Valentine's Day 2027 falls on a Sunday, 14 February, which makes European cities for Valentine's Day perfect for a long weekend from Friday to Sunday. We picked seven that are easy to reach from Zagreb: from Ljubljana and Bled, two hours' drive away, to Paris, the farthest, where a direct flight is worth taking. Only Verona has a real festival dedicated to love, while the other cities offer what they are famous for: gondolas, thermal baths, coffee houses and views of the Eiffel Tower.
These cities for Valentine's Day were chosen for couples planning a romantic weekend who want to know what things cost before they book. For each city we give what to see, specific ticket and ride prices, February weather and distance from Zagreb. Prices are from 2026, as most 2027 price lists have not yet been published, and information is as of 8 October 2026.
Cities for Valentine's Day 2027 - quick overview
| # | City | Why go | Sample price | February (day/night) | From Zagreb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Verona (Italy) | Verona in Love festival | Juliet's House 12 EUR | 10 / 0 °C | 484 km, about 5 h |
| 2 | Venice (Italy) | gondolas and canals | gondola 90 EUR / 30 min | 9 / 1 °C | 379 km, about 4 h 15 min |
| 3 | Paris (France) | Eiffel Tower, the Seine | tower summit 36.70 EUR | 9 / 3 °C | direct flight |
| 4 | Vienna (Austria) | ball season, Riesenrad | Riesenrad 14.50 EUR | 7 / -1 °C | 368 km, about 4 h 15 min |
| 5 | Budapest (Hungary) | thermal baths and the Danube | Széchenyi from 13,200 HUF | 7 / 0 °C | 346 km, about 3 h 45 min |
| 6 | Prague (Czechia) | Charles Bridge, the Vltava | river cruise 18 EUR | 6 / 0 °C | 642 km, about 7 h 30 min |
| 7 | Ljubljana and Bled (Slovenia) | close by, the lake | pletna boat 20 EUR | 6 / -2 °C | 141 km, about 1 h 45 min |
Temperatures are February averages, rounded to the nearest degree. Details on each city follow below.
1. Verona (Italy)
Photo: Veronika Bashak, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Verona is the city of Romeo and Juliet and the only one on the list with a festival dedicated to Valentine's Day. It is hard to find a stronger card when choosing cities for Valentine's Day. During the Verona in Love festival, Piazza dei Signori becomes the "Square of Hearts", with stalls arranged in a big red heart, and in 2026, according to the City of Verona, the festival ran from 13 to 15 February. The 2027 dates have not yet been officially announced; one Verona hotel lists 12 to 14 February, but wait for the city's confirmation.
The main stop is Juliet's House with its famous balcony. From 1 April 2026, entry to the courtyard alone costs 5 euros, and to the courtyard and house 12 euros, with a mandatory time-slot booking. The Arena, Piazza Bra and the Ponte Pietra bridge over the Adige are also worth seeing. Verona is 484 kilometres from Zagreb, and there is no direct flight.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Verona in Love 2027 | not officially announced (unofficially 12 to 14 Feb) |
| Last edition | 13 to 15 Feb 2026 |
| Juliet's House | courtyard 5 EUR, house 12 EUR (from 1 Apr 2026), booking required |
| February | about 10 °C by day, 0 °C at night |
| From Zagreb | 484 km, about 5 h 10 min; no direct flight |
Pros: the only real Valentine's festival, a compact city to stroll, romantic even without the festival
Cons: hotels fill up fast for Valentine's, crowds at Juliet's House
Our opinion: If you want Valentine's atmosphere at every step, Verona is the first choice. Book accommodation by the end of November: on the 2025 festival weekend, hotels were more than 75 percent full.
2. Venice (Italy)
Photo: Peter K Burian, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Among cities for Valentine's Day, Venice in February is different from summer: mist over the lagoon, fewer tourists and, in 2027, Valentine's Day five days after the carnival ends on 9 February. A gondola ride at the city's official rate costs 90 euros for 30 minutes by day and 110 euros for 35 minutes in the evening, per gondola for up to five people, according to SiViaggia. A 75-minute vaporetto ticket costs 9.50 euros, and a day ticket 25 euros.
