Best places to elope in South Europe
With buzzing city life and beautiful nature all around, South Europe is a stunning place for your destination wedding: Dive deep into the cultural life of big cities, marvel ancient architecture and explore the most stunning beaches side by side. Epic high mountains in the Alps, the soft hills of the Toscana or rolling waves at the wild coast of Portugal, South Europe has it all. It you are up for an adventure, a destination wedding can be just that!
The world is your Oyster, eloping in South Europe can be anything you want. You can easily turn your calm getaway with your partner into a big, buzzing party with wonderful strangers of a hiking adventure with stunning views - it’s up to you to craft your perfect elopement.
Why eloping in South Europe?
Your marriage is a big stepping stone and part of the wonderful story that is entirely unique to you and your partner. If you want to celebrate your love far away from expectations and stress, a destination wedding to South Europe is a beautiful way to start your next chapter together. An intimate wedding can be a great gift to share with your loved ones - or just your partner. Why choose South Europe to elope? The south of Europe has it all: Magnificent mountains, white beaches, and rich cultural life. You can get lost in a city and find yourself in the footsteps of famous philosophers and writers, visit historically relevant architecture and have the best tapas next to the harbour. Only a short car journey away, you can find beautiful untouched nature, exciting adventures and big emotions.
Eloping in South Europe allows you to get the best of both worlds: Buzzing nightlife next to quiet walks in nature, historic architecture side by side with modern skyscrapers and rich culture of arts and crafts that has shaped how we live today.
A completely different experience is only a car journey away: You can get lost in a new culture, try the local food, and even learn a different language. Most importantly, every country has its own character. Eloping in France offers a rich diversity of massive mountains, intimate beaches, and picturesque wineries next to big cities and beautiful villages. Italy has wild mountains and serene nature to offer and is the best destination for gourmets. In Greece and Portugal, you can find some of the most stunning beaches in the world. The south of Europe changes with the seasons: In the mountains, you can elope in a snowy winter wonderland while meadows with lakes and lonely beaches are a wonderful location any time of the year. We can’t comprehend the full beauty of eloping in South Europe in one article. Instead, we are providing some information on places that we love to inspire your next South Europe adventure.
What are the best locations for an elopement in South Europe?
Europe is full of beauty in every corner. Choosing one best location is absolutely impossible, that’s why we are showing you a selection of our favourite places for a destination wedding. Each one of them provides a huge variety of different experiences, depending on the exact destination and the season.
Italy
If you love good food and consider yourself a gourmet, you will love Italy. It is well-known to have the arguably best food culture in Europe and is full of regional treasures and exceptional wineries. And it doesn’t stop there. Its loud and joyful culture is one of the parlours of European history. On the footsteps of Old Roman Emperors, hunting for the best Espresso in tiny villages in the mountains or hiding away on an intimate beach at the Italian Riviera - Italy’s beauty will take your breath away and could be the perfect location for your destination wedding.
Rome, Tivoli
Only 30 km away from Italy’s capital Rome, you can find one of the most beautiful destinations for an intimate Italian wedding. In your downtime, you can visit the monumental architecture of Rome. However, Tivoli itself has plenty of sights to offer. Bubbly waterfalls surrounded by lush parklands and ancient architecture take you into a different world. Tivoli is beautiful in all seasons and can offer a wonderful location for an intimate and personal wedding away from the crowds while having a lively and buzzing city only a few minutes away. Need some inspiration for your Italian elopement? We had the pleasure to shoot this gorgeous couple in Tivoli already!
Dolomites
Are you up for an adventure? The wild and untouched beauty of the Dolomites is the perfect location for an adventure wedding of any kind. The snowy summits in the background will leave you in awe: With majestic peaks and beautiful lakes, this mountain range offers uncountable spots for an intimate ceremony with your loved ones. Places like Braies lake are the perfect backdrop for unforgettable elopement pictures.
Lake Garda
What is more romantic than getting married next to the location of Romeo and Juliette? Lake Garda is surrounded by a number of small towns and villages with a perfect view of the lake and the enclosing mountains. The next biggest city is Verona with old architecture and stunning medieval churches. Lake Garda and its countryside have something on offer for everyone: Many small cafes allow you to enjoy an Espresso while people watch and there are many beautiful places that simply wait to be discovered.
Tuscany
Home of many famous Renaissance paintings and sculptures, the region has one of the most recognizable landscapes in the world. Many famous artists have paid their tribute to its pristine hills and mystical fields in the distance. You can create perfect memories away from home if you are after calm nature, good wine and an absolutely memorable experience.
Greece
When thinking of Greece, most people have the image of Santorini and its pristine white architecture in mind. However, Greece is full of surprises. Its beaches are perfect for a beautiful waterfront elopement, its Mediterranean climate provides sunny days most of the year and its rich culture is full of culinary gems, ancient ruins, and warm and friendly locals.
Santorini
Santorini is THE postcard destination. White and blue buildings towering over crystal clear water, warm lanterns are shining next to a beautiful terrace. Santorini is the epitome of a romantic getaway and its views will make your wedding away from home absolutely unforgettable.
Athens
If you love old ruins and historic sights, Athens is your place to elope. Overtowered by the Acropolis, the Greek capital is full of traces of its old glory. It is surrounded by lush natures and beautiful venues for a romantic destination wedding.
