Honeymoons in Spain: where to go & what to do

By Europe specialist Corinne

Whether you’re toasting the first moments of marriage on a private boat in the Mediterranean or losing yourselves in the emotion of a flamenco performance in the region where it first originated, Spain is full of romance.

Every region has its own distinct character, so I’m always excited to help newlyweds find which one speaks to them most. Wherever you choose to go, I’ll pepper in authentic experiences that bring you closer to Spanish culture, as well as moments of pause, away from everyone but each other.

Where to go on honeymoon in Spain

Mallorca is my favorite honeymoon destination in Spain. I find that many couples need space and time to simply relax after their wedding and all the planning that goes into it, and this laid-back island offers both in droves. There are plenty of luxury stays to choose from, both on the coast and further inland, where you can intersperse quiet moments together beside the water with opportunities to wrap yourself in local culture.

If your interests lie elsewhere, you might prefer another part of Spain, like the Basque Country, where you can celebrate your recent nuptials with haute cuisine and fine wines, or the Moorish cities of Andalusia, which exude romance with their ornate palaces and softly lit bathhouses.

Below, I’ve listed my top six honeymoon destinations in Spain and the experiences you can enjoy in each.

Artisanal produce & beach relaxation in Mallorca

With rock-sheltered beaches, tucked-away coves, cobblestone streets, and coastal hiking trails, Mallorca steals many honeymooners’ hearts. You can easily balance adventure with relaxation, and there’s plenty of island culture to uncover too.

Between swimming in warm Balearic waters and basking on honey-toned sands, I can arrange for you to visit a historic olive estate, where artisanal olive oil is made. After strolling through the groves with a guide, you’ll reach a little wooden table among the trees for a private picnic laden with Mallorcan delicacies, including pastries, cheeses, and the estate’s organic virgin olive oil.

You could also try wine tasting at an 18th-century winery or sandal making with a master craftsman to delve deeper into the island’s artisanal heritage.

Where to stay in Mallorca

Palma Riad is one of my top choices for honeymooners in Spain — it’s an adults-only hotel designed to look and feel like a traditional Moroccan home. Candle-like lighting, dark walls, and plush, ornate furnishing make for a very intimate setting. I particularly like the suites that have spacious bathtubs sunken into the floor.

If you want a pool, Nakar Hotel would be my choice. It’s right in the heart of Palma and the rooftop pool has views across the city, cathedral, and azure Balearic waters. For a quiet refuge, you can head down to the spa for a couple’s massage.

City sights & coastal scenery on the Costa Brava

If you want a Spanish honeymoon of two parts — a city break and a beach stay — the Costa Brava is a popular choice. You can spend a few days in frenetic Barcelona, before slowing down the pace on a quieter slice of coast.

In Barcelona, I like to sprinkle in a few privately guided tours to help you get to know the region on a more personal level. If you’re intrigued by Gaudí’s flamboyant constructions, I can pair you with an architecture enthusiast who’ll tell the story of the designer’s life and legacy as you gaze up at his masterpieces. Or if it’s food that draws you to the city, you might enjoy hopping between tascas to sample authentic tapas with someone who knows places that visitors often miss. In the evening, you can sip drinks on a private sunset cruise to admire the cityscape bathed in a golden-pink hue.

I also suggest spending a day in the Catalan countryside. The Penedès wine region is celebrated for its Cava and Corpinnat sparkling wines, and I can arrange for you to taste them at a family-run producer. Then, you’ll stop for lunch overlooking the finger-like Montserrat mountain range.

Where to stay on the Costa Brava

Depending on your tastes, you might like to stay at the Hotel Colón, which has French balconies that look out onto Barcelona’s Gothic cathedral, or Hotel 1898 with its elegant rooftop cocktail bar and pool.

For your time on the coast, adults-only Hotel Cala del Pi is just footsteps away from a pine-lined beach. I can arrange for you to stay in a seafront suite so you can enjoy the salty breeze from your private balcony. It’s close to Girona and other medieval towns that sprinkle the coast, so there’s opportunities to explore too, if you like.

Gastronomy & art in the Basque Country

Secret dining societies, Michelin-starred restaurants, and an array of art galleries — if you enjoy the finer things in life, the Basque Country is my top recommendation for a Spain honeymoon.

San Sebastián is the country’s culinary capital, made so in part by its status as a coastal destination for 19th-century royalty. You can enjoy many a romantic meal in its fine-dining restaurants, or more casual lunches at pintxos bars to sample the region’s bite-sized morsels. But I think one of the most special things to do on a honeymoon is to join a members-only gastronomic society for the day. It’s invitation-only but don’t worry, I’ll get one for you. Once in, you’ll be welcomed by a group of food-obsessed locals who meet to share homecooked dishes, curated wines, and good conversation.

A little further west is Bilbao, home to Santiago Calatrava’s helix-like footbridge, the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum, and, most notably, Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum. You can spend hours perusing art together here, but if you want someone by your side to shed more light on the pieces and the architectural feat they’re housed in, I can arrange for a private guide to go with you.

Where to stay in the Basque Country

Perched beside a sweeping, shell-shaped bay, Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra holds the same sophistication that typifies San Sebastián. The penthouse suite is particularly apt for honeymooners, with its own terrace and window-side Jacuzzi overlooking the bay.

