The Ultimate Guide to Types of Honeymoon
Your honeymoon doesn’t have to just be by the beach. It can be whatever you want it to be! Let us show you all the different types of honeymoon…
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While hitting a relaxing beach or pool may be your first port of call, when it comes to planning a honeymoon, there are many other types of honeymoon to consider!
Your honeymoon is a chance to do something you’ve both always wanted to do but maybe didn’t have the time, money or inclination to make it happen.
Let’s inspire you with our favourite types of honeymoon!
PS Don’t forget to take our fun honeymoon types quiz!
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Adventure Honeymoon
Whether it’s epic hikes, magical scuba diving, thrilling sky dives and bungee jumps or scream-inducing rollercoasters, for couples who love adventure, there are so many incredible destinations to get that adrenaline pumping!
Adventure honeymoons are one of the most popular types of honeymoon!
Take an epic road trip through New Zealand to the adventure capital of the world in Queenstown.
We may know South Africa for its vineyards and extraordinary wildlife, but it’s also home to Tsitsikamma National Park where you can go hiking, kayaking and jump off the world’s highest bungee at Bloukrans Bridge.
Opt for a trip to Victoria Falls, where you can swim in Devil’s Pool or head to Iguazu Falls on the border of Argentina and Brazil.
Maybe thrilling theme parks are your thing. We love Orlando. From Universal’s Islands of Adventure to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, there are so many fun rides.
Discover the epic hikes in Canada’s Rocky Mountains and Argentina’s Patagonia or past the temples and mountain peaks of Nepal or Bhutan. Two unique honeymoon destinations on the planet.
Visit elephant sanctuaries in Thailand and Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
Costa Rica is one of our favourite destinations for an eco honeymoon and it’s perfect for adventure, too. Go zip-lining through the cloud forest, explore waterfalls and volcanos and stay in a unique honeymoon resort.
Iceland’s otherworldly landscapes have glaciers, geysers, waterfalls and in winter you can go aurora hunting to see the Northern Lights.
You can see why bucket list adventures are our favourite types of honeymoon!
Safari Honeymoon
For wildlife lovers, safari honeymoons are the best types of honeymoon.
Explore the African wilderness and experience the thrill of getting up close and personal with some of the world’s most majestic animals in their natural habitat.
Discover the Big 5 (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino) in the Serengeti in Tanzania and the Masai Mara in Kenya. See the iconic great migration of wildebeests.
Wondering what the difference is between these East Africa jewels, we’ve got all you need to know!
Explore South Africa’s Eastern Cape or Kruger National Park. See elephants in Botswana’s Chobe National Park and Okavango Delta.
Take a road trip through Namibia’s remote landscapes to Etosha National Park to see endangered black rhinos and get off the beaten track from Victoria Falls through Zimbabwe or Zambia.
Stay in a luxury lodge with your own pool overlooking the waterholes where the animals congregate or have a romantic private dinner in the bush. Take a hot-air balloon ride at sunset.
Need an alternative to Africa? There are other destinations to consider for a unique wildlife experience.
Visit Yala National Park in Sri Lanka where you’ll find leopard. Marvel at elephants in Thailand.
Find tigers in Ranthambore National Park in India and the Pantanal in Brazil is one of the best places to spot jaguars.
A safari honeymoon is one of the most magic types of honeymoon!
Winter Honeymoon
Whether snowboarding or skiing or just a stay in a wonderful winter wonderland honeymoon hotel, we love a romantic winter honeymoon.
New Zealand is a great destination for skiing and snowboarding, with ski resorts in Queenstown and Wanaka offering world-class facilities.
In the USA, Aspen is a popular ski resort with luxurious accommodations and a lively après-ski scene.
Canada‘s Whistler is one of the largest ski resorts in North America, with over 8,100 acres of skiable terrain.
In Europe, destinations like Val Thorens in France, Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy, and St. Anton in Austria offer some of the best skiing in the world.
The Lapland region in Finland, Sweden, and Norway has unique winter experiences. See the celestial dance of the Northern Lights, husky rides and reindeer sledding, and snowmobiling.
