Romance à la 2026: This Year’s Best Honeymoon Destinations
The ultimate inspiration to write your own love story, from Italy to the Maldives
Anantara Kafue River tented camp, Zambia
Nestled in the heart of Kafue National Park, with just 12 tented villas, this ultra-luxury eco-resort is the epitome of seclusion. Spend time in the wild spotting hippos, cheetahs, lions and more, then return to the spoils of your pool villa, with a dedicated host to anticipate your every need. Mornings are for early game drives, followed by lazy lunches, a dip in your private pool and a siesta by the river. Evenings take shape around spa rituals, sunset river safaris and beautifully curated dinners – be it in a treehouse or in the bush under an African sky.
For more information, visit anantara.com
Grand hotel excelsior Vittoria, Italy
Award-winning dining, breathtaking views, discreet luxury and access to the Amalfi coast, Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria in Sorrento has it all. Suspended on a cliff above the Bay of Naples, panoramas are spectacular, with suites that fuse historic details with exquisite comforts. While Capri, Positano, Pompeii, Naples and the Amalfi Coast are all in easy reach, the greatest pleasure is returning to this private garden retreat, with Sorrento’s slower pace best experienced at La Serra Spa followed by dinner at Terrazza Bosquet.
For more information, visit excelsiorvittoria.com
Rahgili, Maldives
Perched on the edge of South Malé atoll, a quick 45-minute boat ride from Velana International airport, Rah Gili is one of the Maldives’ hottest new openings. With nature-infused designs, peaceful greenery, whispered luxury and the kind of privacy and service every honeymoon deserves, this is true escapism.
For more information, visit rahgili.com
Villa Argentina Dubrovnik, Croatia
Following an extensive renovation, the anticipated reopening of the historic Villa Argentina Dubrovnik is scheduled for this August. Originally built as a private residence in 1913 on the edge of the shimmering Adriatic, it was converted to a hotel in the Fifties. Its 96 rooms and suites are decorated with local textiles, while private terraces frame the picturesque harbour of the Unesco-protected Old Town.
For more information, visit adriaticluxuryhotels.com
The Mora, Zanzibar
Surrounded by Muyuni Beach on the north-east tip of Zanzibar, and removed from the archipelago’s lively westerly beaches, the Mora’s 25 sandy acres provide a relaxing hideaway. It’s a five-minute boat ride away from Mnemba Island, home to a marineconservation area and some of the world’s most spectacular reefs. Scubadiving is first-rate here, though time is also well spent under a palm-tree with a good book. Should you be seeking some additional privacy, many of the 250 suites have their own whirlpool bath – and each has a terrace with views of the turquoise Indian Ocean. For a pampering session, opt for a custom facial or hot-stone massage to have in your room, without needing to move a muscle.
For more information, visit themora.com
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond train, Paris to Amalfi
Witness the splendour of the Amalfi Coast on board Belmond’s Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. This year, the legendary train is winding its way from Paris to the Italian coastline in a three-night voyage culminating at the Caruso, an 11th-century Ravello retreat. As you meander south, don your finery and head to Bar Car 3674 for aperitifs and live piano music. In the morning, admire rural vistas over pastries in bed – before joining a tour of Pompeii and a boat trip on Positano’s azure waters.
For more information, visit belmond.com/trains
.Here, Maldives
There is exclusive, and then there is .Here (pronounced ‘dot here’). The smallest luxury hotel in the Maldives, it comprises just nine three-to five-bedroom villas across the Baa Atoll, on the charmingly named Somewhere and Nowhere islands. Reached from the capital Malé within half an hour via seaplane and then a three-minute speedboat ride, the residences each have their own jetty, plus an assigned butler, so there’s no need to cross paths with other guests. But, should you opt for the buzz of a restaurant over ordering in, you will be rewarded at the stylish overwater Safar, where the freshest catch of the day is served up alongside your choice of ice-cold cocktail.
For more information, visit here-maldives.com
Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, Thailand
This grande dame on Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River celebrates its 150th anniversary this year – an ideal setting at which to mark a celebration of your own. It began life in 1876, as the Oriental, the first luxury hotel in the then-named Kingdom of Siam. Before long, it was visited by a mariner, Jozéf Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski, later Joseph Conrad, the first of many notable writers to stay here. Others include Noël Coward and Somerset Maugham, both of whom now have suites named after them in the Authors’ Wing. With 331 rooms that gleam with silk and teak, the culinary delicacies of the talented chef Phatchara ‘Pom’ Pirapak in her Baan Phraya restaurant and live jazz at the Bamboo Bar, the hotel is a real triumph – the ideal backdrop for a romantic escapade.
For more information, visit mandarinoriental.com
Villa D’este, Lake Como, Italy
This hotel has been making visitors swoon for almost 155 years; luxury abounds here, whether it’s the Ruinart on ice or the monogrammed pillows you’ll find waiting. While we recommend the suites, the elegantly majestic rooms 151 and 152 in the Cardinal Building are also superlative, adjacent to the famous gardens and in close proximity to the spa and Sporting Club. In the evenings, order an aperitif in Bar Canova before dining on tartufo bianco d’alba tagliolini at the Veranda restaurant, against the twinkle of lights shimmering off Como.
For more information, visit villadeste.com
Lead Image Credit: Shutterstock
Images: .Here Baa Atoll Maldives, Alice Mesguich, Tui, Villa D’est
From the Harper’s Bazaar Arabia Bride Summer 2026 Issue