The day-tripper access fee did not apply in February in 2026, as it ran from April to July. Besides the Grand Canal and St Mark's Square, Burano with its colourful houses is worth the trip. Zagreb is 379 kilometres away, about four hours and 15 minutes' drive.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Gondola | 90 EUR / 30 min by day, 110 EUR / 35 min evening |
| Vaporetto | 9.50 EUR / 75 min, 25 EUR / 24 h |
| Carnival 2027 | ends 9 Feb, five days before Valentine's |
| February | about 9 °C by day, 1 °C at night |
| From Zagreb | 379 km, about 4 h 15 min; no direct flight |
Pros: a gondola is the most romantic experience on the list, calmer than summer and carnival
Cons: gondolas are expensive, mist and damp in February
Our opinion: Share the gondola, as the price is per boat, not per person. For an even calmer ride, go in the evening when the canals are lit.
3. Paris (France)
Photo: Getfunky Paris, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
When people list cities for Valentine's Day, Paris is the classic, and the only distant city on the list with a direct flight from Zagreb: Croatia Airlines flew Zagreb-Paris in winter 2025/26 too, and Air France flies all year, but check the 2026/27 winter schedule before booking. Going to the top of the Eiffel Tower by lift cost 36.70 euros in 2026, to the second floor 23.50 euros, and by stairs 14.80 euros, according to La Souris Globe-Trotteuse.
A Seine cruise with Vedettes du Pont Neuf costs 15 euros online and 17 euros at the ticket office. Le Mur des je t'aime in Montmartre, a wall with "I love you" in hundreds of languages, is free. In the evening the Eiffel Tower sparkles every hour on the hour.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Eiffel Tower | summit 36.70 EUR, 2nd floor 23.50 EUR, stairs 14.80 EUR (2026) |
| Seine cruise | 15 EUR online, 17 EUR at the office |
| Free | Mur des je t'aime, walks along the Seine |
| February | about 9 °C by day, 3 °C at night |
| From Zagreb | direct flight (check winter schedule) |
Pros: direct flight, endless romantic spots, many free walks
Cons: the most expensive accommodation on the list, Eiffel Tower tickets must be bought in advance
Our opinion: Buy Eiffel Tower tickets about 60 days ahead, when sales open for your date. For a romantic evening, a walk along the Seine is enough; you do not need an expensive dinner.
4. Vienna (Austria)
Photo: Dietmar Rabich, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
In February Vienna is in the middle of ball season, which peaks with the Vienna Opera Ball on 4 February 2027. A ticket for the ball cost 315 euros in 2026. For Valentine's Day, a ride on the Riesenrad in the Prater is enough, costing 14.50 euros, according to wien.info, with private cabins available on request.
Vienna is a city of coffee houses: Sacher, Demel and Central are perfect for an afternoon for two, and Klimt's "The Kiss" hangs in the Belvedere. Vienna is 368 kilometres away. Austrian motorways require a vignette, which from 2027 is digital only, and one bought online as a private customer is valid only after 18 days; bought at a petrol station or motoring club, it is valid immediately.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Riesenrad | 14.50 EUR |
| Vienna Opera Ball | 4 Feb 2027, ticket 315 EUR (2026) |
| Must see | Klimt's "The Kiss" at the Belvedere, coffee houses |
| February | about 7 °C by day, -1 °C at night |
| From Zagreb | 368 km, about 4 h 15 min |
Pros: ball season, coffee houses, close to Zagreb
Cons: colder than Italy, a vignette bought online is valid only after 18 days
Our opinion: Vienna is for couples who love culture and cake more than grand gestures. After Klimt's "The Kiss", sit down in a coffee house and forget the time.
