Couples who medal together, stay together.
Updated Jul 16, 202425 Anniversary Trip Ideas for Any Milestone Year
Who says bucket list trips are exclusively for honeymoons?
Photo: Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train
by Laura Itzkowitz
Updated Oct 31, 2023
When it comes to memorable anniversary trip ideas, sometimes you need to think outside the box. Sure, you could plan a trip to famously romantic cities like Paris and Venice, but there are so many destinations around the world that offer incredible bonding opportunities for you and your spouse. The key is figuring out your travel style as a couple, taking a look at your budget, and finding the right destination that will meet both your expectations.
We took into account the top travel trends for 2024 and curated a list of anniversary trip ideas that work for a range of budgets and tastes. Whether you're celebrating a first anniversary, 10 years together or your silver milestone, consider this your go-to guide for a wide range of anniversary trip ideas for any kind of couple.
Take a River Cruise on the Nile
Photo: Extraordinary Journeys
Imagine visiting ancient Egyptian temples and tombs decorated in hieroglyphics during the day, then returning to the comfort of a small ship floating on the Nile. The experience is even better if you take a traditional boat called a dahabiya, where you and your spouse will be among the few guests onboard and the captain can dock in places where bigger ships can't. River cruises are one of the top travel trends for 2024 and a cruise on the Nile is the ideal way to see this incredible but hard-to-navigate destination for an anniversary trip where romance meets adventure, with plenty of history and culture thrown in. Extraordinary Journeys will handle all the logistics and match you with an expert guide to ensure you have the perfect trip.
FEATURED VIDEO FROM THE KNOT
Road Trip the French Riviera
Photo: Roco Co / Getty Images
With a beautiful coastline, luxurious hotels, incredible food and wine, and plenty of cultural attractions, the French Riviera makes an ideal anniversary destination for couples who love the good life. After all, towns like Nice, Antibes, Cannes, and Saint-Tropez have inspired artists like Matisse and Picasso and drawn celebrities for star-studded events and glamorous vacations for a century. Highlights include exploring Vieux Nice with its charming cobblestone streets; staying at the Hôtel Belles Rives in Antibes, where F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald sojourned; strolling the Croisette in Cannes; and relaxing by the pool at Hôtel Lou Pinet in Saint-Tropez, which looks like a little provencal village.
Go on an African Safari in Botswana
Photo: Desert & Delta Safaris
African safaris are popular for honeymoons and they make great anniversary trips too. Botswana, in particular, is ideal for a milestone anniversary trip because you and your spouse can experience a range of different landscapes and ecosystems in the span of a week with Desert & Delta Safaris. You can feel the thrill of going on traditional land-based game drives in Chobe National Park—where Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton got married for the second time—and ply the waters of the famed Okavango Delta while spotting hippos, crocodiles and other water-based animals.
View the Northern Lights in Iceland
Photo: Natthawat / Getty Images
Visiting Iceland feels a bit like traveling on another planet. The landscapes—which include moss-covered hills, black sand beaches, and spraying geysers—are surreal. And if you visit during the winter, you have a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights. Spend your days soaking in the thermal waters of the Blue Lagoon and your nights sampling gourmet Icelandic cuisine and watching the Aurora Borealis dance across the night sky. If you stay at the Retreat at the Blue Lagoon, you'll have a section of the famed hot springs to yourself and can do a range of spa treatments, including a floating massage right in the lagoon.
Go Set Jetting in Sicily
Photo: SAN DOMENICO PALACE, TAORMINA
Another popular travel trend is set jetting, i.e. traveling to destinations featured on your favorite TV shows—and what could be more glamorous than living la dolce vita in Taormina, featured in the second season of The White Lotus? While we don't recommend partaking in the more risqué antics featured on the show, we can assure you that Taormina is just as beautiful in real life as it is on the silver screen—and so is the Four Seasons San Domenico Palace. The characters also visit Noto, a gorgeous baroque city on Sicily's eastern coast, which is worth a visit too.
