From hot air balloons in central Turkey to hammams in Morocco and wine tasting in Slovenia , these are the places to celebrate love. Baroque architecture, cosy cocktail bars and cobbled streets are the cornerstones of a romantic city, and Vilnius has them all.
This means splashing out on luxury offerings in this charming city is still accessible for those on a budget. In , Lithuania got its first Michelin guide, with four Vilnius restaurants bagging a coveted star. One of them was Dziaugsmas, an industrial-style dining room that specialises in local delicacies.
After dinner, head to La Boheme, a cosy underground wine bar in the vaults of a monastery. Three saunas, a jacuzzi, a metre swimming pool and a silent room with marble water features are just some of the restorative options on offer. But compared to similar day spas in London that cost almost double for half the time, Vilnius is a veritable bargain.
The bustling medina is full of stalls selling colourful ceramics, woven rugs and chunky Berber jewellery. Wander the mazelike medina to find Bahia Palace, a sprawling complex of vibrant mosaics and intricate wood ceilings, and Medersa Ben Youssef. To add further to the authentic Moroccan experience, stay in a riad β a traditional house built around an interior garden courtyard.
She writes:. For those who want more than a cheap weekend break , Marrakech is also one of the cheapest all-inclusive destinations for winter sun. But Piran, a coastal town that sits at the top of a narrow peninsula just a ferry ride away from Venice, is often overlooked. Restaurant Neptun is the highest-rated eatery in the town, known for its fish soup and fresh prawns. Pair your food with a glass of Slovenian sparkling wine, which is matured for two years 18 metres deep in the sea of Piran Bay.
