This Stunning European Country Just Dethroned Italy as the World’s Best Honeymoon Destination for 2027

For years, newlyweds have dreamed of going to Italy for their honeymoon. But now there’s a new leader in the romantic vacation space: Greece.

The southern European country was named the top honeymoon pick going into next year, according to the 2027 Virtuoso Luxe Report. The company, a global network of luxury and experiential travel agencies, also noted Greece ranked as the fourth-top overall global destination.

Greece offers honeymooners everything from fabulous beaches to incredible history with plenty of romantic islands and resorts for the ultimate post-wedding escape.

Italy, which the company wrote previously held a “long reign as the place to honeymoon,” came in at No. 4 on the list of top honeymoon destinations for 2027. The country did nab the top spot for the best family travel destinations as well as the best solo travel destinations.

The drop in Italy’s ranking as a romantic spot, however, was also reflected in the overall list of top global destinations. While Italy has long held the No. 1 spot there, Japan overtook the country for the first time on the 2027 list.

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“Japan’s ascent is more than a single headline, as this year’s survey names it a favorite among almost every category of traveler,” Virtuoso wrote in its report, adding Japan “also landed second for family travel, third for solo trips and sixth for honeymoons.”

Indonesia’s Bali was named the No. 2 honeymoon destination on the list, followed by the Maldives at No. 3. French Polynesia rounded out the top five.

For next year, 53 percent of travel advisors surveyed said they expected demand for leisure travel “to rise slightly in the coming year.” Another 22 percent said they “anticipate a significant increase.” Ultimately, however, advisors reported their clients have been asking where their budget will stretch the furthest, “favoring places that deliver full-tilt luxury at a friendlier price” like Vietnam, Egypt, and Turkey.

“They are swapping the destination while keeping the suite, private guide and hard-to-get table, on the theory that the same money simply buys more of all three somewhere else,” Virtuoso wrote in its report. “More conversations now start with a number instead of a place, and translating one into the other is where professional travel advisors add real value.”

For its report, Virtuoso evaluated more than 50 countries around the world based on surveys from more than 3,100 travel advisors from Virtuoso-affiliated agencies. These on-the-ground agents were based in North America, Latin America, the Asia-Pacific region, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

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