5. Budapest (Hungary)
Photo: Bahnfrend, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Of all the cities for Valentine's Day, Budapest is the one for thermal baths, and a winter soak in steaming outdoor pools is one of the most romantic experiences on the list. Entry to the Széchenyi baths from June 2026 costs 13,200 forints on weekdays, and on weekends 14,800 forints with a locker or 15,800 with a cabin, according to Baths Budapest. The Gellért baths are closed for renovation from October 2025 until about 2028.
In the evening a Danube cruise past the lit-up Parliament is worth it. For Valentine's Day 2026, a four-course dinner cruise cost about 139 euros, and shorter cruises with prosecco 49 to 79 euros. Hungarian motorways require an e-vignette, 6,620 forints for 10 days.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Széchenyi | 13,200 HUF weekdays, 14,800 to 15,800 HUF weekends |
| Valentine's cruise | about 139 EUR with dinner, 49 to 79 EUR shorter (2026) |
| Gellért | closed until about 2028 |
| February | about 7 °C by day, 0 °C at night |
| From Zagreb | 346 km, about 3 h 45 min |
Pros: the baths are a unique winter experience, cheaper than western cities
Cons: Gellért is closed, Széchenyi is crowded at weekends
Our opinion: Go to the baths on a weekday morning, when there are fewer people and entry is cheaper. Add a cruise in the evening and Valentine's Day is sorted.
6. Prague (Czechia)
Photo: mendhak, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Prague is at its most beautiful at dawn, when Charles Bridge is almost empty. Besides Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral, couples look for the Lennon Wall and the little bridge over Čertovka with its love locks. Entry to the Petřín lookout tower, the "little Eiffel", costs 250 crowns, according to Prague.eu, and a Vltava cruise about 18 euros.
There is no direct winter flight from Zagreb, as Croatia Airlines flew the route seasonally, from March to October 2026. By car it is 642 kilometres, about seven and a half hours, so Prague suits a longer weekend better than a quick hop.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Petřín lookout | 250 CZK |
| Vltava cruise | about 18 EUR (16.20 EUR online) |
| Must see | Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, Lennon Wall |
| February | about 6 °C by day, 0 °C at night |
| From Zagreb | 642 km, about 7 h 30 min; no direct winter flight |
Pros: a fairytale old town, affordable prices
Cons: far by car, no direct winter flight, cold
Our opinion: Get up early at least once and walk across Charles Bridge before 8 am. That view without the crowds is worth the trip.
7. Ljubljana and Bled (Slovenia)
Photo: Mihael Grmek, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
The closest cities for Valentine's Day are Ljubljana and Bled: Ljubljana is 141 kilometres from Zagreb, and Bled 195 kilometres. In Ljubljana you stroll along the Ljubljanica and over the Butchers' Bridge with its love locks, and the return funicular to Ljubljana Castle with castle entry costs 19 euros. At Bled a pletna boat takes you to the island with its wishing bell; the return trip costs 20 euros per person, is paid in cash and runs from 10 am to 3 pm in winter, according to Bled.si.
Bled Castle costs 18 euros, and the Bled cream cake is a must. Slovenian motorways require an e-vignette, 16 euros for a week. There is no official Valentine's programme for 2027 yet, but Ljubljana Castle sometimes organises Valentine's dinners, so check in January.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Ljubljana Castle with funicular | 19 EUR |
| Pletna boat at Bled | 20 EUR return (cash), winter 10 am to 3 pm |
| Bled Castle | 18 EUR |
| February | about 6 °C by day, -2 °C at night |
| From Zagreb | Ljubljana 141 km (1 h 45 min), Bled 195 km (2 h 15 min) |
Pros: closest to Zagreb, a day trip is possible, a beautiful lake in winter
Cons: cold nights, shorter pletna hours in winter
Our opinion: Combine both: Saturday in Ljubljana, Sunday at Bled. For Valentine's without a long journey, there is no better choice.
