The Most Romantic Cities in the US Revealed

Valentine’s Day may be the spark, but romance deserves more than a single date on the calendar. The most memorable trips unfold slowly. Over long mornings, well-chosen dinners, cultural moments that stretch the day, and accommodations that make staying in just as appealing as going out.

To find the best places in the US for that kind of extra-special escape, Wander analyzed some of the most visited cities in the country, ranking them on four practical markers of a romantic trip:

• The share of attractions designed for two

• Restaurants ideal for intimate dining

• The availability of romantic hotels

• The density of cultural date spots like galleries, theaters, jazz venues, and historic walking areas

If you’re a couple planning time away, here’s your inspiration.

Start with the city, then let the stay do the rest. Wander’s luxury vacation rentals in the US are built for the quiet details that make a trip feel special.

Key findings

• New Orleans ranks first overall, offering over four times the average number of cultural date spots per capita.

• The number of romantic hotels shows the widest variation between cities, with the highest-ranking destinations offering over double the average share of hotels described as romantic.

• The Northeast is the most consistently high-performing region, with multiple cities placing in the top 10 due to strong scores across dining, hotels, and cultural date spots.

The top 10 most romantic cities in the US

Across the US, experiences designed with couples in mind are carefully curated rather than widespread. On average, 7.7% of attractions are listed as good for couples; there are 26.4 cultural date spots per 100,000 people; 3.3% of restaurants are described as romantic; and 5.6% of hotels meet the same standard.

But there are a few cities that exceed these national averages across multiple measures, earning their place among the most romantic destinations in the country.

1. New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans ranks first because it performs strongly across every part of the trip. One in six (15.0%) attractions are listed as good for couples, almost double the study average, making it easy to fill the day without overplanning.

Evenings are where the city really separates itself. Over one in five (21.9%) hotels are described as romantic, the highest share in the entire study. That concentration changes how a stay feels. When the place you are staying makes you want to linger, plans naturally soften. Late mornings become normal and evenings stretch into the early hours.

Cultural options ideal for couples are equally dense. With 113.0 cultural date spots per 100,000 people, New Orleans offers more live music, historic venues, and performance spaces per resident than any other city in the study.

Matt Kowalewski, Chief of Staff:

“To shape an evening around art, visit the Frenchmen Art Bazaar, a nighttime market that one visitor described as a “tucked-away gem.”

2. Washington, District of Columbia

Washington places second overall thanks to its balance across dining, hotels, and culture. While there are fewer cultural date spots than in New Orleans (40.2 per 100,000 people), the city compensates elsewhere.

Romantic restaurants account for 6.4% of listings, almost double the study average, and romantic hotels appear at twice the typical rate.

Kyle Tibbits, Chief Marketing Officer:

“For a quieter dinner that suits an unhurried night, grab a reservation at Fiola, a Michelin-starred restaurant that has been described as “a love letter to food (and to you).”

3. San Francisco, California

San Francisco ranks third thanks to the wide range of romantic activities and experiences offered across the city. Over one in 10 (10.3%) attractions are listed as good for couples, and the city records well above-average levels of cultural date spots.

Dining plays a different role here. While fewer restaurants are explicitly labeled romantic (4.4%), meals can act as part of a longer evening rather than the main event. Dinner can lead to a walk, a view, or a final stop for drinks, rather than marking a clear start and end—something that makes San Francisco particularly well-suited to couples who prefer flexible plans and varied days rather than set-piece experiences.

Wander recommends…

Wander Sonoma Valley Retreat

Tucked just moments from Sonoma’s most celebrated wineries, this retreat feels made for slow mornings and unplanned afternoons together.

Outside, the private pool and hot tub create a sense of seclusion, framed by a shaded gazebo that is perfect for dinners under the stars. It is the kind of place where time stretches gently, where conversations run longer than planned, and where the simplest moments feel quietly indulgent.

Wander Sonoma Sanctuary

This estate is designed for couples who want to disappear into wine country. Set among forest and vineyard views, the grounds encourage you to shape each day as you go. A morning match on the bocce court, an afternoon hammock nap, or a quiet walk through the meditation garden as the light shifts.

Even with its generous scale, the atmosphere remains deeply intimate. With a separate guest house and acres of landscaped space, privacy comes effortlessly.

Wander Calistoga Valley

Surrounded by the dramatic slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains, this contemporary retreat brings a sense of occasion to a romantic escape.

Mornings can be active with a private tennis match or a swim beneath open skies. Evenings slow things down, with alfresco dinners prepared in the outdoor kitchen and long conversations that stretch late into the night. It is an ideal choice for couples who want the wine country to feel refined and deeply memorable.

The best cities to…

Enjoy a day designed for two

Honolulu, Hawaii: 15.5% of attractions listed as 'good for couples'

Honolulu has the highest share of couple-friendly attractions in the study, with 15.5% designed around shared experiences, including. The appeal lies in how little structure is required. Scenic viewpoints, coastal walks, and calm stretches of shoreline naturally shape the day.

Wander recommends…Wander Honolulu Penthouse

Set right on the beachfront, this penthouse pairs direct access to the sand with a private balcony overlooking the ocean, making it easy to shape the day around sunrise swims, unhurried afternoons, and sunset views without leaving.

Inside, the space feels calm and considered, with the kind of layout that works just as well for shared mornings as it does for evenings spent in, letting the view and the setting do most of the work.

Soak up culture together

New Orleans, Louisiana: 113.0 cultural date spots per 100,000 people

No city offers more cultural date spots per resident than New Orleans, at 113.0 per 100,000 people. With so many options close together, days tend to unfold smoothly with little need for long walks or travel between plans.

Matt Kowalewski, Chief of Staff:

“For a relaxed way to spend an evening together, book the New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise, which pairs Grammy-nominated live jazz with river views and the option of a Creole dinner, all departing conveniently from the French Quarter.”

Make an evening meal feel special

San Jose, California: 9.2% of restaurants listed as 'romantic’

San Jose leads the study for romantic restaurants, with almost one in 10 (9.2%) listings described that way—almost three times the national average. Some of the best dining spots here favor smaller rooms and settings designed for conversation. That creates evenings where the focus stays on the person you’re sharing them with.

Kyle Tibbits, Chief Marketing Officer:

“For something a little different, Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse brings Brazilian churrasco to the table, with fire-roasted meats carved throughout the meal and a format that naturally slows the pace of the evening.”

Methodology

Wander is a leading provider of luxury vacation rentals across the United States, combining the consistency and service standards of a luxury hotel with the space of a private home.

We carried out this study to help us understand which US cities naturally support romantic trips, and why certain destinations work better for time spent together. To do this, we created a seed list of the most populous destinations in the United States and collected the following data for each:

Romantic spots

• Total Tripadvisor attractions

• Tripadvisor attractions listed as "good for couples"

We then calculated this as a percentage of attractions that were described as good for couples.

Romantic restaurants

• Total Tripadvisor restaurants

• Tripadvisor restaurants listed as "romantic"

We then calculated this as a percentage of restaurants that were described as romantic.

Romantic hotels

• Total Tripadvisor hotels

• Tripadvisor hotels listed as "romantic"

We then calculated this as a percentage of hotels that were described as romantic.

Cultural date spots

• Art galleries

• Museums

• Theatres

• Historic walking areas

• Jazz clubs & bars

We then normalized the total number of cultural date spots by 100,000 people using Census data.

All data was collected in January 2026 and is correct as of then.