Hoping to jet off somewhere with your other half this year? If a lazy spa retreat or week by the beach isn’t quite your thing, why not consider a romantic couple’s holiday somewhere a bit more adventurous?
From Alpine trekking in Switzerland to cool artwork in Croatia, here’s our top picks for a romantic break with a little extra.
1. Lake Garda, Italy
The Italian Lakes are popular for their beautiful scenery and gorgeous towns – but what about their adventurous side? Head to the largest, Lake Garda, and try your hand at sailing or windsurfing on the water. You can also challenge yourself free climbing in the nearby mountains or traverse the lake’s shores on horseback.
Lake Garda is also the ideal spot for a camping holiday and you’ll find eleven wonderful Canvas Holidays campsites in the vicinity, including Camping Europa Silvella right on the water. And if you fancy a romantic day trip while you’re there, it’s only a short hop to dreamy Verona that’s famed for being the setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
2. Zadar, Croatia
If a week admiring contemporary art and swimming in waterfalls sounds more your thing, consider a romantic couple’s holiday to Zadar. It’s one of Croatia’s lesser visited cities on the Dalmatia coast, yet it’s still packed with cool and quirky things to do and see if you’re sick of the sea and sand.
Head to Zadar’s waterfront to view the magnificent Monument of the Sun, a huge solar powered installation that lights up at sunset, and the sea organ, a set of carved steps right on the water that that play music as the waves crash into them.
There’s also lots of fun to be found just beyond the city limits, too. Rent a car and head to Krka National Park that’s home to the stunning Skradinski Buk cascades. Get the best of both worlds by checking into a plush mobile home at our Camping Zaton campsite that’s 10 miles from Zadar and 52 miles from the park.
3. Interlaken, Switzerland
Another lakeside spot that’s definitely great for a romantic couple’s holiday is Switzerland’s Interlaken. Located high up in the Bernese Oberland mountains in between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, it’s a perfect place to visit all year round thanks to its fantastic amenities and unrivalled tranquillity.
Head to Interlaken in the winter for skiing or snowboarding, or opt for a summer camping holiday by staying at Camping Manor Farm. As well as making the most of water sports on the lake, you’ll be able to enjoy guided hikes to the waterfalls in Lauterbrunnen Valley and discover the magical cave systems of St. Beatus.
4. Loire Valley, France
If you both fancy yourselves as novice historians, a romantic trip to the Loire Valley is a must. As well as being one of the France’s best wine regions, it’s also home to some of the country’s largest and best-preserved châteaus.
When you’re not touring vineyards, enjoy an excursion to fortresses like Medieval Château de Chinon – the birth place of Richard the Lionheart – and Château de Chenonceau whose gallery stretches majestically across the River Cher. Need somewhere to stay? Check out our five-star campsites in the Loire Valley.