When you think of the ‘city of love’, visions of croissants under the Eiffel Tower and sunset strolls along the River Seine likely come to mind. But Paris isn’t the only place where love is in the air. A new study has revealed the world’s most romantic destinations, and one unexpected Australian city out-romanced the French capital.
The research, conducted by swimwear brand Pour Moi, set out to uncover the best city breaks for those who are in love. They analysed data for 553 cities around the world on three factors: the number of times attractions have been dubbed 'romantic' by visitors on Tripadvisor, the total number of 'couple-friendly' things to do, and the number of #datenight+cityname on social media.
Taking the crown as the world’s most romantic city for couples to visit is London, where more than a quarter (26.3 per cent) of the city’s main attractions have been reviewed as ‘romantic’ by past visitors. From watching the sunset from the top of The Shard (London’s tallest building) to cruising along the city’s canals and having high tea, London also offers the greatest number of things for lovebirds to do (990).
Surprisingly, Brisbane came out as the most romantic destination in Australia and the sixth most romantic city in the world. It ranked just behind the undeniably romantic Rome and three spots ahead of Paris, which placed only ninth overall. While the French capital boasts more things for couples to do, Brisbane has a higher percentage of attractions reviewed as ‘romantic’ (35.57 per cent).
Looking for something to do with your lover in Brisbane? How about a dreamy riverside picnic, a sunrise hike up Kangaroo Point Cliffs, a candlelit dinner at one of the city’s top restaurants, or a hand-in-hand stroll through Brisbane Botanic Gardens, which was described as the city’s most ‘romantic’ attraction.
The only other Aussie city to rank in the top ten was Melbourne, where wine tastings, vineyard tours and boat trips were among its most popular date-worthy activities. You can check out the full rankings here, or skip straight to the top ten below.
These are the 10 most romantic destinations in the world:
- London
- New York City
- Miami
- Toronto
- Rome
- Brisbane
- Las Vegas
- Dubai
- Paris
- Melbourne
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