Admire Modern Art in the Hudson Valley
Photo: Jason Cho
For New Yorkers who want to plan an easy anniversary trip close to home, it's hard to beat the Hudson Valley. Storm King sculpture garden is undergoing a $45 million expansion set to debut in 2024 and Dia:Beacon is a pilgrimage site for art lovers in a former Nabisco box-printing factory on the banks of the Hudson River. The town of Hudson is thriving, with great restaurants and independent boutiques opened by creative community members. New hotels, like Wildflower Farms, an Auberge Collection resort, offer fresh reasons to consider the area for a romantic anniversary trip.
Stay in an Overwater Bungalow in the Maldives
Photo: JOALI
Who doesn't dream of waking up in an overwater bungalow and diving right into the clear blue sea? Whether you want to relive your dreamy Maldives honeymoon or just plan a romantic anniversary trip, staying in an overwater bungalow at JOALI, an art-immersive resort on a private island in the Raa Atoll is a perfect choice. Your jadugar (that's Maldivian for magician) can supply snorkeling gear, book activities like yoga classes and coral replanting, and organize a private romantic meal in the manta treehouse designed by South African artist Porky Hefer.
Go Island Hopping in the British Virgin Islands
Photo: The Moorings
For couples who want to experience barefoot luxury at its best, a sailing trip in the British Virgin Islands would make a fantastic anniversary trip—no sailing experience necessary. When you charter a crewed yacht with the Moorings, you'll get a captain and chef to take care of your needs and plan the perfect island-hopping itinerary. You can visit the Baths on Virgin Gorda, a geological formation of caves and rock pools; hike on Norman Island for panoramic views; snorkel among the most beautiful reefs; and relax with a tropical cocktail in hand.
Stay in a Luxury Riad in Marrakech
Photo: Isaac Ichou
Marrakech is one of the world's most fascinating and dynamic cities, full of beauty at every turn. Though the recent earthquake in the Atlas Mountains reverberated in the city, Marrakech is very much open for tourism, which is an important part of the economy. One of the pleasures of visiting Morocco is staying in a riad, a traditional dwelling with a courtyard in the center. There are many riads throughout the city, but without a doubt the most luxurious option is the Royal Mansour, where each suite is its own standalone riad with a living room, bedroom, and rooftop. The resort is located just outside the medina, making it easy to explore the souk and the thrumming energy of Jemaa El Fnaa.
Go on a Food Tour in Barcelona
Photo: Pol Albarrán / Getty Images
Foodies will find a lot to love in Spain's second largest city. Barcelona has everything from no frills tapas bars to Michelin-starred fine dining restaurants and award-winning cocktail bars. The best way to get a taste of it all is to do a food tour through GetYourGuide. A local guide will lead you through three or four different neighborhoods, stopping along the way at a cafe to try churros with hot chocolate, sample jamón iberico and cheese at a market, and taste specialties like pan con tomates, tortilla, patatas bravas, and much more at a tapas bar. When not stuffing your face, you can visit attractions like Gaudí's La Pedrera, the Sagrada Familia, and Park Güell.
Soak in an Onsen in Kyushu
Photo: Bohistock / Getty Images
Staying at wellbeing resorts is one of the top honeymoon and travel trends of 2024, and the Japanese island of Kyushu has a centuries' long tradition of soaking in thermal hot springs known as onsen. Japanese onsen culture dictates that bathers go nude in the public baths and these days, most onsen are separated by gender. However, for travelers who may be uncomfortable with public nudity and want to experience an onsen with their opposite-sex spouse, the ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spa has a private onsen in addition to gender-segregated ones available to all guests.
Stay at an Elephant Sanctuary in Chiang Rai
Photo: Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas
There are several places in Thailand where animal lovers can visit an elephant sanctuary and spend some time with the gentle giants, but in Chiang Rai you can go one step further and stay at a resort that doubles as an elephant sanctuary. At Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, you can tour the sanctuary and even spend a night in a transparent jungle bubble surrounded by elephants. The peaceful pachyderms were saved from the logging industry, circuses, or begging on the streets of Bangkok and they graze in the area around the jungle bubbles, so while you and your spouse enjoy a romantic dinner on a raised wooden platform, you might be joined by some new four-legged friends.
