Mary in Vancity

Every year I wait for that one report that confirms what many of us already know in our bones: Romance changes with us. It grows, stretches, and reinvents itself.
And our favourite places around the world? They evolve right alongside.

A new global ranking from Hotelwithtub.com just revealed the world’s Top 50 romantic destinations for 2026 — and the results are the perfect blend of classics, icons, and places that make you want to book a flight right now.

So which city claims the crown this year?

Rome.
No surprise, and yet, a total delight.

With the highest Romantic Score of 66, Rome sits firmly at the top thanks to:

• 1,613 romantic restaurants
• 1,328 romantic hotels
• 237 honeymoon spots

If Italy has always felt like the blueprint for love, the numbers agree.
Between gelato-fuelled strolls, crumbling ruins backlit by sunset, and candlelit trattorias tucked down narrow streets, Rome sets the tone for how romance should feel in 2026, timeless but alive.

The Classics Hold Their Ground

London follows closely at #2 with a score of 63
And what puts it here is not a sunset or a skyline, it’s joy at the table.
London actually leads the world in romantic dining, with *2,173 restaurants flagged as date-night worthy. From pub coziness to modern tasting menus, it seems the fastest way into someone’s heart is through London’s kitchens.

Paris, sitting at #4, is still Paris: 1,600+ romantic restaurants, 156 honeymoon spots, and a reputation love stories fall into without effort.
Think rooftop views, bookshops along the Seine, champagne in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, it’s still the keeper of romance’s greatest hits.

The New Power Players

This is where things get exciting.

Marrakech comes in at #3 with a score of 50, and it’s the one to watch.
Morocco’s desert jewel is having a moment, not for cliché romance, but for connection rooted in experience.
Think sunset camel rides, hammam rituals for two, courtyards strung with lanterns, hand-painted tiles glowing under candlelight, and more than 5,000 couple-focused activities.

It’s romance through immersion, the kind that leaves a mark.

Across the ocean, New York City lands at #5, claiming the top spot in the Americas with:

• 23,400 romance-related Instagram hashtags
• A date-night scene fuelled by every culture, cuisine, budget and whim.

Rooftop cocktails, Central Park in fall, a late-night jazz bar in the Village; New York still proves romance thrives in motion.

For Lovers Who Want Ocean Breezes

Phuket shines as the top tropical escape with a score of 34.
Warm water, soft beaches, and sunsets that turn the whole sky peach, it’s a classic for a reason.

Meanwhile Ubud quietly flexes its global honeymoon muscles, earning attention for its lush rice terraces, private pool villas and that just-married glow that hangs in the Bali air.

What the Numbers Really Say

This ranking studied cities across the globe using TripAdvisor and Instagram data, weighting:

• Romantic restaurants
• Romantic hotels
• Couple-friendly attractions
• Honeymoon spots
• Scenic experiences
• Romance-themed hashtags

The takeaway?

Romance isn’t one-size fits all.

Some destinations are for honeymooners who want to disappear into their own world.
Others are for couples who fall in love over food, museums, sunsets and the steady hum of city life.
And the most surprising lesson: romance thrives everywhere we make space for it.

Rome may wear the crown this year, but London still turns dinner into magic.
Marrakech makes adventure feel intimate, but Paris keeps the classics alive.
New York writes new love stories every night, and Phuket and Ubud remind us to slow down.

If you’re planning a trip with someone you love in 2026, you can follow the rankings or, you can follow your heart.

Either way. Love travels well.