With romantic igloo and log cabin stays, beautiful spas, it’s perfect for an idyllic romantic winter honeymoon.
Cruise Honeymoon
Cruise honeymoons are the best types of honeymoon for couples who want a mix of relaxing by the pool or beach with activities in exotic destinations.
Whether it’s sun-kissed Caribbean beaches, the wilderness of Alaska, ancient Mediterranean towns or fascinating Baltic cities.
With plenty of options to choose from, you can select the perfect itinerary for you both.
Cruise ships offer extensive gourmet dining options, luxury spas, and a range of entertainment, including Broadway-style shows, bars, and pubs.
Onboard you can relax and indulge, or take part in fun activities and shore excursions in each port of call.
Some cruise lines offer drinks packages, making it perfect for an all-inclusive honeymoon.
The size of the ship will also affect the atmosphere of your cruise honeymoon, with larger ships like Royal Caribbean and NCL attracting a mix of couples, friends, and families.
Smaller, luxurious ships like Silversea and Azamara appealing to a more mature crowd.
Book a balcony cabin for more space and a stunning view.
With a wide variety of destinations and experiences to choose from, a cruise honeymoon is an unforgettable way to celebrate your marriage and start your journey together on the high seas.
Foodie Honeymoon
If like us you love to eat, a foodie honeymoon should be number one on your favourite types of honeymoon!
Whether you prefer Michelin Guide-approved fine dining, street food or tiny tavernas, there are so many destinations for incredible culinary experiences.
Japan is a must-visit for foodies, from sushi to ramen, wagyu beef to udon noodles. We can’t think of a better foodie destination.
Explore planning a Japan honeymoon with our Japan Honeymoon Planning Guide.
Italy is also unparalleled. Delicious pasta, pizza, wine and gelato. Tuscan beef, Amalfi’s limoncello, Milan’s risotto all await in one of Europe’s best honeymoon destinations. The hardest part is choosing where to go in Italy!
Thailand is a culinary jewel. Plus, it’s so affordable to eat in Thailand, you can really feast like royalty!
Find out more with our Thailand Honeymoon Planning Guide.
Meat and wine lovers will adore Argentina and South Africa. China’s cuisines are as diverse as its landscapes, from spicy Sichuan to Cantonese, it’s a true foodie highlight.
Australia’s diversity can be seen in its food, with exciting dining scenes in the major cities like Sydney and Melbourne.
The USA is a foodie honeymoon icon with specialties like barbecue in Texas and soul food in the South. Try lobster roll in Maine and the best burgers in Los Angeles.
Feast on ceviche in Peru or tacos and margaritas in Mexico.
Try all the cheese, wine and intricate creations from the patisserie and boulangerie in France and dine on the freshest seafood and grilled meats in Greece.
India is a food lover’s paradise, with its rich and flavorful curries and street food like chaat and samosas.
Try Levantine cuisine in the United Arab Emirates. Like New York, Dubai is a real foodie destination where you can find any cuisine.
Road Trip Honeymoon
A road trip honeymoon is one of our favourite types of honeymoon.
Hit the open highway in a luxury camper van / RV or a fabulous convertible with the wind in your hair, having the most wonderful adventure.
California‘s Pacific Coast Highway from San Francisco to Los Angeles to San Diego is one of the most scenic honeymoon road trips on the planet.
Explore the national parks and desert landscapes. The historic Route 66 is iconic, stretching from Chicago to Los Angeles across the vast wilderness of the USA.
Canada‘s Rocky Mountains are a worthy consideration, while Iceland‘s Ring Road takes you through otherworldly landscapes of glaciers, waterfalls, and black sand beaches.
Drive Ireland‘s Wild Atlantic Way with breathtaking views of the rugged Atlantic Ocean coastline. Stay in a magical castle honeymoon hotel or opt for the Scottish Highlands or Italy’s rolling hills in Tuscany.
Australia and New Zealand have endless possibilities for adventure and fun. Explore Queensland’s Coast with beautiful beaches and cute wildlife like koala bears and kangaroos.
New Zealand is packed full of things to do with majestic mountain scenery, lakes, vineyards and the adventure capital of the world, Queensland.
