travel

5 Places To Spend Valentines Day

1/08/2017Jake Ryan


With Valentines Day just around the corner, your mind has no doubt turned to where you should spend the most romantic day of the year. With 14th February falling on a Friday this year, it is the perfect excuse to whisk your loved one away on a magical mini-break. 

While you may be thinking of Paris and Rome, why not make it a day to truly remember and instead head to a more unique destination? To give you some inspiration, here are my top 5 places to spend this Valentine’s Day.

1. || VERONA || ITALY



What better place to feel the romance than taking a stroll hand-in-hand through the picturesque city that provided the backdrop for the greatest love story of all time? Immortalised in Shakespeare’s classic; Romeo and Juliet, Verona is possibly the most romantic place I have ever visited and no matter where you turn you can really feel the love in the air. Even better, every year during the week of Valentines Day, the city organises an abundance of romantic events entitled ‘Verona in Love’. This year highlights include the ‘Seal of Love’, the famed ‘Red Heart Market’ and the ‘Love Illuminations’. What better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day?



Romantic places to visit in Verona 
Declare your undying love on Juliet’s balcony (only €1 entry between 12th - 15th February).
♥ Take in the “Love Illuminations’ from the top of the Lamberti Tower.
♥ Share some culinary delights at the Red Heart Market.
♥ Roam Italy’s most romantic renaissance gardens at the Giardino Giusti.
Grab an authentic Italian Gelato with your love and watch the sunset from Castel San Pietra.



2. || ISTANBUL || TURKEY


Frenzied, exotic and supremely unique; Istanbul is the ultimate visual feast and the perfect destination for an opulent Valentine’s getaway. Majestically straddling two continents, centuries of breathtaking architecture and cultural richness ooze from every crevice of this mystical masterpiece. With its combination of mercurial mosques, Byzantine monasteries, chaotic bazaars, exhibitions, galleries and world-class cuisine, there are a variety of romantic adventures that are guaranteed to sweep for you and that special someone away.


Romantic places to visit in Instanbul 
♥ Be swept away by the magic and mysticism of the 2000 year old Hagia Sophia.
♥ Take a romantic fayton carriage ride along the picturesque Princes’ Islands.
♥ Be transported to another world with a stroll along Fransiz Soka (French Street).
♥ Toast to your Valentine while taking in the stunning sweeping skyline of Istanbul atop a roof terrace.
♥ Follow in the footsteps of Sultans with a tour of the sumptuous Topkapi Palace.


3. || BUDAPEST || HUNGARY


Situated on the banks of the River Danube, Budapest is regarded as one of the most strikingly beautiful places in the world. With its glorious gothic spires,  majestic Baroque mansions, ancient fairytale castles and serpentine weaving waters; it is a city seemingly built for romance. With even its history the perfect metaphor for love (two cities, Buda and Pest, separated by a river, finally joined together in 1873 and never separated), there is perhaps no other place that encapsulates the symbolism of Valentine’s quite like elegant Budapest.

Romantic places to visit in Budapest: 
♥ Bring your storybook romance to life with a trip to the enchanting Fisherman’s Bastion. 
♥ Share a day of indulgent pampering at Budapest’s world famous Szechenyi thermal baths.
♥ Enjoy a candlelit dinner at a floating restaurant on the River Danube.
♥ Take a sunset stroll across the picturesque Chain Bridge. 
Book a suite at the Four Seasons Gresham Palace Hotel for the ultimate romantic experience.


4. || VIENNA || AUSTRIA


Famed for its impressive classical Viennese Waltz, Vienna has been evoking love and romance for couples throughout the centuries. From imperial palaces, snow-white stallions, lush gardens and picturesque avenues, when it comes to romance, Vienna doesn’t disappoint. When walking hand in hand through its myriad of winding cobblestone streets as the snow softly falls; trust me, you could not pick a more romantic setting to spend your Valentine’s Day. 


Romantic places to visit in Vienna: 
♥ Experience illuminated Vienna with a twilight horse-drawn carriage ride. 
♥ Cuddle up close and take a dizzying ride in the Riesenrad Ferris wheel.
♥ Seek out ‘The Kiss’ in the Belvedere Gallery.
♥ Enter into your very own fairytale with a tour around the Hapsburg Palace.
♥ Snake along the Danube on a ‘full moon’ boat ride.
♥ Be seduced by Viennese opera at the world-famous Staatsoper.



5. || HONG KONG || CHINA



If you’re looking for complete indulgence this Valentine’s Day, Hong Kong is the ultimate destination for you. Beautiful, magical, eclectic, exotic, traditional and modern; it is easily the most sensationally exciting and luxurious city to spend February 14th. Filled with an abundance of intoxicating romantic vistas, extravagant culinary delights and extraordinary cultural experiences; this is one place that completely encapsulates true love.

    
Romantic places to visit in Hong Kong: 
♥ Express your love while taking in the astonishing views from the top of Victoria Peak. 
♥ Soar to romantic heights by taking a helicopter ride over Hong Kong.
♥ Hire a boat and enjoy the perfect sunset picnic on your very own private island. 
♥ Bring your childhood fairytales to life and spend a magical day at Disneyland.
♥ Stroll through the fragrant flower markets and pick out the perfect bouquet of roses together.



Where are your favourite places to spend Valentine's Day? Drop me a comment below. 


Photo Credits:
photo credit: Aya Sofya via photopin (license)
photo credit: ND7_0315.jpg via photopin (license)
photo credit: AC2_2063 via photopin (license)
photo credit: 2006-07-13-12h23m01 via photopin (license)
photo credit: 2011-12-27 via photopin (license)


Post written by Emme. Emme has nothing to promote but a love of writing. 

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