There’s a certain pleasure to be had in wading through lists of rental properties and Airbnbs, spurred on by the belief that a cool, off-grid, photogenic and affordable hideout is lurking beneath all algorithms, waiting to be discovered. This isn’t always the case. What’s more, said wading can constitute a full time job – which isn’t easy when you already have one. This is where our curator’s nose comes in. We’ve collected the in-the-know goodies, from Palladian beauties a stone’s throw from Bath’s sweeping Regency crescents to cosy, contemporary cabins perched along Nordic lakes. So whether it’s for a honeymoon, a babymoon or simply an excuse to get away, here are the most romantic Airbnb’s to rent in Europe.
Modica, Sicily
With its unassuming entrance, original 18th century stone floor and old world furniture, this Sicilian hideaway is a fresh paean to Modica’s baroque history. Hole up here in the old town, amongst the blistered walls and white-washed rooms, for long siestas and sweeping views of ‘the city of a thousand churches.’ A pleasing combination of restraint and grandeur is at play in this Sicilian gem, with simple white curtains and linen covered sofas leaving the arched ceilings and intricate stonework to do the talking. The star of the show has to be the pretty terrace, whose palms frame more knockout views of Modica’s hillside – a honey-baked tumble of baroque buildings, all vying for space and a bundle of distant fireflies at night.
Book now: www.airbnb.co.uk/
Rome, Italy
An elegant Roman apartment with gilt mirrors, frescoed ceilings and sky-high curtains, maybe a classic take on romance, but it’s a foolproof one. This handsome stay in the city’s Regola district is a stone’s throw from the Tiber and far enough from the Vatican City to avoid the tourists. A typically lavish Italian headboard makes breakfast in bed a chic (and utterly instagrammable) affair, an elaborate fireplace serves as a focal point for cocktails or nightcaps, and the ornate frescoes and intricately carved wooden ceiling call for long lie ins, tracing the carpenter’s mastery from the mattress.
Book now: www.airbnb.co.uk/
Provence, France
Follow in the footsteps of Van Gogh, Albert Camus and other writers and painters who’ve found themselves enthralled by Provence’s beauty. Costas and Alison, owners of a rather lovely 16th century chateau, extended their meticulous (and refreshingly gentle) design fingers to the surrounding cottages – allowing others a slice of their Provence dream. One of these speaks to the romantic, a room-just-for-two replete with cooling tiles, mustard walls and tasteful antiques. This spills into a splendidly designed shared kitchen and sitting room, both bathed in pools of light. Here, languid days can be spent supine along with the pillar-framed pool or browsing the patisseries and art galleries of nearby towns, Uzès and Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
Book now: www.airbnb.co.uk/
Herøy, Norway
Swaying more towards sexy than romantic, this cutting-edge Norwegian cabin peels back poetic views of the sea and snow-capped mountains beyond. Inside, sharp contemporary lines and minimalist decor is warmed by a wood burner and that well-documented soft Scandinavian lighting. Having ogled at the majestic nature show outside (look out for sea eagles swooping overhead), guests can plan hikes through Gurskøy or visit the puffins on the nearby island of Runde, or the port town of Ålesund with its pretty painted houses.
Book now: www.airbnb.co.uk/
Dragør, Denmark
Nothing says romance quite like a fairytale cottage nestled in Danish woodland. If the goal is escaping the modern world and falling off the map, this quaint stay just outside Denmark’s capital is the ultimate find. Its coal coloured timber exterior and terracotta tiles appear to have jumped out of a Brothers Grimm, as have the lush, flower-filled garden and woodland encasing it. Inside, it’s a cosy, yet gently modern story for this 1915 summer house, with whitewashed floorboards, wood paneling, and a typically Danish dining table as the focal point. The romance reaches its peak in the pocket-sized orangerie, where fairy lights, a flush of greenery and sheepskin chairs set a hygge-grade scene.
Book now: www.airbnb.co.uk/
Copenhagen, Denmark
A masterclass in combining gentile architecture with mid-century decor, this Copenhagen penthouse would impress any design connoisseur. Cool photography lines the walls, factory lamps suspend from sloping ceilings and that sharp, Scandinavian light spills in through the top floor windows. Located in the heart of Copenhagen, among streets lined with pastel-hued houses, this Danish design knockout is the perfect launchpad for exploring the coffee shops and boutiques of nearby Tivoli, Nyhavn and Rundetaarn. Should you wish to let friends in on the secret, the penthouse sleeps up to five – though no one’s judging if you don’t.