Cities for Valentine's Day: how to plan the trip
Since Valentine's Day falls on a Sunday, the best cities for Valentine's Day are those you can reach on Friday afternoon: Ljubljana, Bled, Budapest, Vienna and Venice by car, Paris by plane. Plan an extra day for Verona and Prague. Book accommodation by the end of November, especially in Verona, and Eiffel Tower tickets about 60 days ahead.
For driving you need vignettes for Slovenia, Austria and Hungary, and tolls for Italy. All 2027 prices and rules are in our guide to vignettes and tolls. If you are looking for a gift to go with the trip, our gift ideas under 50 euros can help.
Conclusion: which city to choose for Valentine's Day
| If you want | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A real Valentine's festival | Verona | Verona in Love, Juliet's balcony |
| The most romantic experience | Venice | a gondola through the canals |
| A classic with a direct flight | Paris | Eiffel Tower, the Seine |
| Culture and coffee houses | Vienna | ball season, Klimt's "The Kiss" |
| Relaxing in warm water | Budapest | open-air thermal baths |
| A fairytale old town | Prague | Charles Bridge at dawn |
| Close, without a long journey | Ljubljana and Bled | 2 h from Zagreb, the lake |
Cities for Valentine's Day 2027 offer something for every budget and distance. For a weekend without much driving, choose Ljubljana and Bled or Budapest; for real Valentine's atmosphere, Verona; and for classic romance, Paris or Venice. We will update this guide when Verona confirms the festival dates. If you are also planning February carnivals, see our guide to carnivals in Europe.
Frequently asked questions
When is Verona in Love 2027?
The official dates have not yet been announced. The last edition took place from 13 to 15 February 2026, and one Verona hotel lists 12 to 14 February for 2027. Since Valentine's Day falls on a Sunday, that weekend is likely, but wait for the City of Verona to confirm before booking.
How much does a gondola ride in Venice cost?
At the City of Venice's official rate, a gondola costs 90 euros for 30 minutes by day and 110 euros for 35 minutes in the evening. The price is per gondola, not per person, and covers up to five passengers, so the ride can be shared.
Which romantic city is closest to Zagreb?
Ljubljana, about 141 kilometres and an hour and 45 minutes' drive, with Bled 195 kilometres away. Both can be visited as a day trip or combined into a weekend. For the motorway you need a Slovenian e-vignette, 16 euros for a week.
When should I book a Valentine's trip?
As early as possible, ideally by the end of November. Verona hotels were more than 75 percent full on the 2025 festival weekend, Eiffel Tower tickets are bought about 60 days ahead, and an Austrian vignette bought online is valid only after 18 days, so buy it in time or at a petrol station.
Which Valentine's city can I fly to?
Of the more distant cities on the list, only Paris has a winter direct flight worth taking; you can fly to Vienna, but driving is about as fast. Prague has no direct winter route, and Verona and Venice are easiest by car. Check the 2026/27 winter schedule before booking.
How we chose
We chose these cities for Valentine's Day by romantic experiences, accessibility from Zagreb by car or direct flight, and price range. Ticket and ride prices come from official city, attraction and tourist board websites and reliable media, with the year given. Temperatures are February averages. Event dates not yet published for 2027 are clearly marked. Information is as of 8 October 2026.
Sources
- City of Verona - Verona in Love 2026
- SiViaggia - official Venice gondola rates
- wien.info - Wiener Riesenrad
- Baths Budapest - bath prices
- Prague.eu - Petřín lookout tower
- Bled.si - pletna and attractions
- La Souris Globe-Trotteuse - Eiffel Tower prices
Related articles:
- Best Carnivals in Europe 2027
- Best Cities for New Year's Eve in Europe 2026/27
- Vignettes and Tolls 2027: Prices for Slovenia, Austria and Neighbouring Countries
- The Best Thermal Spas in Croatia and the Region 2026
- Top 7 Gift Ideas Under 50 Euros in 2026
Cover photo: Gustavo Fring, Pexels