Valentine's Day Ideas From Around The World: Part 1

Image: fly, Flickr

If you’re scrambling around for last-minute V-Day plans with your other half, you can stop stressing right now as there’s tons of inspiration to be had from all corners of the globe. And - even if you’ve got the fancy dinner booked and the gift and card ready by the front door - we’re still willing to bet your bottom dollar that you’ll be tempted to try something new this year, courtesy of this lot:

Argentina

The first thing to know about how the Argentinians do Valentine’s Day is that the main event is not February 14th but a week - in July! Started by confectionaries as a marketing campaign to exchange ‘a treat for a kiss’, it’s now taken seriously as a full-on holiday.

That means that if you have left things a little late this year (hey, we’re not judging!), you can always book a surprise trip to Argentina for ‘Sweetness Week’ in July! And - even if booking a vacation is not on the cards right now - there’s nothing to stop you from celebrating your own week of love in July, too - is there?

Our top picks:

Tierra Del Fuego National Park. Incredible views of mountains, lakes and lagoons to soak up with your loved one. Book your tour now
Ushuaia. If you’re into history and culture, you’ll love this city tour to the End of the World.

2. United States

Americans - as we know - don’t do things by halves, and this is no truer than on Valentine’s Day. Indeed, spending this year is expected to reach almost $24 billion! This can - in part - be explained by the fact that it’s not just a day for lovers but everyone, with family, friends and schoolchildren exchanging cards and love hearts!

Our top pick:

Classic day sail in Key West. It’s no secret that we’re huge fans of the Keys here at Tripening, so obviously, this epic sail on a stunning mahogany-trimmed boat through the waters of Key West is a must-do excursion with your partner. Book today

3. France

Mais, oui, would you expect any less from the epicenter of love itself? It is, in fact, believed that the first-ever Valentine’s Day card was sent by the Duke of Orleans to his wife in 1415 while he was in, er, prison. Height of romance this may not be, but it certainly paved the way for 800-odd years - and counting - of continued tradition. Thankfully, the ‘Une loterie d’amour’ tradition - possibly the earliest form of speed dating which resulted in scorned women burning images of the men who had left them single - was eventually banned (although it does sound like an excellent idea for a Netflix show, right?)!

From the village actually called Valentine, which decks its homes, trees and yards with love notes, roses and marriage proposals between the 12th and the 14th of February, to just being in Paris - the most romantic city in the world - you could do a lot worse than taking some inspiration from the French.

It’s a bit of a cheat, but if you are based in the U.S you could always head to the Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck at Paris Las Vegas! At the very minimum, go full French and stock up on cheese, croissants, chocolate and champagne this Valentine’s Day for a hit of the glamor.

Our top picks:

Bordeaux cheese and wine tasting. Enjoy the best of France in an underground vaulted cheese cellar with 100 different kinds of cheese, complemented by three regional wines of Bordeaux.
Marseille. Soak up the city on the back of an E-Bike tour.

4. Taiwan

Famous for its flowers, Taiwanese women are doubly lucky as not only is Valentine’s Day celebrated twice a year - February 14th and July 7th - but the men are expected to give bouquets on both occasions, too. According to tradition, red roses signify love, 99 roses signify ‘love forever’ and 108 roses mean you’re popping the question! Better get counting!

Our top pick:

Taipei Zoo & Maokong Gondola. As one of the top city zoos in the world, you’ll especially love meeting the resident giant pandas here before gliding back to the mountain village of Maokong on a gondola. Book now

5. South Korea

Brace yourselves: Valentine’s Day is celebrated here … every month. What’s more, each time there’s a different theme, with highlights including ‘the day of roses’ in May, ‘the day of kisses’ in June, ‘the day of hugs’ in December and - in April - ‘the black day,’ set aside for single people who mark the occasion by eating, erm, black noodles.

Here, women kick off the proceedings by wooing the men on February 14th with chocolates, candies and flowers, setting the scene for the next month in which the men return the favor - and up the stakes by buying gifts, too. Sweet treats every month? That’s something we can definitely get behind.

Our top pick:

KPop dance class in Seoul. Channel your inner BTS and learn the hottest moves! Book here

6. The Philippines

A romantic dinner for two is old news; here, it’s all about a mass celebration - especially if you’re looking to get married! The government sponsors enormous events where thousands of couples tie the knot in unison as a form of public service, which is pretty incredible if you think about it!

Other group activities include ‘Lip locks,’ as Filipinos come together to fight for the world record of kissing for the longest - courtesy of a toothpaste company’s marketing campaign!