I also like Hotel Maria Cristina for couples. Decorated in the traditional Belle Époque style, it’s more sumptuous than Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra. Though it doesn’t have sea views, the beach is just a ten-minute walk away, and for food fanatics, there’s a cooking school in the hotel where you can learn how to cook Basque dishes.

As for Bilbao, the Artist Hotel has unfettered views of the Guggenheim. As the name suggests, it’s very design-forward, with sharp, modern rooms drenched in light. I recommend heading up to the rooftop for drinks as the setting sun casts a soft glow on the museum’s twisted titanium form.

Wine tasting & hiking in La Rioja

Only an hour’s drive from Bilbao, La Rioja is easy to incorporate into a Basque Country honeymoon. The main draw here is wine, and I find spending lazy afternoons strolling through mountain-backed vineyards a soothing respite from busier days in the city.

You can explore the bodegas and wineries by yourself, but if you want extra insights into the winemaking process (and someone to drive you from place to place), I recommend going with a local expert. They’ll explain how the region has been producing wine since Roman times and shed light on the vine-to-bottle process as you pass by huge oak barrels filled with full-bodied tempranillo wines. Then, all that’s left to do is clink glasses, toast your marriage, and enjoy.

To make the most of the region’s natural beauty, I can also arrange for you to take a gentle e-bike tour through the countryside surrounding Laguardia or a privately guided hike across the forested hillsides near Pazuengos. I find the fresh air helps balance out those wine-filled days quite well.

Where to stay in La Rioja

With just 25 rooms and a double Michelin-starred restaurant, family-run Echaurren Gastronomic Hotel is one of my favorites for honeymooners. A century-old roadhouse, the hotel has been carefully renovated to blend contemporary style with its traditional roots. The most romantic rooms, in my opinion, are those overlooking the 13th-century church of Santa María La Mayor.

Alternatively, you could stay on the grounds of a winery at Hotel Marqués de Riscal. Designed by Frank Gehry, the exterior is a swoosh of wave-like metal panels that contrast sharply with the vineyards surrounding it. In keeping with the local area, the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant boasts an incomparable wine list and treatments at the spa draw from the beneficial properties of grapes.

Flamenco & Moorish architecture in Andalusia

Aflame with passion, flamenco deserves a place in any Spanish honeymoon — and where better to experience it than in the place it originated: Andalusia. This southernmost part of Spain is undoubtedly romantic, with its ornate Moorish architecture and whitewashed villages. The Costa del Sol also provides plenty of opportunity to fully relax on the sand at the end of your honeymoon.

There are many places where you can enjoy authentic flamenco across the region but, for a honeymoon, I can’t recommend Sacromonte enough. It’s a traditional quarter that cascades down a hillside overlooking Grenada and is home to a Roma community who uphold the centuries-old tradition of flamenco, performed in cave houses. The performers sing and dance just steps away from you, and the compact setting and rounded walls make the music reverberate through your body — a feeling that never fails to stir up my emotions.

As for the region’s Moorish roots, I can arrange for private guides to show you around palaces and mosques adorned in intricate geometric patterns and swirling Arabic calligraphy. Many get very busy — especially Alhambra Palace in Grenada — so your guide will take you to quieter corners to fully appreciate the building’s beauty. Then, head to an Arab bathhouse (hammam) for a dip in the low-lit pools and a massage infused with amber essential oil.

Where to stay in Andalusia

In each Andalusian city you visit, I’ll find stays to suit your tastes. You might like Seville’s neo-Moorish Hotel Alfonso XIII with its elaborate tiling and colonnaded hallways. Or perhaps, you’d prefer to stay in a restored 17th-century home at Boutique Hotel Casa del Poeta, which has just 18 rooms, including a split-level suite with views over the gallery courtyard.

In Grenada, I love Parador de Granada, a rare chance to stay within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Alhambra, while Only YOU Hotel Malaga has the best rooftop bar for watching sunsets over the port.

Spain’s history & culture in Madrid

I wouldn’t say Spain’s capital city is a honeymoon destination in itself, but it’s worth spending a couple of days here if your international flight ends in Madrid. Steeped in history, the city will whet your appetite for the rich culture you’ll experience during the rest of your trip.

You could try a private cooking class to learn how to prepare classics like tortilla de patatas (potato omelette), gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp), and patatas bravas (fried potatoes in a spicy tomato sauce). Or take a private walking tour of the city to uncover Spain’s royal history and art heritage.

If you have more time, you could explore nearby towns and cities, like Segovia, Avià, and Toledo, which each hold pieces of Spain’s storied history and culture.

Where to stay in Madrid

Though there are more central hotels, Urso Hotel & Spa is one I particularly like for honeymooners. Being a little further out, it has a more serene atmosphere, which is complemented well by the decor’s muted palette and quiet basement spa. There’s a metro stop just a few minutes’ walk away, so it’s easy to get into central Madrid to mark the beginning of your honeymoon with a sangria or a coffee in one of the city’s sprawling plazas.

Best time to go on honeymoon in Spain

When you go on honeymoon in Spain depends on the places you want to visit. Southern Spain is warm and sunny year-round, but, if possible, avoid going during July and August when it’s at its busiest and the weather is sweltering. The north gets much colder during winter, so plan your honeymoon for late spring (May to June) or early autumn (September to October) for balmy weather and fewer crowds.