Red roses, chocolates and a candle-lit dinner – thanks to Valentine’s Day, we’re all encouraged to reveal our romantic side at least once a year. But imagine having a love-nest somewhere exciting that you could visit with your partner and share cosy bottles of wine or pretty sunsets as often as you liked…

Article written by The Overseas Guides Company

Not every destination stirs up feelings of romance, but we’ve found five in Europe that should give you and your loved one a fuzzy feeling inside, and in each we reveal a property for sale that comes with an amorous edge…

City of Love
Is there a more suitable place for lovebirds to spend time than Paris, the indisputable City of Love? Owning a Parisian pad would allow for limitless strolls beside the River Seine, shopping trips for treats on the Champs-Élysées and intimate dinners out in Montmartre. Perfect for couply weekends could be an apartment in the 7th Arrondissement. There, a one-bedroom penthouse apartment set over three floors and with views of the Eiffel Tower from its roof terrace is on the market for €760,000.

Santorini
Spectacular scenery and mesmerizing views have made volcanic Santorini, one of the Cyclades Islands in Greece, as much a favourite with honeymooners as island hoppers. It’s the town of Oia there that will be especially appealing to sweethearts, thanks to its clifftop location, pretty sugar-cube architecture and famous sunset views. Property is sought after in Oia, but this exciting one-bedroom cave house, complete with whitewash finish and blue shutters, and beautifully restored, could be yours for €650,000. Enjoy an intimate glass or two on the balcony, or glug away together in the indoor Jacuzzi room with its atmospheric lighting effects…

Aphrodite’s Isle
Legend has it the Greek goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite, was born in Cyprus, an island known for its stunning coastal scenery and friendliness. Combine this with Cyprus’s year-round sunshine, and the appeal of having somewhere to whisk your heartthrob to for an impulsive long weekend on the beach is easy to see. Cyprus represents great value for money right now, leaving you more to spend on gifts for your loved one. Just €180,000 will secure you a quality two-bedroom apartment in the sweet, hillside village of Peyia, in Paphos, with a large balcony and uninterrupted views of the sparkling Mediterranean – an ideal place to feast on a meze together, after an evening dip in the communal pool. Romance is inescapable here – Aphrodite’s Rock, the site of the goddess’s birth, is just down the road.

The City of Bridges
Things don’t get much more romantic than a gondola ride with your darling through the waterways of Venice, also known as the City of Bridges, followed by a trip to the opera or dinner at a waterside restaurant. Despite Venice being recognised as one of the world’s most romantic cities and oozing architectural elegance, it is possible to purchase a one-bedroom apartment in beautifully restored Gothic palace, a few steps from the famous San Marco square, for €380,000. Can you think of a better place to share an ice cream with someone?

Óbidos
An hour north of the Portuguese capital Lisbon is the little gem of Óbidos – unknown to most tourists who head south to the Algarve. The town’s history as well as its preserved medieval architecture, winding streets and surrounding lush countryside should kindle some romance in you – in the 13th Century, King Denis of Portugal gave Óbidos to his wife Queen Isabel as a wedding present, after she fell in love with the town when passing through! If you fall under its spell too, it would be hard not to want this six-bedroom character townhouse, located within the town’s fortified walls and with views of the castle – it’s on the market for €450,000.

A simple way to save money when buying property abroad is to use a currency exchange specialist – and not your bank – to transfer your pounds into euros, or any other currency. For more information on this, download Smart Currency Exchange’s free report or visit the Currency Zone.

For more information on buying overseas property successfully, download the Overseas Guides Company’s free France Buying Guide, Greece Buying Guide, Cyprus Buying Guide, Italy Buying Guide or Portugal Buying Guide, and start receiving free news updates by email.