These are the 14 Best Honeymoon Destinations in the World For a Reason

There’s a reason the classics keep showing up in honeymoon dreams. Overwater bungalows in French Polynesia glowing at sunset. Getting that once-in-a-lifetime photo in front of the Eiffel Tower, thanks to the upgraded Instagram boyfriend turned husband. Candlelit dinners where the only plan is ordering one more bottle of wine and nowhere to be tomorrow.

The best honeymoon destinations in the world earn that title because people can’t stop talking about them. You see them posted, saved, shared, and suddenly they’re on your own list too. Add in the privacy to actually enjoy being together, great food, and beautiful places to stay, and it’s easy to see why these 16 destinations keep showing up on honeymoon shortlists year after year.

1. Maldives

The Maldives is made up of over a thousand coral islands, but most people only see one. Resorts here are often their own private islands, with overwater bungalows that let you watch fish swim below your floor. The whole place feels engineered for doing nothing in the most luxurious way possible.

You’ll find reef snorkeling straight off your deck, sunset dinners on the beach, and day trips to sandbars that barely exist at high tide. If you want to skip nightlife and trade it for stargazing in silence, this is where to do it.

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2. Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Bora Bora is the kind of place that shows up on screensavers for a reason, it’s absurdly photogenic. That volcano in the center of the island? It’s called Mount Otemanu, and it makes the entire landscape feel like it’s been carefully arranged for a postcard.

Couples come here for the quiet and the clear, blue-green water, but also for the way it feels like time doesn’t exist. You can snorkel with rays, have breakfast delivered to your bungalow by canoe, and book boat trips that end with fire dancers on the beach. Everything is designed to make you feel like you’re in your own world. It’s remote, but once you’re there, you’ll never want to leave.

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3. Santorini, Greece

Those whitewashed buildings with blue domes? Yep, they’re real, and even better in person. Santorini has been charming people for centuries, mostly because its entire caldera view feels cinematic.

Honeymooners head straight to Oia for the sunsets, but there’s more to do than take photos. Explore ancient ruins at Akrotiri, hike the trail from Fira to Oia for uninterrupted views, or sip wine from grapes grown in volcanic soil. Even your hotel might be carved into a cliff.

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4. Maui, Hawaii

Maui is that rare place where you can wake up on the beach, then hike a volcano before lunch. It balances laid-back with high-energy without making you pick. Spend mornings snorkeling at Molokini Crater or driving the curvy Road to Hana, and your afternoons might be lounging at Wailea or catching surfers at Ho’okipa Beach.

There’s also incredible food, especially if you’re into poke, fresh fruit, or banana bread from roadside stands. Honeymooners come for the resorts, rainforest, lava fields, all packed into one island.

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5. Bali, Indonesia

Bali has been on the honeymoon map for years, and it’s still going strong. There’s the surfy, beachy side in places like Seminyak and Uluwatu, but also the spiritual, jungle vibe in Ubud. You can wake up in a bamboo treehouse, take a cooking class with a local family, or ride a scooter through rice paddies.

If you want massages, flower baths, and smoothies that look like art, that’s easy too. Bali is the kind of place where $10 can still get you something great. Just avoid the tourist traps and you’ll find what makes the island so loved.

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6. Seychelles

Seychelles looks like something straight out of a desktop wallpaper folder. Its beaches are wide, uncrowded, and framed by giant granite boulders that feel otherworldly. Honeymooners come for that sense of isolation, but also for the mix of Creole culture, coral reefs, and epic hiking trails.

You can hop between islands, snorkel through marine parks, and explore rainforests that feel totally untouched. Compared to more resort-heavy destinations, Seychelles still feels wild and a bit mysterious. It’s not the easiest place to get to, but it makes the travel effort worth it.

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7. Saint Lucia

The twin Piton mountains shoot up behind the St. Lucia’s coastline like a fantasy backdrop, and you can stay in resorts where the entire wall opens up to the view. It’s beach meets jungle meets hot springs, with a dash of adventure.

Take a mud bath in a volcano, zipline through the forest, or just sip something cold while staring at the sea. The island blends relaxation with activities really well, so you don’t feel stuck in one mode. Also, the local food scene? Totally underrated.

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8. Mauritius

Mauritius is often overlooked, but it’s one of the most interesting honeymoon spots out there. It’s got perfect beaches, yes, but also sugarcane fields, waterfalls, and temples. The cultural mashup of Indian, African, French, and Chinese influences shows up in everything from the food to the music.

You can explore volcanic landscapes one day, and dive coral reefs the next. For couples who want tropical vibes but also real variety, Mauritius has a lot going on. Bonus: it’s one of the more affordable options on this list for what you get.

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9. Paris, France

Yes, it’s cliché, but there’s a reason Paris keeps showing up on honeymoon lists. It’s not just the Eiffel Tower, it’s the feeling you get walking along the Seine, ordering too much cheese, and pretending you live there for a week.

Each neighborhood feels like a different story, from the quiet elegance of the Marais to the buzz of Saint-Germain.

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10. Venice, Italy

Venice was built on more than 100 small islands, which already feels romantic in a slightly unbelievable way. This is a city meant to be explored slowly on foot or by boat. Getting lost is half the experience, since every wrong turn leads to a quiet square, a tiny bridge, or a café that feels undiscovered.

You can ride a vaporetto down the Grand Canal, wander through neighborhoods like Dorsoduro, or visit small art churches you’d normally skip. At night, when the day-trippers leave, Venice feels like it belongs to you and your new life together.

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11. Fiji

Fiji is made up of more than 300 islands, and most visitors only scratch the surface. What stands out immediately is how welcoming people are. Honeymoon days here revolve around snorkeling the ocean or hopping between islands by boat.

Expect quiet mornings, long swims, and evenings that revolve around food and conversation instead of schedules. It’s ideal if you want distance from the rest of the world without feeling disconnected.

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12. Amalfi Coast, Italy

Towns like Positano and Ravello cling to cliffs above the sea, connected by winding roads and staircases that double as cardio. You can take boat trips between towns, swim off rocky beaches, and eat pasta that tastes better because of where you are. It’s busy in summer, but there’s a reason people keep coming back.

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13. Southern Thailand

Thailand’s beach destinations are popular for honeymooners who want value without sacrificing comfort. Phuket has lively beach towns and quiet coves, while you can take a private sailboat and sail off into the sunset or onto beautiful private islands surrounded by vertical seastacks.

You can island-hop, take longtail boat rides, or spend a day at a beach club doing very little. The food alone makes the trip worth it, whether it’s street-side noodles or candlelit dinners by the water. Thai hospitality is warm and genuine.

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14. Cancun & Riviera Maya, Mexico

This stretch of Mexico’s Caribbean coast is built for honeymooners who want convenience with options. Cancun delivers polished resorts and turquoise water, while the Riviera Maya stretches south with quieter towns and more space to explore. You can mix beach days with visits to Mayan ruins like Tulum or Coba, then cool off in cenotes afterward. Many couples like that everything is close together, so you’re never far from something new. It’s also one of the easiest international honeymoon destinations to plan.