Honeymoon destinations by month: 12 places

Most honeymoon lists show the same ten beaches without asking when you got married. But the date is usually fixed, and it decides rainy season, storm season and crowds. A week in the Maldives in May is a different experience from one in January: 272 versus 74 mm of rain in the month. So this page sorts by wedding month, with one recommendation each, including the numbers and each place's catch.

One destination per month

Monthly means 2015 to 2024 from the ERA5 reanalysis (Open-Meteo), rounded. The values are for a grid cell and can differ by a degree or two at the beach. No month is a guarantee: even a dry month brings rainy days.

January to April: the northern winter

January: the Maldives. At 27.9 °C by day and 26.5 °C at night it stays warm, and with 74 mm far less rain falls than from May. The catch: these are pure island resorts. If you need variety you'll get restless after a week, and excursions are few. Ask staff where to swim, since the FCDO warns of strong currents. An eSIM for the Maldives^* only matters if the resort Wi-Fi isn't enough. More in Best time to visit the Maldives and Where to go in January.

February: Sri Lanka's south coast. Near Galle it's 29.8 °C with 110 mm, fairly dry for the island. Its strength is the mix of beach and hill country, so more movement than the Maldives. The catch: the FCDO currently reports limits on buying fuel, with a weekly quota per vehicle, and flood risks in the inter-monsoon season. Check the official advice before you book. Details in Best time to visit Sri Lanka and Warm places in February.

March: Cape Town. At the end of the southern summer it's still 24.0 °C and very dry at 29 mm. There's hardly any time difference, so no jet lag in your first week of marriage, and with Table Mountain, wineries and coast there's plenty to do. The catch: nights are cool at 15.9 °C and the sea on the west coast is cold. Wrong place for swimming, right place for everything else. More in Best time to visit South Africa and Where to go in March.

April: Kyoto. The only place here with no beach: 18.7 °C by day, 8.7 °C at night and, with some luck, cherry blossom. The catch: 165 mm of rain, crowded temples and several days of jet lag. When the blossom comes is in Cherry blossom in Japan, the year's climate in Best time to visit Japan, and more ideas in Where to go in April.

May to August: Europe, or the other side of the equator

May: Mallorca. For anyone who doesn't want twelve hours on a plane after the wedding: 23.6 °C, 40 mm, though the sea is still fresh for swimming. Country fincas suit better here than big hotels. More in Best time to visit Mallorca and Where to go in May.

June: the Amalfi Coast. Figures for Positano: 25.2 °C and 28 mm, without July's heat. The catch is getting around: narrow roads and lots of steps. That's hard with suitcases, so plan two bases rather than five. A route is in Amalfi Coast itinerary: 5 days, the climate in Best time to visit Italy, and more ideas in Where to go in June.

July: Bali. During European summer holidays Bali has its dry season: 27.0 °C and 82 mm in Denpasar, against 311 mm in January. Rice terraces and beach combine easily. The catch: it's high season and roads in the south are busy. An airport transfer in Bali^* takes care of the first ride. The FCDO mentions exclusion zones around active volcanoes in Indonesia; follow local authorities' guidance. More in Best time to visit Bali, Bali itinerary and Where to go in July.

August: Zanzibar. 28.4 °C, only 37 mm, and pleasant nights at 21.9 °C. It pairs well with a mainland safari if you want more than beach. The FCDO advises against all but essential travel only within 20 km of the border with Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province, far from the island. More in Best time to visit Zanzibar and Where to go in August.

September to December: late summer and islands

September: Santorini. The driest place on the list: 6 mm at 25.6 °C, with mild nights of 21.3 °C. Fewer crowds than August, though still busy. Sunset in Oia is a mass event, so a room with a view beats a place on the wall. More in Best time to visit Greece and Where to go in September.

October: Madeira. At 24.4 °C in Funchal it's warm without a long journey, and with levada walks and gardens for those who find a beach holiday too quiet. The catch: 83 mm of rain, and few real sandy beaches. More in Best time to visit Madeira and Where to go in October.

November: Mauritius. The month before the rain: in Grand Baie 28.1 °C and 40 mm, against 222 mm in January. Four hours' difference from the UK rather than seven to Thailand is a real advantage in the week after a wedding. More in Best time to visit Mauritius and Warm places in November.

December: Phuket. On the Andaman Sea, December is a transition month: 29.0 °C but still 133 mm, which drops further in January and February. Flying after Christmas improves your odds. The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Thailand's southern provinces bordering Malaysia and to the Cambodian border area; Phuket isn't among them. More in Best time to visit Thailand and Warm places in December.

Three decisions before you book

How much flying suits the week after the wedding? After the party you're more tired than you think. With only 7 to 10 days, Mallorca, Amalfi, Santorini or Madeira suit you better than Bali. How long adjusting to a new time zone takes is worked out in How to avoid jet lag.

One base or two? A honeymoon isn't a touring contest. A proven shape: one or two nights to arrive, then one place to stay. More than two bases in two weeks eats into the rest.

How stable is the journey? UK travel advice mentions disruption to flights for several destinations because of the situation in the Middle East, including routes via Gulf hubs. For the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Bali, look at the routing before taking the cheapest connection. That's also why Oman, often named elsewhere, isn't on our list right now. Current advice and entry rules are on the FCDO's pages.

Planning together with YesTrip

If you plan as a couple, share the trip by link and you both see the same plan with a map. The AI suggests a daily plan from your destination, length and what you like, and you cut it down together; preferably a lot, since it's a honeymoon. The weather forecast appears next to the date for your travel days, with the packing list to match. You book tours or a special dinner with the provider, for example boat trips from Phuket^*. YesTrip never books anything itself. Afterwards, the recap keeps the trip as a memory, and your trip photos stay on your device.

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