Some cities just feel different when you arrive as a couple. Streets seem prettier, meals last longer, and even getting lost feels like part of the plan. From candlelit canals to rooftop riads, these cities come up again and again when couples search for romantic trips.

Searches for ‘romantic cities’ have increased by over 180%, highlighting the popularity of romantic trips amongst Brits, especially ahead of Valentine’s Day. New research has revealed the most romantic cities in the world based on factors such as the number of things to do, romantic hotels and restaurants according to TripAdvisor, as well as analysing wedding-related Google searches. The research carried out by ground transportation experts Mozio has crowned the cities that are the most romantic in the world ahead of Valentine’s Day, and unsurprisingly, perhaps three cities in Italy have made it into the coveted top ten.

Venice takes the crown as the world’s most romantic city, scoring 9.65/10. For decades, Venice has been renowned as one of the best cities in Europe for couples to enjoy a trip away, so it’s no surprise that the Italian city has been crowned the most romantic destination in the world.

Alongside its picturesque canals and architecture, Venice also has 150 romantic restaurants and 107 things to do. Venice is searched for weddings more than any other European city, with over 63,000 wedding-related searches each year – over two times the study average of 25,000.

Italian cities dominate the top of the ranking, with Florence taking second place as the world’s most romantic city scoring 7.86/10. After a short airport, travellers can be in the heart of Florence, where they will be met with Tuscan cuisine and culture, as well as 67 romantic hotels and 79 romantic restaurants per 100,000 people. One restaurant, Osteria Vecchio Cancello, was even chosen to celebrate a wedding anniversary, with the reviewer saying “the restaurant is beautiful inside… very romantic for sure.”

Marrakesh completes the top three most romantic cities, scoring 7.50/10. Marrakesh beats the likes of Rome and Paris to take the crown as the third most romantic city in the world. 

The Moroccan city brings a different kind of romance to the table, one that feels immersive and magical. The city scores especially highly for romantic activities, with over 120 per 100,000 people. There are also more than 123 romantic hotels, four times higher than the study average of nearly 31 per 100,000 people. 

Making up the top ten are  Rome, coming in at 4th place and the third Italian city to make the cut scoring 6.97/10, followed by Udaipur in India in joint 4th. Udaipur is widely considered one of India’s most romantic cities, known as the “City of Lakes,” offering fairytale settings with shimmering lakes (like Lake Pichola), grand palaces, historic charm, and enchanting experiences perfect for couples, earning it nicknames like the “Venice of the East”.

Its romantic appeal comes from its beautiful architecture, serene water bodies, royal history, and activities like sunset boat rides, exploring cobbled streets, and rooftop dining with stunning views. 

Then finally come two British cities in 5th and 6th place. Edinburgh scores 6.25/10 with 55 romantic restaurants while London scores 4.82/10 but only has 22 romantic restaurants per 100,000 people so best get something booked soonest!

San Francisco squeezes into 8th place while the so-called City of Love, Paris only makes it to 9th with the Austrian capital of Vienna bringing up the rear. 

A spokesperson for Mozio said: “Mozio helps travelers start their trips smoothly by making airport transfers simple to compare and book, so less time is spent worrying about logistics and more time is spent enjoying the destination.‍

‍”As romantic trips often mark some of the most meaningful journeys couples take, we wanted to understand which cities around the world are most closely linked with romance and best set up for couples once they arrive.‍”