The most romantic Valentine’s Day experiences

Ritz Paris

Place Vendôme has long been Paris’s grand stage and the Ritz still plays a leading role. Past residents ranged from Coco Chanel to literary heavyweights, and the spirit of that era lingers in chandeliered rooms and piano-accompanied evenings. For Valentine’s Day, couples can toast over Champagne with live jazz, book a private spa ritual or linger over a candlelit dinner. Add afternoon tea by the fire and a late swim in the famous blue pool and you have a Parisian romance to remember.

D’Angleterre Copenhagen

D’Angleterre Copenhagen on Kongens Nytorv has romance built into its origin story, founded by a French chef and his Danish partner in the 18th century. Today, Marchal serves a Valentine’s tasting menu that nods to Nordic and French traditions, while the spa takes centre stage with restorative treatments, facials and acupuncture. Finish with a visit to the pink pâtisserie for boxed macarons to take home. Sweet gestures, polished service and a prime city address do the rest.

Airelles Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle

Few hotels offer an address quite like this. Airelles Château de Versailles sits within the grounds of Versailles and offers a small collection of rooms styled after the 18th century. Valentine’s experiences include private palace tours, a refined afternoon tea and a candlelit dinner by Alain Ducasse. Morning walks through the gardens add quiet contrast to evenings spent dining by candlelight.

Aman Venice

Palazzo Papadopoli on the Grand Canal already carries enough history to fill a novel. Aman Venice adds its own chapter with frescoed ceilings, gilded salons and two private gardens, a rarity in the city. For Valentine’s Day, couples can order the ruby-hued Red Breath cocktail at The Bar, dine on a special menu at Arva or book a shared spa treatment upstairs. Venice provides the backdrop, Aman supplies the stage lighting.

La Réserve Paris

A short stroll from the Champs-Élysées, La Réserve Paris offers townhouse elegance with Eiffel Tower views, garden spaces and shelves lined with books. For Valentine’s Day, chef Jérôme Banctel presents a special tasting menu, while couples can book a 90-minute massage in a private suite turned spa. Afterwards, Champagne and macarons await by the pool. The whole experience is intimate, polished and expertly designed.

De L’Europe Amsterdam

De L’Europe has been part of Amsterdam’s riverside scene since the 1890s, with rooms overlooking the Amstel and a strong focus on food and drink. Valentine’s guests can extend their stay with a complimentary fourth night, leaving more time to work through the hotel’s dining addresses, from two Michelin-starred Flore to late-night cocktails at Freddy’s Bar. Between canal walks and spa visits, Amsterdam delivers romance with a lively edge and plenty of good food along the way.

Collegio alla Querce, Florence

Florence’s Collegio alla Querce offers one of the city’s most spectacular Valentine’s dinners. A private garden on Terrazza dell’Arco is reserved exclusively for the evening, with lantern-lit pathways, Champagne on arrival and a four-course menu created to order. Earlier in the day, guests can arrange private after-hours access to the Accademia for time alone with Michelangelo’s David. Gardens, rooftops and art provide plenty to fill the hours in between.

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London

Between Hyde Park and Knightsbridge, Mandarin Oriental offers a rare Valentine’s idea: a private horseback ride through the Royal Park. Guided by Hyde Park Riders, couples trot past tree-lined paths and historic landmarks before returning for spa treatments or afternoon tea. With Dinner by Heston Blumenthal handling the evening meal, the day moves from countryside fantasy to city glamour without changing postcode.

Rosewood Munich

Rosewood Munich adds altitude to Valentine’s Day with a bespoke helicopter flight over the surrounding countryside and Alpine foothills. Departing from private estates, the journey offers sweeping views before returning to the city for spa treatments and cocktails. Back on the ground, the hotel’s lively dining rooms and jazz evenings provide an energetic contrast to the calm of the skies.