How to honeymoon on a budget
How to honeymoon on a budget without breaking the bank
Weddings can be expensive, so you might want a honeymoon that doesn’t break the bank. Your honeymoon can be whatever you want it to be to suit your budget. There’s no rule that says you need to jet off on expensive long-haul flights to have an amazing time. Europe offers some of the most romantic honeymoon destinations in the world, so by following a few money-saving tips, you can plan the holiday of a lifetime without having to worry about the cost.
You also might only have a short time to take your honeymoon, depending on work and family commitments. Our multi-centre holidays are ideal for this because you can pack a lot more into your trip than you would by visiting one destination.
Whether you want to lie on the beach all day, stroll through romantic old streets and immerse yourself in local culture, or have an action-packed adventure, our selection of great value honeymoon holidays has something for everyone.
It’s time to go on a tour of some of Europe’s most extraordinary honeymoon destinations. Where will you visit?
Bask in the brilliance of Barcelona
There’s so much to see and do in Barcelona, and much of it is completely free. For example, you can still get free tapas in certain bars when you’re having a drink which will cut out your eating costs completely. You don’t need to dine in expensive restaurants to have the best time on your Spanish honeymoon. Simple things like grabbing a snack and people-watching by the glistening sea will make you feel rejuvenated and like you’re a million miles away from home.
The stunning architecture, free beaches and parks provide plenty of opportunities to sample the local culture and chill out in the sizzling sunshine. Barcelona has a great metro system for getting around as well as a good train service to other nearby destinations such as Sitges with its shops, beaches and promenade.
Whether you’re planning to only stay in Barcelona for a few days as part of a multi-centre holiday or longer than a week, you’ll never be short of things to do, and there are many ways to stretch your budget that little bit further, such as those mentioned above.
Start married life in beautiful Bratislava
Slovakia’s capital city has many attractions, a rich history and plenty of appeal for honeymooners. When you’re holidaying in big European cities, it can be easy to forget about factoring in transport costs. In many destinations, taxis can add a significant amount to your trip.
One of the many terrific things about visiting Bratislava on a budget is how easy it is to walk around all the different points of interest. There’s also a tasty range of local cruising available that means you can eat for less. Affordable dishes such as soups, dumplings, potato pancakes, fried cheese and schnitzel are in plentiful supply and a great way to satisfy your appetite after a leisurely stroll around the city streets.
Bratislava may not have been in your top 5 destinations when looking for a holiday to begin married life, but a honeymoon in Slovakia ticks all the boxes for great value in unforgettable surroundings.
How to honeymoon for less in Budapest
Budapest has a fantastic selection of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets. For example, there are hostels with private rooms and good quality budget hotels in excellent locations. There’s a great tram network for getting around, and an evening walk along the banks of the Danube is a great way to round off your day in Hungary’s capital.
Visiting in spring and autumn for your Hungarian honeymoon is another way to keep the costs down, with the added bonus of the city being less busy. There are cheap options when it comes to boat trips and thermal baths too, depending on the operator and time you choose to visit.
It’s easy to cut the cost of eating out in Budapest, with the food halls in the markets serving traditional treats for less than the price of similar dishes in local restaurants.
Getting to and from the airport won’t break the bank either. Unlike in some European cities, the airport isn’t a huge distance from the city centre. You can get a bus to take you the 10 miles for a fraction of the cost of a taxi.
Discover the charming villages of Cinque Terre
The Cinque Terre, a collection of five picturesque fishing villages along the rugged coastline of the Italian Riviera, is the perfect romantic escape. The classic trick of eating where the locals eat not only saves money but also helps you find the most delicious food a place has to offer. In the Cinque Terre, you will find street sellers with cones of delicious freshly prepared seafood for an on-the-go tasty and affordable snack.
The five towns are Corniglia, Manarola, Monterosso, Riomaggiore and Vernazza. Getting around is easy, with a regular train service running between the towns. This allows you to experience the magic of multiple destinations all in one trip. With beaches, piazzas, wonderful restaurants and awe-inspiring cliff-top views over the Ligurian Sea, there’s no shortage of ways to relax in the glorious Mediterranean sunshine.
Captivating Corfu
When you’ve got your sights set on a honeymoon in the Greek islands, Corfu can be a more affordable option than the likes of Mykonos. There are free beaches galore to unwind on and mouthwatering street food such as gyros, spinach pie and loukoumades (doughnuts).
Booking accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis or renting a self-catering apartment can also keep your spending to a minimum. This will allow you to sample a wider range of local cuisine for less. If you’re looking for an effortlessly enjoyable, no-frills honeymoon with wonderful weather, booking a trip to Corfu has many benefits.
Whether you’ve had a busy day exploring on foot or have spent time swimming in the warm sea, Corfu is well known for its majestic sunsets, so you can grab yourself a picnic and enjoy.
