Bordeaux – already known as the wine capital of France – has been ranked as the best honeymoon destination in France.
The ranking comes from Seine River Cruises, using data from TripAdvisor and Google Keyword Planner.
Researchers ranked the 30 largest French cities based on factors such as monthly honeymoon-related Google searches, the distance from the city centre to the nearest airport, and whether the destination is coastal or not.
The study also considered the number of tourist attractions for couples, the availability of luxury hotels with romantic keywords in reviews such as ‘intimate’ and ‘romantic,’ as well as the presence of Michelin-starred and romantic restaurants with reviews mentioning words like ‘dreamy’ and ‘secluded’ in each city.
Magdalena Petrusic, of Seine River Cruises, said: “When most people think of a honeymoon in France, Paris, the ‘City of Love,’ is usually the first city that comes to mind.
“However, research shows that lesser-known cities like Bordeaux and Aix-en-Provence are just as perfect, if not better, for a romantic escape. These cities have many luxury hotels and restaurants where couples can unwind and enjoy their honeymoon in a more peaceful environment.
“With fewer tourists, couples can truly soak in the atmosphere and explore the local attractions without long queues, and their photos will also be free from strangers in the background.”
To ensure fairness between cities of different sizes, the results were adjusted per 100,000 people, highlighting the best spots for newlyweds and providing a curated guide of must-visit locations for unforgettable experiences.
Bordeaux is conveniently located just5km from the nearest airport. While not a coastal destination, Bordeaux offers 42 attractions designed for couples and 46 luxury or romantic hotels, with reviews that include words like ‘romantic,’ ‘intimate,’ and ‘passionate’.
With an impressive 98 Michelin-starred or romantic restaurants per 100,000 people, it is a top choice for newlyweds seeking a charming and unforgettable experience.
Bordeaux beat Paris into second place in the rankings (see below) and Nice into fourth.
The Most Romantic French Honeymoon Destinations
| Rank | City | Monthly honeymoon Google searches | Airport distance (in kilometres) | Coastal or not | Tourist attractions for couples | Luxury and romantic hotels | Michelin-star and romantic restaurants | |
| 1 | Bordeaux | 40.62 | 5 | no | 42 | 46 | 98 | |
| 2 | Paris | 120.02 | 1 | no | 28 | 33 | 93 | |
| 3 | Aix-en-Provence | 0.00 | 15 | no | 31 | 53 | 77 | |
| 4 | Nice | 59.06 | 2 | yes | 35 | 21 | 73 | |
| 5 | Montpellier | 1.34 | 3 | yes | 13 | 17 | 60 | |
| 6 | Clermont-Ferrand | 0.00 | 71 | no | 10 | 5 | 48 | |
| 7 | Dijon | 0.00 | 29 | no | 18 | 11 | 46 | |
| 8 | Strasbourg | 0.00 | 4 | no | 14 | 18 | 52 | |
| 9 | Lyon | 2.65 | 2 | no | 15 | 11 | 60 | |
| 10 | Marseille | 8.60 | 3 | yes | 10 | 6 | 26 | |
