Whether you’re looking for somewhere warm or somewhere cold, our pick of some the best honeymoon destinations for winter weddings offers a treasure trove of honeymoon inspiration from thermal glass igloos in Finland to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. (But before you jet off anywhere, make sure you tick off your honeymoon checklist!)
8 of the Best Honeymoon Destinations for Winter Weddings
1) Iceland
Featured above: Hotel Rangá, Iceland
With its beautiful crisp winters and many magnificent sights, Iceland is a romantic, must-see destination for travel-lovers. Not only is it a prime destination for star gazing and to watch the Northern Lights (September to mid-April is recommended as the best time to see them), but you can also explore many natural wonders across the country’s national parks from hot springs (e.g. the famous Blue Lagoon geothermal spa) to many stunning waterfalls and glaciers. For the more adventurous couple, you could even go glacier-hiking or explore the natural ice caves of the Vatnajökull glacier, or go snorkelling and diving in the clear, fresh glacial waters of the Silfra Fissure in Thingvellir National Park (the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Iceland). Yes, even in winter! The water remains at a pretty constant temperature all year round.
2) The Caribbean
Featured above: Most Romantic Caribbean Honeymoon Ideas
The Caribbean is one of the most popular honeymoon destinations, especially in winter when couples like to escape the winter chill at home in favour of the sun, sea and sand of luxury beach resorts and over-the water villas. Couples can simply relax by the sea or in a luxury spa, or they can partake in the exciting local attractions of the Caribbean that include: surfing, sailing, and zip-lining, caving in Barbados, a submarine tour in Aruba, diving with stingrays or exploring the coral reef (there’s also an amazing “full moon dive” in Curacao once a year, usually in late September), a sea plane tour, an aerial tram tour in St. Lucia, swimming with dolphins, humpback whale watching (usually in January to March), and even tours of the El Yunque Rain Forest in Puerto Rico. (For more on the Caribbean, check out these 5 amazing experiences for your Caribbean honeymoon).
3) Canada
Featured above: Moraine Lake, Rocky Mountains, Canada, by Alberto Loyo on Shutterstock
Canada is a stunning destination full of honeymoon activities. For the romantic, stay in a charming log cabin where you can stargaze, watch the Northern Lights, or sit by the fire watching the snowfall, visit Helsinki “The Christmas City”, or skate on the Rideau Canal Skateway in Ottawa (a naturally frozen ice rink and a UNESCO World Heritage Site). But travel-lovers will enjoy sightseeing in tours of Canada’s many beautiful national parks, whale watching, or even visiting the famous Niagara Falls (when the winter is cold enough, you can see it frozen solid). You can go hiking (though in winter special care must be taken), canoeing on rivers in the Banff National Park, see the hot springs, and witness the famous Bay of Fundy Tides (the highest tides in the world!). Furthermore, adrenaline seekers can now take a walk on Toronto’s “Edgewalk” at CN Tower.
4) Africa
Featured above: VIP Sunset Cruise with Champagne and Dinner for Two in Cape Town via Tinggly Gift Experiences
Africa is a massive continent full of must-see locations from Egypt and Cape Town to Kenya, Mauritius, and the Seychelles. Fly in a hot air balloon over the famous Serengeti National Park, visit the glorious Victoria Falls, hike Mount Kilimanjaro, and scuba dive in the Red Sea (where you can see the wrecks of WWII ships). Africa is also home to the Olduva Gorge in Tanzania, an archaeological site home to some of “the oldest evidence of mankind’s evolution”.
5) Switzerland
Featured above: Glacier Express Train “Grand Train Tour” of Switzerland (showing Landwasser Viaduct and Jungfrau Mountain) by Alessandro Colle on Shutterstock
Switzerland is a beautiful country where couples can see many natural wonders from the Northern Lights to the Swiss Alps (home to the famous Matterhorn). The Swiss Alps alone offer a variety of activities from skiing and thermal baths and spas to train tours on the Glacier Express Train. There are also boat trips such as the Rhine River Cruise and historic places of interest like the “Castles of Bellinzona” and the Aare Outdoor Baths, as well as city attractions like the Jet d’Eau Fountain in Geneva and the Sky Bar in Zurich.
6) Australia
Featured above: Australian Sky via Tropical Sky
While Ayrs Rock, Sydney Opera House, and Sydney Harbour Bridge are some of the most famous attractions in Australia, this impressive country offers so much more for your honeymoon. Sightsee with the Kata Tjuta Domes, Undara Lava Tubes, and the Mataranka hot springs or get an up-close look at the natural wildlife by scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef, visiting the penguins at Phillip Island and the St Kilda Pier, seeing Kangaroo Island, and the Monkey Mia wild dolphins. Explore even more of the country by car via the Great Ocean Road or by air via a helicopter tour, or even by a choice of trains including the India-Pacific Train and the Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail. Furthermore, for the perfect honeymoon date night, Sydney is home to Luna Park—Sydney’s oldest amusement park.
7) Finland
Featured above: Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Finland
Finland is a breathtakingly beautiful country, and in the north you’ll find Lapland—the perfect winter honeymoon destination, especially around the festive Christmas time when you can see reindeer and Santa Claus and enjoy sports including skiing, sledding, and snowboarding (if you visit Lapland in the summer, you may even experience Finland’s iconic “midnight sun”). Finland is also a prime location to stargaze and watch the Northern Lights, with luxury camping (“glamping”) destinations from the “Aurora Domes” at Torassieppi to the thermal glass igloos at Kakslauttanen.
8) Japan
Featured above: “Honeymoon in Japan” by Patchwork It Honeymoon Gift List
A country full of enchanting history and culture, Japan is a growing favourite honeymoon destination. See astounding natural wonders from Mount Fuji to the Sangano Bamboo Forest, and visit places of beauty such as the famous Wisteria Tunnel, Kintai Bridge, and the Iya Valley vine bridges. Japan is also powdered with glorious temples like the Sanjūsangen-dō Buddhist temple, shrines such as the Meiji Shrine and the Itsukushima Shrine, and even castles such as Nijo Castle. Furthermore, Tokyo city is a must-see for any travel lover for its luxury hotels and restaurants.
Did you like our pick? Find even more honeymoon ideas with these top 10 traditional honeymoons, and for couples who don’t know where to start, here’s some advice for planning the perfect honeymoon.