Spain
Spain is known for its vibrant and lively culture, tasty food and good music. Sharing tapas and a bottle of its remarkable local wine with your loved one will get you in the mood for bigger celebrations.
Buzzing cities like Madrid or Barcelona are surrounded by a beautiful coastline of long beaches and stunning islands. No matter if you are after the busy city life or prefer the cute and quiet coastal town, Spain has something on offer for everyone. During the quieter off-season months, you may even have the whole beach to yourself.
We had the pleasure to shoot this gorgeous couple in Tivoli already!
Teneriffe
If you feel brave, you can visit an active volcano in Tenerife. Volcanic stone has shaped its look and blends in with beautiful white beaches and lush greenery that flourishes thanks to the volcanic ashes. We had a wonderful time taking pictures on the volcano. Have a look at its magical atmosphere! Tenerife is known for its welcoming culture, great cuisine and exciting hikes in nature. Its volcanic origin forms beautiful black beaches that build a wonderful contrast with a white dress. (For inspiration, check out this incredible shooting that we did in New Zealand. You can find many beaches like this in Teneriffe.)
We had the pleasure to shoot this gorgeous couple in Tivoli already!
Barcelona
The Basilica de la Sagrada Familia is one of Europe’s most fascinating churches. Its unique architecture is worth a visit in the first place and Barcelona is full of equally stunning other places. If you like the busy city life but prefer to hide away from the crowds for your wedding, many beautiful venues allow you to do so. Elope on a secluded rooftop close to the pulse of the city or celebrate your intimate wedding in one of the quiet vineyards around the city.
Gran Canaria
Another island of volcanic origins, Gran Canaria has warm temperatures all year round. Its beautiful nature allows for many little adventures: The inactive volcano is an attractive destination for a daytime hike while beautiful beaches invite you to relax and wind down. We are absolutely in love with Gran Canaria and if you aren’t already, you should check out a beautiful shooting we did there a while ago.
Ibiza
Ibiza isn’t just for partying. The beautiful island is full of vibrant coastal towns and the hum of life. However, if you prefer solitude you can find that only a short drive away. You can say ‘Yes’ on one of Ibiza’s beautiful beaches far away from the party crowds. Ibiza is full of hidden gems: Alternative hippie communes have shaped the place with their colourful markets. Eivissa (the catalonian name for Ibiza city) has a mediteranean flair. Its elevated location allows you to overlook the sea and its harbor.
Mallorca
As soon as you drive a few minutes out of its busy capital Palma, Mallorca reveals its true beauty. Tiny villages and towns along the coastline allow you to craft your perfect experience eloping away from home. If you can’t decide between a beach and a mountain wedding, Mallorca is the place to be.
Portugal
Sunny days, beautiful beaches, outstanding wine and a vibrant and lively culture - Portugal is a memorable place to start a new chapter of your personal journey together. Its crystal clear water and beautiful beaches are a great playground for all water enthusiasts while its cities offer magnificent art, medieval sights and the surrounding nature is breathtaking. Many people don’t know about the beautiful valleys and national parks of Portugal. However, its biggest asset is the wonderful coastline with steep cliffs, stunning sanddunes and many private spots that are perfect for eloping.
Porto
Porto is Portugal’s second-largest city and equally full of beautiful architecture. The city offers many opportunities for an intimate ceremony away from busy city life. Its central location makes it perfect for an intimate beach wedding or offers many beautiful spots that overlook the city, surrounded by lush greenery.
Westcoast
Portugal’s west coast has some of the most stunning seaside towns on offer. Just a short drive out of town, you can experience Europe’s wild side: It is the last remaining coastal wilderness of West Europe and an amazing destination for adventurers and surfers. Rough cliffs are towering over crystal blue water. Along those cliffs, some of the most beautiful hikes meander through inviting vegetation and big boulders. The swell is amazing and the beautiful sand beaches will make surfer hearts jump!
We had the pleasure to shoot this gorgeous couple in Tivoli already!
Madeira
Madeira is an archipelago off the Northwest Coast of Africa. It is an autonomous region of Portugal and known for its warm, subtropical climate. Madeira’s stunning coastline offers many small intimate beaches, wild and monumental cliffs and pristine clear water, a dream destination for eloping in the sun.
Croatia
Located at the Adriatic Sea, Croatia is full of stunning white beaches, 1246 islands to choose from and beautiful ancient architecture. Did you know that Kings Landing in GoT is actually filmed in Dubrovnik in Croatia? Its national parks are full of lush greenery and beautiful trains to explore. If you want to surprise your friends and family with a beautiful yet unknown destination, Croatia is full of gems!
Devil’s passage
If you are up for a real adventure, devil’s passage is the place to go. The small hiking trail weaves along a beautiful river, mystical forests and is full of beautiful bridges and stairs. Its wooden path is a stunning location for elopement pictures and will create an unforgettable experience.
Dinara
This majestic mountain range is located close to the border of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Of course, it is a great place for hikes with epic views and offers great remote locations for a ceremony. Clear blue lakes with grand mountains towering in the distance will make your visit stand out.
Ready to elope in South Europe?
You would love to elope but don’t know where to start? Don’t worry, our experienced team of photographers and travellers can lend you a helping hand. We can help you decide what place would be best for your elopement in South Europe. Together, we can work out all the necessary details and make this experience uniquely yours. Leave us your ideas in the contact form and we can help you find your next adventure. In the meantime, also check out our article on when is the best time to elope in Europe.