Best places to elope Europe - 50+ places

Best places to elope in Europe

top 50+ places

the best places to elope in Europe

Need a few ideas about the best places to elope in Europe? Here is our list of the top 50+ places in Europe that we think are perfect for an intimate elopement.

Need a few ideas about the best places to elope in Europe? If you dream of an intimate wedding instead of a big, traditional wedding, the possibilities are virtually endless. You can choose almost any destination you want! And without a doubt, Europe offers many hidden gems that will make any elopement or intimate wedding a magical experience.

UPDATE: COVID-19 safety measures are constantly changing and before you decide to travel to any of these locations, please check with us about your travelling options.

A few things to consider…

Pick something that is meaningful to you or a destination you always dreamt of travelling to. You already decided you want something different, that you want to make your wedding an adventure, so choose a special place that will make it even more memorable.

Which location should we pick for our elopement?

Pretty much anywhere in the world. Some places may have some restrictions if you want your ceremony to be official, but if you’re willing to sign the papers at the courthouse before (or after), you can have a symbolic ceremony practically anywhere.

Where can we elope?

The simplest answer is that when you elope, you skip the large, traditional wedding celebration with everything that comes along with it in favor of an intimate ceremony with a small number of guests (parents or best friends). It can even be just the two of you!

What is the difference between eloping and having a wedding?

What paperwork do I need to elope?

There are two options:

The easiest is for you two to have a legal ceremony in the country where you live – just go to the courthouse to sort out the legal paperwork. Then have an epic symbolic ceremony at your chosen destination.

If you want to have an official ceremony at your chosen destination, you’ll need to do some planning and figure out what paperwork you’ll need according to the country you’re eloping to. Typically, you’ll need your birth certificates, passports, and the necessary permits for the location.

Do I need a witness to elope?

Many countries require one or two witnesses to sign the marriage license too. You can either bring your parents, a couple of friends or even ask your photographer to be your witness.

How do I choose my elopement location?

Europe is an amazing continent, with many beautiful countries and cities. You’ll probably end up asking yourself: with so many beautiful spots, where is the best place to elope?

We get asked this question a lot and there is no one right answer. There are thousands of best places to elope in Europe – every location is unique and can be a gorgeous backdrop for your elopement. But which one is the one for you?

Here are a few questions you should ask yourselves to make the decision easier:

Scenery & Location

To narrow down a long list, think about the type of place you would like to elope to. Would you prefer a big city or a small village? How does the top of a mountain sound? Or would you prefer a secluded beach, maybe by a lake or a river? Would you like your ceremony to be held in a forest or in front of a waterfall… The possibilities are endless, so maybe start by closing your eyes and imagining your perfect scene.

Which type of scenery inspires you? Where do you feel the happiest and most at peace?

What view do you want to look at while saying your vows?

Can’t really decide? Choose multiple options and plan a full day of adventure. You can start your morning in the mountains and greet the evening on a beach. You wonder if that’s even possible? Just contact us and we’ll tell you more about these options.

Seasons

Choosing the best season for your elopement is important because it will determine what you can wear, what location you can go to, and which activities you can do. It will also affect the scenery (spring flowers vs. fall-colored leaves):

Is there a specific time of the year you want to get married in?

Do you have a favorite season?

Where do you feel most comfortable – in warmer or colder weather?

How do you feel about rain, snow, wind…?

How to access the location?

How easily accessible should the location be? If you’re bringing parents or friends would they need special accessibility?

How far are you willing to travel? International flight + local flight + bus ride…?

Do you want to hike? Or do you just want a place with beautiful views that requires little hiking?

Privacy & Seclusion

These are important aspects to think about. Most people prefer a quiet, secluded place for their ceremony, although there are always exceptions. If the location you’re thinking about is a popular tourist spot, chances are it’s going to be crowded on your wedding day too. But if you’re willing to get up at dawn to have the streets of Venice or Paris all to yourself for an hour, that is possible too.

