A romantic weekend away might sound like a luxury few of us can afford, but head a little off the beaten track and you’ll find surprisingly affordable getaways. Cities all over the world have hotel rooms that cost less than a dinner in Paris, with the same cosy wine bars and vibey restaurants you’d expect in the City of Love. And with Valentine’s Day on the horizon, there’s no better time to book a romantic getaway.

Metro‘s travel experts have got you covered with our picks of the best destinations for an intimate escape, based on the cost of food, drinks and accommodation, as well as activities for couples who want to spend quality time together. 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.

Best of all, despite its wealth of culture, a trip to Lithuania’s pocket-sized capital won’t break the bank. It was recently crowned Europe’s most affordable city in a survey by Post Office Travel Money. Last year, the cost of a city break in Vilnius (including an evening meal for two and two nights in three-star accommodation) was estimated to be just £236.51. This means splashing out on luxury offerings in this charming city is still accessible for those on a budget.

In 2024, 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. Metro‘s Travel Growth editor Alice Murphy tried the €67 (£57) tasting menu in November, and raved about the black pudding doughnuts and bone marrow. She also dined at 14 Horses, a Bib Gourmand farm-to-table restaurant that serves lamb dumplings, grilled eel on sourdough and potato pancakes with sweetbread (four courses for €55 per person).

Both come approved by Metro HQ, but if we had to pick, we’d recommend moodily lit Dziaugsmas for a romantic meal. After dinner, head to La Boheme, a cosy underground wine bar in the vaults of a monastery. Bottles of local wine start at €28 (roughly £23), with an eclectic selection including raspberry and rhubarb blends. A real treat is Bokšto Spa, a sleek retreat in a restored cellar beneath the old town. Three saunas, a jacuzzi, a 25-metre swimming pool and a silent room with marble water features are just some of the restorative options on offer. At €80 (£67) for three hours, it’s not cheap. But compared to similar day spas in London that cost almost double for half the time, Vilnius is a veritable bargain.

When it comes to where to stay, it’s hard to look past Hotel Pacai for something speical. Minutes from the city’s finest restaurants, boutiques and landmarks, each of the 104 rooms boast marble bathrooms and plush robes to lounge around in. Double rooms with a remarkably good breakfast start from £162 per night. But there’s plenty of more affordable accommodation on offer too. The Comfort Hotel LT – Rock ‘n’ Roll is TripAdvisor’s top-rated hotel for value, with rooms from £57 per night.

Culture-loving couples will fall head over heels for Marrakech, Morocco’s ‘Red City’ of winding souks, opulent palaces and street-side cafes. The bustling medina is full of stalls selling colourful ceramics, woven rugs and chunky Berber jewellery. At its heart is Jemaa el-Fnaa, a marketplace square that’s one of the main tourist attractions in the city. A whole different city at night 🌚🌝 #marrakech #morocco #travelmorocco #solotravelmorocco #marrakechmedina #marrakechsouk #thingstodoinmarrakech #traveltiktok #bucketlisttravel.

Wander the mazelike medina to find Bahia Palace, a sprawling complex of vibrant mosaics and intricate wood ceilings, and Medersa Ben Youssef. Founded in the 14th century, the Islamic school was once the largest in North Africa and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. After immersing yourself in Maghrebi culture, there’s nowhere more intimate to unwind than in one of Marrakech’s many hammams, where trickling water and glossy marble contrast with the colour and chaos of the souk.

Metro recommended Hammam Rosa Bonheur as one of the world’s top spots for therma tourism, after Alice Murphy visited and raved about the combined scrub, massage and bathing package (from £30 per person). To add further to the authentic Moroccan experience, stay in a riad — a traditional house built around an interior garden courtyard. Riad Noir d’Ivoire is one of the city’s top-rated traditional hotels, and includes suites with private roof terraces, jacuzzis and luxurious bathtubs.

Best of all, it won’t break the bank. The honeymoon suite starts from £104 per night and comes highly recommended by Metro‘s Senior Foreign News reporter, Gergana Krasteva. Metro‘s Gergana Krasteva recently spent three days in Marrakech investigating the sober tourism trend. She writes:. ‘Morocco is not known for its champagne lifestyle; it’s a Muslim country where alcohol is permitted only under strict regulation in licensed bars and hotels. But this is a place that doesn’t need booze to be interesting.