Going off the beaten track in Germany
Germany rarely gets the recognition it deserves as a holiday destination. With frequent flights from the UK to multiple cities, a honeymoon in Germany can give you a lot more for your money than other European countries.
The country is home to forests, lakes, beaches, rivers, mountains, and so much more. If you’re looking for a rural escape where you can recharge your batteries after your wedding without spending a huge amount, it’s absolutely perfect.
Away from the big cities, Germany is generally affordable, and there are lots of options when it comes to self-catering accommodation and reasonably priced restaurants. You might get a few questions or comments when you tell people you’re going to Germany for your honeymoon, but it’s a hugely underrated country for all types of holidays.
The most important thing is that you can enjoy every moment and not be left counting the cost of your honeymoon for months or years into the future. If a German city break sounds more appealing, we have multi-centre holidays to Berlin that start at under £250 pp.
Germany is also home to many of the world’s best beers and wines, so you can toast your future and celebrate how smart a decision was to visit here on your honeymoon.
A low-cost honeymoon in Halkidiki
In a sun worshipper's paradise, steer clear of beaches that charge a premium to use their sun loungers and opt for those where the locals go, saving you money while uncovering the hidden gems of Halkidiki. Packing up a picnic for your leisurely beach days will also help you stick to your budget while you soak up the sun in the breathtakingly beautiful Greek peninsula.
You won’t need much to be happy on your honeymoon in Halkidiki. With wall-to-wall sunshine, the sparkling blue ocean, fresh local food and the love of your life, every day will be idyllic and the perfect way to spend time together after months of wedding preparations.
Immerse yourself in Istanbul
Istanbul is a vast city with a population of over 15 million. You can visit and have a great time even if your budget isn’t huge. There are many markets, including the Grand Bazaar, where you can find food, clothes, souvenirs, and so much more for affordable prices, especially if your haggling skills are well-honed.
There’s so much to see and do on a honeymoon in Istanbul that we’d advise making a must-see list before you leave the UK. The city also has a great (and cheap) bus network, which is handy when you’re keen to explore and trying to pack as much into your break as possible.
With a bit of careful planning, you can still experience the magic and wonder of Istanbul without breaking the bank. It’s a unique city that will leave you yearning to return.
Explore captivating Kotor
This stunning city in Montenegro is less expensive than many of its European counterparts when it comes to the cost of accommodation and eating out. There are also plenty of activities that won’t break the bank, including hiking, boat trips on the Bay of Kotor, and exploring the Old Town with its museums and cathedrals.
The views from the walls around the city are fantastic, and honeymooning in Kotor provides many unique photo opportunities to share with family and friends back home.
If you’ve never considered going on holiday to Montenegro before, we’d highly recommend it. You’ll get plenty of sunshine, scenery, amazing cuisine and more, all for less than you’d pay in many of the more popular cities across Europe.
When you’re looking for an affordable honeymoon that will still be memorable for all the right reasons, this part of Montenegro is not to be missed.
Make magical memories in Malta
You don’t need to go all the way to the Caribbean for brilliant beaches, long sunny days and a laid-back way of life. The Mediterranean island of Malta is much closer to home and much more affordable. So if you’re looking for the best possible value on your honeymoon without having to leave anything out, it certainly makes sense to put Malta on your list of potential destinations.
Many newlyweds feel a bit overwhelmed after all the wedding planning and the excitement of the big day itself. Just over three hours from the UK, your tension and worries will quickly start to melt away when you fly out to Malta International Airport.
There’s plenty of culture on offer in the country in the form of museums, theatres and historical churches. If you’re feeling adventurous, you might want to try snorkelling in the crystal clear waters surrounding the island.
Picturesque Paris
Paris is known as the ‘city of love’ and perhaps the most romantic honeymoon destination anywhere on the planet. It’s not renowned as the cheapest place to go on holiday, but you can keep costs low by choosing self-catering accommodation or booking one of our short breaks to Paris.
If you’re looking to eat out for less, there are few better cities than Paris. A diet of fresh bread, delicious cheeses and wonderful wine is hard to beat. It would be a shame not to treat yourself to a unique experience or two while you’re here, so if you can save a little extra beforehand, you could have a memorable meal in a Michelin-starred restaurant, for example.
A River Seine cruise is another affordable and memorable way to see the city from a different perspective. You can take in many iconic sights from the water, including the Eiffel Tower.
There’s an unmistakable magic about Paris. Even simple things like walking through the Montmartre district hand-in-hand can create special moments that you’ll always treasure.
Imagine a romantic break in remarkable Riga
Latvia’s capital is located by the River Daugava, which provides a romantic backdrop for its many historical buildings. While tourism in Riga has grown significantly in recent times, it’s far less crowded than many other honeymoon hotspots.