How private do you want your location to be?

Would you be comfortable getting married with other people close-by?

Would you be willing to get up before sunrise to have the place all to yourself?

Activities

Eloping isn’t just saying “I do” and taking some photos at the location. It can be a whole-day experience or maybe even a weekend event. Eloping is an opportunity to spend the day together doing the things you love most. Or the things you always wanted to do. You can drive a 4×4 into the unknown, hike a mountain, skydive, swim with the sharks… To make the experience truly unforgettable, combine your elopement with your honeymoon.

Which activities do you both enjoy?

How long will your trip last?

Will we have guests?

Eloping doesn’t necessarily mean just the two of you. You can include your parents and best friends, but this will limit which locations you can use since you now you have to think about accommodating your guests and their needs too.

If you’re bringing guests with you, how many will there be?

Do your guests need special accessibility to the location?

How far are they willing to travel?

By now, you should have a fairly good idea about what your perfect elopement would look like in real life. Let’s go ahead with our list of the best places to elope in Europe.

Countries and regions with the most beautiful landscape:

There are so many different places in Europe that have a spectacular landscape, and these are just some of our favorites to get you started:

7. French Alps

1. Julian Alps, Slovenia

8. Tuscany, Italy

2. Dolomites, Italy

9. Corsica, France

3. Iceland

10. Provence, France

4. Lofoten Islands, Norway

5. Faroe Islands

11. Andalusia, Spain

6. Scottish Highlands

12. Tirol, Austria

Best places to elope and go skiing at the same time:

Europe is home to some of the best and oldest ski resorts, so there is a lot to choose from. Here are some of our favorite places that include stunning scenery, world-class pistes, and beautiful alpine architecture.

7. Courchevel, France

1. Zermatt, Switzerland

8. Meribel, France

2. Chamonix, France

9. Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy

3. St. Moritz, Switzerland

10. Val Gardena, Italy

4. Gstaad, Switzerland

5. Val Thorens, France

11. Zillertal, Austria

12. Val di Fassa, Italy

Best places to elope in Europe for hikers:

This list is for the adventurers and outdoor people, who can’t imagine their wedding celebration without at least a bit of hiking. Think about making it a 2-day event, hike up a mountain, sleep in a hut, and have your symbolic ceremony at sunrise.

7. Madeira, Portugal

1. Grindelwald, Switzerland

8. Tre Cime, Dolomites, Italy

2. Isle of Skye, Scotland

9. Trolltunga, Norway

3. Triglav National Park, Slovenia

10. Azores, Portugal

4. High Tatras, Slovakia

5. GR20, Corsica, France

11. Tatra Mountains, Poland

6. Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy

Best elopement locations by the lake:

Europe has thousands of beautiful lakes, especially in the Alps, so it is hard to narrow it down to only 12 best lake elopement locations. Some of these are also hiking destinations, and others are easily accessible with a car.

7. Lac d'Allos, France

1. Lake Bled, Slovenia

8. Lago di Como, Italy

2. Lago d'Iseo, Italy

9. Sognjefjord, Norway

3. Lago di Braies, Italy

10. Hintersee, Germany

4. Berchtesgaden, Germany

5. Plitvice Lakes, Croatia

11. Gelmersee, Switzerland

12. Lugano, Switzerland

6. Hallstatt, Austria

The best beach and coastal locations to elope in Europe

Does the term ‘beach wedding’ make you think of sandy beaches and hotel resorts? If that’s not something you’re interested in, don’t worry. The beaches in Europe are quite different and you’ll find some amazing spots ranging from high cliffs in the north to beautiful, secluded beaches in the south:

6. Cote d'Azur, France

1. Algarve, Portugal

7. Djúpalónssandur, Iceland

2. Amalfi Coast, Italy

8. Stokksnes, Iceland

3. Lofoten Islands, Norway

9. Cala Coves, Menorca

4. Dalmatia, Croatia

5. Puglia, Italy

10. Balos, Crete, Greece