TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - As Valentine's Day approaches, romantic cities around the world become the chosen destinations for many couples to celebrate love. Couples are welcomed to engage in various activities, from strolling through historic streets and enjoying intimate dinners, to witnessing iconic romance-associated landscapes.
Two recent studies by Mozio and Holafly have released a list of the most romantic cities in the world. Reported by Daily Mail, Mozio's research placed Venice on top with a score of 9.56 out of 10. Venice is deemed outstanding for its high volume of wedding-related searches and the availability of romantic hotels and restaurants per 100,000 inhabitants. The city also offers the iconic gondola experience.
Aside from Venice, another Italian city, Florence, ranked second with a score of 7.86 due to its artistic beauty and easy accessibility for tourists. The third place was followed by Marrakesh in Morocco with a score of 7.5, offering a magical and immersive holiday experience.
The fourth place was taken by Udaipur, India, dubbed the "Venice of the East" and the "City of Lakes." The city records 153,000 annual wedding searches due to its lake atmosphere and exotic Rajputana backdrop.
Other major cities such as Rome, San Francisco, London, Paris, and Edinburgh, with their Gothic architecture, also made it to the top ten list, according to Mozio.
Meanwhile, in separate research conducted by Holafly, the top rankings showed quite contrasting results. As reported by Forbes Australia, Holafly used the Romantic Experience Density Index, which leans towards spas, restaurants, and leisurely locations. In this analysis, London topped the list due to its diverse romantic facilities, from vast historic parks to a variety of luxury restaurants for couples.
New York City snatched the runner-up position in this research due to its "cinematic romance" appeal through Broadway and leisurely activities in Central Park. Furthermore, cities like Prague, Buenos Aires, and Santorini were also mentioned as destinations with a strong romantic atmosphere for global travelers.
Overall, both of these studies indicate that Italian cities remain the most consistent romantic destinations. The difference between both studies provides a diverse range of options for couples to determine the right destination while spending Valentine's Day together.
IMANDA ZAHWA
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