For newly engaged couples in or near the wedding planning process, the honeymoon destination is one of the top items on any couple’s to-do list. But not every couple wants to fly to a rather typical honeymoon destination, such as Bali, Indonesia, Venice, Italy, and Santorini, Greece. Here are some off-the-beaten-path honeymoon destinations for a unique and memorable honeymoon experience soon.

Azores Islands, Portugal

Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Portugal’s official language is Portuguese, but English is the second most widely spoken language, and Spanish is the third most widely spoken one.

An Azores honeymoon will be an experience for the newlyweds. Across nine stunning islands, the newly married couple will explore Terceira’s charming historical towns to Pico Island’s dramatic volcanic landscapes. Plus, the slow pace of life in the Azores would give the newlywed couple time to date and explore at their own rhythm.

For newly married couples planning a multi-destination honeymoon, combining Portugal and Spain — a country in extreme Southwestern Europe — would allow for the exploration of the beauty and culture in both countries. Lisbon, Porto, Seville, Cadiz, and Mallorca are just a few Spanish cities to consider.

La Rioja, Spain

Speaking of Spain, La Rioja — an autonomous community and province in the north of the Iberian Peninsula — is an ideal honeymoon destination for a romantic getaway for the newlyweds. La Rioja’s beautiful hotels are perfect for newly married couples seeking romance, elegance, and convenience.

From an 18th-century town mansion, the Palacio Azcarate Hotel, in Ezcaray, to a four-star accommodation, the Hotel Bodega FyA, in Navarrete, there’s a gorgeous hotel for every newly married couple’s budget.
Northern Spain is the perfect destination as a couple could enjoy Spanish wine in Rioja, view the art in Bilbao, and relax on the beaches of San Sebastian. Northern Spain’s romantic scenery can provide the picturesque backdrop, along with peace and romance in a noise-free environment.

Waiheke Island, New Zealand

Compared to Australia, New Zealand might not be on a newly married couple’s honeymoon radar. However, a New Zealand honeymoon should be a consideration. New Zealand’s rainforests, waterfalls, volcanoes, and snowy mountains are the perfect landscapes for any newlywed couple to experience in an underrated island country.

Waiheke Island is a must-visit, thanks to its honeymoon villas with gourmet breakfasts, spa sessions, and panoramic sea views. For example, Villas Waiheke is an exclusive villa community exclusively for adults and designed with privacy in mind. Villas Waiheke’s location emphasizes solitude as the community is tucked far from the crowds below, as stated on its website.

Waiheke Island offers various activities for honeymooners looking to create long-lasting memories. Honeymooners can consider wine tasting, spending time at public beaches, enjoying private beaches, taking scenic walks and hikes, indulging in spa and relaxation sessions, and taking scenic flights.

Cape Town, South Africa

African safaris in Africa, including South Africa, aren’t the only types of trips newly married couples can consider. Cape Town, the legislative capital of South Africa, is an underrated city that offers stunning landscapes, luxurious hotels and resorts, and a wide range of romantic activities for couples.

A newly married couple can enjoy a luxurious stay at the One&Only Cape Town, The Silo Hotel, Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa, Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel, and Steenberg Hotel & Spa.

A namesake couple can hop on a cable car to see the panoramic views of Table Mountain, enjoy wine tasting at Cape Winelands, visit the unique Boulders Beach to view the African penguin colony up close, catch a boat to witness Robben Island, where the late Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, and drive along the coastline as part of the Cape Peninsula Tour.

Hammerfest, Norway

Like most of Scandinavia, Norway is home to four seasons, so a newly married couple can expect sunny days during the summer and polar nights in the winter. The trip to Norway is rather long for American visitors, but it is worth the time and money.

If a couple decides on a Norwegian honeymoon, Hammerfest is a must-visit city aside from Oslo and Bergen. Hammerfest is a historic city known for its stunning Arctic landscapes, rich history, and a gateway to outdoor adventures.