Go Wine Tasting in Oregon's Willamette Valley
Photo: Ingrid Franz Moriarty
Napa Valley might be more well known, but if you want to discover an under-the-radar wine region close to home, the Willamette Valley is just the place for you. Located just an hour from Portland—which is also worth visiting—the Willamette Valley is home to around 500 wineries and has the ideal terroir and atmospheric conditions to produce delicate Pinot Noirs. Use the Allison Inn & Spa as your base and the region's top wineries will be within easy reach. Don't miss Sokol Blosser, one of the valley's pioneering wineries, and Domaine Roy & Fils housed in a modern-rustic A-frame with fantastic views of the valley below.
Go Skiing in Gstaad
Photo: Gstaad Palace
If you have a winter anniversary, why not lean into it and plan a trip to a veritable winter wonderland? Gstaad is one of the most charming towns in the Swiss Alps and has long been a favored destination of royalty and celebrities. You'll certainly feel like a VIP when you check into Gstaad Palace, a family-run member of the Leading Hotels of the World that has been welcoming guests for more than a century. After a day on the slopes, you can unwind in the spa, which is equipped with saunas and an indoor/outdoor heated pool, and savor fondue in a former bunker where Swiss banks hid their gold during WWII.
Visit the Ancient Temples of Angkor Wat
Photo: Ashit Desai / Getty Images
A bucket list trip perfect for a milestone anniversary, a journey to Cambodia to visit the ancient temples of Angkor Wat might bring out your inner Indiana Jones. Built in the 12th century as the royal seat of Khmer kings, Angkor Wat was originally a Hindu temple complex but became Buddhist before being abandoned in the 15th century. Now buzzing with life, it plays host to Buddhist monks in orange robes who will give you a water blessing. Outside the archeological park, Siem Reap has some wonderful art galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and performance spaces. The place to stay is FCC Angkor by Avani, an intimate resort in the former Foreign Correspondents Club.
Stay in a Castle in Sintra
Photo: Francesco Pascale / Getty Images
When you think of beautiful European castles, Portugal might not be the first place that comes to mind, but just an hour from Lisbon, Sintra is full of marvelous castles built by the Portuguese aristocracy in the 18th and 19th centuries. You can visit the ones that have been turned into museums, like the famous Pena Palace, Palácio Nacional, and Quinta da Regaleira, but if you want to really step back in time, you can stay at the beautiful Tivoli Palácio de Seteais. Now a member of the Leading Hotels of the World, it was built in the 18th century and will transport you to that era with its period furniture, tapestries, crystal chandeliers, and frescoes.
Explore the Canals of Amsterdam
Photo: Alexander Spatari / Getty Images
Amsterdam is full of charm, especially in the spring and fall, when the golden light reflecting off the canals gives everything the hue of a Dutch master painting from the Golden Age. Culture vultures will find plenty to do in the city's Museum District—home to the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Stedelijk Museum—while hopeless romantics should opt for a scenic cruise on the canals and quality time canoodling in historic brown cafés like Café Papeneiland, which serves delicious apple pie. Check into the Pulitzer Hotel, which occupies 25 canal houses joined together and renovated into a stylish property with great dining and drinking outlets.
Embrace Your Spiritual Side in Bali
Photo: Mandapa's
You don't have to be a fan of Eat, Pray, Love to plan a trip to Bali. From the beautiful beaches to the lush interior, this verdant island in the Indonesian archipelago is the stuff dreams are made of. It's also the perfect place to get in touch with your spiritual side and learn about Hinduism, the dominant religion on the island. Base yourself in Ubud, where you can stay in a bamboo treehouse at Bambu Indah or a more conventional (but still gorgeous) suite at Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, and visit temples like Tirta Empul (the Water Temple) and the temple complex in the Monkey Forest.
Go Diving in Belize
Photo: Matteo Colombo / Getty Images
If you and your spouse are experienced scuba divers, you've likely heard about the Great Blue Hole. A sinkhole in the Caribbean, it's one of seven UNESCO World Heritage sites that make up the Belize Barrier Reef System, the largest coral barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere. Diving it lets you get up close and personal with fish, sharks, eels, octopi, and other marine life. To dive it, you should base yourself in Ambergris Caye, a fun beach town in Belize, and book a day tour with an experienced guide. Just make sure you and your spouse have PADI advanced open water certification first.
