IN PICTURES: A new poll reveals the top 20 most romantic locations on Earth

Jul 30, 2018

If you’re looking for inspiration for a loved-up getaway, this is the list for you.

The top 20 most romantic places on earth have just been named, and while you could probably predict the top three places on the list – Paris, Santorini and Venice – there are a few destinations that could come as a surprise.

The study was commissioned by romantic novel publisher, Mills & Boon (insert Fabio joke here). They asked a leading panel of travel experts to help compile an initial list of locations that would be best for romance. According to The Scottish Sun, this list then went to a national poll, with voters narrowing it down to the Top 20.

The French capital took out top honours, with the following gorgeous locations rounding out the rest of the top 20:

Oia on the Greek island of Santorini. Source: Tom Grimbert/Unsplash
2. The Greek island of Santorini. Source: Tom Grimbert/Unsplash
Venice, Italy. Source: Getty
3. Venice, Italy. Source: Getty
Positano on the Amalfi Coast, Italy. Source: Getty
4. Positano on the Amalfi Coast, Italy. Source: Getty
Makena Cove on the Hawaiian island of Maui. Source: Getty
5. Makena Cove on the Hawaiian island of Maui. Source: Getty
Bruges, Belgium. Source: Getty
6. Bruges, Belgium. Source: Pixabay
Bora Bora in French Polynesia. Source: Getty
7. Bora Bora in French Polynesia. Source: Getty
Kirkjufell in Iceland. Source: Getty
8. Kirkjufell in Iceland. Source: Getty
Cerf Island. Source: Getty
9. Cerf Island. Source: Getty
Gili Trewangan, Indonesia. Source: Kym Ellis/Unsplash
10. Gili Trewangan, Indonesia. Source: Kym Ellis/Unsplash
The Church of the Saviour on the Spilled Blood in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Source: Getty
11. The Church of the Saviour on the Spilled Blood in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Source: Getty
The Taj Mahal in Agra, India. Source: Getty
12. The Taj Mahal in Agra, India, at dusk. Source: Getty
The Cliffs of Moher in Ireland. Source: Getty
13. The Cliffs of Moher in Ireland. Source: Getty
Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Source: Getty
14. Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Source: Getty
Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. Source: Getty
15. Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. Source: Getty
Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays, Queensland. Source: Getty
16. Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays, Queensland. Source: Getty
Big Sur. Source: Getty
17. Big Sur on the Pacific coast in California. Source: Getty
San Francisco. Source: Getty
18. San Francisco in California. Source: Getty
Fuji Five Lakes. Source: Getty
19. Lake Kawagucho is part of Fuji Five Lakes in Japan. Source: Getty
Paradise Beach in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Source: Getty
20. Paradise Beach in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Source: Getty

As well as the 20 most romantic locations worldwide, people voting in the poll also chose the top 20 places in the UK. The list reads like the ultimate travel guide:

1. Fairy Pools, Glenbrittle, Isle of Skye

2. Grasmere, Lake District, England

3. City of Bath

4. Durdle Door, Dorset

5. Tresco, Isles of Scilly

6. Portmeirion, Gwynedd, Wales

7. Bourton-on-the-Water, Cotswolds

8. Porthcurno, The Minack Theatre, Cornwall

9. Cambridge and the River Cam

10. Giant’s Causeway, N. Ireland

11. Windsor Castle, Windsor

12. Abereiddi’s Blue Lagoon, Wales

13. The Dark Hedges, Northern Ireland

14. Leeds Castle, Kent

15. Llyn Padarn (Llanberis), Wales

16. Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire

17. The Falls of Bruar, Perth

18. Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh, Scotland

19. St Nectan’s Glen, Cornwall

20. City of Oxford

“When it comes to a summer getaway with a loved one, we all want to make it as romantic as possible,” said Lisa Milton, Mills & Boon executive publisher.

“Our survey has identified the definitive romantic places in Britain and the world. With all of us looking for any opportunity to bring a little extra romance into our hectic lives, holidays in these places offer the perfect chance to switch off and rediscover romance.”

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