Plan a South Africa honeymoon itinerary full of adventure, wildlife and wine!
Multi-Destination Honeymoon
Why choose one destination when you can have two, three or even four? A multi-destination honeymoon can be a mix of city and beach or adventure and beach.
It can be whatever you want to be, which is why it’s one of the best types of honeymoon!
Picking two destinations close to each other is not only a great way to tick off your bucket list, but you also make your honeymoon more sustainable by making long journeys to the other side of the world really count.
Experience different cultures, cuisines, and landscapes.
Some destinations go together perfectly.
Consider Sri Lanka and the Maldives offer a perfect combination of cultural and natural attractions, from ancient temples and tea plantations to pristine beaches and coral reefs.
Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa match perfectly with Mauritius or Seychelles for a unique combination of wildlife safaris and tropical paradise.
Dubai and Mauritius are the perfect mix of city and beach luxury.
Explore the Indochina loop in Southeast Asia and travel from Thailand to Laos to Vietnam to Cambodia. Asia is one of our favourite regions for affordable honeymoons, too!
A multi destination honeymoon is the best type of honeymoon for a trip of a lifetime!
City Honeymoon
Skyscrapers, shopping, museums, galleries, restaurants, bars, nightlife and people. The buzz of city life. Explore some of the planet’s most vibrant cities on a city honeymoon!
The USA’s iconic cities spring to mind. New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago have beautiful hotels, exciting museums and innovative dining. Visit Sin City aka Las Vegas for a stunning adventure.
Marvel in atmospheric cities like Marrakech. Party in Rio and explore the old European glamour of Buenos Aires.
Explore Europe’s major capitals like Rome, London and Paris or other romantic cities like Venice or Florence in Italy and Dubrovnik in Croatia.
The magnificent views of Table Mountain, nearby vineyards and beaches and exciting foodie scene, make Cape Town one of the best destinations for a city honeymoon.
A city honeymoon is one of our favourite types of honeymoon. You easily tag on a city to another time of honeymoon, like a beach and city honeymoon, and incorporate this type of honeymoon into a road trip honeymoon.
Think Miami or New York with the Caribbean & Mexico, Vancouver & Hawaii and Istanbul with the Maldives.
We love Asia’s fascinating cities, from Bangkok to Singapore to Tokyo or the Middle East’s futuristic city of Dubai.
Cultural Honeymoon
For lovers of history, art, music and fashion, a cultural honeymoon is the ideal of our types of honeymoon.
If you are music obsessives like us, consider a bucket list music festival like Glastonbury or Coachella.
Discover ancient musical culture and see a Fado show in Portugal or a trad session in a lively pub in Ireland, a tango show in Buenos Aires or a flamingo show in Seville.
Hit a techno club in Berlin, a dancehall in Kingston, Carnival in Rio or Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
For art lovers, a city full of museums like Paris, London or New York or Los Angeles is ideal.
Explore the Louvre, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Museum of Modern Art or the Getty Center.
History lovers have so many options around the world. The Inca, Aztec and Mayan ruins of Peru, Mexico and other destinations in Central & South America.
Follow Mandela’s walk to freedom in Cape Town. Discover Athens and the Greek Islands’ quaint white washed churches, ancient ruins and vineyards.
Maybe the Pyramids of Giza have been on your bucket list or the Rose City of Petra in Jordan.
Japan is one of our favourite destinations for a cultural honeymoon, where history meets modernity. The country is packed with museums, temples, fashion and food.
Italy is Europe’s cultural powerhouse of fashion, history, music and art. So much culture, so little time!
Island Hopping Honeymoon
For couples who love the beach but also don’t like to sit still, an island hopping honeymoon is one of the best types of honeymoon!
Explore the unique charms of multiple islands in your dream destination. From the crystal lagoons and volcanic peaks of French Polynesia to the emerald water and lime stone karst scenery of Thailand, there are some beautiful island hopping honeymoon options to choose from.
Explore big islands like Phuket to the quieter spots like Koh Lanta and Koh Yao Noi in Thailand.
In Tahiti, take a short flight hop from Moorea to Bora Bora in French Polynesia and stay in a stunning resort overlooking Mount Otemanu.