Ride the Rails Aboard the Orient Express
Photo: Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train
Riding the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is no ordinary train trip—it's a journey back in time to a more glamorous era. The vintage train has been painstakingly restored to its former glory with Art Deco details like lacquered wood paneling, Lalique lamps, and monogrammed china. Highlights of the journey include sumptuous meals in the dining car, tea time in your cabin, and tipsy evenings in the bar car. Guests tend to embrace the theme and dress up in elegant vintage garb. There are a number of routes through Europe, ranging from one to five days and stopping in cities like Paris, Venice, Amsterdam, Vienna, Prague, Budapest, and Istanbul.
Eat Your Way Through New Orleans
Photo: Atlantide Phototravel / Getty Images
There are plenty of reasons the Big Easy makes a great destination for an anniversary trip. It's one of the most enchanting cities in the U.S., after all, with a rich history, world-famous cocktail culture (the Sazerac was invented here), jazz clubs, and incredible food. There are plenty of great new restaurants to check out, but you can't go wrong with classic spots like Café du Monde for beignets and Commander's Palace for creole gumbo. Stay at the Pontchartrain Hotel in the Garden District and let the concierge help you with reservations.
Vacation like Hollywood Royalty in Beverly Hills
Photo: The Beverly Hills Hotel
Marilyn Monroe was a regular guest and Elizabeth Taylor stayed there for six of her eight honeymoons. The Beverly Hills Hotel, a member of the Dorchester Collection, is one of the most iconic hotels not just in Los Angeles but in the world. Everything from the pink exterior to the banana leaf wallpaper and the beautiful garden in the Polo Lounge just screams glamor. And while it's still a celebrity hotspot, the staff strive to make all guests feel welcome. Splurge on a bungalow and you might want to spend all your time there, but tear yourself away to go shopping (or window shopping) on the famed Rodeo Drive and hike up to the Griffith Observatory for views of the Hollywood sign.
Watch a Tango Show in Buenos Aires
Photo: Buena Vista Images / Getty Images
Buenos Aires is sometimes called the Paris of South America, but it's so much more enchanting than that. The city has its own fascinating history and culture that you need to experience to understand. One aspect of the culture that's perfect for couples is tango, a romantic dance that originated in the late 1800s in the city's working-class neighborhoods and is still practiced today. In fact, just walking around San Telmo you're likely to hear tango music and perhaps see some street performers, but for a truly fantastic spectacle, book tickets to the Rojo Tango at the Faena Hotel.
Spot Celestial Phenomena in Texas
Photo: enhartlein / Getty Images
Spotting solar eclipses, shooting stars, and other celestial phenomena can bring couples closer together and is one of the top travel and honeymoon trends of 2024. But apart from major events like the Great North American Solar Eclipse that will happen in April 2024, there are plenty of opportunities to embrace the cosmos. According to the International Dark Sky Association, one of the best places for stargazing in the U.S. is Big Bend National Park in southwest Texas, near the Mexican border. The park is near Marfa, a pilgrimage site for art lovers where you might also be able to spot the mysterious Marfa Lights that appear randomly throughout the night.
Go Hiking in Patagonia
Photo: Alvaro Espinoza Fotografía / Getty Images
For avid hikers, one of the biggest bucket list trips is Patagonia, the last frontier of South America, which covers the southern tip of the continent in both Argentina and Chile. In Chilean Patagonia, dedicated hikers can do multi-day hikes and stay at little lodges on the trail or you can stay in Puerto Natales and do day hikes in Torres del Paine, driving tours of the park that allow you to cover more ground and see the park's natural beauty, and glacier tours on board a boat that plies the frigid waters of the fjords. For a luxe option, stay at the Singular Patagonia, a member of the Leading Hotels of the World inside a historic cold storage facility.
Anniversary Trip Ideas Near You
There are anniversary trip ideas in the US, ideas for anniversary trips on a budget, and ideas for milestone anniversaries that are worth splurging on. Check out these romantic getaway guides by state for more anniversary trip ideas (many are dog-friendly, too).