If neither of these, ahem, appeal, you can always choose to stick with the candlelit dinner, but open it out for other couple friends to join, too! A different experience, but equally enjoyable!

Our top pick:

Tagaytay. Book a private sightseeing tour and enjoy the highlights of this well-loved city, including Tagaytay Picnic Grove, Sonya’s Garden and Palace in the Sky.

7. Chile

Would you expect anything less than the height of romance from a country with the moniker ‘land of poets’? No, we didn’t think so. As such, you’ll be greeted with flowers, balloons and hearts adorning almost every shop and street, not to mention the endless marketing campaigns by restaurants, pubs, clubs, travel agencies and hotels to incentivize lovers to go all-out.

Our top pick:

Santa Rita Vineyard. A wine-tasting excursion like no other, backdropped by breathtaking countryside landscapes. Book a half-day tour here

8. Norway

A tradition that dates back to the 18th century, ‘Gaekkebrev’ - or ‘joke letters,’ is actually far nicer than it sounds. Secret admirers write poems to the objects of their desires, cut detailed patterns into the paper, press a small white flower inside and leave a single dot for each letter of their name as their signature. If she correctly guesses her admirer, she gets an Easter egg. If not, she has to buy one for him instead. So, if you’ve not even got round to organizing a card yet, crack open the scissors and get cutting! There could be some chocolate in it for you.

Our top pick:

The Fjords. Embark on an epic 11-day tour of three Scandinavian Fjords, filled with an array of UNESCO monuments, cities and incredible sights. Book your tickets here

Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, Valentine’s Day is known as the ‘day of winemakers’ - we like the sound of this already! As such, couples - both young and old - celebrate their love with a glass (or several) of some of the country’s finest wine. Yes, please.

Our top picks:

Sofia. Get those steps in by walking a three-hour tour of this 2,000-year-old city, filled with historical influences from the Greeks, Romans and Ottomans. Book here
Nessebar. There’s no better way to explore this UNESCO history-steeped peninsula than by gliding across Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast by ferry. Book tickets here

2. Germany

Giant heart-shaped gingerbread cookies - decorated with icing, romantic messages and ribbons to hang around each other’s shoulders as a sign of coupledom - are the order of the day here. And now for the, er, more unique tradition: The pig. That’s right; the not-usually-thought-of-as-romantic animal is said to represent luck and lust, and so is exchanged on Valentine’s Day in the form of pictures, figurines or chocolate.

Our top pick:

Frankfurt Skyline Tour By Bus. Check off the major sights via this hop-on-hop-off tour.

3. UK

Fun fact: The tradition of sending roses on Valentine’s Day was started in the UK. Other notable traditions include:

Exchanging beautifully handcrafted wooden spoons - known as love spoons - in Wales, on January 25th - a 500-year-old tradition based on the fact that Welsh sailors would carve designs into wooden spoons while at sea to bring back to their lovers!
English women placing five bay leaves on their pillows to entice dreams of their future husbands (although this one’s no longer in practice).

Our top picks:

Roman London Walking Tour. If you want to imbue your relationship with the sort of staying power achieved by the Romans, you’ll love this glimpse into how they laid the seeds for what is unarguably one of the best cities in the world today. Book here
England in One Day. Between Stonehenge, Bath, the Cotswolds and Stratford-upon-Avon, you’ll see the best of England in one day. Book your tour here
Manchester Food and Craft Beer Tour. Local breweries, traditional pubs, food trucks and markets are all on offer as part of this ‘Best of British’ food tour. Book here
Doctor Who Tour, Cardiff. If you or your other half are fans of the sci-fi hit series, it’s worth booking this two-hour walking tour of over 30 memorable scenes from more than 20 episodes.

4. Spain

The most romantic day of the year here falls on October 9th, where men make marzipan figures to give to their loved ones and colorful parades line the streets.

Our top picks:

Wine and Chocolate Tour in Barcelona. There’s probably not all that much more we need to say about this one, right? Book now for pure indulgence paired with views of the Mediterranean Sea.
Walking Tour of Granada. Aside from its world-famous monuments, the city has an alternative, lesser-known side that might surprise you. Between the old Sephardic Jewish neighborhood and graffiti art, prepare for an enlightening few hours. Book today
Madrid Night Tour & Flamenco Show. A truly different way to appreciate the city, offering panoramic views of the iconic sites before settling down to a live performance accompanied by some tasty dishes. Book here
Sailing Cruise in Valencia. Soak up the sensational views of the sea as you relax on the deck for a truly romantic and unforgettable experience. Get your tickets here

5. Romania

Celebrated here on February 24th, many couples choose to get engaged on this day. Other traditions include picking colorful flowers from the forests and washing faces with snow as a sign of good luck!