Book now: www.airbnb.co.uk/
Paris, France
In a city synonymous with romance, charming stays aren’t in short supply. Authentic ones are though – many Parisian Airbnbs feel cookie-cutter and dine off the city’s reputation. This cosy apartment overlooking the famous ‘Rue des Rosiers’ in the Marais is an exception. It oozes character with exposed beams, a grand marble fireplace and dark parquet floors – a nod to old Paris – while kooky artworks and a large modern sofa lend a homely feel. The best part? It’s mere moments from The Notre Dame, Pompidou and the ultimate romantic walk – a late night stroll along the banks of the River Seine.
Book now: www.airbnb.co.uk/
Amsterdam, Holland
Another old-meets-new triumph, this canal-facing bolthole is found in Amsterdam’s leafy Jordaan district. Original wooden beams and large windows create a refined canvas for the modern face of Amsterdam’s design scene – expect cool contemporary chairs, a minimalist kitchen and Nordic lighting. A handsome reclaimed wardrobe serves as the focal point of the cosy, warm-hued bedroom upstairs with its old-fashioned compartments and storage system. Warm evenings play out on the tiny roof terrace (just big enough for two and perfect for candle-lit night caps and star gazing).
Book now: www.airbnb.co.uk/
Riomaggiore, Italy
The Cinque Terre usually performs exceptionally well in the romance stakes, but this sky-high retreat in photogenic Riomaggiore is a cut above the rest. The feather in the coastal retreat’s hat is a vertigo-worthy balcony with panoramic views of the sea and the jumble of pastel-hued houses that cascade down the cliffs to meet it. Mornings and evenings can be spent inhaling the warm sea air, nursing a large Aperol and gazing down at the cavalcade of boats entering and leaving the marina. Inside, muted hues paint the nautically themed interiors, but most guests will be too busy trying to document those Dolce Vita views from ‘Lucy’s balcony’ to notice.
Book now: www.airbnb.co.uk/
Dorset, England
Dorset is no stranger to romanticism, setting a bucolic scene for classics such as Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the Durbavilles to Jane Austin’s Persuasion. It’s also a stellar bolthole for weary Londoners, being that little bit further away from the city to lose the commuter diaspora and its unwanted urban accouterments. This is a go-slow county where cottages, like this chocolate-box hideaway mere moments from Chesil Beach, are renovated gently and artfully in keeping with the village’s historical character. From the original flagstones and exposed beams to the wood burner and kitchen that traces the old stone fireplace, the cottage is an idyllic hideout along Dorset’s craggy coastline. Hole up here on chilly nights with rugs, hot chocolate and the wood burner blazing.
Book now: www.airbnb.co.uk/
Edinburgh, Scotland
While the west coast of Scotland seems to claim the lion’s share of romantic anecdotes, a little Dovecot Cottage can be found tucked away in a garden in central Edinburgh, with just as much charm and a less demanding journey to reach it. Wooden stairs inside this fantastical 16th century building lead to a teeny bedroom in the tower. The cleverly lit dove-nesting boxes framing the bed may be ancient, but this city sanctuary boasts central heating, a wood burner and heated floors (practical features whose absence threaten all notions of romance).
Book now: www.airbnb.co.uk/
Bath, England
Somerset’s Regency playground offers a generous dose of antiquity (from the Circus to the Roman Baths) alongside a fresh, burgeoning foodie scene for visitors to tap into. Not far from the sweeping Royal Crescent and Walcot Street’s sprawl of independents lies a Palladian-fronted Georgian townhouse, unusually detached and remarkably beautiful with a truly thrilling history. This was once the home of the esteemed portrait and landscape artist, Thomas Gainsborough, whose Mary, Countess Howe painting has been copied and hung on the wall of the adjoining studio apartment. Here delicious wood paneling traces the nooks and crannies of the walls, large shutters open onto a flower-filled garden, and a large bed faces a marble fireplace (and for the 21st century) a discreet television – the perfect set up for a romantic bolthole. Should the weather deliver, a genteel, sun-dappled terrace transforms into a suntrap and stellar rosé spot.
Book now: www.airbnb.co.uk/