It’s a city of wonderful contrasts, from the buildings in the Medieval Old Town to its thriving nightlife. Booking your honeymoon to Riga will deliver more than you bargained for in terms of experience and price.
As well as going off the beaten tourist track to find great value restaurants, another good money-saving tip is to try the local drinks rather than the beers, wines or spirits you may be more familiar with.
The city is home to many markets, too. These are great places to not only try the delicious local cuisine, such as Ķiploku grauzdiņi (garlic bread with a Latvian twist), but also to grab yourself a bargain compared to some of the cafes in the busiest tourist areas.
Savour the Santorini sunsets
It’s possible to honeymoon in Santorini on a budget. The top tip here for saving money while exploring this picture-perfect Greek island would be to spend some of your nights in more budget-friendly accommodation. With so much sunshine and things to see and do, you’ll not want to spend much time in your hotel anyway, so you can use the money you’ve saved to pay for exciting experiences instead.
Santorini is world famous for its unbeatable sunsets. What more could you wish for from your honeymoon than enjoying a romantic end to each day with the light fading slowly over the horizon on the beautiful Aegean Sea?
Take a tour of the Scottish Highlands
You don’t have to cross the water at all for a first-class honeymoon you’ll love every minute of. The sweeping hills and rugged natural beauty of the Scottish Highlands serve up some of the finest scenery in the world.
There are famous castles, lochs, charming towns, villages and distilleries all waiting to be explored. Rather than jetting off abroad, you could use the money to hire a car or motorhome and do things at your own pace.
Visiting in spring or autumn will mean the roads are quieter, and you’ll have more space to enjoy everything the Highlands have to offer. A honeymoon holiday can be just as enjoyable cosied up in a campervan with a bag of chips, watching the waves. It doesn’t have to be cocktails by the sea with palm trees dancing in the wind.
Whether you’ve previously visited Scotland or not, this area is so vast and so spectacular that you’ll be completely awestruck during your stay. The Highlands provide the perfect location for a bit of calm after the hustle and bustle of arranging your wedding.
Set your heart on Switzerland
With its snow-capped mountains and tranquil lakes, Switzerland could be the relaxing honeymoon retreat you've been looking for. By setting yourself a daily budget and making sure you stick to it, you can ensure costs don't start to climb. Using public transport is a great way to cut costs while immersing yourself in the local culture. In Switzerland, many cities offer travel cards for tourists, allowing free or discounted use during your stay.
The scenery in Switzerland sets a romantic and relaxing tone for your trip. You can choose from several destinations with Viva Holidays, including Zurich, St Moritz and Chur.
For a honeymoon with a difference, the Classic Golden Pass Experience is a blissfully relaxing rail journey that takes you to Lucerne, Interlaken and Montreux for overnight stays. You won’t have to lift a finger as you glide through some of the world’s most sensational scenery with your new spouse by your side.
It may not be the first destination that springs to mind, but a honeymoon in Switzerland offers natural beauty, is close to home, and is also affordable when you book with Viva Holidays.
Cherish the unrivalled romance of Venice
It’s difficult to think of anything more romantic than a sunset gondola ride through the historical waterways of Venice to celebrate the start of your new life as a married couple.
Venice is a stunning destination with affordable airfares. However, you’ll find prices in the city itself to be higher than in other Italian cities. So why not consider making your ultimate romantic getaway a mini-moon? Italy also has an excellent rail network, so a shorter stay in Venice could be the beginning of a longer multi-city Italian adventure.
With our Italian honeymoon deals starting at under £300 pp, there’s no need to break the bank, and you’ll still have an incredible time to look back on fondly.
Escape to the hills in Zakopane
Poland’s popularity as a holiday destination continues to grow. Off the main tourist track, there are many affordable and memorable places to visit, including Zakopane. The town is located at the foot of the Tatra Mountains and is best known as a ski resort in the winter.
However, it has plenty of appeal in the summer months, too. It’s a fabulous place for hiking in the hills or just enjoying being in nature without a care in the world. Zakopane is renowned for its gorgeous wooden cabins, and these make for a romantic honeymoon getaway surrounded by blissful peace and quiet.
Lots of people prefer relaxing honeymoon holidays after months of (often stressful) wedding preparations. Being in the Polish mountains surrounded by greenery and fresh air is a wonderful way to clear your head and start planning for the rest of your life together.
There are also many spa and wellness centres in Zakopane - another great reason to visit. The cost of dining out varies, but it’s possible to eat and live cheaply in Zakopane if you’re on a budget and saving money to travel to another Polish city such as Krakow.
Wherever in Europe you decide to go on your honeymoon, you can rest assured you’ll have an amazing time when you book with Viva Holidays. Our multi-centre breaks are great value for money, so you don’t have to compromise on visiting delightful destinations just because you’re on a budget.
If you need some help choosing your perfect honeymoon or have any questions, please get in touch, and we can chat through your requirements.
