World’s Most Romantic Corners

Out of all the wonderful destinations we visited in our travels so far, we have chosen our top spots that made our hearts swell with romance.

When we travel, either with our special someone or on our own, we sometimes discover that the place we are exploring is exuding with so much ROMANCE. It could be because of the place’s natural setting, its people’s friendliness, or just its collective vibe. One thing is for sure, even if we can’t pinpoint exactly what makes a place so romantic, we can certainly sense the specialness about it that can make us feel like we’re in a classic romantic movie.

SUN, SANDS AND SEAS

Cyprus

Capri Island, Naples

Days after exploring the cobblestone alleys of Naples and devouring a pan of Napolitano pizza, my partner and I drove further south of Italy to discover the mystical Amalfi Coast.

The whole coastline shouts romance from the jet-set favourite Positano, to the lesser known but equally lovely town of Praiano, to the busy marinas of Sorrento, and the cultured villas of Ravello. We braved the 30-degree Celsius summertime to drive along what seems to be an endless road of mountains that plunge into the turquoise Tyrrhenian Sea overlooking luscious woodlands.

Aside from its picturesque views, what made Amalfi Coast a romantic and even a thrilling spot is when we took a boat out to the island of Capri, rented a Vespa, and saw the scenes and views of the island as I held on tight to my fiancé. It was a totally new experience for me as we drove through the town’s rolling hills, looking at the side mirror once in a while to see my fiancé’s eyes as an assurance that we will be safe. We drove to the Southwestern tip of the island and bask under the Italian sun in Lido del Faro with the towering Faro di Punta Carena in the background. We continued on to visit the Blue Grotto on the island's northwestern part and woke ourselves up with a shot of espresso, Italian-style with biscotti.

Finally, we walked around Capri and people-watched in the Piazzetta at the heart of the medieval town. Known as the “small theatre of the world”, we got a full-on view of Faraglioni, the three jagged limestone that soars from the sea. From this small but very special spot, we ended our day with the grandest view of the most romantic Italian sunset.

Agios Sostis, Mykonos

From the rom-com, Mamma Mia (2008), to the erotic scenes of Summer Lovers (1982), Greece has served as a backdrop to some of the most romantic films in and out of Hollywood and definitely a must-visit for lovers like me and my fiancé.

We did just that in the summer of 2018 in the Greek Island of Mykonos where we found heaven in Ostraco Suites situated right in the heart of the island with a beautiful view of Mykonos’ cerulean waters. What more, it’s just a few minutes away from the Old Town where the parties happen.

Speaking of parties, Mykonos is the party town of the Cycladic islands so I thought it would be difficult for us to find a romantic spot that will make the trip more memorable. The island proved us wrong. Recommended by a local, we took a motorbike and drove north of the island to where we were welcomed by the soft, beige sand and turquoise blue waters of Agios Sostis.

Secluded and still quite untouched, this 300-meter long beach has not much infrastructure built within it that adds to its pure beauty. We were welcomed by a chapel, Chapel of St. Sosti, that gave the area its authentic Greek touch. We spent the afternoon basking under the sun with a bottle of Mythos to celebrate our 4th year anniversary.

Railay Beach, Krabi

The travel bug in us didn’t want to stay in Singapore on its 50th year anniversary so we decided to pack our stuff and hop on a plane to Thailand. This time around, we decided to take a break from Bangkok’s madness and chose the sunny and tranquil islands of Krabi.

We were wrong.

Torrential rain welcomed us as our plane landed and because our hotel is in the Westernmost tip of the island, Railay Beach, we had to take a long-tail boat (locally dubbed Reua Hang Yao), which was probably not the best time to do it as we were fighting against gigantic waves, slapping our boats hard enough to knock down our luggage.

The storm didn’t stop us from enjoying the island though as we tried to search for pockets of romance lying around. We were lucky to find this restaurant called The Grotto, the in-house restaurant of the beach’s premier hotel, Rayavadee. This food haven is porched under an ancient limestone on the edge of the beautiful Phranang Beach, right at the back of Railay Beach. We were welcomed with the stunning view of the Andaman Sea and came right in time for the main dish, Krabi’s famous fiery-orange sunset illuminating a quivering path across the water.

OF GARDENS AND CITY LIGHTS

Joseph

St. James’s Park, London

This gorgeous sprawling garden is always a stop for us whenever we visit London. The first time I was here was when I met my partner’s (now my husband) family — for the very first time. It was also our first trip together hence the mixed feelings of excitement and a little anxiety.

It was a sunny morning in London (luckily) and we had our breakfast at the famous St. James’s Cafe, situated at the heart of the park surrounded by lavish flora and fauna and with a stunning view of the lake. After indulging in some British breakfast classics, my partner and I started to explore its beauty.

Walking along the banks of the lake, the royal park’s majestic pelicans greeted us with their pure white plumage and expansive wings. Crossing the Blue Bridge I felt like we’re in a storybook, with the London Eye and historic buildings peeking above lush greeneries and the Tiffany Fountain giving the view more elegance. St. James’s Park’s landscaping is pure love!

After enjoying the lake, we were then greeted with divinely manicured flower beds of scarlet geraniums. My level of excitement shot up as from this spot, the world’s most famous house said hello to us — the Buckingham Palace.

Eiffel Tower, Paris

I have visited Paris three winters ago. I was so thrilled as it was my first time visiting this wonderful city and this was my first Christmas holiday with my partner. Paris is aptly named the city of love; with its elaborate architecture, mouth-watering cuisine, and overflowing art and culture, you cannot help but just fall in love with this exquisitely gorgeous city.

There are so many places where you can capture your romantic moments in Paris — the Palais Garnier, the Louvre or the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. However, my ultimate romantic spot in Paris is, its ultimate symbol, the Eiffel Tower. It was an experience! Wandering around the Champ-de-Mars garden in the freezing winter sunset and trying to warm ourselves with vin chaud from the Christmas market; the Eiffel tower’s grandeur just adds enchantment to the moment.

We did not attempt to queue and scale Eiffel Tower due to the volume of tourists so we just decided to experience this metal structure’s magnificence from afar. We crossed the river of Seine and went to Jardins du Trocadéro. It was a perfect timing as as we reached the top of the square, this Parisian tower started to sparkle with golden lights. It was magical!

Central Park, New York

Four Christmases ago, I set foot for the first time in New York City. Travelling alone, I was so filled with excitement. This city has been depicted in many movies and described in countless songs, therefore being here and seeing its famous spots just made my jaw drop in awe. Times Square’s dancing lights, Broadway’s marvellous shows, and Fifth Avenue’s long stretch of museums, the whole experience felt like a dream you would never want to end!

Recalling my whole stay in the island of Manhattan, the place that I found eminently romantic is Central Park. Upon entering from the 72nd Street, I discovered the quiet corner of Strawberry Fields and the unmissable Imagine mosaic, both a tribute to the legendary John Lennon.

A little walk and I reached The Lake where a stranger offered to take my photo, instead of me just doing a selfie. I just let my feet decide where to go that moment as everywhere you look is like a movie set. When I reached Bethesda Fountain, I felt like singing and dancing as if I’m in the movie Enchanted (2007). After taking numerous photos, an angelic voice lured me into the arcade of Bethesda Terrace. Under a ceiling of tiles in elaborately designed patterns, there she was, an opera singer serenading her mesmerised audience. And watching her… my heart just melted.