These Are the 20 Most Romantic Cities in the World for 2026

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A new analysis of 50 global destinations found that while Paris is still an iconic romantic city, it's no longer sitting at the very top of the romance leaderboard. In fact, it doesn't even make the top three. Researchers looked at data from TripAdvisor and Instagram to determine the 'Romantic Score' of each city based on real-world romantic experiences it offers. Classic heavy hitters like Rome and London still rank high, but they're joined by destinations you might not expect to see in a romance list at all.

Why it matters

This ranking provides a fresh perspective on the world's most romantic destinations, moving beyond the traditional notions of romance and highlighting cities that offer a diverse array of romantic experiences for modern couples. The data-driven approach looks at how couples actually travel now, not just where we've been told to go for decades.

The details

The analysis pulled data from TripAdvisor on romantic restaurants, hotels, honeymoon spots, and couple-friendly attractions. It also incorporated Instagram hashtags like #datenight and #dinnerdate. Each city earned a 'Romantic Score' out of 100 based on the number and quality of romantic experiences it offers. While classic destinations like Paris, Rome, and London still rank highly, the list also includes cities like Marrakech, Hanoi, and Dubai that may not have traditionally been seen as romantic getaways.

• The rankings are for the year 2026.