Your honeymoon is the biggest and best holiday you’re probably ever going to have, so why settle on just one location? A road trip means you’ll get to tick off lots of destinations, as well as several hidden gems along the way!
If you’re wondering where to head off to, then you’re in luck! By looking at a variety of factors including romantic restaurants, activities for couples and more, we’ve uncovered the best road trips for honeymooners – so, get ready for major travel envy…
The Amalfi Coast
Ranked in first place is the gorgeous Amalfi Coast, known for its dramatic coastlines, and pretty towns.
With an average journey of just 12.76 miles between each stop, stop off at breath-taking Positano, with its pastel-coloured cliffside buildings, Sorrento, where if you’re lucky, you’ll get to see out to the island of Capri; as well as the bustling city of Naples, which is home to several art galleries and museums.
Spend your evenings dining on delicious pizza, pasta, risotto, and seafood at the 3,564 restaurants along the Amalfi Coast route; and your days taking to the sea on a yacht or snorkelling.
With nine stops on our list along the Amalfi Coast, Naples scores the highest with the most romantic restaurants and activities for couples, whereas when it comes to honeymoon spots, Sorrento sits in first place.
Andalusia
Known for its rolling hills, winding rivers, and excellent food and culture, the region of Andalusia is a great place to spend your honeymoon – especially if you’re planning a road trip.
With 12 stops along the way, you’ll only need to spend an hour or two driving between each of them, with the average distance between each place totalling 45.13 miles.
At 735 couples’ activities, it has the most out of all the road trips on our list, with Seville offering the most things to do by far. Enjoy a picnic or boat on the lake at the pretty Parque de María Luisa, before dining on some of the best tapas dishes in the world, and then catching a fiery flamenco show.
Alternatively, if it’s beautiful beaches you’re after, then had to Marbella or Malaga, both of which are known for their stretches of golden sands.
The Algarve
In third place is Portugal’s Algarve, with its golden sandy shores, and lush green golf courses. Start your honeymoon by flying into Lisbon, which is about 170 miles away, and discover the winding cobblestone streets of this beautiful city, as you eat all of the pastel de natas you can get your hands on, before heading off on your road trip.
Stop off at Lagos, the largest city in western Algarve, which is famed for its walled old town, and the sandy Praia do Camilo; and end your trip in the city of Faro, which has some of the best romantic restaurants in the region.
Wild Atlantic Way
Known for its rugged coastlines and dramatic tides, the Wild Atlantic Way spans 1,600 miles, and is a great honeymoon road trip, especially if the two of you love being outdoors.
Discover five counties in total, with County Kerry offering the largest number of activities for couples at 233, followed by County Clare, at 93. Take some time out to visit Valentia Island, and head to Killarney National Park, where you can hike, bike, and discover several historical sights.
South of France
In fifth place for honeymoon road trippers is the chic South of France, where you’ll be guaranteed warm weather, sandy beaches, and delicious French cuisine.
Enjoy 1,272 romantic restaurants and 269 couples’ activities along the way, with around 53.7 miles per stop.
Make a stop at the large cities of Toulouse, Cannes, and Nice. Visit major Toulouse sights including Place du Capitole and Musée des Augustins; and in Nice you’ve got tranquil beaches to relax on, and the quaint area of Vieille Ville, with its winding streets and creperies.
Peak District
If you’d prefer to stay closer to home, then the Peak District is a great option as a road trip. Ideal if you’re not a fan of long car journeys, the average distance between stops is just 7.99 miles, and there are lots of restaurants you can try, at a total of 462.
Head to the market town of Bakewell, where you can visit the ornate Chatsworth House, walk the route of the Monsal Trail, and sample (of course!) a classic Bakewell tart.
Then, visit the spa town of Buxton, where you can wander around the pretty Pavilion Gardens, or catch a show at the Buxton Opera House. Finally, make sure you spend a couple of days in Matlock, where you can indulge in some retail therapy, and catch a cable car up to the top of the Heights of Abraham.
