Revealed: the best romantic ‘dupes’ for Europe’s most popular Valentine’s Day breaks

A romantic break away with your partner can be a lovely way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, but there’s one thing that can ruin the lovey-dovey vibes: too many other couples. 

That’s why Nomad conducted some research by drawing on its internal data to uncover the most popular Valentine’s destinations, and scouring each country to find a just as lovely – but not so lively – alternative. 

First on the list is Colmar, which the eSIM provider suggests as a replacement for Paris. Sure, the French capital is known as the City of Love for a reason (what with all these romantic restaurants), but Colmar has got it down when it comes to fairytale charm and pretty settings for a romantic stroll. 

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Thinking of visiting Lisbon this Valentine’s? Well, Nomad reckons Évora is a better option. The city, in south-central Portugal, has Lisbon’s charming buildings, romantic viewpoints and laidback atmosphere, but without all the other lovebirds queueing up for the same photo opp.

There’s plenty more where that came from. If you’re ready (to travel) for love, read on. 

These are the 20 best romantic dupes in Europe for Valentine’s Day

1. Colmar over Paris
2. Verona over Rome
3. Chioggia over Venice
4. Sitges over Barcelona
5. Utrecht over Amsterdam
6. Český Krumlov over Prague
7. Graz over Vienna
8. Szeged over Budapest
9. Lucca over Florence
10. Évora over Lisbon
11. Stirling over Edinburgh
12. Aarhus over Copenhagen
13. Gothenberg over Stockholm
14. Trogir over Dubrovnik
15. Folegandros over Santorini
16. Ghent over Bruges
17. Innsbruck over Salzberg
18. Wrocław over Krakow
19. Antibes over Nice
20. Toledo over Madrid

📍 Discover Time Out’s very own ranking of the most romantic cities in Europe

Hey, lover

We’ve got your V-day sorted: check out our list of the best Valentine’s breaks around the world, the planet’s most romantic places and the best destinations for a love-filled holiday.

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