Florence Derrick shares the lesser-known but ultra-romantic destinations that are guaranteed to impress your date.
Love Paris? Try Lyon
The City of Light is a Valentine’s Day classic. Think of romance, and images of the Eiffel Tower’s nightly sparkling light show easily come to mind. But have you considered Lyon? Though lesser visited, France’s third-largest city offers much of the same romance as a mini break in Paris – it’s even got a mini Eiffel Tower!
There are the cobbled streets of Vieux Lyon, the maze-like old town whose secret courtyards and corner cafes rival those of Montmartre – complete with accordionists playing la vie en rose. If food is your love language, there’s no better place: Lyon is famed as the gastronomic capital of France, thanks to its abundance of regional ingredients and long culinary history. Legendary chef Paul Bocuse hailed from here, kickstarting the movement of minimalist high-end cuisine that’s likely to feature in your Valentine’s Day meal out. Bag a coveted table at the late chef’s restaurant L’Auberge du Pont de Collonges for the real deal.
And while you won’t find the Mona Lisa in Lyon, you can marvel at Rodin sculptures, and paintings by Renoir and Rembrandt, at its Fine Arts Museum – nicknamed the ‘little Louvre’.
There are the cobbled streets of Vieux Lyon, the maze-like old town whose secret courtyards and corner cafes rival those of Montmartre – complete with accordionists playing la vie en rose. If food is your love language, there’s no better place: Lyon is famed as the gastronomic capital of France, thanks to its abundance of regional ingredients and long culinary history. Legendary chef Paul Bocuse hailed from here, kickstarting the movement of minimalist high-end cuisine that’s likely to feature in your Valentine’s Day meal out. Bag a coveted table at the late chef’s restaurant L’Auberge du Pont de Collonges for the real deal.
And while you won’t find the Mona Lisa in Lyon, you can marvel at Rodin sculptures, and paintings by Renoir and Rembrandt, at its Fine Arts Museum – nicknamed the ‘little Louvre’.
DK France
View BookLove Venice? Try Chioggia
Is it your dream to woo your Valentine with a gondola ride through the canals of Venice? Join the club. Venice is magical, but what many visitors don't realise is that several northeastern Italian cities also offer Renaissance palaces and green-blue waterways. In fact, there’s a canal-side city nearby to Venice that’s flying under the radar.
Chioggia is just 15 miles away across the lagoon, and pleasantly free of crowds. Here you can fully relax into the Italian way of life: starting the day with a steaming cappuccino and a stroll around the daily fish market on the Vena Canal, the city’s most important thoroughfare. Climb the Saint Andrea church’s 30m-high clock tower to get your bearings, then take your time strolling hand-in-hand along the canals and their arched stone bridges, with pastel townhouse facades reflected in mirror-like waters. When the clock strikes 5pm, it’s time for an Aperol spritz (they were invented in this part of Italy) before a big plate of clam linguine at restaurant Antico Toro – a surefire way to anyone’s heart.
Chioggia is just 15 miles away across the lagoon, and pleasantly free of crowds. Here you can fully relax into the Italian way of life: starting the day with a steaming cappuccino and a stroll around the daily fish market on the Vena Canal, the city’s most important thoroughfare. Climb the Saint Andrea church’s 30m-high clock tower to get your bearings, then take your time strolling hand-in-hand along the canals and their arched stone bridges, with pastel townhouse facades reflected in mirror-like waters. When the clock strikes 5pm, it’s time for an Aperol spritz (they were invented in this part of Italy) before a big plate of clam linguine at restaurant Antico Toro – a surefire way to anyone’s heart.
DK Italy
View BookLove Marrakesh? Try Fes
Marrakesh is a solid favourite for long weekends from the UK, and while its bustling souk is a fabulous place to haggle for something shiny to buy as a Valentine’s Day gift, you can delve deeper into Moroccan culture 500km north, in Fes. Known as Morocco’s spiritual heart, Fes is a culturally devout city, where people pride themselves on preserving the traditional trade crafts of mosaic tilework, wood carving and metalwork.
Exploring the car-free medina here is a slower, more meditative experience than tackling the bedazzling souks of Marrakesh. Donkeys loaded with leather hides trudge past on their way to the tanneries, and local artisans dye fabrics and hammer metals in hidden squares. What better place to buy a piece of jewellery for your date?
Shopping complete, head to the rooftop bar at hotel Riad Fes for a glass of rosé at sundown (Moroccan wineries are championed on the drinks list here). Listen to the call to prayer while gazing across the flat roofs of the city, tinted rose-gold in the evening light, to the tall minaret of the Kairaouine mosque. Then it’s time for dinner: try Palais Bab Sahra Fes for live music, dancing and a sumptuous tagine in palatial surroundings.
Exploring the car-free medina here is a slower, more meditative experience than tackling the bedazzling souks of Marrakesh. Donkeys loaded with leather hides trudge past on their way to the tanneries, and local artisans dye fabrics and hammer metals in hidden squares. What better place to buy a piece of jewellery for your date?