The Cotswolds
Another classic UK road trip that’s perfect for honeymooners is the Cotswolds. Located in the Midlands, not far from the Welsh border, there’s tonnes of stops and things to do to keep you entertained.
Visit the quaint villages of Upper Slaughter and Lower Slaughter, where you can stroll along the river to the Old Mill, and tuck into hearty meals at a traditional English pub.
For delicious food, Castle Combe is the stop for you, with 107 romantic restaurants, including one Michelin Star – the perfect place for celebrating and reminiscing about your big day.
Mainland Greece
Alternatively, on this road trip, you can begin your honeymoon trip in Athens, boasting by far the largest number of romantic restaurants, activities for couples, and honeymoon spots, at 583, 323, and 104, respectively.
Visit key sights including the Acropolis and the Parthenon, before enjoying a romantic stroll through the National Gardens, and then heading to the neighbourhood of Monastriaki, with its sprawling markets and cute rooftop bars.
For sandy shores and turquoise waters, make a stop off at Parga, which is also well-known for its range of tavernas and nightlife.
As you head north on your road trip, make a beeline for Mount Olympus, and if you’re feeling up to it, try one of the trails, or drive partway up for beautiful views.
Finally, end your honeymoon in Thessaloniki and take in sights like the iconic White Tower, stroll along the waterfront where many of the city’s bars and restaurants are situated, and visit Ana Poli, the city’s Old Town, which is home to several churches.
NC500
Rounding off our top honeymoon road trips is the iconic NC500, that takes you on a scenic route around Scotland, spanning 516 miles.
Start or end your trip in Inverness, which has the most romantic restaurants and activities than any other stop, at 30 and 57, respectively. Head to pretty Inverness Castle, situated on the River Ness, and then make sure you drive out to Loch Ness too.
Other notable stops along the way include Applecross, which offers dramatic coastline and stunning hikes; and Ullapool, with its unrivalled scenery.
So, now you’ve decided where to spend your honeymoon, once you’ve sorted your flights, it’s time to book your airport parking, so you don’t need to worry about getting taxis on the day.
And, if you’re going to embark on an epic road trip together, then you’ll want to hire a car. We compare a variety of brands across hundreds of cities, so book with us to get the best deal.
Methodology
Sources:
- Distance between stops – Wikipedia
- Romantic Restaurants, No. Good for Couples’ Activities, No. Honeymoon Spots – TripAdvisor
Methodology:
This dataset contains 2 tables.
The first ranks 9 different road trips based on how romantic they are. To do this, 4 different factors were used. Once the data for the factors was collected, the factors were then normalised, to provide each factor with a score between 0 and 10. The scores were summed up to give each road trip a total score out of 40. The road trips were then ranked from highest to lowest, based on this total score, with a higher score producing a better ranking.
The second ranks the 73 stops on the road trips based on how romantic they are. To do this, 3 different factors were used. Once the data for the factors was collected, the factors were then normalised, to provide each factor with a score between 0 and 10. The scores were summed up to give each stop a total score out of 30. The stops were then ranked from highest to lowest, based on this total score, with a higher score producing a better ranking.
The factors are as follows:
- Distance between stops (Road trip only)– The average distance in miles between each stop on the road trip.
- Romantic restaurants – The summed total number of romantic restaurants at each stop on the road trip.
- No. good for couples’ activities – The summed total number of things to do in the category of good for couples for each stop on the road trip.
- No. honeymoon spots – The summed total number of things to do in the category of honeymoon spots for each stop on the road trip.
The factors will be normalised as follows:
- Distance between stops (Road trip only)– High values will get a low score. Low values will get a high score.
- Romantic restaurants – High values will get a high score. Low values will get a low score.
- No. good for couples’ activities – High values will get a high score. Low values will get a low score.
- No. honeymoon spots – High values will get a high score. Low values will get a low score.
Data gathered is correct as of 02/06/23
