North Africa’s ‘best city for couples’ that’s 21C in February and only a 3-hour flight

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and there’s still time to book a romantic getaway – or even just get one scheduled for later in the year.

With so many incredible destinations worldwide, it can be difficult to pick a destination for a couple’s holiday.

While the big romantic destinations like Rome and Paris are certainly great picks, there are other options that are a bit further afield that you may not have considered.

One of these is the Moroccan city of Marrakech, which you may not have thought about for a romantic holiday before but has plenty on offer for couples looking to escape from the European romantic hotspots.

has created the , ranking destinations on their ability to provide an intimate holiday for couples this Valentine’s Day, with Marrakech coming in in fifth place.

The travel pros analysed factors such as the number of romantic hotels, restaurants, and attractions labelled ‘good for couples’ before scoring and ranking them appropriately.

According to Riviera Travel, Marrakech scores 72 out of 90 points, making it a great option for a Valentine’s retreat.

The Moroccan destination is home to 1,337 romantic hotels, second only behind Rome. They further highlight that there is a choice of 333 suitable restaurants, ideal for enjoying the perfect date night.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Rome was named the most romantic city in the world, with 1,341 romantic hotels, high-quality cuisine, accommodations, and exciting attractions.

In second place, ahead of Paris, the ‘city of love’ was London, with over 2,000 romantic restaurants and 1,048 attractions labelled ‘good for couples’ on TripAdvisor. 

While Paris came in just behind, with 565 romantic restaurants offering a combination of different cuisines – including French, Italian and Mediterranean.

Speaking on the research, Will Sarson, Travel Expert at , said: “With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, we found it appropriate to rank the most romantic destinations around the world, to uncover the cities offering all the essentials for the perfect couples retreat.

“Interestingly, it was Rome who took the top spot this year, ranking high for its incredible number of romantic restaurants and hotels.

“Additionally, it was intriguing to see so many continents featured within the top ten – with cities from North America, Africa and Europe all offering some incredible trips for lovers. This Valentine’s Day, why not try out one of these amazing destinations for yourself?”

Top 10 Most Romantic Destinations to Spend Valentine’s Day

1. Rome, Italy
2. London, UK
3. Paris, France
4. Florence, Italy
5. Marrakech, Morocco
6. New York, USA
7. Prague, Czechia
8. Amsterdam, Netherlands
9. Santorini, Greece
10. Madrid, Spain