon?
Most of the countries on this list, including Italy, Greece, France, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Japan, allow visa-free entry for US passport holders for stays of 30 to 90 days. Tanzania requires an advanced visa. Kenya, Australia, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka require an electronic travel authorization completed online before departure.
What is the safest country for a honeymoon?
Japan, New Zealand, and Portugal consistently rank among the safest countries in the world for travelers, with low crime rates, reliable infrastructure, and strong tourist safety records. Costa Rica and Greece are also widely considered very safe for couples, with standard precautions applying in urban areas.
What is the best time of year for a honeymoon?
There is no single best month because the ideal window depends on the destination. The Mediterranean is best from May to June and September. The Caribbean and Southeast Asia are best from November to February. East Africa safari destinations peak from June to October. Match your travel dates to the destination’s dry season for the most reliable experience.
How much should a honeymoon cost?
A realistic budget for a two-week mid-range honeymoon, including flights, accommodation, meals, and activities, ranges from $6,000 to $12,000 USD per couple, depending on the destination. Southeast Asia and Portugal sit at the lower end. The Maldives, Bora Bora, and luxury safari lodges in Tanzania sit at the upper end and beyond.
Which country is best for a honeymoon in December?
Thailand, the Maldives, Mexico, Costa Rica, and the Caribbean islands are all in their dry season in December and are strong choices. Southern Hemisphere destinations like New Zealand, Argentina, and South Africa are in their summer and are also excellent December options for couples who prefer adventure over a beach.
Plan your honeymoon: booking platforms we trust
We do not process bookings ourselves. These are the platforms we use and recommend for researching and booking honeymoon travel. Each one serves a different purpose in the planning process.
Best for comparing flight prices to multiple honeymoon destinations at once.
Best for comparing boutique hotels and resorts with verified guest reviews.
Best for bundling flights and honeymoon hotels into a single package.
Best for booking romantic experiences and private tours in your chosen country.
Best for reading detailed recent reviews of resorts and restaurants before booking.
Best for finding private villas with kitchens for a longer, self-catered honeymoon.