Shopping complete, head to the rooftop bar at hotel Riad Fes for a glass of rosé at sundown (Moroccan wineries are championed on the drinks list here). Listen to the call to prayer while gazing across the flat roofs of the city, tinted rose-gold in the evening light, to the tall minaret of the Kairaouine mosque. Then it’s time for dinner: try Palais Bab Sahra Fes for live music, dancing and a sumptuous tagine in palatial surroundings.
DK Morocco
View BookLove London? Try Bath
London is the UK’s most visited city, and there’s no denying its global status for dining, theatre and the arts. But if you’re seeking architectural beauty, quaint tearooms and a steamy spa session, venture west to the Roman city of Bath.
All Regency sandstone facades and wide Georgian streets, Bath is one of the UK’s most visually stunning (not to mention romantic) cities. Its historic Theatre Royal competes with the West End with its UK premieres of plays and musicals, and Komedia Bath hosts the same calibre of comedy standups that you’d find at the Hammersmith Apollo (Russell Howard makes an appearance this month). You’ll be spoilt for choice for date night, but spend a whole weekend for the full Valentine’s Day experience. Book a night or two at the Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa (on the street where period dramas The Duchess and Bridgerton were filmed) and enjoy how walkable and accessible the city is, from a wander through the butterfly-filled Botanical Gardens in Royal Victoria Park to browsing the boutique shops at Pulteney Bridge.
Finally, you haven’t truly experienced Bath if you don’t book a spa package at Thermae Bath Spa, where you can bathe in the same mineral-rich, thermal waters that soothed the Romans’ aching limbs two millennia ago. Not to be confused with the original Roman Baths (also worth a visit), it’s a must-visit for Valentine’s Day couples wanting to get steamy.
All Regency sandstone facades and wide Georgian streets, Bath is one of the UK’s most visually stunning (not to mention romantic) cities. Its historic Theatre Royal competes with the West End with its UK premieres of plays and musicals, and Komedia Bath hosts the same calibre of comedy standups that you’d find at the Hammersmith Apollo (Russell Howard makes an appearance this month). You’ll be spoilt for choice for date night, but spend a whole weekend for the full Valentine’s Day experience. Book a night or two at the Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa (on the street where period dramas The Duchess and Bridgerton were filmed) and enjoy how walkable and accessible the city is, from a wander through the butterfly-filled Botanical Gardens in Royal Victoria Park to browsing the boutique shops at Pulteney Bridge.
Finally, you haven’t truly experienced Bath if you don’t book a spa package at Thermae Bath Spa, where you can bathe in the same mineral-rich, thermal waters that soothed the Romans’ aching limbs two millennia ago. Not to be confused with the original Roman Baths (also worth a visit), it’s a must-visit for Valentine’s Day couples wanting to get steamy.
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View BookLove Bruges? Try Ghent
A Valentine’s Day mini break to Bruges is the obvious romantic choice in Belgium, with its chocolate-box medieval houses, crystal-clear canals, cobbled streets and majestic spires. But just a 45-minute drive (or 20-minute train journey) away is arguably the country’s most underrated city: Ghent.
The second-largest city in Flanders after Antwerp, Ghent has much of the same picturesque architecture and canal-side strolls to offer as Bruges, with the Lieve canal winding beneath stone bridges and weeping willows as it has since the Middle Ages. But it’s got a decidedly trendy vibe, too, with a lively student population and a commitment to sustainability in its modern restaurant scene (hello, plant-based dining) and transport. Everyone in the car-free city centre gets around by bike – so saddle up that tandem and start exploring.
Ghent’s most famous attraction is surely its eponymous altarpiece, unveiled in 1432 by the van Eyck brothers. The astonishingly detailed painting can be found at the Saint Bavo’s Cathedral visitor centre alongside other artistic treasures – all of which can be experienced anew through augmented reality glasses for an unusual take on a Valentine’s Day date.
The second-largest city in Flanders after Antwerp, Ghent has much of the same picturesque architecture and canal-side strolls to offer as Bruges, with the Lieve canal winding beneath stone bridges and weeping willows as it has since the Middle Ages. But it’s got a decidedly trendy vibe, too, with a lively student population and a commitment to sustainability in its modern restaurant scene (hello, plant-based dining) and transport. Everyone in the car-free city centre gets around by bike – so saddle up that tandem and start exploring.
Ghent’s most famous attraction is surely its eponymous altarpiece, unveiled in 1432 by the van Eyck brothers. The astonishingly detailed painting can be found at the Saint Bavo’s Cathedral visitor centre alongside other artistic treasures – all of which can be experienced anew through augmented reality glasses for an unusual take on a Valentine’s Day date.
DK Brussels, Bruges, Antwerp and Ghent
View BookAbout the author
Florence Derrick
Freelance journalist Florence Derrick has a decade’s worth of experience in travel media. She is a contributor to DK’s London Like a Local, where she shared her insider knowledge of the coolest spots and hidden gems in the UK capital. She was shortlisted as Young Travel Writer of the Year at the 2020 Travel Media Awards. Find out more about her work on her website: www.florencederrick.com