Our top picks:

Sibiu. Explore Romania’s cultural capital on a 2-hour walking tour.
Transylvania. The mountains, traditions and medieval legends of Dracula await, coupled with the fairytale Peles Castle that’s been ranked among Europe’s most beautiful palaces. Book a day trip from Bucharest

6. Estonia

Hooray for Friendship Day! Singles, couples, friends and family; it doesn’t matter what your relationship status, everyone can get involved in exchanging gifts and celebrating love in Estonia (and, let’s be honest, absolutely anywhere else, too! Read our Galentine’s Day blog here.). There’s also a Love Bus that singles can hop on in the hopes of meeting that someone special, which we think is pretty cute!

Our top picks if you’re local:

Tallinn. Discover the countryside, fields and forests of this medieval town, learn about the history and taste the beers and ciders from a craft brewery. Tour Tallinn

7. Portugal

For anyone who finds the generic chocolate and candies a bit passé, might we suggest taking a leaf out of the Portuguese playbook and exchanging gift baskets filled with gourmet food, cheese, wine and liquors instead?

Our top pick:

Porto. Explore Portugal’s second-largest city - famed for its port wine production, stately bridges, exciting history, colorful architecture and incredible vistas - on a walking tour.

8. Czech Republic

Celebrated here on May 1st, young couples embark on a pilgrimage to the statue of poet Karel Hynek Mácha and kiss under a cherry tree for good luck.

Our top pick:

Prague. Explore this amazing city by E-Bike with the help of an experienced and passionate guide.

9. Brazil

‘Lovers Day’ is celebrated on June 12th here - a day before Saint Anthony’s Day, the patron saint of marriage. Expect the usual cards, flowers, chocolates, romantic dinners and music festivals, as well as rituals known as ‘simpatias,’ in which single women slip three notes with the names of three potential boyfriends under their pillow and pursue the one they pull out first.

Our top pick:

Sao Paulo Graffiti & Street Art Tour. Get intimate with the stories and history behind the local street art scene and see for yourself why it’s considered one of the world’s graffiti capitals. Book now

10. Italy

Also known as the Spring Festival, young couples used to gather in gardens and enjoy poetry readings, music and walks. Another tradition would see young, unmarried girls wake up before dawn, citing the first man they saw as the one they would marry.

Today, celebrations resemble the usual exchange of chocolate (Baci Perugina - small chocolate-covered hazelnut ‘kisses’ wrapped with a romantic quote in four languages) and romantic dinners, but in Verona - the home of Romeo and Juliet - it endorses its reputation with the Verona in Love Festival - five days of exhibitions, concerts and shows.

Our top picks:

Rome. Because it’s, well, Rome! Might we suggest treating yourselves to a private chauffeur service because … when else can you see the city like royalty if not Valentine’s Day? (We’ll stop asking questions now. Promise.)
Venice. Tell us something more romantic than floating down the city of water on a boat tour. Go on. We’ll wait.
Florence. Gain access to three of the city’s most important museums with a skip-the-line combo ticket.

11. Slovenia

It is believed here that February 14th marks the day in which the plants start to regenerate. So far, so good. But there’s also a more, ahem, unusual belief that birds propose to each other on this day, too, and to witness this phenomenon, you must walk barefoot through the frozen fields. Waiting on a Disney interpretation of this in 3,2,1 …

You might be relieved to learn that people also celebrate a day of love here, but on March 12th. Phew.

Our top pick:

Lake Bled. This charming Alpine resort is a must-visit - especially if you’re looking for some romance. Relax on the tranquil waters and admire the spectacular views of the castle, indulge in some local sweet treats and a cup of coffee at the café, learn about the history attached to the area and watch the majestic swans gliding along the lake. Explore the area

Read: The Best Travel Destinations For 2022: Slovenia

12. South Africa

In South Africa, they take the saying ‘wearing your heart on your sleeve’ quite literally, as young women pin the name of their crush to their sleeve for all to see. An anonymous card just ain't gonna cut it if you’re looking for love, amiright? Thankfully, this is all that’s left of a bygone tradition that would see men running through the streets adorned in goatskin, whipping women as they passed to bless them with fertility.

Our top pick:

Hippo and Crocodile Boat Cruise. Head over to Durban for this incredible experience, backdropped by the magnificent landscape of the Simangaliso Wetland Park. Book now

Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

So which of these things are you going to do?