Best Honeymoon Destinations from the UK, Month by Month

The best honeymoon destinations from the UK depend on when you marry, how far you want to fly and whether you dream of lazy beach days, romantic cities or adventure. A December wedding points somewhere very different from a June one, so your travel month is the best place to start.

This guide groups our favourite honeymoon ideas by style, with the best months to go and approximate flight times from London. You will also find a month-by-month table, twin-centre ideas and simple ways to choose. For more inspiration, browse all our destinations.

Entry rules are different for every country, so check the FCDO’s foreign travel advice for each place on your shortlist before you book.

Honeymoon destinations by month

The best honeymoon destinations change with the seasons, so start with your travel month and work from there. As a rule, the Indian Ocean and the Caribbean shine in the UK winter, while Bali, the Mediterranean and East Africa are at their best in the UK summer.

Weather is never guaranteed, and each destination has its own microclimates. Use the table as a starting point, then read the sections below for the best areas and flight times.

If you have flexible dates, the shoulder months either side of each peak often bring good weather, lower demand and better availability.

Where should we honeymoon in winter from the UK?

For a winter honeymoon, head long-haul for reliable warmth. From December to April, the Maldives, Sri Lanka’s south and west coasts, Thailand’s Andaman coast and the Caribbean all enjoy their dry seasons.

Mauritius is lovely in November and December, before the hottest and most humid months. For a shorter flight, Dubai is warm and sunny from November to March, around seven hours from London, and pairs well with a few nights in the Maldives.

Where should we honeymoon in summer?

Summer is the most popular time for UK weddings, and there are plenty of great choices. Bali, Kenya and Zanzibar, and Sri Lanka’s east coast are all in their dry seasons, while Mauritius and the Seychelles are warm with fresher breezes.

Closer to home, Santorini, the Amalfi Coast and Lake Como are at their sunniest, although July and August are busy. The Caribbean is in hurricane season, and the Maldives is in its wetter monsoon, though both can still offer good value.

Island escapes

For a classic beach honeymoon, the Indian Ocean and South East Asia are hard to beat. Each island destination has its own best season, flight time and atmosphere, so match it to your dates first.

If you want to do nothing at all, the Maldives is the purest escape. For a mix of beach days and exploring, Mauritius, the Seychelles, Bali and Thailand give you more to see beyond your hotel.

Maldives

The Maldives is the classic barefoot honeymoon, with one resort per island, overwater villas and some of the clearest water in the world. It is calm and private, ideal for couples who want to switch off completely.

The best weather runs from December to April, and flights from London take around ten to eleven hours direct. Read our Maldives honeymoon guide for advice on resorts, villas and transfers.

Mauritius

Mauritius suits couples who want a beach honeymoon with more to explore. As well as lagoons and resorts, the island has mountains, waterfalls, nature reserves and a rich Creole food scene.

The drier, less humid months are generally May to December, with September to November especially lovely. Direct flights from London take around 12 hours, and resorts on different coasts suit different seasons.

Don’t miss Le Morne Brabant, a UNESCO-listed mountain on the south-west coast, with a stunning lagoon at its foot.

Seychelles

The Seychelles are famous for granite boulders, white sand and jungle-covered hills. Many couples island-hop between Mahé, Praslin and La Digue, home to the much-photographed Anse Source d’Argent.

The islands are warm all year, but April and May, and October and November, usually bring the calmest seas between the trade-wind seasons. Most journeys from the UK need one stop, often in the Gulf.

On Praslin, the Vallée de Mai is a UNESCO-listed palm forest and home to the famous coco de mer.

Bali

Bali combines romance and culture, with rice terraces, temples, waterfalls and villas with private pools. Ubud is green and peaceful, while the south coast has beaches, beach clubs and sunset bars.

The dry season runs from about April to October, and flights from the UK need one stop. See our guide to the best time to visit Bali for a month-by-month breakdown.

Thailand’s islands

Thailand offers beautiful beaches, warm hospitality and great food, often at good value for a long-haul trip. Its islands have two main seasons, depending on the coast.

Phuket, Krabi and Koh Lanta on the Andaman coast are best from November to April. Koh Samui and its neighbours in the Gulf of Thailand are usually best from January to August. Direct flights to Bangkok take around 12 hours, followed by a short domestic flight.

European romance

For a shorter flight, Europe offers some of the most romantic honeymoon spots in the world, all within around two to four hours of the UK. They are at their best from late spring to early autumn.

Santorini

Santorini is famous for whitewashed villages on the edge of a volcanic caldera, sunsets in Oia and cave hotels with plunge pools. It is one of the most romantic places in the Mediterranean, with wine tastings, boat trips and dramatic volcanic beaches.

The season runs from about May to October, with June and September often the most comfortable months. Direct flights from the UK take around four hours in season. Our guide to the best time to visit Santorini explains each month in detail.

Many couples add a few nights on a second island, such as Naxos or Mykonos, by ferry.

Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast is pure Italian romance, with colourful towns such as Positano, Amalfi and Ravello clinging to the cliffs. Days are spent on boat trips, long lunches and visits to Capri.

Flights to Naples take around two and a half hours, followed by a transfer along the coast. May, June and September are ideal, because July and August bring heat, crowds and busy roads.

Ravello, high above the sea, has some of the most beautiful gardens and views on the coast.

Lake Como

Lake Como offers elegant villas, gardens and lakeside villages such as Bellagio and Varenna. Boats link the villages, so you can spend your days exploring by water and your evenings dining by the lake.

Flights to Milan take around two hours, and the best months are May to September. Many lakeside hotels close in the winter, so it is best for spring and summer weddings.

Caribbean honeymoons

The Caribbean is a superb winter honeymoon, with warm seas, direct flights and a relaxed pace. The dry season runs from around December to April, while hurricane season runs from June to November.

St Lucia is the more dramatic and lush of the two islands below, while Antigua is all about beaches and sailing. Both have direct flights from London, so you can be on the sand on the day you leave.

St Lucia

St Lucia is one of the Caribbean’s most romantic islands, with the twin Pitons rising from the sea, rainforest walks and the Sulphur Springs mud baths. Many resorts have private plunge pools with views of the mountains.

Direct flights from London take around nine hours. The Pitons are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a boat trip along the west coast is one of the best ways to see them.

Antigua

Antigua is known for having a beach for every day of the year, from lively bays to quiet coves. It suits couples who want beach time, sailing and relaxed evenings by the sea.

Direct flights from London take around eight and a half to nine hours. Don’t miss Nelson’s Dockyard, a UNESCO-listed Georgian naval dockyard in English Harbour, and the sunset views from Shirley Heights.

Adventure and culture

If you would rather explore than lie on a sunbed every day, a safari, a cultural tour or a city adventure makes a memorable honeymoon. Many couples finish with a few days on a beach.

Kenya safari and Zanzibar

A safari in the Masai Mara, followed by the beaches of Zanzibar, is one of the great honeymoon combinations. The Great Migration usually reaches the Mara between July and October, and Zanzibar adds white sand and the UNESCO-listed Stone Town.

Direct flights from London to Nairobi take around eight and a half to nine hours. Short regional flights then connect the safari camps and the coast.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka packs ancient cities, tea country, wildlife and beaches into one island. You could climb Sigiriya, visit Kandy, ride the hill-country train and look for leopards in Yala before relaxing on the coast.

The south and west coasts are best from December to April, while the east coast is best from May to September. Direct flights from London take around 11 hours.

Because the two coasts have different seasons, Sri Lanka works in almost any month. A private driver-guide is the easiest way to tour the island, and a short flight from Colombo makes the Maldives an easy beach finale.

Japan

Japan suits couples who love food, culture and cities, with Tokyo’s energy, Kyoto’s temples and peaceful nights in a traditional ryokan. Cherry blossom season, usually from late March to early April, is especially romantic.

Autumn colours in October and November are just as beautiful, and often quieter. Direct flights from London take around 14 hours.

Japan’s fast, punctual trains make it easy to combine cities, and a night or two in a ryokan with a hot-spring bath is a highlight for many couples. Some couples finish with a few days of beach time elsewhere in Asia.

Twin-centre honeymoon ideas

A twin-centre honeymoon combines two places in one trip, often a city or tour followed by a beach. It breaks up long flights and gives you two very different experiences.

Allow at least two weeks for most twin-centre trips, so that you are not spending too much of your honeymoon travelling. If you would like help putting one together, SkyWays Hub can plan the flights, hotels and transfers in one booking.

How to choose between honeymoon destinations

The easiest way to choose between honeymoon destinations is to start with four questions: when you can travel, how far you want to fly, your budget and your travel style. The answers will quickly narrow down your shortlist.

• Season: match the destination to your travel month, using the table above.
• Flight time: if you only have a week, Europe or a direct long-haul flight makes sense.
• Budget: Thailand, Sri Lanka and Bali often offer more luxury for your money than the Maldives or Seychelles.
• Style: choose between pure relaxation, exploring, adventure or a mix.
• Special touches: some hotels offer honeymoon extras, often with proof of your wedding date, so ask when you compare options.

It is also worth thinking about what you both enjoy on a normal holiday. If one of you gets restless after two days on a beach, a twin-centre or touring honeymoon may suit you better.

Our verdict

There is no single best place for a honeymoon, but there is a best place for you. The Maldives and Mauritius are perfect for relaxing, Bali and Sri Lanka mix culture with beaches, and Santorini, the Amalfi Coast and Lake Como bring romance close to home. For winter sun, the Caribbean is hard to beat.

Start with your month, then choose from the honeymoon destinations that suit your style and flight time. When you are ready, plan your honeymoon with SkyWays Hub, and we will put together flights, hotels and transfers from your nearest UK airport.

Frequently asked questions