Explore the heavenly islands of Hawaii or the islands of the Caribbean. Whether it’s a combination of Caribbean honeymoon gem, Saint Lucia, Barbados and Antigua or exploring Oahu, booking a luxury resort on Maui, or getting your adventure fix in Kauai or Big Island, you’ll be in island hopping heaven. We’re obsessed with these beautiful destinations.
Greece’s Cyclades Islands, like iconic Santorini and magical Mykonos, might be up your street. Plus, there are other Greek island gems to be discovered, easily accessible by ferry.
Croatia is another fantastic option for island hopping in Europe, explore the Adriatic jewels like Hvar, Korčula and Brač.
Seychelles is as heavenly in real life as it looks in the picture, with some of the most stunning beaches and turquoise waters in the world. Hop from Mahe to Praslin and La Digue easily by ferry.
Beach Honeymoon
Relaxing on a stunning beach is the quintessential way to spend time on a honeymoon. We firmly believe that every honeymoon should include at least a few days of downtime, relaxing on a stunning beach (or by a beautiful pool).
A beautiful reward for all the work you put into planning your special day. Crystal-clear water, soft sand, and plenty of sunshine.
It’s easy to see why a beach honeymoon is the most popular type of honeymoon!
From the Indian Ocean to the Caribbean to the Pacific Ocean, there are many beautiful islands and beaches to choose from.
We’re more than obsessed with iconic honeymoon destinations like Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles.
In the Caribbean, we adore Mexico, Barbados, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, to name a few! These are perfect for all-inclusive honeymoon packages.
Discover Europe’s beaches in Portugal’s Algarve region or France’s Cote d’Azur.
Spain’s Balearic Islands have beautiful beach coves. Couples flock to Greece every year, for the food, history and beaches. In USA’s coastal states, you’ll find beautiful beaches especially in Florida.
Even if you’re planning to try different types of honeymoon, such as a road trip, city, adventure or a safari, it’s easy to incorporate a beach stay.
Consider Australia’s Whitsunday islands and explore the Great Barrier Reef, New Zealand’s coromandel peninsula or Brazil’s Ilha Grande and Tanzania’s stunning island of Zanzibar.
Familymoon
Many couples start a family before getting married and we’re kind of obsessed with children on their parent’s wedding day!
While some couples may call in loved ones to mind the little ones for a romantic week or two of child-free bliss, other couples want to involve the whole family and plan something special, a trip of a lifetime for their family unit.
This is where the familymoon comes in!
If you’re planning a familymoon (a family honeymoon) there are so many wonderful destinations to choose from.
In fact, there is nowhere you can’t go (except perhaps, adult only hotels and resorts).
If you’re thinking of a luxury beach resort honeymoon in the Maldives, did you know that it’s also the perfect destination for families with fabulous things to do like snorkelling and beautiful kids’ clubs?
The same goes for any typical beach honeymoon destinations like the Caribbean and Mexico.
Consider Southeast Asia gems like Thailand with everything from elephants to fun boat trips to Muay Thai boxing.
Maybe a family road trip honeymoon sounds appealing. South Africa, California, Hawaii, Iceland and Australia are all wonderful choices, too.
Minimoon and Latermoon
Aside from the traditional honeymoon, you can also choose a minimoon and latermoon
A minimoon is a short, post-wedding trip that usually lasts a few days to a week.
It’s perfect for couples who cannot take a long honeymoon immediately after the wedding or who want to save money for a bigger trip later.
A latermoon is a honeymoon that is delayed by a few months or even up to a year.
They offer the opportunity to avoid peak season prices, celebrate special occasions like anniversaries, and explore destinations that are better visited during certain times of the year because of the weather.
Check out our favourite Europe and US & Canada minimoon destinations!
Whether you choose a traditional honeymoon, a minimoon or a latermoon, whether you want to relax on a beach in paradise or by a chic rooftop bool, embark on a bucket list adventure, or explore new cultures and cuisines, there are perfect types of honeymoons for everyone!
The most important thing is to do what’s right for you both!
Let us know in the comments what types of honeymoon you’re considering.
Happy Planning x