Hammerfest is a short walk to Hammerfest Kirke, one of the city’s most distinctive landmarks. Its other attractions include the Salen Hill, a modest rise providing the best view of Hammerfest, the Museum of Reconstruction for Finnmark and North Troms, a compact museum offering a glimpse of the city’s wartime post, the Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society, one of the city’s most curious stops, and the Struve Geodetic Arc, an ambitious scientific endeavor led by Friedrich Georg Wilhelm von Struve (1793-1864), the director of the astronomical observatory at the University of Dorpat — now Tartu, Estonia.

Banff, Alberta, Canada

Banff, Alberta, Canada, is a popular tourist destination in the Canadian Rockies. Banff is known for its mountains, hot springs, and outdoor activities. Banff, along with Lake Louise, is the ideal two-in-one honeymoon destination for adventurous couples.

Banff offers a blend of natural beauty, adventure, and luxury. After a day of adventure, a couple would return to a luxurious hotel room at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Rimrock Resort Hotel, Moose Hotel and Suites, Mount Royal Hotel, or Canalta Lodge.

Couples would want to visit Lake Louise, located 60 kilometers northwest of Banff. Lake Louise is home to some of the greatest hiking, skiing, and sightseeing in the world. When in Lake Louise, check out Moraine Lake, a stunning alpine lake fed by glacier melt and surrounded by the Ten Peaks, as well.

The Maldives

The Maldives boasts over 150 resorts, most of which offer private villas, personal butlers, and exclusive amenities. The Maldives’ breathtaking beauty can be attributed to its turquoise lagoons, white sand beaches, and luxurious over-water villas.

The Maldives provides an ideal setting for newly married couples seeking romance and relaxation. The Maldives’ big cities of Male, Fuvahmulah, Addu City, Kulhudhuffushi, and Dhidhdhoo aren’t to be ignored, but Vaadhoo Island should also be on a newly married couple’s itinerary.

Vaadhoo Island is known for its natural phenomenon known as “bioluminescence,” an emission of light by living organisms during a chemical reaction. Vandhoo Island’s luxurious hotels and resorts, fresh markets, and handmade souvenirs add to the unique honeymoon experience.

Bhutan

Bhutan, officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked country in South Asia. Nestled in the Eastern Himalayas between China and India, Bhutan is known for its rich culture, stunning landscapes, and unique political system in a democratic constitutional monarchy.

Bhutan is a unique honeymoon destination, thanks to its Buddhist traditions, colorful festivals, and lush landscapes. From hiking to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery to participating in traditional Bhutanese rituals, such as the Paro Tshechu and Thimphu Tshechu, a couple’s honeymoon in Bhutan won’t be boring. Fall and winter are the ideal seasons to visit Bhutan, especially if a couple prefers cooler temperatures and possesses a desire to visit cultural festivals. Bhutan’s five-star resorts and intimate retreats give couples a wide range of lodging options to choose from.

Egypt

Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and the southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. Egypt is known for the Egyptian pyramids, with the most famous being the Pyramids of Giza.

Aside from the Pyramids of Giza, the newlyweds would want to sail on the Nile River, experience local culture in Cairo’s souqs, and stay at top-rated resorts, such as the Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza, the Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski, Rixos Sharm El Sheikh, Royal Savoy, etc.

The newlyweds must dine in world-class restaurants like TAO Cairo, a hidden gem offering a diverse and delightful multi-Asian dining experience, Tree Trunk, a Bohemian-chic restaurant transporting guests into a fairytale-like setting while offering a unique menu from chicken bombs to quesadillas, and Sizzler Steak House, a romantic American steakhouse with steak, chicken, and fish options, just to name a few.

No matter which destination calls to you—from the volcanic landscapes of the Azores to the Arctic beauty of Hammerfest, or the quiet luxury of Waiheke Island—choosing an off-the-beaten-path honeymoon ensures an experience as unique and memorable as your journey together. By venturing beyond the typical, you're setting the stage for an unforgettable first adventure as a married couple, creating long-lasting memories at your own pace.