The best elopement destinations pair a setting that feels made for two with logistics simple enough to plan quickly. The most romantic places on this list, such as Santorini, Lake Como and the cliffs of Bali, give you a view that does the work of a full wedding, while wilder choices like Iceland and Tasmania reward a hike to the ceremony spot. Below are 20 destinations around the world and closer to home in Australia, with what makes each one right for an intimate ceremony and where to start planning on Wedded Wonderland.
Iceland gives you waterfalls, black sand beaches and glaciers within a day's drive of each other. Long summer daylight means you can hold your ceremony late in the evening with soft light, and the empty landscapes make every photo look like a film still. Pack for wind and rain, whatever the season.
The Highlands offer drama and solitude in equal measure. Glencoe's valleys, lochs and castles give you a moody, romantic backdrop, and a walk across the moors makes the day feel like an adventure. Wrap up warm and plan for changing weather.
Lake Como is classic Italian romance. You can say your vows in a villa garden, arrive by boat and finish with dinner in Bellagio or Varenna as the lights come on across the water. Choose it for elegance over wilderness.
Explore more Italian settings on our Italy page.
Positano's pastel houses tumble down the cliffs to the sea, and terraces across the Amalfi Coast look out over the Mediterranean. A terrace or a private boat makes a natural ceremony spot, followed by lemon granita and a long seafood lunch. Spring and early autumn are calmer than the summer peak.
Mallorca's coves, known locally as calas, give you clear water and pine-covered cliffs, while the Tramuntana mountains offer stone villages and hilltop views. Marry on a quiet beach in the morning and spend the afternoon in Deià or Valldemossa.
Santorini's whitewashed villages sit on the rim of a volcanic caldera, and the sunset turns the whole island gold. A clifftop ceremony with only the two of you and a photographer suits the island, which can feel crowded during the day. Stay in Imerovigli for quieter views.
Rocabella Santorini Hotel & Spa is one of the island's venues on our marketplace, and our Greece page covers the other islands.
Zermatt is a car-free alpine village at the foot of the Matterhorn. Cable cars and mountain trains carry you to lookouts and lakes where the peak reflects in the water. It works in summer for meadows and hiking, and in winter for a snowy ceremony followed by fondue.
See what else the Alps offer on our Switzerland page.
Paris is the pick for city romance. Exchange vows at dawn on an empty bridge, walk through the Luxembourg Gardens and celebrate with dinner for two. Hotels such as the Ritz Paris and Four Seasons Hotel George V, both listed on Wedded Wonderland, can host the celebration afterwards.
Our France page covers settings beyond the city.
Portugal pairs country estates and olive groves with a dramatic Atlantic coast. A long dinner under the trees with your closest people suits the slow pace here, and the food and wine make it a trip to remember.
Plan your trip with our Portugal page.
Turkey's coastline offers clear water, sunset dinners and boutique hotels in old harbour towns. Expect a warm, relaxed celebration by the sea, with the option of adding Istanbul or Cappadocia to the trip.
Our Turkey page covers the coast and beyond.
Ras Al Khaimah puts beaches and the mountains of Jebel Jais a short drive apart, without the crowds of Dubai. A sunrise ceremony on the mountain followed by a day at a beach resort is an easy, luxurious plan.
You can browse resorts such as Anantara Mina Ras Al Khaimah Resort. Learn more on our Ras Al Khaimah page.
Bali's clifftops in Uluwatu, rice terraces in Ubud and quiet beaches give you plenty of settings on one island. Clifftop venues such as Alila Villas Uluwatu put the ocean right below your ceremony, and it is a short flight from most Australian cities.
For more ideas, see our guide to the most romantic places to elope in Bali.
Fiji's islands offer white sand, warm water and resorts that make an intimate ceremony simple to arrange. Choose the beach, on a sandbank or under a canopy of palms, then spend the rest of the week snorkelling.
Find our favourite spots in the best places to elope in Fiji, and browse venues on our Fiji page.
Hawaii combines beaches with volcanic landscapes, rainforest and waterfalls across its islands. Maui and Kauai have quiet coves and clifftop views, and a sunset ceremony on the sand is easy to arrange.
Lake Tahoe has clear alpine water, smooth granite boulders and pine forests on the California and Nevada border. Say your vows on a lakeside rock at sunrise, then hike or paddle the shoreline. Winter brings snow and a cosy cabin option.
The South Island gives you lakes, fiords and mountains on a grand scale, from Queenstown to Milford Sound. You can fly by helicopter to a glacier or a remote ridge for the ceremony, and the scenery changes completely between seasons.
Tasmania is Australia's wild option, with Cradle Mountain, Dove Lake and empty beaches along the east coast. Walk to your ceremony spot, then celebrate with local produce and wine afterwards. Bring layers, as the weather changes quickly.
Close to Sydney, the Blue Mountains offer lookouts over endless valleys, waterfalls and the Three Sisters. A sunrise ceremony at a quiet lookout, followed by breakfast in a mountain village, makes for a memorable and simple day.
Byron Bay pairs relaxed beaches with a lush hinterland of rainforest and farm stays. A barefoot ceremony on the sand or among the trees suits the town's easygoing pace, and sunsets over the water close the day.
The Yarra Valley is wine country close to Melbourne, with cellar doors and estates that host intimate celebrations. You can marry among the vines and move straight to a long lunch for two, or a small table of family and friends. See how one couple did it in this Tuscan-inspired wedding in the Yarra Valley.
Start with the kind of day you want: a hike to a view, a quiet beach, a city at dawn or a long lunch. Then weigh the season, the travel time and how easy the ceremony is to arrange. If you are staying close to home, our guide to how much it costs to elope in Australia covers the budget, and our list of venues for micro weddings and elopements has more unusual settings.
If you are in Melbourne, Wedded World Melbourne on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November 2026 at 1 Hotel Melbourne, Docklands, brings together the names shaping modern celebrations and travel experiences in one place. Tickets are $49 and include a $200 gift bag per couple.
Written by
Senior SEO Specialist, Wedded Wonderland
Mark Tuason is the Senior SEO Specialist at Wedded Wonderland, where he writes and refreshes the brand's guides to destination weddings and cultural wedding traditions. He starts with the questions couples search for, checks the answers against trusted sources, and shapes each guide to help them plan, compare and book with confidence. Based in the Philippines, he specialises in content strategy and on-page SEO.
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